Acts

1
Acts

• BB 102

2
Background

• Roman rule the pax romana.
• Religious Pluralism, Syncretism
• Stoics
• Cynics
• Skeptics
• Hellenization

3
Acts Introduction

• Written by Luke, see 11, finished c. 63-64 A.D.
• 1st hand perspective, see 1610-17 205-2118
  271-2811
• Continuation of the Lukes Gospel
• Purpose
• Documents the spread and development of
  Christianity from the resurrection to the gospel
  being preached in Rome

4
Acts Introduction

• Purpose
• Documents the spread and development of
  Christianity from the resurrection to the gospel
  being preached in Rome
• It is a selective history of the early church.
• Convince the reader that the irresistible
  advances of the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome is
  Gods Spirit working in human history for the
  redemption of all people.
• Recount the Conversion of Paul.

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Acts Outline

• Based on Acts 18
• Acts 1-7, Gospel throughout Jerusalem Judea
• Acts 8-12, Gospel throughout Samaria other
  outlying areas
• Acts 13-28, Gospel to the ends of the earth

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Acts 11-67

• Focuses on the development of the Church in
  Jerusalem
• Overlaps with Luke by giving the reasons for the
  40 days between Christ resurrection ascension.
• Appearances Ascension
• A historical account
• 40 days was for instruction training, cf. I Cor
  156

7
Acts 11-67

• The group numbered about 120, Acts 115
• Promise of the Holy Spirit, Acts 14-5
• Restoration?
• Dates times known only to the Father.
• Unclear idea of what was to take place.
• Expected Jesus to return during their lifetime.
• Selection of Judas replacement
• Significance of 12, Gal 616 Eph 36
• Selection of Matthias, Prv. 1633

8
Acts 11-67

• Pentecost, The Coming of the Spirit, Acts 21-41
• 21-4, languages which were understood
• Describes the inauguration of the Christian
  Church by the supernatural work of the Spirit
  (the church is not mans creation)
• 28-11, list of countries covers the entire known
  world at that time

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Acts 11-67

• Peters Sermon
• An explanation of the unusual happening
• Jesus is the Messiah whose death resurrection
  were in accordance with the definite plan
  foreknowledge of God, Acts 223, 26
• The conditions for receiving the gift were
  repentance baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
  Baptism is the expected way of showing repentance
  faith, Acts 238.
• Promise is for you your children whom the Lord
  will call, Acts 239

10
Acts 11-67

• Pentecost is a reversal of the Tower of Babel,
  Gen 11.
• c. 3,000 were added to their number.
• The Church in Jerusalem, Acts 242-47
• Devoted themselves to instruction
• Believers sold possessions, they were not
  required to sell
• Result Jews returned to their town shared
  their experiences, effectively proclaiming the
  Gospel of Christ.