Acts Simplified

“Send the Light”

Acts is the 3rd Longest Book in the NT (Matt. & Luke are Longer)

Without Acts, We Would Be Missing a Lot of Information About the Early Church

Where the Gospels Lead Up to Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension…

Acts Tells Us the Rest of the Story

Acts 1:1 (NASB95)

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,

The Gospel of Luke was About What Jesus Began Doing and Teaching

That Indicates that the Book of Acts is About What Jesus Continued to Do and Teach

Acts Covers the First 30 Years of Church History

But it Isn’t Just a History Book

It Tells the History of the Early Church in Narrative/Story Format

It is the Story About the Unstoppable God…

And His Mission to Save All Mankind…

Through the Gospel of Jesus and the Power of the Spirit

Author & Audience

Luke was the Likely Author of Both Luke and Acts

He was a Physician, Traveling Companion of Paul, Historian, and Gifted Story-Teller

We Discussed Luke’s Authorship When We Looked at the Gospel of Luke

We Also Discussed Theophilus Being the Audience/Recipient

Lessons are On Website if You Want to Go Back and Learn About that

Themes & Purpose

We Looked at Several Themes for the Gospel of Luke

Acts, Being the 2nd Part to Luke-Acts, has Many of Those Same Themes

Acts is All About:

The Early Church Sharing the Good News of Jesus

The Early Church Becoming a Diverse Community Where All People are Equal

From All Places

From All Backgrounds

From Slaves to Kings

From the Uneducated to Philosophers

Women, Children, and Others of Low Social Standing

Blind, Deaf, Lame, and Sick

All People are Welcomed into this New Community of Christ

The Early Church Trusting in the Power and Guidance of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit was a HUGE Deal to the Early Church

He Should Still Be in Today’s Church

The Early Church Experiencing Obstacles From Within & Without

John B. Polhill

“The story of Acts can perhaps be summarized in the single phrase “the triumph of the gospel.” It is a triumphant story of how the early Christian community in the power of the Spirit saturated their world with the message of God’s salvation in Jesus Christ. It was not an easy path. There were obstacles from within. Old assumptions were challenged. Opinions had to be revised and prejudices overcome as the Spirit led to an ever more inclusive people of God. There were abundant obstacles from without—imprisonments, beatings, martyrdoms, storms at sea and angry mobs on land. But the faithful witnesses continued their testimony. The word of God grew, bearing ever more fruit among both Jews and Gentiles. The Spirit of God was behind it all, and the gospel triumphed.”

Or to Paraphrase:

The Spirit of God Led the People of God to Spread the Message of God to All the World

And Despite Many Obstacles From Within and Without…

The Gospel Triumphed

The Purpose of Acts is to Provide Us with this History

Summarized Outline

Luke Does Us a Favor By Helping Us See the Way He’s Structured the Book in Acts 1:8

Jesus is Speaking to His Disciples When He Says:

Acts 1:8 (NASB95)

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

This is Exactly How the Book is Structured

First We See the Apostles Receive Power From the Presence of the Holy Spirit

Then We See Them Proclaim Jesus in Jerusalem

Then in All Judea and Samaria

Then in All the World

There are Several Similar Ways to Outline Acts:

The Christian Mission to the Jews and Beyond (1-12)

The Christian Mission to Gentiles (13-28)

The Acts of the Church in Jerusalem (1-7)

The Acts of the Church in Judea & Samaria (8-12)

The Acts of the Church in the Remotest Parts of the World (13-20)

Paul’s Journey Form Jerusalem to Rome (21-28)

The Mission of the Jerusalem Church (1–12)

The Mission in Jerusalem (1-5)

The Mission Beyond Jerusalem (6-12)

Missionary Journeys of Paul (13–28).

The 3 Major Missionary Journeys of Paul (13:1–21:16)

Paul’s Defense of His Ministry and Journey to Rome (21:27–28:31)

Key Passage

Paul was Recounting His Conversion Before King Agrippa

Jesus Told Him that He was Sending Paul to the Gentile…

Acts 26:18 (NASB95)

to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

This is One of the Best Verses in Acts that Summarizes the Gospel

The Gospel Opens the Eyes of Those Who are Living in Darkness

It Reveals the Light of Truth

Truth About Jesus, the True Creator, Savior, and King of the World

Truth About Where Salvation From Sin, Corruption, and Death Can Be Found

Truth About the Way of Life that is Pleasing to God and in Our Best Interest

And this Light of Truth Presents People with a Choice:

To Continue Living in Darkness

A Life Without Meaning, Purpose, or Hope

A Life Lived in Slavery to Satan

Or to Turn and Experience Life in the Light

A Life With Meaning, Purpose, Hope, Joy, and Peace

A Life of Freedom Under the Lordship of the Gentle and Loving Jesus

The Gospel Grants Forgiveness and an Inheritance

Forgiveness Provides Freedom From Sin, Corruption, and Death

Forgiveness Provides Reconciliation, Redemption, and Relationship with God

The Inheritance Provided By the Gospel…

Is What We Will Share Among All Those Who are Sanctified By Faith in Jesus

We Will All Share in the Resurrection From the Dead

We Will All Share in the Glory of Christ in Our New Immortal Bodies

We Will All Share an Eternal Home with God in the Age to Come

The Gospel Brings:

Spiritual Enlightenment

Conversion to Christ

Spiritual Blessings

It was the Early Church’s Mission to Share this Gospel

And it is Our Mission Today as Well

The Good News Message of Jesus is the Power of God to Save the World

We, Like the Early Church, Have it

So We, Like the Early Church, Ought to Be Passionate About Telling it to Others