I can
do this!
A “How to” Guide
for Reading the
New Testament
Acts: Luke’s Second Volume
Luke 1:1-4
Acts 1:1
Many have undertaken to draw up an
account of the things that have been
fulfilled among us, just as they were
handed down to us by those who
from the first were eyewitnesses and
servants of the word. Therefore,
since I myself have carefully
investigated everything from the
beginning, it seemed good also to me
to write an orderly account for you,
most excellent Theophilus, so that
you may know the certainty of the
things you have been taught.
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
Acts: Luke’s Second Volume
Acts of the Apostles
Peter: Chapters 1-12
Paul: Chapters 13-28
Acts of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost (Acts 2)
Mighty Deeds/Wonders
Acts of the Holy Spirit through People
Peter - Paul - Stephen - Philip - Barnabas - Priscilla
What is Acts?
History?
Theology?
Theological History:
Divine Explanation for On-going Work of
Jesus in and through People
Reading Keys for Acts
Examples of Divine Explanation
1. Apostles need explanation about Nature of
Kingdom:
Acts 1:6
2. People need explanation about nature of Spirit:
Acts 2:12; 2:17-21; 2:37
Reading Keys for Acts
Examples of Divine Explanation
3. Jewish Leaders need explanation about Power
of God in the Christian movement
Acts 4:7; 5:38-42
4. Christian Leaders need explanation about
nature of New Testament Church
Acts 10:17-21
Outline of Acts
Acts 1:8
But you will receive
power when the Holy
Spirit comes on you; and
you will be my witnesses
Chapters 1-12
Primarily Peter
Primarily Jewish
in Jerusalem, and
in all Judea and
in Samaria,
and to the ends of the
earth.
Chapters 13-28
Primarily Paul
Primarily Gentile
Outline of Acts
Jerusalem
Chs.2-7
Judea and
Samaria
Chs. 8-12
Ends of the
Earth
Rome
Chs. 13-28
Jews only
Jews, Samaritans,
God-fearers
Jews, Samaritans,
God-fearers,
Gentiles
Outline of Acts
Acts 1:8
But you will receive
power when the Holy
Spirit comes on you; and
you will be my witnesses
in Jerusalem, and
Goal #1
Geographic
(Rome)
Goal #2
Missionary
(Witnesses)
in all Judea and
in Samaria,
and to the ends of the
earth.
Goal #3
Spirit-Filled
Witness
Unique Contribution of Acts
1. History and Theology in Speeches
30% (300 out of 1,000 verses) of Acts is in the
form of speeches
Christian Speeches
Non-Christian Speeches
Peter (8 speeches)
Gamaliel (5:35-39)
Paul (9 speeches)
Ephesus Town Clerk
(19:35-40)
Stephen (7:2-53)
James (15:13-21)
Festus (25:24-27)
Unique Contribution of Acts
2. The Exalted Christ
Began in Volume 1, Luke
Jesus’ Words (Luke 9:1)
 Actual ascension (Luke 24:50-51)
Continues in volume 2, Acts
 Luke the Narrator (Acts 1:1-2)
 Angels (Acts 1:9)
 Peter’s Sermon (Acts 2:33)
 Stephen’s Death (Acts 7:55)
Unique Contribution of Acts
3. The Holy Spirit
Began in Volume 1, Luke
 Birth Narrative of John the Baptist
(Luke 1:15; 1:17)
 Birth Narrative of Jesus
(Luke 1:35; 1:41)
 Zechariah’s Prophecy / Song
(Luke 1:67)
 Simeon’s Prophecy in Temple
(Luke 2:25; 2:26; 2:27)
 Jesus’ Baptism (Luke 3:16; 3:22)
 Jesus’ 1st Sermon (Luke 4:17)
Unique Contribution of Acts
3. The Holy Spirit
Continues in Volume 2, Acts
 Opening Narrative (Acts 1:2)
 Jesus’ Instruction (Acts 1:5; 8)
 Pentecost (Acts 2)
 Character and ministry of Apostles
(Acts 4:8; 6:3; 6:5; 7:55; 11:24)
 Guidance (Acts 16:6; 16:7; 20:22)
 Prophecy (Acts 20:23; 21:4; 21:10-11)
Holy Spirit permeates Christian life and
ministry at every conceivable point
Unique Contribution of Acts
4. The EMERGING Church
Not fixed but dynamic
Jerusalem (Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37)
Judea & Samaria
Philip and Ethiopian (8:26-40)
Ends of the Earth (Rome)
Paul and Barnabas in Lystra (14:8-18)
Church and Evangelistic approach must change
with culture. (Cultural Contextualization)
Unique Contribution of Acts
4. The EMERGING Church
Central authority; diverse leadership
 Apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 2-5)
 Deacons Chosen (Acts 6)
Minister (Acts 7-9:31);
BUT Apostles Oversee (Acts 9:32-15:35)
 Mission to Gentiles (Acts 12-28)
Appointment of Elders (14:21-23)
and Gentile churches support Mother
Church in Jerusalem (Collection; 1 Cor
World of Acts
Roman Rule
Julius Caesar
(d. 44 B.C.)
