Acts

Written By Bible Study Review

Outline 

  1. The Ministry of Peter – Acts 1:1-12:25
    1. Peter's First Sermon – Acts 1:1-2:47
    2. Peter's Post-Pentecost Ministry – Acts 3:1-4:37
    3. Persecution of Peter and the Apostles – Acts 5:1-42
    4. Persecution of the Church I – Acts 6:1-7:60
    5. Persecution of the Church II – Acts 8:1-9:43
    6. Peter Preaches to the Gentiles – Acts 10:1-12:25
  2. The Ministry of Paul – Acts 13:1-28:31
    1. Paul's First Missionary Journey – Acts 13:1-15:35
    2. Paul's Second Missionary Journey – Acts 15:36-18:22
    3. Paul's Third Missionary Journey – Acts 18:23-21:14
    4. Paul's Arrest and Imprisonment I – Acts 21:15-23:11
    5. Paul's Arrest and Imprisonment II – Acts 23:12-25:22
    6. Paul's Arrest and Imprisonment III – 25:23-26:32
    7. Paul's Journey to Rome – Acts 27:1-28:31

Author

Luke was a Gentile physician and missionary companion of Paul. There are internal evidence and external evidence that Luke wrote this book under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: First, the internal evidence shows Luke was writing because of the usage of grammar. He spoke in the first person plural  (16:10-40; 20:5—21:18; 27:1—28:16). In other words, his use of grammar suggests that he was present and describing things that he witnessed. Second, the external evidence is given by the early church father's comments in collections of the New Testament books.

Date

About AD 63 or later (60-68 AD)

The Purpose & Audience

This book provides an inspired record of events that show the speared of the gospel and the Church. This book also showed how the plans and purposes of God were working out through history. 
Addressed to Theophilus, but intended for all believers in Jesus. 

Theme & Overview

The book of Acts provides a bridge for the writings of the New Testament. The Book of Acts is the continuation of what Jesus " began to do and to teach." It is the continuation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Book of Acts shows that the Holy Spirit continued to work and teach through the Apostles and build the establishment of the Church. 
The Book of Acts is the only historical sequel to the four Gospels, and it tells what happened after the resurrection of Jesus. Also, this book forms a background and setting for most of Paul's writings. 
The Book of Acts gives today's Christians basic information and insights into the early Church. 
"Acts" refers to the deeds or actions of several of the leaders of the early Church, such as Peter and Paul, and the acts of God through the Holy Spirit. 
Leading themes in the book of Acts:
  • the power of the Holy Spirit
  • the missionary journeys of Paul
  • Jewish and Gentile reception of the gospel
  • the Church and its mission
Luke describes the tensions, persecutions, frustrations, theological problems, and hopes that confronted the new believers in Christ. 
The Book of Acts provides an encouraging challenge to every Christian today. The early saints or Christians set an example for today's Christians. The early Christians and the early Church have set an example about the kind of zeal that we need to have for Jesus, the type of faith that we need to have in Jesus, the type of joy that we need to have in Jesus, the type of commitment we need to Jesus, and the type of obedience we need to Jesus. 
This book shows how the gospel spread from Jerusalem to the whole Roman Empire and the Gentile. 
The same Holy Spirit that was so active in the Book of Acts is the same Holy Spirit currently at work today in the Church.

Characteristics

Acts is the only New Testament book that continues the history that began in the Gospels. 
Acts is the only book that records the historical transition from Judaism to Christianity, and it provides basic information about the early Church. It gives us an insight into the early Church. 
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