While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the. Christs witnesses are empowered by the holy spirit. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at jerusalem. The readers study of acts in the book of acts will bring new intimacy with the spirit and new joy in doing his will. The book of acts is the link between the gospels and the epistles. The date and historical reliability of acts logos apologia. The book of acts tells how the multiethnic, international. Acts is the story of the apostles bearing spiritempowered witness to jesus christ in jerusalem acts 1. The author of acts was luke, who also wrote the gospel of luke. From now on, the churchs preaching would be established upon the outline of.
To guide the church in its continuing mission by describing how the holy spirit empowered the apostles to spread their witness on christs behalf to the gentile world. The book of acts an overview bible study resources. Jesus knew that they really could do nothing effective for the kingdom of god until the spirit came. It is a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. 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. Study sheets on acts hiwaay informationinternet services. The genre of the book of acts is narrative history with several sermons. Acts chapter 10 is about peter and his interaction with cornelius. Luke, our historian, begins with the lord being taken up into heaven, and shows us the apostles and the nucleus that would begin the church of christ on this earth. As we go through the book, well see a simple formula repeated over and over again. The book of acts, which continues the narrative that luke began in his gospel, is especially important because it was the first written history of the christian church. Acts concerns the very vital period in christian history between the resurrection of jesus and the death of the apostle paul, the time when christian ideas and beliefs were. Clearly he was a generous man and an effective gospel teacher. Content includes book studies on luke, ephesians, thessalonians, james, 1 samuel, john, and acts.
The holy spirit will give them power, so they can effectively tell people about christ. The two parts, or books, were written by luke as a narrative that is an orderly account of the story of jesus and his first followers. The importance of the book of acts the importance of this second of lukes twovolume work can. We will explore how luke used summary statements for six periods of time in his. Our story starts off where the gospel of luke left offjesus is back now that hes resurrected, jesus decides to hang out and chat with his disciples whom luke calls apostles for forty days. The author tells us that he was a godfearing man who, although not a jew and not circumcised, practiced some jewish traditions along with his household. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book. Acts summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of acts for bible study or sunday school lessons. One piece of evidence that supports this is that, in luke 1. The book of acts records the events that made the gospel burst out of its confines in judaism and the city of jerusalem to reach out to the limits of the thenknown world all in just one generations time. God reveals himself in real history, in space and time.
Here is a blog, that includes a good video, providing evidence for the authenticity of the book of acts logos apologia the date and historical reliability of acts. It opens with a greeting to theophilus, who was also the intended recipient of lukes gospel. Luke, the author of the gospel of luke, was a doctor and gentile. Acts 1 new international version niv jesus taken up into heaven. This book of the new testament begins where the first four come to a close. The rest of all the acts of asa, all his might, all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of judah. But ye will receive power, the holy spirit having come upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses both in jerusalem and in all judaea and samaria and to the end of the earth. The book is most commonly called the acts of the apostles, although it is quite probable that, in its original form, it had no title at all. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. Luke wrote the book of acts and the gospel of luke and he dedicated his work to a man named theophilus as mentioned in the summary of the book of luke. The gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles are both parts of the same story with one following directly after the other. Overview of the book of acts reformed answers to bible. Overview twelve lessons explore how the same men who doubted in galilee, argued in capernaum, and ran for their lives in gethsemane are transformed by the resurrected king in the book of acts.
The book of the acts of the apostles typically shortened to simply acts was almost certainly written by luke or at least whoever recorded the book of luke. This is the third in a series of three smallgroup bible study discussion guides luke 19, luke 1024 and selected portions of acts which explore the meaning of witness. One is simply to strengthen believers as witnesses to the work and life of jesus, both in history and in their lives. This book may also be purchased at any lifeway christian store,or ordered online at as a church that has embraced the acts 1. Now the rest of the acts of jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of jehu the son of hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of israel. Acts with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Bradd words in boldboldbold and underlined are the answers to the blanks on the acts study guides acts 1 the book of acts was written by luke to a man named theophilus. A bible reading plan for the book of acts mountain brook baptist. Now the second volume, acts, will detail jesus continuing work through his apostles that he had chosen and the work of the holy spirit who would be. This reading plan will guide you through the book of acts.
