The Acts of the Apostles

1
The Acts of the Apostles

• Acts 1-11
• Friday, February 19, 2016

2
Flow of Each Period

1. Key People (See Worksheet)
2. Role of Church Hierarchy (See Worksheet)
3. Key Events
4. Activity of the Holy Spirit
5. Issues and Implications for the life of the Church

3
The Periods to be Discussed

1. Preface to the Acts of the Apostles
2. From the Ascension to Pentecost
3. The Gospel in Jerusalem
4. The Conversion of St. Paul
5. The bringing of the Gospel to the Gentiles

4
Preface to Acts of the Apostles (11-5).

• Key Events
• Continuation of Gospel of Luke (11).
• Activity of the Holy Spirit
• Not yet arrived.

5
Preface to Acts of the Apostles (11-5).
February 19, 2016

• Issues and Implications for the life of the
  Church
• Prepared to be baptized in the Holy Spirit (15).

6
From The Ascension and Pentecost (16-213).
February 19, 2016

• Key Events
• Ascension of Jesus (19).
• Waiting for the promised Holy Spirit (21)
• Pentecost (21ff).

7
From The Ascension and Pentecost (16-213).
February 19, 2016

• Activity of the Holy Spirit
• Descended on disciples in Upper Room.
• Enabled disciples to speak in different tongues.

8
From The Ascension and Pentecost (16-213).
February 19, 2016

• Issues and Implications for the life of the
  Church
• Jesus is physically gone (19).
• Disciples called to be witnesses to Judea and
  Samaria and the ends of the earth (18).
• Because of hiding, there are potential
  hostilities from the authorities (113).

9
From The Ascension and Pentecost (16-213).
February 19, 2016

• Issues and Implications for the life of the
  Church
• Need to be in prayer and unity among believers
  (114).
• Foundation of apostolic succession (124-26).
• Needed the Holy Spirit to begin.
• Indwelling of the Holy Spirit among the disciples.

10
The Gospel in Jerusalem (214-83), with an
emphasis on the role of St. Peter as the head of
the Apostles.
February 19, 2016

• Key Events
• Peters speech at Pentecost (214-36).
• Baptism of first converts (237-41).
• Communal life of the believers (242-47).

11
The Gospel in Jerusalem (214-83), with an
emphasis on the role of St. Peter as the head of
the Apostles.
February 19, 2016

• Key Events
• Signs and wonders of Apostles (512-16).
• Institution of deaconate (61-7).
• Martyrdom of St. Steven (68-15 754-60).
• Persecution of Church by Saul (81-3).

12
The Gospel in Jerusalem (214-83), with an
emphasis on the role of St. Peter as the head of
the Apostles.
February 19, 2016

• Activity of the Holy Spirit
• Came on those baptized (238).
• Unified the Body of Christ (242-47).
• Selection of deacons (65).
• Filled Steven at moment of his martyrdom (755).

13
The Gospel in Jerusalem (214-83), with an
emphasis on the role of St. Peter as the head of
the Apostles.
February 19, 2016

• Issues and Implications for the life of the
  Church
• Conversion of initial believers (214ff).
• Life of the early Christian Community marked by
  four-fold unity (242ff).
• Teaching of the Apostles
• Fellowship
• Breaking of Bread
• Prayers

14
The Gospel in Jerusalem (214-83), with an
emphasis on the role of St. Peter as the head of
the Apostles.
February 19, 2016

• Issues and Implications for the life of the
  Church
• Need for assistants to the Apostles as community
  grows (61ff).
• Beginning of martyrdom and persecution with St.
  Steven by the Sanhedrin (754ff).
• Persecution by Saul 83.

15
The conversion of St. Paul (84-931).
February 19, 2016

• Key Events
• Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation
  (814-17).
• Appearance of Jesus to Saul (91-9).
• Sauls baptism (910-19a).

16
The conversion of St. Paul (84-931).
February 19, 2016

• Key Events
• Saul debating the Jews in Damascus (919b-25).
• Saul visits the Church leaders in Jerusalem
  (926-31).

17
The conversion of St. Paul (84-931).
February 19, 2016

• Activity of the Holy Spirit
• Was given more deeply to the believers by the
  Apostles (814-17)
• Filled Saul (917).
• Comforted believers as the Church grew (921).

18
The conversion of St. Paul (84-931).
February 19, 2016

• Issues and Implications for the life of the
  Church
• The fiercest persecutor of the Church was now a
  fierce follower of Jesus.

19
The bringing of the Gospel to the Gentiles
(101-1118).
February 19, 2016

• Key Events
• Cornelius vision of an angel (101-5).
• St. Peters trance and vision (109-16).
• St. Peter goes to Caesarea and meets Cornelius
  (1017-33).

20
The bringing of the Gospel to the Gentiles
(101-1118).
February 19, 2016

• Key Events
• St. Peter proclaims the Gospel to the Gentiles
  (1034-43).
• The Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit (1044-48).
• St. Peter defends his actions to the Church of
  Jerusalem (111-18).

21
The bringing of the Gospel to the Gentiles
(101-1118).
February 19, 2016

• Activity of the Holy Spirit
• Directing St. Peter to go to Cornelius (1019).
• Fell on those who heard the word of God preached
  by St. Peter (1044-48).

22
The bringing of the Gospel to the Gentiles
(101-1118).
February 19, 2016

• Issues and Implications for the life of the
  Church
• The Holy Spirit is for all the world, not just
  the Jews.
• The Kingdom of God is world-wide.
• Baptism admits both Jew and gentile into the
  Church.

23
The Gospel begins to spread to the end of the
Earth (131-2831), as seen in the following key
events
February 19, 2016

1. St. Pauls first mission (134ff).
2. Council of Jerusalem (151ff).
3. St. Paul in Athens and his speech at Areopagus
   (1716ff).
4. St. Pauls second mission (1536-1822).
5. St. Pauls third mission (1823-2116).
6. St. Pauls journey to Rome (271-7).

24
In summary, we read in Acts 1-11
February 19, 2016

1. After Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit descended
   upon the Apostles at Pentecost.
2. Though he was the fiercest opponent of the
   Church, Saul is converted and becomes the Apostle
   to the Gentiles.
3. St. Peter brings the Word of God to the Gentiles,
   who are now admitted to the Church as full
   members.

25
Discussion Questions
February 19, 2016

• Who is Holy Spirit? What roles does He have in
  the early Church?
• How does the Holy Spirit establish the Kingdom of
  God? How is the Church the Kingdom of God?