Through this study we will discover that the path to true, lasting joy comes from god. This title may be a bit misleading, because 11 apostles are barely mentioned, while the book concentrates almost exclusively on the early work of peter chapters 112 and the short but influential ministry of paul chapters 28. The book of acts describes the true history of the early church and the spread of the gospel. From the book of acts, we learn that luke accompanied paul on some of his journeys.
Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier date is also. From the book of acts, we learn that luke accompanied paul on. Acts documents the infancy of the early church from jesus instruction of his apostles before his ascension to the day of pentecost and the explosion of christianity, which continues to this day. Church gospel holy spirit chapters 28 next 20 years major emphasis. The earliest title for the book seems to have been simply the acts. What can we learn and apply from the book of acts today. The final third of acts focuses on all the following except. This subject was the focus of the jerusalem council, a meeting of the apostles. The book focuses primarily on the acts of two apostles, peter and paul.
Authorship of the book of acts is attributed to luke. The holy spirit in the book of acts preaching source. The book of acts focuses on pauls ministry as an example for us, but by no means was he solely responsibility for early church growth. Whereas the gospel of luke focuses on the life and ministry of jesus christ, the acts of the apostles builds upon what jesus did and taught see acts 1. The apostles saw the recent events of christ being crucified. This introductory message to a study of philippians focuses on the founding of the church as found in the book of acts. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Lets turn first to what we can learn about the authorship of acts from the gospel of luke. Acts facts the spread of christianity the six parts of.
It is the historical link that joins the life of christ with the growth of the christian church. Acts tells us how the christian movement came into beginning. Peter and his mission to the jews is the main focus in this first part of the book of acts. The gospel spread from israel, northward to antioch, and then westward to.
I hyper focus on an issue, and think, lord what are you trying to teach me. Here we see how the geographical movement occurring in acts 17 reinforces a few of the themes we just read about in chapter two. It is the book of acts that certifies paul as a true apostle to the readers of the new testament. The gospel to jerusalem acts 17 in chapter one of this booklet we learned that acts contains two distinct movements. The book of acts demonstrates jesus christs promise and his commission to the church being fulfilled. This is evident by the socalled we passages in acts acts 16. In chapter one of this booklet we learned that acts contains two distinct. Some have suggested, however, that not the acts of the apostles who have no major importance in the book but the acts of the. One finds embedded in acts a record of christian defenses made to both jews e.
Even that title, of course, was not original because acts was the second part of the gospel of luke. A better title for this book is the acts of the holy spirit and because of this the book of acts is an unfinished book. At first reading, the acts of the apostles appears to focus on the history of the early church. A chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 4 acts a short introduction heres what we ll be reading as we study through the book of acts. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. Without the book of acts, our knowledge of the early history of the church would be limited to the small amount provided by the new testament epistles.
Bayer, as we ve been thinking through the lesson in terms of historical setting and context, it makes me reflect on my own life when im certain that i read the book of acts and learned from it and sat in sunday school lessons and knew nothing about its historical setting. Acts has been called a transitional book because it serves as a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the. The book of acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly paul and peter, after jesuss ascension into heaven. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of the document.
Here is a summary and overview of the book of acts. Lessons on the acts of the apostles becoming closer. Did they have to follow jewish laws, like eating kosher and circumcising males. The book of acts is an eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the church. That is exactly what the acts of the apostles book is. The book of acts focuses on these relationships in many places. It contains the acts jesus carried out after his ascension, through the holy spirit, in establishing the church. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church.
Bible study tips for the book of acts unlocking the bible. We see not only his desire to associate with the saints, but also his willingness to suffer as a christian. The implications of this are that the people and places mentioned in the book are historically true and present a factual picture of the events that turned the world upside down, as acts 17. This is the story of christianitys beginnings and how evangelism played a role in the spread of faith around the world. In acts, we have three accounts of his conversion and commissioning acts 9, 22, 26. The events described in acts occurred over a period of about 30 years about a. From these two texts, we learn that luke was a physician and that he was a fellowlaborer with paul. There is not one record past the book of acts of a sinner being converted and the by any other message than the apostles doctrine. In this book we see the first mention of the dispensation of the holy spirit and jesus command to take his gospel to all the world.
The book of acts course a, lesson 7 free bible study. He was a greek and the only gentile christian writer of the new testament. The book of acts clearly focuses on the beginnings of the church, and two people the apostle peter, and the one who actually possessed the courage to go to the farthest parts of the known world with the gospel of jesus christ, his name was paul the apostle. This year we studied the book of acts in community bible study find one. We learn that opposition can work to strengthen and guide the church. Terms in this set 12 though called the acts of the apostles, the book focuses primarily on only two apostlespeter and paulwho in christian art are usually portrayed holding what items. It alone presents an extensive picture of early church life and history. As we approach the book of acts, we will focus on three aspects of lukes. Spirit is the driving force behind the spread of the christian message, and he places more emphasis on it than do any of the other evangelists. If we fail to learn about what real christianity is from the book of acts, we will just keep on playing church, pleasing men, and displeasing god. Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to peter and. And it proposes to show the continuation of all that jesus began both to do and teach 1. Acts 2 new international version niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost. The book of acts, also called acts of the apostles, does not specifically identify its author.
It is an important book in understanding how we can be directed by the holy spirit and the role of jesus lessons in our lives. The tradition from the earliest days of the church has been that luke, a companion of the apostle paul, wrote the books of luke and acts colossians 4. Barnabas acts 4 bible study questions handout acts 4. The acts of the apostles is a unique and therefore crucial book of the new testament. Of the 27 books that make up what we know as the new testament, the one called the acts of the apostles is unique in the information it contains. A more careful and critical reading shows that it actually focuses on a comparison between the. Theres never been much contention about the authorship of acts. Luke wrote his gospel and also the book of acts compare luke 1. Here we see how the geographical movement occurring in acts 17 reinforces a few of the themes we just read about in.
He is a historian, but one who acknowledges clearly, here in verse 2 the power of the. He was an educated man, and we learn in colossians 4. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible.
Study 1 going through the book of acts words of life. What todays church needs to learn from the book of acts. A major figure in the book of acts and the new testament is the apostle paul. As we read these speeches, we can learn important truths, not just ancient history. Ludlowthe book of acts was written by luke after his gospel as the second part of a great twovolume work on jesus christ and the early christians. Any person learned in the scripture will acknowledge that from romans through revelations is written to those who are already saved. Throughout the rest of acts, luke focuses on paul and his missionary journeys chs. The traditional name for this book is acts of the apostles, but a more. As such it answers the question many firstcentury observers would have. Studies in the book of acts grace communion seminary. The book of acts functions like a roadmap for the progress of the gospel. Acts and letters of the apostles captures the joys and sorrows.