Life201 – Bible Survey NT, Acts (Lesson 7) Acts 1. The “Acts” of who? 1.1. Written by physician-Luke [Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-5]. 1.2. Acts of the apostles? The church? The Holy Spirit? 2. Jesus has risen, and the Holy Spirit works! 2.1. Post-Resurrection Appearances 2.1.1. At the tomb [Matthew 28:1-6a] 2.1.2. The Great Commission [Matthew 28:19] 2.1.3. Instruction to wait for “power from on high” [Luke 24:49b] 2.1.4. Ascension [Acts 1:51] 2.2. Things are changing from the gospels to Acts. Gospels Acts Jesus modeled Christianity Everyday people model Christianity The original “seeds” of the church pare planted: “I will build My church” [Mt.16:18] Those seeds take root and begin to sprout, grow, bud, blossom, and bear fruit. Christ ministers, dies, and rises from the dead Christ ascends, is seated and exalted as head of His Body, the church The emphasis rests on Jesus, the second person of the Trinity The emphasis rests on the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity The events occur between about A.D. 1 and A.D. 33. The events occur between about A.D. 33 and A.D. 60, from Christ’s last words to Paul’s first imprisonment. 2.3 Once-skeptical Manford George Gutzke marveled: “His few followers were insignificant and discredited people. They faced stubborn hostility. The Jewish authorities opposed them. The Roman government opposed them and eventually came out in bitter persecution against them… “Even as a skeptic, I had to admit that this Christian Gospel had tremendous strength. It became a movement and crossed every barrier. It crossed the oceans, the deserts, and the mountains. It leaped from one country to another. It spread around the world, and today it is being preached in more than a thousand different languages and dialects. From an historic point of view, Christianity is the most amazing phenomenon the world has ever seen.” 3. Outlining Acts 3.1. The Geographical Outline 3.1.1. This outline follows Jesus’s geographic instruction in Acts 1:8. 3.1.2. [1-7] The events in Jerusalem 3.1.3. [8-12] The gospel spreads to Judea and Samaria 3.1.4. [13-28] Christianity expands to “the remotest part of the earth” Life201 – Bible Survey NT, Acts 3.2. The Chronological Outline 3.2.1. [1] Ascension to Pentecost 3.2.2. [2-7] Pentecost to the stoning of Stephen 3.2.2.1. [4] Peter and John are imprisoned 3.2.2.2. [5] The apostles are beaten and forbidden to speak of Christ 3.2.2.3. [7] Stephen is stoned to death—the first Christian martyr 3.2.3. [8-9] Stephen’s death to Saul’s conversion (who becomes Apostle Paul) 3.2.4. [10-12] Saul’s conversion to his missionary calling, paired with Barnabas 3.2.5. [13-28] Paul’s missionary journeys to his imprisonment in Rome. This section is a travelogue of Paul’s four trips: three missionary journeys and his voyage to Rome as a prisoner to stand trail before Caesar. It is during this time that he wrote 13 letters which have become a part of the New Testament. Paul’s journies: 3.2.5.1. FIRST: Antioch, Cyprus, Pamphylia, southern Galatia, and back to Antioch [13:1 14:28] 3.2.5.2. SECOND: return visits to Syria and Cilicia, Derbe and Lystra in Galatia; on through Asia Minor to Troas; across the Aegean Sea to Macedonia, Athens, and Corinth; and back to Antioch via Jerusalem [15:36 – 18:22] 3.2.5.3. THIRD: from Antioch to Ephesus, Macedonia, Greece, along the coast of Asia Minor, and to Jerusalem [18:23 – 21:17] 3.2.5.4. To Rome: across the Mediterranean Sea to Crete, ship-wrecked on Malta, on to Sicily, and finally, Rome [27:1 – 28:31] 3.3. The Biographical Outline 3.3.1. Another way to tour Acts is to focus on the book’s two most prominent figures: Peter [chapters 1-12], and Paul [chapters 13-28]. Consider the fascinating contrasts between the two: Peter [1-12] Paul [13-28] Central location: Jerusalem Central location: Antioch Emphasis on Jews Emphasis on Gentiles Movement from Jerusalem to Samaria Movement from Samaria to Rome Five great persecutions Four great journeys Period of refinement Period of fulfillment 4. Gaining from Acts 4.1. In many ways, Acts is to the New Testament what Genesis is to the Old Testament. Both are foundational to several key biblical themes. There are many notable “firsts” in the book of Acts: First permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of Christ’s universal church [2]; First formation of local assemblies of believers [2-4]; First act of church discipline [5]; First organization of church government [6]; First martyr [7]; First missionary—Philip [8]; First time the gospel is delivered to Gentiles—Peter and Cornelius [10]; First use of the name “Christian” [11]; First organized approach to world evangelism [13-28]. 4.2. Most of the events pertaining to the church are recorded in Acts. By knowing Acts, you gain a greater understanding of what happened in other places mentioned in the New Testament. For example, Philippians and Paul in Philippi [Acts 16]. 4.3. Where in Acts do you find other New Testament characters besides Peter and Paul; like Mark, Timothy, James, Stephen, Philip, Barnabas…? What about other N.T. places and events?