Acts.
The Author. The author is Luke who wrote the gospel of Luke. Facts
concerning him may be found in chapter twenty-seven. He wrote this
book about A. D. 63 or 64.
The Purpose. It was addressed to an individual as a sort of
continuation of the former thesis and aims to chronicle the growth and
development of the movement inaugurated by Jesus as it was carried on
by the apostles after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. It is
taken up largely with the history of Christian work among the Gentiles
and only gives enough of the history of the Jerusalem church to
authenticate the work among the Gentiles. The chief purpose,
therefore, seems to be to give an account of the spread of
Christianity among the Gentiles. This view is further strengthened in
the fact that Luke himself was a gentile (Col. 4:10) and that he was a
companion of Paul (Col. 4:14) and the "we" section of Acts. The book
does not, therefore, claim to be a complete account of the labors of
the early apostles. But it does give in a simple, definite and
impressive manner an account of how the religion of Jesus was
propagated after his death and of how it was received by those to whom
it was first preached.
The Spirituality. In the Old Testament God the Father was the active
agent. In the gospels God the Son (Jesus) was the active agent. In
Acts (and ever after) God the Holy Spirit is the active agent. He is
mentioned about seventy times in Acts. The Savior had told the
apostles to wait at Jerusalem for the power of the Holy Ghost. Until
they were endued with His power they were very ordinary men. Afterward
they were pure in their purpose and ideals and were always triumphant
in their cause. The book is a record of mighty spiritual power seen in
action everywhere.
Analysis.
Introduction, 1:1-3.
I. The Church Witnessing in Jerusalem, 1:4-8:11.
1. Preparation for witnessing, 1:4-2:4.
2. First witnessing, 2:4-47 end.
3. First persecution, 3:1-4:31.
4. Blessed state of the church, 4:32-5:42.
5. First deacons, 6:1-7.
6. The first martyr, 6:8-8:1.
II. The Church Witnessing in Palestine, 8:2-12:25.
1. The witnesses are scattered abroad, 8:2-4.
2. Philip witnesses in Samaria and Judea, 8:5-40.
3. The Lord wins new witnesses, 9:1-11:18.
4. Center of labor changed to Antioch, 11:19-30.
5. The witnesses triumph over Herod's persecution, 12:1-25.
III. The Church Witnessing lo the Gentile World, 13:1-28:31.
1. Witnessing in Asia, Chs. 13-14. Paul's First Missionary Journey.
2. The first church council, 15:1-35.
3. Witnessing in Europe, 15:36-18:22. Paul's Second Missionary
Journey.
4. Further witnessing in Asia and Europe, 18:23-21:17. Paul's Third
Missionary Journey.
5. Paul, the witness, rejected and attacked by the Jews at
Jerusalem, 21:18-23:35.
6. Two years imprisonment at Caesarea, Chs. 24-26.
7. Paul, the witness, carried to Rome, 27:1-28:15.
8. Paul, the witness, at Rome, 28:16-31.
For Study and Discussion. (1) The first church conference for
business, 1:15-26. (2) The coming of the Holy Spirit, 2:1-4. (3)
Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, 2:5-47. (4) The first miracle,
ch. 3. (5) The first persecution, 4:1-31. (6) Death of Annanias and
Sapphira, 5:1-11. (7) The first deacons, 6:1-7. (8) The first martyr,
ch.7. (9) Philip's work in Samaria, 8:5-40. (10) Conversion of Saul,
9:1-31. (11) Conversion of Cornelius, 10:1-11:18. (12) List the
principal churches of the book, their location and what makes them
notable. (13) List the principal preachers of the book and note the
sermons or miracles, etc., that make them prominent. (14)The
sermons and addresses of the book, to whom each was delivered, its
purpose, etc.(15) The chief elements of power of these early
disciples. (16) The growth of Christianity and the hindrances it had
to overcome. (17) The great outstanding teachings of these early
Christians. (18) The tact and adaptation of the apostles (give
examples). (19) The different plans to kill Paul and the way by which
he escaped each. (20) The missionary journeys of Paul and his journey
to Rome as a prisoner.
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