Caesar Augustus (a.k.a. Octavian) (27 B.C.-A.D.14)
(Luke 2:1)
Tiberius
(Luke 3:1)
(A.D.14-37)
Caligula
(A.D.37-41)
Claudius
(Acts 11:28; 18:2)
(A.D.41-54)
Nero
(A.D.54-68)
(Acts 25:10-12; 27:24)
Roman Emperors
Dates
Names
Scriptures
27 BC AD 14
Augustus (Octavian)
Luke 2:1
14 - 37
Tiberius
Luke 3:1
37 - 41
Caligula (Gaius)
-
41 - 54
Claudius
Acts 11:28; 18:2
54 - 68
Nero
Acts 25:10; 28:19
68
Galba
-
69
Otho
-
69
Vitellius
-
69 - 79
Vaspasian
-
79 - 81
Titus
-
81 - 96
Domitian
-
96 - 98
Nerva
-
98 - 117
Trajan
-
117 - 138
Hadrian
World of Acts
Hellenistic World
Rome ruled the world through military might
BUT
Greece influenced the world through ideas
•Language
•Social Order
•Religions
No separation of politics / religion / social world
Summary:
New Testament Church was not born in a religious or cultural
vacuum.
Acts 2 - Pentecost
1. The Event of Pentecost (2:1-13)
a. The Fulfillment of the Father’s Promise
Luke 24:45-49 / Acts 1:8
Acts 2 - Pentecost
1. The Event of Pentecost (2:1-13)
b. The Description of the event
Timing: Feast of Pentecost (50 days after Passover)
Celebration of Harvest
(Ex 23:16)
Celebration of Giving of Law
(Anniversary of Giving of Law)
Jewish tradition associates Mt Sinai
with wind, fire, voice
Heb 12:18-19
Three Signs: Sound like . . . Blowing wind
Sight like . . . Tongues of fire
Speak in other languages (dialects)
Acts 2 - Pentecost
Tongues: Glossolalia
Acts 2
vs.
1 Corinthians 12 & 14
Different in direction
Public
2:11
Praise to God
14:2; 14-17, 28
Different in Character
Understood
by all
Unintelligible,
needed interpreter
Different in purpose
Bearing witness
to outpouring of
Holy Spirit
Self -Edification;
Building of Church
Acts 2 - Pentecost





Of prophecy and tongues, which does Paul encourage
more for the Corinthians (14:1-2, 5)?
What is the main draw back to the use of tongues in
worship, according to 14:2, 4, 5, 7-12, 13-17, 19?
Did Paul speak in tongues (14:18)? Do you think he was
being “Tongue in cheek” here in reference to his ability
to speak numerous languages or that he really did
privately speak in ecstatic speech (cf. Rom 8:26)?
Under what circumstances did Paul allow the use of
tongues in public worship?
Did Paul forbid speaking in tongues?
Acts 2 - Pentecost
2. The Explanation of Pentecost (2:14-41)
a. Speeches in Acts
Complete Verbatim accounts
or summaries?
With many other words he warned them; and he
pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this
corrupt generation.” (2:40-41)
Summaries abound in Acts. (2:47; 4:4; 5:14;
6:7; 9:31; 9:42; 11:21; 12:24; 13:48; 16:5; 19:20;
28:30-31)
Acts 2 - Pentecost
2. The Explanation of Pentecost (2:14-41)
b. Formation of the Kerygma of Jesus
*Foretold in Scriptures 2:14-21
*Jesus’ life
2:22
*Jesus’ Death
2:23
*Jesus’ Resurrection
2:24-32
*Jesus’ Exaltation
2:33-36
*Jesus’ Salvation
2:37-39
*Jesus’ New Community 2:40-41
Acts 6 – Choosing of Deacons
1. Problem: Numbers growing,
Care deteriorating
Hebrew widows cared for; Greeks overlooked
These cultural and social distinctions perpetuated
into the new community; and had to be eliminated
(see John 17:22; Gal 3:28; Eph 2:14-18; Col 3:11)
2. Solution: The Twelve appoint Seven
Note:
All seven had Greek names
The deacons move the Gospel (6:7)
Acts 9 – Damascus Road Experience
1. Paul the Persecutor (Acts 8:1-4, 9:1-3)
Note 1:8 vs. 8:1
Jerusalem (Acts 2-7)
Judea/Samaria (8-12)
Ends of the earth (13-28)
Note 8:3-4
Paul attempts to destroy the church
The church was scattered
Word to Samaria
Qs. How does this impact our view of persecution?
