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. The acts of the apostles is a patterned and repetitive portrayal of ancient events that seeks to tell a sacred history rather than only recount an accurate, verifiable human history. For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own conversion experience with those in acts. Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of acts e. Acts 1 niv jesus taken up into heaven in my bible gateway. The final third of acts focuses on all the following except. Most bible translations have titled the book the acts of the apostles, but a more appropriate title would be the acts of the holy spirit.
People from many nations were beside themselves with wonder at hearing gods amazing acts in their own languages. Overview of the book of acts reformed answers to bible. And it proposes to show the continuation of all that jesus began both to do and teach 1. Our questions about what really happened are not the same as those asked or answered by the book s author, for he assumes many events rather than seeking to. Though certain ceremonial and civil aspects of the law.
Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and the surrounding world. On of the core realities in the book of acts is the continual exposure to the spreading of the gospel evangelism. The book of acts is the record of that commission beingcarried out. Ultimately it seeks to know the truth of the canon. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. The following are the five that i have found to be the most helpful. If the book of acts were gone, there would be nothing to replace it the last recorded fact about jesus in the gospel of matthew is the resurrection. 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. Why is the gospel of luke and acts of the apostles composed as. Charismatics base doctrine on the experiences in acts.
Acts is significant for chronicling the spread of the gospel, not only geographically but also culturally. The book of acts is a key part of gods plan to reach the whole world. People come to the book of acts for a variety of reasons. First it is important to see how luke makes certain events in the book of acts parallel events that he earlier described in vol. There are a number of good commentaries on the book of acts. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1.
The book focuses primarily on the acts of two apostles, peter and paul. The regions of judea and samaria were roughly equivalent to the southern and northern regions of the promised land given to israel in the old testament. The book of acts new international commentary on the new. The question regarding the meaning of the canon is far more complex than questions of origin and development. The instant and dire judgment of god on ananias and sapphira as recorded in acts 5 would absolutely appal these contemporary christians. Oxford university press usa publishes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, bibles, music, childrens books, business books, dictionaries, reference books, journals, text books and more. The book of acts is the second book written for theophilus by luke, and takes up the story where lukes gospel account finished luke 1. We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early apostles and preachers 3. It comes directly after the four gospels and before the letters of paul. Luke has several important themes that he develops in acts. What todays church needs to learn from the book of acts.
Jul 19, 2009 on of the core realities in the book of acts is the continual exposure to the spreading of the gospel evangelism. It simply begins once he is no longer bound by the limitations of time and space. The acts of the apostles is the fifth book in the new testament. Acts of the apostles chapter 1 mobile understanding. While the book of acts focuses much attention on the work of both peter and paul, it mentions many others in a supporting role, such as the apostle john, the deacons stephen and philip, barnabas, james not the apostle and apollos. The authors provide six hermeneutical principles for historical narratives generally. He focuses primarily on evidence from the second and third centuries and only cautiously uses later sources.
The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. Book of acts synonyms, book of acts pronunciation, book of acts translation, english dictionary definition of book of acts. Acts tells what happened following the ascension when jesus started to work through his new body, which is the church. One finds embedded in acts a record of christian defenses made to both jews e. Acts 2 new international version niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost. Nowhere is the transitional nature of acts more evident than in the four different means of the giving of the holy spirit recorded in its pages. This seems more in line with the book of hebrews and other statements in the gospels that indicated a temporarily to the temple cult and its practices, maybe even the temple itself 7. 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 were. As we approach the book of acts, we will focus on three aspects of lukes.
To guide the church in its continuing mission by describing how the holy spirit empowered the apostles to spread their witness on christs behalf to the gentile world. Consequently, acts is the continuing story of jesus work. Chapter 1 verse 1 establishes the fact that luke a gentile is the writer, the former treatise being his gospel lk. The book of acts new international commentary on the new testament kindle edition by bruce, f. A spirituality of acts the book of acts focuses on gods mission, as god draws people into his orbit and brings them into his community, and so its spirituality is missional. The spread of christianity the six parts of the book of acts. Overview of the book of acts third millennium ministries. Scripture speaks of the gospel primarily being verbilized in two ways preaching, and speaking.
