ACTS---CHRIST’S CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS


INTRODUCTION

1.    The name of the book

A.   Its present title is hardly correct as it deals with only two of the original apostles, Peter and John.

B.   It was known in ancient times as the “Gospel of the Holy Spirit” and the “Gospel of Resurrection”.

C.   It is also called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit”.

D.   Perhaps it should be more aptly entitled “The Acts of the Ascended and Glorified Lord”. The book reveals the continuing ministry of Christ after His ascension.

 

2.    The date of the book

A.   Acts was written about 63 A.D. (ch. 28)

B.   The events described in this book cover about 30 years.

 

A BOOK OF TRANSITIONS

1.    The Judaism of the O.T. is exchanged for the Christianity of the N.T.

 

2.    The book is divided into Jewish (1:1-8:4) and Gentile (chs. 13-28).

 

3.    During the first seven year’s ministry, its activity was limited to Jerusalem.

 

4.    From chapter 13 there was a great movement outward, the missionaries traveling to Rome and perhaps as far as Spain.

 

5.    The transition is seen in that the Gospel, once centered solely upon the needs of the Jews, is now aimed chiefly at the Gentiles.

 

6.    It also marks a transition in concepts.

A.   The law is no longer seen as the rule of life for man. It is replaced by the rule of grace or the Spirit.

B.   The complicated ceremonies of the religious law are set aside in favor of the simplicity of the Gospel.

 

VITAL STATISTICS

1.    Key verse - 1:8

 

2.    Key word - Holy Spirit (or derivative), at least 70 times

 

3.    Key men - Peter, Stephen, Philip, James, Barnabas, Silas, Mark and Paul

 

4.    It is a record of three separate missionary journeys undertaken by the Apostle Paul.

 

5.    “It is the only unfinished book in the Bible. How could there be a complete account of a person’s life and work so long as he lives! And the Lord Jesus still lives!” ---Lee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHRIST IN ACTS

It has been stated that Acts gives prominence to the Lord Jesus. He is the worker. Let us trace this fact in the book. The Lord Jesus is seen as

  1.   The Commander and Instructor of His people (1:2-9)

  2.   The Great Hope of the church (1:10,11)

  3.   The Guide of His people in church matters in the time of perplexity (1:24; 10:13-16; 16:10; 22:18-21)

  4.   The Bestower of the Holy Spirit (2:33)

  5.   The Burden of all sermons and addresses (2:22-36; 3:13-15; 4:10-33; 5:30; 6:14; 8:5, 35; 10:36)

  6.   The One who added to the church (2:47)

  7.   The only Hope for a perishing world (4:12)

  8.   The Active Partner in our service (3:16, 26; 18:9, 10)

  9.   The Personal Agent in conversion (9:3-6)

10.  The Encourager of His much tried ones (7:55, 56; 23:11) --Robert Lee

 

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ACTS

1.    Next in importance to the coming of Christ to earth is the coming of the Holy Spirit.

A.   He came in fulfillment of Christ’s promise. (John 14:15-18; 16:7-13)

B.   He came in answer to prayer. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4)

C.   He came to provide the spiritual impetus needed. (Acts 1:8)

 

2.    The spiritual blessings that come “through the Holy Spirit” (1:2)

A.   “Through the Holy Spirit” - Power (1:5, 8)

B.   “Through the Holy Spirit” - Utterance (2:3, 4, 6)

C.   “Through the Holy Spirit” - Boldness (4:8, 19-31)

D.   “Through the Holy Spirit” - Signs, wonders (5:7, 12, 25, 32)

E.   “Through the Holy Spirit” - Wisdom (6:3, 10)

 

NOTABLE SIMILARITIES

1.    Peter was the apostle to the Jews (Gal. 2:7-9); Paul to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46-48; 18:6).

 

2.    The first twelve chapters of the book are devoted to the ministry of Peter; the last sixteen chapters to Paul.

 

3.    God used the very same ministry in reaching the Jews through Peter as He did the Gentiles through Paul.

 

                       Peter                                                                         Paul

 

A.     First sermon (2)                                                  A. First sermon (13)

B.     Lame man healed (3)                                         B. Lame man healed (14)

C.     Simon the sorcerer (8)                                        C. Elymas the sorcerer (13)

D.     Influence of shadow (5)                                      D. Influence of handkerchief (19)

E.     Laying on of hands (8)                                        E. Laying on of hands (19)

F.     Peter worshipped (10)                                        F. Paul worshipped (14)

G.     Tabitha raised (9)                                   G. Eutychus raised (20)

H.     Peter imprisoned (12)                                         H. Paul imprisoned (28)

 

 

 

 

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK (cf. 1:8)

  I.    THE LORD AT WORK IN JERUSALEM (chs. 1-7)

A.   The ascension of Christ (1:1-11)

B.   Ten days waiting for the Spirit (1:12-14)

C.   Appointment of an apostle (1:15-26)

D.   Pentecost and the founding of the church (ch. 2)

E.   Lame man healed (ch. 3)

F.    First persecution (ch. 4)

G.   Judgment of Ananias and Sapphira (ch. 5)

H.   Deacons chosen (ch. 6)

 I.     Testimony and death of Stephen (ch. 7)

 

 II.    THE LORD AT WORK IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA (chs. 8-9)

A.   Persecution under Saul (8:1-4)

B.   Ministry of Philip (8:5-40)

C.   Outpouring of the Spirit and threatened judgment (8:17-24)

D.   Conversion of Saul (9:1-30)

E.   Further ministry of Peter (9:32-43)

 

III.   THE LORD AT WORK IN THE UTTERMOST PARTS (chs. 10-28)

A.   Conversion of Cornelius (10-11:18)

B.   The church at Antioch (11:19-30)

C.   Peter’s arrest and deliverance (ch. 12)

D.   Paul’s first missionary journey (13:1-15:35)

E.   Paul’s second missionary journey (15:36-18:22)

F.    Paul’s third missionary journey (18:23-21:17)

G.   Paul’s imprisonment (21:18-28:31)

 

FOOTNOTE

The book of Acts was not written as an explanation of what was happening but to show what was happening. The reader must go to the epistles of the New Testament to see the why of the things in this book. Many of the epistles were written during the period covered by Acts.