If the book of acts were gone, there would be nothing to replace it the last recorded fact about jesus in the gospel of matthew is the resurrection. Luke and acts the gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles are both parts of the same story with one following directly after the other. Once again, luke showed that the gospel spread effectively throughout the world. With scripture reading, inspirational readings, questions to answer, space for journaling, and a prayer, its like studying the bible with max lucado. Acts 8 king james version 1 and saul was consenting unto his death. In addition, there are topical studies on issues such as spiritual leadership, gods redemptive plan, and old testament character studies. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of acts in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Luke had written to him before and had told him about the things that jesus did and taught. Reading acts is like watching the effects of an earthquake. Several questions can be answered from the first 2 verses. Read all of acts 2 chapter 2 relates the fulfilment of this promise, in answer to the spirit of dependence manifested in their united prayers.
Imagine what it would be like if the book of acts wasnt in the bible. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. The book of acts is focused on gods mission, as god draws people into his orbit and brings. In this passage, luke is restating the great commission challenge jesus gave in luke 24. The acts of the apostles is a patterned and repetitive portrayal of ancient events that seeks to tell a sacred history rather than only recount an accurate, verifiable human history.
Kjv bible verses from acts, often referred to as the acts of the apostles, is not to be considered as a history of what was done by all the apostles, who were dispersed into different nations. The spirit comes from above, in his own power, to possess and fill the dwellingplace prepared for him. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Over the centuries it has been called simply acts, or the acts eusebius. The title the inscription the acts of the apostles probably. The beautiful, amazing, powerful, weak, dysfunctional church a chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 6 acts 1 50 days 1. The title of the book of acts comes from the greek word praxis, a word often used in early christian literature to describe the great deeds of the apostles or other significant believers. Paul tailored his missionary approach to be the most effective for whatever group of people he was t. Here is a summary and overview of the book of acts. This is the second lesson in our series the book of acts. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. Book of acts read, study bible verses online bible study tools.
The new testament without the book of acts leaves a great yawning gap. An overview of the book of acts the life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epistles. This summary of the book of acts provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of acts. Our questions about what really happened are not the same as those asked or answered by the books author, for he assumes many events rather than seeking to. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. The book of acts in the new testament of the bible is also called acts of the apostles. It worked in the early church, and it works in the postmodern world.
He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of god. Acts was designed to be gods training manual for christians. The two parts, or books, were written by luke as a narrative that is an orderly account of. Bible study lesson sheets these are lessons designed for either a class or personal study. Here we learn that the church continued to meet this special need, and people demonstrated great generosity in doing it. Author although the author does not name himself, evidence outside the scriptures and inferences from the book itself lead to the conclusion that the. In the book of acts, we discover how gods multiethnic, international church grew through persecution and missionary journeys throughout the world. Its subject and intention is nicely summarised by the words of the lord in chapter 1. The book of acts is the record of that commission beingcarried out. The book of acts is the second book written by luke, the first one being the book of luke, the third book of the gospel. The book of acts is one of the most exciting and challenging of the new testament, filled as it is with the works of the early church, empowered by the holy spirit, the tongues of fire and rushing wind on the day of pentecost ch. As christians living in the 21st century, and familiar with the many and varied forms of communication that bombard us daily, we are all too familiar with the concept of the sequel. An overview of the main events and biblical characters found in acts in the bible. Luke was a companion of paul on his missionary journeys, and in many parts of the book of acts it says we did this or that acts 16.
An overview if the famous bible stories found in the scriptural text of the book of. After jesus went up to heaven, they waited in jerusalem. Acts 1, new international version niv the bible app. The first volume, the gospel of luke, shows as luke says, all that jesus began to do and teach.