New Testament Survey: Book of Acts

1
New Testament SurveyBook of Acts
2
The Author

• Luke is assigned as the author.
• The book is addressed to Theophilus (Luke 13
  Acts 11, 2) former treatise
• Identical in style to Luke.
• Historical sequence to the gospel of Luke.
• Written in first-person plural (we). The writer
  was an eye-witness to what he was writing.
  (1610-17 205-15 271 2816)

3
When the Book Was Written

• Coincides reasonably with the close of the
  historical account.
• Paul is still alive and in a Roman prison.
• History recorded in Acts would not have ended so
  abruptly if Pauls death had already occurred.
• Written prior to 70 A.D. and after Paul reached
  Romeprobably around 63 A.D.

4
The Books Audience

• Intended for a wider reading audience than just
  Theophilus.
• Origin of Christianitys beginning among the
  Jews.
• Much of the book is concerned with the transfer
  of the center of interest from Jerusalem to
  Antioch.
• Spreading the gospel to the known Gentile world.
• Historical account to meet the need of both Jews
  and Gentiles (18)

5
The Books Purpose

• Historical Motive
• See Luke 14 and Acts 15.
• Acts gives a history of the continuation of
  Jesus work, by the Holy Spirit, through the
  Apostles.
• The final instruction (18)

6
The Books Purpose

• The Defense Motive
• In Acts, every contact with government officials
  receives a favorable hearing or is ignored.
• Acts 13Sergius Paulus
• Acts 1635-39officials at Philippi
• Acts 1931officals at Ephesus
• Acts 24-26Felix, Festus, and Agrippa

7
The Books Purpose

• The Biographical Motive
• Luke divided the Acts historical record into two
  different sections biographical in nature
• Chapters 1-12history of Peters work
• Chapters 13-28the apostles work with the
  GentilesPaul!

8
Contents and Character

• The book, Acts of the Apostles, records for us
  the history of Christianitys beginning, growth,
  and spread during at least the first 30
  years--from Christs ascension to Pauls
  imprisonment in Rome.

9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
(No Transcript)
12
(No Transcript)
13
Contents and Character

• The Apostolic Office and Work
• Apostolic office in operation doing the work that
  Jesus selected and trained the apostles to do.
• Witnesses for Christ (18, 21, 22)
• Eye and ear witnesses of that about which they
  bore testimony (12 2616-18 2 Peter 116-21 1
  John 11-4)

14
Contents and Character

• The Apostolic Office and Work
• A competent witness must give clear and accurate
  testimony.
• Guided by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 29-13)
• Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 520 Acts
  418-20 528-32)
• Sat upon thrones with authority to rule over the
  church (Matthew 1928 Acts 242 15 Galatians
  21-9 1 John 46)

15
Contents and Character

• The Holy Spirits Work
• His mission was first promised by Christ.
• John 1416,17, 25,26 167-15 Acts 18
• Promise fulfilled on Day of Pentecost.
• Acts 21-4
• Acts 215-21
• Acts 233

16
Contents and Character

• The Holy Spirits Work
• Reveal the gospel.
• Acts 24 1 Corinthians 210-13 Ephesians 33-5
• Confirm the word by miracles.
• Mark 1615-20
• Acts 66-8 86-13 196
• Hebrews 21-4

17
Contents and Character

• The Holy Spirits Work
• Convict and convert the sinners.
• John 168-11
• Continue to guide and direct the apostles.
• Acts 532
• Acts 431
• Acts 931
• Romans 814

18
Contents and Character

• The Preaching of the Gospel
• Given by a variety of expressions
• The message preached and the different
  circumstances under which it was preached.
• Continued steadfastly
• Acts 242
• Spoke the word of God preach the word the
  word of the Lord
• Acts 431 1344 1425 1811 1535-36 1632

19
Contents and Character

• The Preaching of the Gospel
• Teach and preach Christ
• Acts 542 85, 35 920 1120
• Preaching the things of the kingdom of God
  name of Christ
• Acts 812 198 2025 2823 2831

20
Contents and Character

• The Preaching of the Gospel
• Preach the gospel
• Acts 147-21 1610
• Decrees to keep, that were ordained of the
  apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem
• Acts 164

21
Contents and Character

• The Preaching of the Gospel
• The way of salvation more accurately
• Acts 1617 1826
• Reasoned with them from the Scriptures
• Acts 172
• Shrank not from declaring anything that was
  profitable Gospel of the grace of God.
• Acts 2020, 24, 27

22
Contents and Character

• Story of Conversion
• A number of conversions are related.
• All have several things in common.
• In each case, the gospel was preached. None
  occurred separate and apart from the preaching of
  the word not by any miraculous event!

23
Contents and Character

• Story of Conversion
• Saved by the gospelbecause they believed the
  truth preached.
• Faith in the gospel they heard always produced
  the commanded work of obedience to Gods will!
• See next chart

24
Cases of Conversion
Case Believe Repent Confess Baptism
Jews Acts 236 Acts 238 Acts 238
Samaritans Acts 812 Acts 812ff
Eunuch Acts 836-37 Acts 837 Acts 838
Saul Acts 2216
Cornelius Acts 1043 Acts 1115 Acts 1048
Lydia Acts 1615
Jailor Acts 1631 Acts 1633 Acts 1633
Corinthians Acts 188 Acts 188
25
Contents and Character

• Story of the Church
• What it was, of whom it consisted, its
  organization, its mission and work, its worship,
  and its growth and development.
• We can learn about the church in the beginning
  when it was under apostolic guidanceas designed
  and built by God. It must be the same
  today!

26
Contents and Character

• Story of the Church
• Made up of those who believed and obeyed the
  gospel demands and were added to the saved by the
  Lord.
• Acts 241 44 514 67 942 1124 1312
  1348 141 174 1212 1734 2824 247

27
Contents and Character

• Story of the Church
• Identity of the church and its singularity are
  easily distinguishable in the Acts historical
  record
• Vital activity (Acts 242)
• Organization of early church (Acts 1423)
• Worship of that church (Acts 1125,26)
• Purity (Acts 511)

28
Contents and Character

• Story of the Church
• Its work
• Evangelism
• Acts 1119,20 (personal)
• Acts 1122 (congregational)
• Funds were sent directly to the preacher.
  (Philippians 15 - 225 414-16 2
  Cor.117-9)
• No example of one church sending to another
  church to help with the preachers support!

29
Contents and Character

• Story of the Church
• Its work
• Benevolent work
• Church providing for its own needy.
• Acts 2, 4, and 6
• Churches unable to care for their own.
• Acts 1129-31
• 1 Corinthians 161-4
• 2 Corinthians 8, 9

30
Contents and Character

• Story of the Church
• Pattern of benevolent work
• Contributing church raised its own funds from its
  own memberseach according to his ability.
• Acts 1127-30
• 1 Corinthians 161-4

31
Contents and Character

• Story of the Church
• Pattern of benevolent work
• Contributing church selected its own messengers
  to carry its contribution to the needy church.
• Delivered to the church elders.
• Acts 1127-30
• 2Corinthians 8,9

32
Contents and Character

• Story of the Church
• Pattern of benevolent work
• In no case did any contributing church send
  through the agency of another churchno
  centralized oversight!
• One churchs eldership did not usurp another
  elderships authority or oversight.

33
Contents and Character

• Story of the Church
• Met the problem of false doctrine by appealing to
  authority.
• Acts 151, 5,22,40
• Each church edified by its own elders, through
  its own program of teaching and encouragement
  from gospel preachers.
• Acts 1122 131-3 1640 201,32