It contains the acts jesus carried out after his ascension, through the holy spirit, in establishing the church. The first mention of gods feasts in the book of acts is found in acts 2. His name being changed to paul, he is given special revelations from god as to the heavenly character of christianity, and these take the foremost place before the book of acts closes. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. These acts bible study lessons are relevant teaching for todays christian community, as they tells what should be the driving force behind a spiritual church and its various programs. The book of acts has a very large cast of characters, an overwhelming majority of whom are not apostles. In an indirect way, this reinforces the message that jesus mission continues through us, the church, today. Lukes theology is expressed primarily through his overarching plot, the way scenes, themes and characters combine to construct his specific. The literary artistry of the book of acts the bart. The literary artistry of the book of acts the bart ehrman blog. I am in the middle of a thread dealing with the new testament book of acts, the first account that we have of the history of the christian church at its very beginnings starting with the events happening right after the resurrection of jesus and covering the spread of the christian faith through the roman world up until the time paul reached the city of rome, presumably in the early 60s ce. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. It focuses primarily on the process by which the several books were collected and recognized as authoritative and inquires concerning the relative validity of that process.
The book of acts was likely written between ad 61 and 64. The book of acts was written to provide a history of the early church. Jesus knew from the begging that he was going to be betray by judas jesus said it was better for him judas not to be born. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. In my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions. Oct 02, 2003 the first mention of gods feasts in the book of acts is found in acts 2. Acts 1 niv bible in my former book, theophilus, i wrote. Indeed, i am sure most would never even mention the episode, let alone preach on it. Acts bible study lessons unique bible study resources. The feasts of the lord in the book of acts united church. They all possess the authority of deity, and all agree in what work they command us to do.
Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. Or put another way, does the book of acts provide information that not only describes the primitive church but speaks as a norm to the church at all times. 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. Through acts 115, god primarily through the work of peter, paul and james has removed his work out of the judaistic mold, creating the israel of god the church designed to spread to the gentiles. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of acts new international commentary on. The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. The new testament without the book of acts leaves a great yawning gap. 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. But there is so much more found in the book of acts which differs so radically from what we find in most churches today. Top 5 commentaries on the book of acts ligonier ministries.
Acts of the apostles, the second part of the work that begins with the gospel according to luke, is the story of the early church after jesuss. This time, i would like to approach this matter from a slightly different perspective. In my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the holy spirit to the apostles he had chosen. Book of acts definition of book of acts by the free. It traces the first decades in the history of the church after the resurrection of christ, focusing in particular on the work of peter and paul. When the holy spirit overpowered the upper room with the sound like a roaring windstorm, history changed forever. We primarily have confidence in the records of speeches in acts because luke was. Book of acts acts chapter 1 acts chapter 2 acts chapter 3 acts chapter 4 acts chapter 5 acts chapter 6 acts chapter 7 acts chapter 8 acts chapter 9 acts chapter 10 acts chapter 11 acts chapter 12. It records events after christs ascension, which include the outpouring of the holy spirit and the birth of the church on the day of pentecost, early church government, and the missionary journeys of the apostles especially those of peter and paul. So, as i was reading the story about paul bringing the gospel to lydia, i couldnt help but wonder how this must have looked. But stephen reminded the jews that god was bigger than any temple. When the day of pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
In acts peter states, repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of jesus christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the holy spirit acts 2. Actively changing through the spirit is a bible exposition through the book of acts tracing the powerful kingdom plan being put into effect by the power of the holy spirit. Acts can be neatly divided into two sections, the first dealing primarily with the ministry of peter in jerusalem and samaria acts 112 and the second following paul on his missionary journeys throughout the roman empire acts 28. The purpose of the book of acts is governed by the jews response to peter and paul. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers.
Here, the gift of the holy spirit is conditioned upon repentance in relation to the gospel preaching of peter. Includes articles, maps, commentary, powerpoints, pdfs, podcasts, etc. 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. The book of acts is the only history book in the new testament. Which of the following represents a difference between the gospel of luke and acts. I believed judas was predestined to betray jesus as in acts 1. There are several reasons why the books are divided into two. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth. F download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The gospels focus on the earthly ministry of jesus christ, while the book of acts focuses on the earthly ministry of the holy spirit. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy. It shows how the early church coped with pagan and jewish thought, the roman government and hellenistic society. Some of you will recognize that i have written on the book of acts before. It is a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. The acts of the apostles is a continuation of jesus mission on earth, and at the same time, the book has no real conclusion. The temple in this book called acts was the third temple. Acts facts the spread of christianity the six parts of.
God does not recognize a difference between jews and. Acts 1 new international version niv jesus taken up into heaven. David spoke about judas concerning his betrayal in the book of psalms. In acts, as luke describes the spread of the gospel and the ministry of the apostles, he focuses primarily on two, peter and paul. Kjv the book of acts is the historical link between the. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english.
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