Brief background of the book of acts chapter

In this book we see the first mention of the dispensation of the holy spirit and jesus command to take his gospel to all the world. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. The acts of apostles gives us a unique insight into how the church began. The story of acts acts covers some of the most important events that occur in the history of the christian tradition. In virtually every chapter, apostles such as peter and paul powerfully present the gospel to individuals and groups of people. Acts of the apostles 3 acts of the apostles introduction author commonly called the acts of the apostles, it is simply titled acts in some of the oldest manuscripts. There is no single chapter that does not exhibit gods power and wisdom in operation. Of these, the first twelve report events between the time of jesus last meeting with his disciples and the beginning of pauls work as a christian missionary. Limited objectivity is especially apparent in ancient histories. Acts of the apostles chapter five objectives in studying this chapter 1 to examine the sin of ananias and sapphira in lying to the holy spirit 2 to note the amazing signs and wonders that were done by the apostles, in which all were healed 3 to consider the apostles response when government seeks to stifle the preaching of the gospel.

He shows us how god is working and speaking in this story and our own stories. The book of acts is the only historical record of the birth and early days following christs establishing his church. On one level, as is true of most literary works, luke had many purposes and acts has many themes. The ending of acts plays an important role in route of determining the book s date. Luke wrote the book of acts acts of the apostles to record how believers were empowered by the holy spirit, worked to spread the gospel of christ, and are a model for the future church. Without this historical record, little would be known about the expansion of the church. Sep 04, 2008 the book of acts was written by luke, the physician, to theophilus as a supplement to the gospel of luke. A brief introduction the gospel of luke and the book of acts were written by the same author. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of the apostles through the work of the holy spirit. The book of acts follows just the opposite motion, taking the scene from jerusalem 15, to judea and samaria chs. In the 19th century, however, some thought that the heresy refuted in ch.

When the number of disciples increased, what problem arose. Acts begins with the ascension of jesus, and tells the story of how the gospel was spread beyond the jewish community to the whole world. The life and teachings of jesus christ are established in the four gospel narratives, and the book of acts provides a coordinated account of the beginning and spread of the church as the result of the work of the risen lord and the holy spirit through the apostles. Luke, the author of the gospel of luke, was a doctor and gentile. We come to the conclusion of our introduction to the book of acts today by looking at its purpose and theme. Not typical behavior for a dead guy, but we are talking about jesus here. Accordingly, we can assume that acts reflects the concerns of its author. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. He uses medical terms convulses and examine look upon. Chapterbychapter bible studies acts kathleendalton.

Who did the twelve apostles call to discuss the problem with. Acts 2 background information with maps and images. Lesson 1 investigates the author, historical setting, and the theological background of the book of acts. What todays church needs to learn from the book of acts. Acts 1 background information with maps and images. The acts of the apostles focus on the beginnings of the church in the wake of jesuss death on the cross. Authorship of actsluke is the author of the book acts. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. Acts demonstrated how the preaching of jesus as the christ corroborated. Some have suggested that a better title might be the acts of the holy spirit. Chapter 27 ends with paul, under house arrest, just writing epistles of the new testament. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier date is also possible. Acts 2 background information with maps and images picture. The book of acts ends just as it begins, emphasizing the apostles role as those who expanded gods kingdom on earth, through their proclamation.

The book has been called the acts of the apostles, really a misnomer because acts has very little to say concerning most of the original twelve apostles. The genre of the book of acts is narrative history with several sermons. In acts, luke recorded that paul preached for three sabbath days to the jews in the local synagogue acts 17. Luke gives a brief recap of his gospel, then moves on to discuss the. In that text, his semitic name saul is replaced by paul likely his latin name that is adapted in the greek new testament as well. That colossians is a genuine letter of paul is usually not disputed. God took a christianhating murderer and transformed him into historys greatest christian evangelist, the author of almost half the books of the new testament. Overview of the new testament brief overview of the new testament cork bible institute 2007 page 5 continued acts of jesus from heaven by the holy spirit through his church. It might appropriately be called some of the acts of some of the apostles since it does not.

But luke does not document the beheading of paul under caesar nero at the end of the imprisonment mentioned at the end of acts. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible society. Our story starts off where the gospel of luke left offjesus is back now that hes resurrected, jesus decides to hang out and chat with his disciples whom luke calls apostles for forty days. It is very important to know who is present so someone can check on those who are absent.

Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and the surrounding world. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. However acts chapter 27 is not the end but the beginning of the church, in fact acts is still going on, for we are now the church acting, we are now the bringers of the gospel, instrument of righteousness to be used by god for his glory. Only with knowledge of this background can we understand the writing of the gospels, as well as the other new testament literature that followed. The book of acts gives us a history of the work of the early church and the holy spirit, within the theatre of the known world. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original.

Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. Saul is the alternative name, especially in the book of acts acts of the apostles. The book of james a detailed commentary basic training bible ministries page 2 introduction to james background of the book the epistle of james is one of. As modern readers, then, we should approach the book of acts as another channel to lukes view of salvation history. The acts addresses a reader called theophilus, a figure about whom very little is known. Study acts using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. He was also the author of its companion work, the gospel of luke. Acts chapter 2 is the beginning of many great things. Jan 02, 2020 the emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. The apostles portrayed in acts shine with evangelistic zeal, showing a striking transition from the often misguided disciples of the gospels.

The use of the pronoun we marks the return of pauls close friend luke, who has been absent since 21. Although the author does not name himself, evidence outside the scriptures and inferences from the book itself lead to the conclusion that the. To make the picture abundantly clear, god has given us a hand picked record of the activities of the early church. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. It might appropriately be called some of the acts of some of the apostles since it does not try to describe all of the acts of all the apostles.

The beginning verses of acts make it clear that acts is a sequel of the story started in luke and written to the same man named theophilus, generally a title ascribed to highranking roman officials. Here is a summary and overview of the book of acts. Verily, verily, i say unto you, whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin. This study looks at the first twelve chapters of acts, so as to follow the actions of the apostles whom jesus chose. The book of acts shows how god essentially took a group of fisherman and commoners and used them to turn the world upside down acts 17. The book of acts is addressed to theophilus, usually thought to have been a gentile who was interested in learning more of christianity and whose name suggests may have been a symbol of all lovers of god. Really, very little is written about the apostles in acts. In this examination of the gospel of luke, my objective is to present a summary of background and introductory issues, point out some general observations, delineate the purpose, theme, unfolding and outline of the gospel. That there would be heaps of lessons to be learned from the book of acts should be obvious this is after all the brand new, pristine body of believers closest to christ and closest to the original vision of what the church should look like.

Lukes gospel ends with that event, and luke picks up right where he left off in acts chapter 1. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. And more important than that greek literature is the book of acts itself, where luke uses this same trio of expressions in chapter 7, where in stephens speech he uses those three verbs. This summary of the book of acts provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of acts. It provides important background for the principal writers of the epistles or letters to the churches. Additional background to the acts of the apostles 1. Prior to that, luke documents many of pauls other imprisonments, trials, persecutions, and various other abuses that he suffered. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. Acts summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of acts for bible study or sunday school lessons. As we approach the book of acts, we must always keep in mind that luke wrote out of his background in the old testament and first century beliefs about the kingdom of god in christ. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. Acts chapter 9 kjv king james version all unrighteousness is sin. Luke is uniformly identified as the author acts by the second century a. From the empowering by the holy spirit in chapter 2, the early church made a great impact on all it encountered, the apostles peter and john playing a major role in this early work.

Acts of the apostles, written by the author of the third gospel luke, begins after jesus death and describes the spread of the christianity throughout the roman empire, primarily through the missionary activity of the apostle paul. The book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our counselor. At this time moses was born same word as we have acts 22. While acts is a record of history, luke weaves many theological themes into these stories to teach us about god and his mission. An overview of the book of acts the life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epistles. In this first chapter of acts, we see our five basic themes for acts introduced. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of leaving. It tells of the founding of the church, the spread of the gospel, the beginnings of congregations, and evangelistic efforts in the apostolic pattern. The book of acts ends with paul in house arrest waiting to present his case before caesar. The book of acts ends with pauls imprisonment in rome. How many men were chosen to take care of these needs. In the first volume, luke informs us all that jesus began to do and teach. Lesson 1 investigates the author, historical setting, and the theological background of.

Lukeacts makes up 28% of the new testamentmore than that written by either paul or john. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book. The offering sent by barnabas and saul to the jerusalem elders. Many people call acts the acts of the apostles, but really, if you want to add to the name acts, perhaps, a better name would be the acts of the early church. Since luke is the author of acts, any date between ad 60 and 100 is reasonable as conzelmann points out. He decides to hang around with all his favorite disciples for forty days. The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. Acts cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test.

Paley has remarked the accuracy of the historian here. This great chapter in the bible is one of the most studied, most taught, and often times the most wrongly taught. Each book bears witness to gods mission to restore and renew creation, first through the crucified and risen jesus, and then through his followers. Both works are dedicated to a man named theophilus and share a common writing style. This question should ring through your mind as you page through the book of acts.

A chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 2 acts the beautiful, amazing, powerful, weak, dysfunctional church table of contents scripture passage page 1. In the early church, all who speak on the subject of authorship ascribe it to paul. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. The significance of acts as a historical account of christian origins cannot be overestimated. The acts of the apostles is a continuation of jesus mission on earth, and at the same time, the book has no real conclusion. Herod the kinggrandson of herod the great, and son of aristobulus. Luke acts makes up 28% of the new testamentmore than that written by either paul or john. He at this time ruled over all his fathers dominions. Acts 12 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. The apostle paul, sometimes called saint paul or saul of tarsus, lived from about 5 bce 5 ce to about 67 ce. Acts chapter 1 the book of acts was penned by luke, the physician.