03.44. Acts
Walking Thru The Bible
ACTS
Introduction
AUTHOR: Acts is indeed a continuation of Luke’s Gospel. We could well refer to the Gospel as Volume One and Acts as Volume Two. In Acts 1:1 "the former treatise" addressed to Theophilus (Luke 1:3) is a reference back to Luke’s Gospel.
Internal evidence, particularly the "we" passages of Acts (Acts 16:10-17; Acts 20:5-21; Acts 20:18; Acts 27:1-44; Acts 28:1-16) confirm Luke as the author. Luke by profession was a physician. He is the only Gentile author in the New Testament. He was an eyewitness to many of the events in the book and was Paul’s co-worker. BACKGROUND: The book of Acts begins where the gospel left off at the resurrection and ascension of Jesus into heaven. It takes up the story there and shows the establishment of the Kingdom (the church) and its growth. It is often called "the book of conversions" because it shows how people in the first century became Christians. Various titles given the book include:
"The Acts of the Apostles"
"The Acts of the Holy Spirit" "The Ecclesia Established, Evangelizes and Expands" "The Message and Method of New Testament Evangelism" "The Great Commission In Action" "How To Get Into Christ" Luke’s Gospel = Christ Luke’s Acts= How to get into Christ The Epistles= How to stay in Christ "A Book of Beginnings" "Book of Conversions" "Acts of Apostles" (Some Acts of Some of the Apostles) CHARACTER: The book is historical and written in narrative form. The history of the Bible is HIS STORY and the pivot point of the Bible around which all things revolve is the Cross. The Old Testament says "Someone is coming." The Gospels say "Someone has come." The Epistles say "Someone is coming again." The Book of Acts is a very important book in the New Testament. From the book we glean much background material for the epistles. We see the important theme of early preaching (the resurrection), fulfillment of prophecy and a number of miracles.
DESIGN: The book shows the progress of Christianity from Jerusalem to all Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. The commission of the risen Lord had already been reported by Luke (Luke 24:46-49) and here is the description or how it was accomplished.
The key verse of the book is Acts 1:8. This verse is actually like Luke’s Table of Contents, or outline for the book. The book was probably composed in about AD 61/62. It begins with the history of AD 29/30, the year of our Lord’s death, and ends following two years of Paul’s imprisonment at Rome about AD 62.
OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF ACTS:
I. Spread of the Gospel in Palestine with Peter as leader. Acts 1:1-26, Acts 2:1-47, Acts 3:1-26, Acts 4:1-37, Acts 5:1-42, Acts 6:1-15, Acts 7:1-60, Acts 8:1-49, Acts 9:1-43, Acts 10:1-48, Acts 11:1-30, Acts 12:1-25
II.Spread of the Gospel Outside Palestine with Paul as leader. Acts 13:1-52, Acts 14:1-28, Acts 15:1-41, Acts 16:1-40, Acts 17:1-34, Acts 18:1-28, Acts 19:1-41, Acts 20:1-38, Acts 21:1-40, Acts 22:1-30, Acts 23:1-35, Acts 24:1-27, Acts 25:1-27, Acts 26:1-32, Acts 27:1-44, Acts 28:1-31 A CHRONOLOGY BY CHAPTER (You may need to see this FULL PAGE for the chart to line up correctly.) Acts 35 Years of Church History
Key Verse: Acts 1:8 Author: Luke
Key Word: “Witness”Date written: A.D. 62
Acts 2:1-47Pentecost - Holy Spirit GrowthActs 3:1-26Gate Beautiful - lame man healed thruActs 4:1-37Peter & John arrested TestingActs 5:1-42The lie told “Acts 6:1-15Widows neglected “Acts 7:1-60Stephen
andPersecutionActs 9:1-43Saul’s conversion SamariaGospel toActs 10:1-48Cornelius’ conversion the GentilesActs 11:1-30Peter reports Acts 12:1-25Herod
JourneyActs 14:1-28Lystra & Derbe Jerusalem Acts 15:1-41Jerusalem council 2ndPaul & SilasActs 16:1-40Philippi JourneyActs 17:1-34Athens Acts 18:1-28Corinth 3rdPaul & SilasActs 19:1-41Ephesus JourneyActs 20:1-38A farewell address JerusalemActs 21:1-40Paul arrested in Jerusalem “Acts 22:1-30Stairway sermon Acts 23:1-35Plot on Paul’s life CaesareaActs 24:1-27Felix “Acts 25:1-27Festus “Acts 26:1-32King Agrippa
ROMEActs 28:1-31Rome The Conversion of Lydia
Introduction
1.Every woman introduced in the Scriptures to any extent is in some way remarkable-- either for her virtues or her vices. 2.As Paul was the first recorded gospel preacher on European soil, so Lydia was the first recorded convert there. 3.Acts 16:13 tell us of the meeting at the place of prayer. Notice:
I.Lydia Prior To Conversion 1.An industrious woman. Acts 16:14 a.Busy people are often good hearers and doers of the word. 2.A religious woman. a.Found at "the place of prayer" on the Sabbath. b.She closed her shop for worship.
II. Lydia In Conversion 1.She heard the word. Acts 16:14 a. Hearing precedes conversion. Romans 10:17 2.The Lord opened her heart. 2.This marvelous work was done by the influence of God’s messenger and the word being explained. (See Luke 24:45). 3.She gave heed--put into practice the things spoken by Paul. a.She and her household were baptized. b.Of whom did her household consist? Baptism is for those who have been taught (Matthew 28:19) and who have become believers (Mark 16:16).
III. Lydia In Christ 1.We get but a glimpse of Lydia the Christian, but how splendid! 2.She was grateful - Acts 16:15 b 3.She was faithful to the Lord--judged so by Paul. Probably the first church in Philippi met in her home - Acts 16:40
LESSONS 1.Without God’s word there can be no conversion. Acts 16:14 2.People are both passive and active in the process of conversion.
3.Great blessings for those who attend prayer-meetings! 4.Woman: first in the transgression, often first in obedience.