Transcript New Testament Survey: Book of Acts

New Testament Survey:
Book of Acts
The Author
• Luke is assigned as the author.
* The book is addressed to Theophilus (Luke
1:3; Acts 1:1, 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. (16:10-17; 20:5-15; 27:1; 28:16)
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 Paul’s death had
already occurred.
• Written prior to 70 A.D. and after Paul
reached Rome—probably around 63 A.D.
The Book’s Audience
• Intended for a wider reading audience than just
Theophilus.
• Origin of Christianity’s 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 (1:8)
The Book’s Purpose
• Historical Motive
– See Luke 1:4 and Acts 1:5.
– Acts gives a history of the continuation
of Jesus’ work, by the Holy Spirit,
through the Apostles.
– The final instruction (1:8)
The Book’s Purpose
• The Defense Motive
– In Acts, every contact with government
officials receives a favorable hearing or
is ignored.
• Acts 13—Sergius Paulus
• Acts 16:35-39—officials at Philippi
• Acts 19:31—officals at Ephesus
• Acts 24-26—Felix, Festus, and Agrippa
The Book’s Purpose
• The Biographical Motive
– Luke divided the Acts historical record
into two different sections biographical in
nature:
• Chapters 1-12—history of Peter’s work
• Chapters 13-28—the apostles’ work with
the Gentiles—Paul!
Contents and Character
• The book, Acts of the Apostles,
records for us the history of
Christianity’s beginning, growth,
and spread during at least the first 30
years--from Christ’s ascension to
Paul’s imprisonment in Rome.
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 (1:8, 21, 22)
• Eye and ear witnesses of that about
which they bore testimony (1:2; 26:1618; 2 Peter 1:16-21; 1 John 1:1-4)
Contents and Character
• The Apostolic Office and Work
– A competent witness must give clear and
accurate testimony.
• Guided by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians
2:9-13)
• Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians
5:20; Acts 4:18-20; 5:28-32)
• Sat upon thrones with authority to rule
over the church (Matthew 19:28; Acts
2:42; 15; Galatians 2:1-9; 1 John 4:6)
Contents and Character
• The Holy Spirit’s Work
– His mission was first promised by Christ.
• John 14:16,17, 25,26; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8
– Promise fulfilled on Day of Pentecost.
• Acts 2:1-4
• Acts 2:15-21
• Acts 2:33
Contents and Character
• The Holy Spirit’s Work
– Reveal the gospel.
• Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13;
Ephesians 3:3-5
– Confirm the word by miracles.
• Mark 16:15-20
• Acts 6:6-8; 8:6-13; 19:6
• Hebrews 2:1-4
Contents and Character
• The Holy Spirit’s Work
– Convict and convert the sinners.
• John 16:8-11
– Continue to guide and direct the
apostles.
• Acts 5:32
• Acts 4:31
• Acts 9:31
• Romans 8:14
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 2:42
– “Spoke the word of God;” “preach the word;”
“the word of the Lord”
• Acts 4:31; 13:44; 14:25; 18:11; 15:35-36; 16:32
Contents and Character
• The Preaching of the Gospel
– “Teach and preach Christ”
• Acts 5:42; 8:5, 35; 9:20; 11:20
– “Preaching the things of the kingdom
of God;” “name of Christ”
• Acts 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23; 28:31
Contents and Character
• The Preaching of the Gospel
– “Preach the gospel”
• Acts 14:7-21; 16:10
– “Decrees to keep, that were ordained
of the apostles and elders which were
at Jerusalem”
• Acts 16:4
Contents and Character
• The Preaching of the Gospel
– “The way of salvation more accurately”
• Acts 16:17; 18:26
– “Reasoned with them from the Scriptures”
• Acts 17:2
– “Shrank not from declaring anything that was
profitable;” “Gospel of the grace of God.”
• Acts 20:20, 24, 27
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!
Contents and Character
• Story of Conversion
– Saved by the gospel—because they
believed the truth preached.
– Faith in the gospel they heard always
produced the commanded work of
obedience to God’s will!
– See next chart…
Case
Believe
Repent
Jews
Acts 2:36
Acts 2:38
Samaritans
Acts 8:12
Eunuch
Acts 8:36-37
Baptism
Acts 2:38
Acts 8:12ff
Acts 8:37
Saul
Cornelius
Confess
Acts 8:38
Acts 22:16
Acts 10:43
Acts 11:15
Lydia
Acts 10:48
Acts 16:15
Jailor
Acts 16:31
Corinthians
Acts 18:8
Acts 16:33
Acts 16:33
Acts 18:8
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
guidance—as designed and built by
God. It must be the same today!
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 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 9:42; 11:24;
13:12; 13:48; 14:1; 17:4; 12:12; 17:34;
28:24; 2:47
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 2:42)
• Organization of early church (Acts 14:23)
• Worship of that church (Acts 11:25,26)
• Purity (Acts 5:11)
Contents and Character
• Story of the Church
– Its work…
• Evangelism
– Acts 11:19,20 (personal)
– Acts 11:22 (congregational)
• Funds were sent directly to the preacher.
(Philippians 1:5 - 2:25; 4:14-16; 2 Cor.11:7-9)
• No example of one church sending to another
church to help with the preacher’s support!
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 11:29-31
» 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
» 2 Corinthians 8, 9
Contents and Character
• Story of the Church
– Pattern of benevolent work
• Contributing church raised its own funds from
its own members—”each according to his
ability.”
– Acts 11:27-30
– 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
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 11:27-30
– 2Corinthians 8,9
Contents and Character
• Story of the Church
– Pattern of benevolent work
• In no case did any contributing church
send through the agency of another
church—no centralized oversight!
• One church’s eldership did not usurp
another eldership’s authority or
oversight.
Contents and Character
• Story of the Church
– Met the problem of false doctrine by
appealing to authority.
• Acts 15:1, 5,22,40
– Each church edified by its own elders,
through its own program of teaching
and encouragement from gospel
preachers.
• Acts 11:22; 13:1-3; 16:40; 20:1,32