The Book Of Acts 04_29_2022

BIBLE STUDY- 04/29/2022 THE BOOK OF ACTS The book of Acts is the only history book in the New Testament. ● It records events after the ascension of Jesus back to Heaven and the day of Pentecost, including the birth and historical record of the first Church. AUTHOR: ○ Although the author does not name himself, evidence outside the Scriptures and inferences from the book itself lead to the conclusion that the author was Luke. TO WHOM WAS THIS WRITTEN: All believers, though it was specifically addressed to Theophilus. ○ Theophilus is believed to be a close friend of Lukes. Both books written by Luke are addressed to Theophilus. But we do not truly know who Theophilus is because the Bible does not identify who he was. LUKE 1:3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ACTS 1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach It is believed to be written around 60’s AD. 1 IMPORTANCE OF ACTS: ○The book of Acts provides a bridge for the writings of the New Testament. ○ This can be seen as the 2nd volume to Luke’s Gospel. It joins what Jesus "began to do and to teach" as told in the Gospels with what he continued to do and teach through the apostles' preaching and the establishment of the church. ○ It supplies an account of the life of Paul from which we can learn the setting for his letters. ACTS 11:26 NIV and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.. ○ The stories take place between Jerusalem, where the church began, and Rome, the political center of the empire. ○ Historically it recounts the first 30 years of the church (the first Christians). ○ It is also a bridge that ties the church in its beginning with each succeeding age. This book may be studied to gain an understanding of the principles that ought to govern the church of any age. THEME AND PURPOSE ● To present a history. ○ The significance of Acts as a historical account of Christian origins cannot be overestimated. ○ It tells of the founding of the church, the spread of the gospel, the beginnings of congregations, and evangelistic efforts in the apostolic pattern. ● One of the unique aspects of Christianity is its firm historical foundation. The life and teachings of Jesus Christ are established in the four Gospels, and the book of Acts provides the accounts of the disciples and other followers sharing Christ’s teachings to anyone and everyone. 2 TO GIVE A DEFENSE. ○ One finds embedded in Acts a record of Christian defenses made to both Jews (e.g., 4:8-12) and Gentiles (e.g., 25:8-11), with the underlying purpose of conversion. ○ It shows how the early church coped with pagan and Jewish thought and the Roman Government. ACTS 25:8-11 NIV Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on... Paul’s Travels TO PROVIDE A GUIDE. ○ Luke had no way of knowing how long the church would continue on this earth, but as long as it pursues its course, the book of Acts will be one of its major guides. Jesus was the foundation of the church, the book of Acts shows the building of the church on that foundation. ○ In Acts we see basic principles being applied to specific situations in the context of problems and persecutions. ● These same principles continue to be applicable until Christ returns. To depict the triumph of Christianity in the face of bitter persecution. ○ The success of the church in carrying the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome and in planting local churches across the Roman empire demonstrated that Christianity was not merely human work. ○ It triumphed under the rule of the exalted Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit. 3