If his case came to court, what better court brief could paul have had than a life of. Paragraphbyparagraph outline for the book of acts carefully, paragraph by paragraph, the book of acts has been evaluated in the following pages. It provides us a glimpse of and stirs our faith in regard to what god wants to do in the church today. 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 book of acts is a clear and concise work that exposes the reality of christ, the existence of the kingdom of god the church, and detailed instructions regarding what. The book of acts sermon outlines this material is from, a web site containing sermon outlines and bible studies by mark a. In these names we see that the lord raises up instruments for his work, from various places and stations in life. This seminarylevel study also retains its depth and uses an engaging interactive format. Ive been reading a commentary by a pentecostal missiologist, a great book that told the book as a story set in our modern day and now this book by one of the great decidedly, and contrastingly not pentecostal bible teachers of our day, john macarthur. Biblical literature the content of acts britannica. The lord jesus christ at work by the holy spirit through the apostles in jerusalem, chapters 17 a. Luke wrote the book of acts and the gospel of luke and he dedicated his work to a man named theophilus as mentioned in the summary of the book of luke. 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.
Acts record the establishment and activities of the firstcentury church. As luke describes it early on in the book, they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers 2. The acts of the apostles church leadership resources. Paul came in contact with twelve of these individuals in acts 19. Cornelius in the book of acts profile learn religions. In acts, he told how the good news about jesus christ spread. The beautiful, amazing, powerful, weak, dysfunctional church a chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 6 acts 1 50 days 1. The book of acts, sometimes called the fifth gospel, is a continuation of the gospel of luke. The earlier sections deal with the jerusalem church under peter and the gradual spread of the gospel beyond jewish limits. Oct 31, 2009 this paper doesnt refer to any other parts in the bible regarding tongues. The book of acts, which continues the narrative that luke began in his gospel, is especially important because it was the first written history of the christian church. It provides a record of the early rain outpouring of the spirit. Jesus had shown himself alive by many proofs for 40 days. Acts 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole.
Luke is the writer, as he states in his introduction v. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. A free bible version and commentary on the book of acts in easyenglish. Although many faithful servants were used to preach and teach the gospel of jesus christ, saul, also called paul, was the most influential.
As john would have seen these heresies first hand, he determined to write an account of the life of christ that illustrated proof that jesus was the son of god and that he was god in the flesh, deity. Other topics while luke tells the story of the spread of the christian gospel from jerusalem to rome, he is also able to achieve some additional purposes. Luke was a companion of paul on his missionary journeys, and in many parts of the book of acts it says we did this or that acts 16. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. In these names we see that the lord raises up instruments. Acts concerns the very vital period in christian history between the resurrection of jesus and the death of the apostle paul, the time when christian ideas and beliefs. The lord told him to enter the city, and he would be told what he must do 9. The title the inscription the acts of the apostles. Peters activities are described at some length, and john and philip are mentioned, but more than half of the book is about paul and his connection with the christian movement. It gives us a description of much that god is restoring.
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. Written around 6062 ad by luke as a sequel to lukes gospel, acts is a narrative history describing the work and formation of the early church, highlighting especially the works of saul paul and the apostle peter as they travelled extensively spreading the gospel message. Each paragraph in the esv translation of acts has been evaluated and a factual statement about its content was recorded in one sentence. In the book of acts, the holy spirit is active speaking and directing the work. Introduction to the book of acts helpful tools for study the following tools will be helpful in this study. Acts of the apostles 4 imprisonment in rome are 6062 a. The book of acts is a book of inspiration in these days of the restoration of the church. The book of acts was written to provide a history of the early church. Acts tells us a great deal about the lifestyle of the first christian community. Book of acts versebyverse bible study and indepth commentary of the acts of the apostles in plain english for everyone to understand. The slow steps by which the promise made to abraham advanced toward performance, plainly show that it had a spiritual meaning, and that the land intended was the heavenly. The book begins with the ascension of jesus and goes on through pauls jail time in rome, which opens his ministry to the church at rome. Two dates are possible for the writing of the book of acts. To my knowledge, however, no church growth book with a complete focus on acts has been written.
The earlier sections deal with the jerusalem church under peter and the gradual. Acts of the apostles, outline international standard bible. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. Acts matthew henrys concise commentary on the bible. Without this historical record, little would be known about the expansion of the church. Most can be obtained from a good religious bookstore. Other topics while luke tells the story of the spread of the christian gospel from jerusalem to rome, he is. Sir william ramsay, after making a critical study of lukes writings, declared that luke was the greatest historian, ancient or modern. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of the apostles through the work of the holy spirit. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. Verse 1 demonstrates clearly that the unnamed author of acts is the same person as the unnamed author of the third gospel luke 1. Luke, the author of the gospel of luke, was a doctor and gentile.