Acts 9 – Damascus Road Experience
Who Was Saul (Paul) before meeting Jesus?
•born in Tarsus
•Jew, Pharisee of Pharisee (Phil 3:4-6)
•trained by Gamaliel I, in Jerusalem
•most likely tri-lingual
(Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic; Acts 22:1)
Acts 9 – Damascus Road Experience
Why was Saul (Paul) a persecutor of Christians?
(Acts 9:1-2)
1. Paul’s persecution of the Christian Church
could be validated through scripture!
•Phil 3:4-6
•Deut 21:23
•Numbers 25:1-15
Acts 9 – Damascus Road Experience
2. Paul’s persecution of the Church could be
validated through extra-Biblical history!
•2 Macc 6:13
“In fact, it is a sign of great kindness not to let
the impious alone for long, but to punish them
immediately!”
•Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls)
“A righteous man shows unremitting hatred
toward all men of ill repute” (1QS 9:22)
“The nearer I draw to you, the more I am filled
with zeal against all who do wickedness” (1QS 4:13)
Acts 9 – Damascus Road Experience
3. Paul’s persecution could be validated
through Jewish and Roman public policy!
•Josephus records a friendly relationship renewed
which makes Rome overall rulers but the Sadducean
high priests were given authority over most internal
matters, especially in strictly religious matters.
(Antiq XIII, 259-66; XIV 145-48)
See Acts 9:1-2
Acts 9 – Damascus Road Experience
What Happened on the Road? (Acts 9:3-6)
1. Saw a light from Heaven / Heard a Voice
2. Brief Encounter
Jesus: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Paul: “Who are you, Lord?”
Jesus: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”
Acts 9 – Damascus Road Experience
Revelation of Christ that Paul was confronted with:
1. Jesus is alive!
Must revaluate everything, since God has raised
him from the dead
2. Paul stands under God’s rebuke!
Light and Voice from heaven corrected him
Acts 9 – Damascus Road Experience
Revelation of Christ that Paul was confronted with:
3. Jesus and His church are one body
Why do you persecute me?
4. Mission to Gentiles
No distinction between Jew and Gentiles
Acts 10 & 11– Peter, Cornelius, and the Church
•Peter has responded boldly to challenges of
sickness and death. (Acts 9:32-43)
•We have seen Peter at Pentecost, then taking
gospel to Samaritans, but will Acts 1:8 be
pushed further . . . Gospel to the Gentiles?
•How will he respond to the challenge of racial
and religious discrimination? (Acts 10-11)
Acts 10 & 11– Peter, Cornelius, and the Church
1. Gentile-Jew Divide
Not Biblical, but Racial / Cultural
for God’s purpose has always been…
•
All nations would be blessed
Gen 12:2-3
•
All nations will worship
Isaiah 2:2-3
•
Messiah will accomplish this
Psalm 2:7-8
Acts 10 & 11– Peter, Cornelius, and the Church
1. Gentile-Jew Divide
Not Biblical, but Racial / Cultural
• To the Jews, gentiles were “dogs”
• No Jew could enter home of gentile
• All conversation with gentiles was
avoided.
Acts 10 & 11– Peter, Cornelius, and the Church
1. Description of Cornelius (Acts 10:1-8)
2. Vision of Peter (Acts 10:9-23)
3. Answer in the Form of Holy Spirit
(Acts 10:23-48, esp. 44-48)
4. Peter Understands God’s Agenda, and
convinces Church (Acts 11:1-18)
Acts 15 – Jerusalem Council 49 AD
Point of the Issue (15:1-5)
Without Circumcision,
you can not be saved!
Compare Gal 2:11-15
Acts 15 – Jerusalem Council 49 AD
Sides:
1. Believers of the Men of the Pharisees (15:5)
Moses first, Grace Second
2. Peter (15:7-11)
Witness #1: We treat Gentiles as God Does
3. Barnabas and Paul (15:12)
Witness #2: God working in and thru
Gentiles
Acts 15 – Jerusalem Council 49 AD
Sides:
4. James (15:13-21)
Final Verdict: We are in agreement with
Words of Prophets (15:15)
Welcome Gentiles as brothers and sisters
Gentiles should respect Jewish law (cf.
Romans 14-15)