Overview of Acts
Notes
Transcript
Author of Acts
Author of Acts
Luke is the author of Luke-Acts indicated by internal evidence within the Bible, as well as external evidence like Church Father Irenaeus who was the Bishop of Lyons and was alive in the 2nd century.
Luke writes to Theophilus in both Luke and in Acts.
Luke was a companion of Paul, who was mentioned three times specifically in the NT (; ; ), and was often mentioned while Paul was in prison, thus indicating that he was a faithful companion who stuck around during hard times.
Luke was a physician ().
Other than this there is not much else known about Luke.
Book of Acts
Book of Acts
Acts was written before 70 AD.
Acts was written as a continuation to the Gospel of Luke (; ), telling of the time after the ascension of Christ and the spreading of the gospel.
Acts is a detailed account of Christ building his church after his ascension through the power of the Holy Spirit working in his followers to be witnesses of the gospel.
Main Characters: Peter ( ); Paul ().
Paul ()
The theme and structure of Acts is synthesized in “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The theme and structure of Acts is synthesized in “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
We see being carried out geographically throughout Acts.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Sermons make up 1/3 of the book of Acts.
Three different ways to view structure:
Person Structure: Peter ( ); Paul ()
Geographic Structure: Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and end of the earth.
Summary Statements.
Summary Statements in Acts (Structure)
Summary Statements in Acts (Structure)
Summary Statements in Acts
6:7- And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
9:31- So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
9:31- So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
12:24- But the word of God increased and multiplied.
12:24- But the word of God increased and multiplied.
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
16:5- So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
19:20- So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
28:30-31- He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
These summary show us a pattern Narrative-Summary-Narrative-Summary. This is where we find our structure and breaks in the narrative of Acts
He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Paul ()
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
:24But the word of God increased and multiplied.
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Paul (
)
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
19:20
So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
28:30-31
Questions
Questions
He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Questions
Questions
How do you think Acts fits into the larger story of the NT and of the entire Bible?
What aspects of Acts have confused you? Are there any specific questions you hope to resolve through this study of Acts?