Paul is encouraged along his journey to rome because he made three brief stops and found fellow christians in each port. Saul received a vision of the resurrected christ while en route to damascus. The holy spirit in the book of acts thesis statement the mighty acts of the holy spirit advancing the gospel moving upon and through the church is amazing in its detail throughout this book. A large portion of the acts is occupied by the discourses or sermons of various persons, the language and manner of which differ, and all of which will be found according to the persons by whom they were delivered, and the occasions on which they were spoken. From the cloven tongues of fire and speaking in everyones language at pentecost, to speaking directly to many, through visions to others and healing power to many, the holy. Paragraphbyparagraph outline for the book of acts josh. Acts is a fastmoving historical account of the first three decades of the church.
Detailed outline of the book of acts of the apostles bible blender. A history of the early church gene taylor2an outline of the book i. Found as the 5th book in the new testament, the book of acts can best be split into two parts. The book of acts is the only historical record of the birth and early days following christs establishing his church. It describes establishment, growth, organization, and worship of the church e. Several questions can be answered from the first 2 verses. Acts covers some of the most important events that occur in the history of the christian tradition.
The outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. This is, in effect, an outline of the book of acts see plan and outline below. The book of acts gives the history of the christian church and the spread of the gospel of jesus christ, as well as the mounting opposition to it. A chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 4 acts a short introduction heres what well be reading as we study through the book of acts. Luke, an educated man, by profession a physician, meticulous and orderly, sets out in acts, under the inspiration of the holy spirit, to prove the truth of the apostles teaching and show how rapidly it spread. Jun 06, 2006 i read this bible study book as part of my yearlong study on the book of acts. Biblical literature biblical literature the content of acts. Comparing lukes record in acts with the religious world today, we can see how far people have drifted from following jesus as the way conclusion 1. Visit the web site to browse or download additional material for church or personal use.
It provides us a glimpse of and stirs our faith in regard to what god wants to do. The book of acts is a clear and concise work that exposes the reality of christ, the existence of the kingdom of god the church, and detailed instructions regarding what one must do to be added to this kingdom. Luke was from antioch but traveled with paul all over southern europe and the middle east. The author quite certainly was luke for the following reason. The book of acts is also the history of the birth, the founding, and the spread of the church from jerusalem to rome. Paragraphbyparagraph outline for the book of acts josh weidmann. Acts is clearly on some of the acts or deeds of mostly peter. There are three different incidences in the book of acts that refers to speaking in tongues. The former treatise have i made, o theophilus, of all that jesus began both to do and teach, the.
Acts agrees with pauls letters on the major outline of pauls career. The gospel of luke and the book of acts form a single, twovolume work. Ms which contains this book, as well as the antimarcionite prologue to luke c. For an example of one church growth writers use of acts, see c. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. It depicts the struggles and problems that they faced as well as the. Biblenotes the entire holy bible is summarized with easyto. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth. Visit the web site to browse or download additional material for. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book. That was the day when the holy spirit poured into the disciples in the upper roomthe day when peter boldly proclaimed the gospel of jesus christ and witnessed more than 3,000 people choose to follow him. The genre of the book of acts is narrative history with several sermons. Peter and the beginnings of the church in the holy land chs. The life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epistles.
Preparation for the coming of the spirit, chapter 1 1. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Complete but concise summary of each book of the bible old. The outline of acts can be roughly divided into two parts. Biblenotes the entire holy bible is summarized with easy.
Church gospel holy spirit chapters 28 next 20 years major emphasis. Specificallyand initially acts was written to be a trial brief for paul. The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. This versebyverse bible study and commentary of the acts of the apostles the book of acts or simply acts is indepth but uses plain language that everyone can understand, as well as a format that will engage you.
Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and the surrounding world. While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the apostles, many times you must use cross references to the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john as well as some other epistles in the new testament to get the full picture of what was happening at this time in history. If the book was just before or after pauls release, then it was likely written around 63 a. 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. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. God used the acts of apostles as an example of what the church should be. So they said, believe on the lord jesus christ, and you will be saved. Acts concerns the very vital period in christian history between the resurrection of jesus and the death of the apostle paul, the time when christian ideas and. Acts contains the only record of the first thirty years of the early church 2. Purpose of the book as indicated previously, the original purpose of both the gospel and acts may have been to assist. The book of acts gives the history of the christian church and the spread of the gospel of jesus christ, as well as the. As john would have seen these heresies first hand, he determined to write an account of the life of christ that illustrated proof that jesus was the son of god and. In doing gods work, our own wills and those of our friends must often be crossed. Provides an overview of acts and two outlines for the book of acts as well as an index for bff acts articles, powerpoints and audiovideo podcasts.
12 1320 1012 1702 13 333 1481 224 947 632 1790 1082 532 1672 40 883 438 1328 472 359 1442 1419 1129 847 962 38 376 1568 117 114 231 1220 424 1259 223 1763