ACTS 1213 1214

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ACTS 1213 /1214

• GOOD AFTERNOON
• WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12
• LECTURE 1
• SYLLABUS REVIEW
• INTRODUCTION TO COURSE

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(1) WHAT IS THE PROPER TITLE?

• TITLES APPLIED
• A. KJV THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
• B. OLD ASV THE ACTS
• C. RSV THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
• D. THE MSS. HAVE SEVERAL TITLES
• The Acts, The Holy Acts of the Holy Apostles
• ORIGINALLY, LIKELY NO TITLE
• A. Luke/Acts formed a single volume with Luke the
  author. Titles came later when became 2 volumes
• B.The Acts of the Apostles is non descriptive

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(2) WHO WROTE THIS BOOK?

• . COMMONLY ACCEPTEDLUKE
• WHY CONCLUDE THIS?
• 1. EXTERNAL EVIDENCES
• UNIFORMLY, EARLY CHURCH WRITERS FROM 2ND CENT.
  ATTRIBUTE IT TO LUKE.
• 2. INTERNAL EVIDENCE
• No mention by name of author
• Author is based on four WE sections
• Acts 1610-17 206-15 211-18 27 28.
• When viewed in Pauls writings, only one man with
  him on all these occasions---LUKE

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WHO WROTE THIS BOOK?

• Style is same as Lukes Gospel
• Same vocabulary in We sections as Luke
• Some scholars observe medical vocabulary, and
  that author shows unusual interest in medical
  matters.
• 3. Evidence from LUKE
• Scholars agree Luke and Acts same author

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(3) WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT LUKE?

• THREE REFERENCES
• 1. Colossians 410-14
• 2. Philemon, verse 24
• 3. 2 Timothy 410-11
• THESE REVEAL
• 1) A Gentile 2) Physician 3) Pauls companion

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(4) WHAT WERE LUKES SOURCES?

• 1. Sources for Luke -- 11-4
• 2. Sources for Acts
• A. His own personal experiences with Paul
• B. Opportunities from other personal eyewitness
  e.g. Paul, Philip in Caesarea, In his Gospel,
  some experiences that could have been revealed
  only by Mary.
• 3. Dont know how extensive his sources were and
  of course he was inspired.

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5. WHEN WAS THE BOOK WAS WRITTEN?

• Earliest date is 61-63 A.D.
• The book takes us to that time
• 61 arrives in Rome , spends 2 years- then stops
• No evidence of Neros persecution
• TO WHOM WAS THE BOOK WRITTEN?
• Theophilus. Luke 11-4 Lover of God
• To one individual? Or dedicated to an
  individual?
• Book writing expensive..perhaps Tho. was a
  sponsor.
• Your excellency -- Roman official?
• For the Greek mind?

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(6) WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF WRITING?

• ACTS HAS THREE FOLD PURPOSE
• 1) HISTORICAL LK. 11-4
• THE GROWTH OF THE EARLY CHURCH
• 2) APOLOGETIC
• PERSECUTION WAS PRIMARILY FROM A JEWISH SOURCES
  AND NOT ROMAN
• 3) EVANGELISTIC
• TO PERSUADE PEOPLE THAT JESUS WAS THE CHRIST AND
  SAVIOR OF MANKIND AND TO STRRENGTHEN BELEIVERS

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IS ACTS A CREDIBLE ACCOUNT?

• 1. CANONICITY NEVER QUESTIONED.
• ALL EARLY LISTS CONTAIN ACTS

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RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR STUDY OF ACTS

• 1. J. W. MCGARVEYACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
• 2. GARTH L. REESE ACTS, NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY
• 3. F. F. BRUCETHE BOOK OF ACTS (INTERNATIONAL
  COMMENTARY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT)

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SIX THINGS EMPHASIZED IN THE PREFACE-- 11-11

• 1. THE EARTHLY MINISTRY OF JESUS
• A. JESUS BEGAN TO DO
• B. ACTS TO BE SEQUEL TO LUKE
• Acts of the risen Christ?
• Work of the Holy Spirit?

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2ND THING EMPHASIZED

• 2. THE ASSURANCE THAT JESUS WAS STILL ALIVE
• HE PRESENTED HIMSELF ALIVE
• 10 APPEARANCES AFTER THE RESURRECTION
• PURPOSE CONVINCE JESUS ALIVE
• I JOHN 11-2
• MUST UNDERSTAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO UNDERSTAND ACTS

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3RD THING EMPHASIZED

• 3. THE KINGDOM OF GOD
• TEACHING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
• The nature was spiritual
• The rule was in the heart (Lk 1720)
• Citizenship based on love and service
• New birth an essential for seeing and
  entering (John 33-5)

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4TH THING EMPHASIZED

• 4. THE PROMISE OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
  TO THE APOSTLES.
• NOT TO DEPART FROM JERUSALEM
• WAIT FOR THE PROMISE
• THEY WERE NOT READYLACKED POWER OF HOLY SPIRIT
• NOT WAIT PASSIVELYEXPECTANTLY

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5TH THING EMPHASIZED

• 5. THE GREAT COMMISSION
• TO SHARE RESPONSIBILITY G.COM.
• Matt. 281-20 MK. 1615-16
• LK. 2446 JOHN 2022-23 ACTS 18
• WILL YOU RESTORE?
• Two serious mistakes 1) Earthly kingdom 2)
  Restored to Israel
• not for you to know the exclusive dates held
  by God. (Few insist they know the one thing that
  no one is to know)

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6th THING EMPHASIZED

• 6. THEIR WITNESS OF JESUS
• 18 YOU SHALL BE BE MY WITNESS
• COMING OF SPIRIT GIVE THEM POWER
• NEEDED IT FOR JERUSALEM TESTIMONY

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SOME HAVE SEEN JESUS ANSWERING PETERS RELUCTANCE
THIS WAY

• PETER not Jerusalem, Lord, where they crucified
  you! JESUS Yes, Peter, Jerusalem. Return and
  find those that slapped my face and tell them
  they are not lost from the Fathers love..find
  those that made the crown of thorns for me, and
  tell them if they will accept my love I will give
  them a crown w/o thorns..God back and find that
  soldier that pierced my side with that spear and
  tell him there is a nearer way to my heart.

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WHY RETURN TO JERUSALEM?

• WHERE HE WAS RAISED.
• MANY HAD TIME TO THINK NO ONE HAD PRODUCED THE
  BODY OF JESUS..MANY WAITING FOR THE ONE
  EXPLANATION IN THE GOSPEL
• THEN ON TO JUDEA AND SAMARIA
• WHY JUDEA SAMARIA?