THE OLSON LECTURE SERIES

Transcription

1 THE OLSON LECTURE SERIES AN OVERVIEW of THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES for Faith Evangelical Free Church Fort Collins, Colorado PURPOSE: To give an overview of The Acts of the Apostles based on Acts 1:8 so as to enable ordinary, but obedient, believers to find encouragement in the Holy Spirit s power to fulfill His purpose through them in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the end of the earth. Dr. James E. Olson January 26, 2014

2 INTRODUCTION TITLE The title in the ESV appears just as it does in the Greek Testament as The Acts of the Apostles. It has been identified as such since the middle of the Second Century A.D. But it is possible and even probable that the book originally had no title. The author (Acts 1:1) calls his Gospel, the first book (logos), a term that is the most general that could be used; and if that work was called by him, the first book, then The Acts would most naturally receive the name, the second book. However, the appearance of other books similar in content made it necessary to identify this book more definitively. It might be well entitled, given the words in Acts 1:1-2, Book Two about the Ongoing Work of Jesus through the Apostles or even more descriptively, Book Two about the Continuing Work of the Risen Christ through the Holy Spirit to Move His Church, especially the Leading Apostles, into All the World. More of the reasoning for such a title will be given in the PURPOSE AND PLAN (page 3). AUTHORSHIP Tradition ascribes The Acts of the Apostles to Luke, the author of the third Gospel. Paul refers to him as Luke, the beloved physician (Colossians 4:14), my fellow-worker (Philemon 24), and as the only friend faithful to him in his last imprisonment in Rome, Luke alone is with me (II Timothy 4:11). Luke was Paul s companion on some of his missionary journeys as is evident in the we sections of Acts (16:10-17; 20:5-10; 21; 27; 28). There is so much traceable detail in those we sections that later historians have been thereby enabled to determine the accuracy of the accounts both historically and geographically. This has deepened the credibility of Luke s books as altogether trustworthy in their descriptions of all that happened in the lives of the first Christians. DATE The Book of Acts was probably written in Rome between A.D. during Paul s imprisonment there. Since no mention is made of Paul s death or the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., it is quite evident that it was written before those events. (See the Chronological Table, page 2) 1

3 A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Acts Narrative AD Roman Empire 30 The crucifixion, resurrection and Tiberius, emperor ascension of Jesus (1:1-11) Pentecost (2:1-41) Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea 32, 33 Stephen is stoned (7:54-60); Saul is converted (9:1-19) 35 or 36 Paul's first visit to Jerusalem (9:26-28; Gal.1:18-20) Caligula, emperor 43 or James the apostle is executed Herod Agrippa I, king of Judea or 47 (12:1-2) Paul's second visit to Jerusalem (11:27-30; Gal. 2:1-10) 47, 48 The first missionary journey (13-14) 49 The Council of Jerusalem (15:1-30) The second missionary journey begins (15:36ff.) Claudius, emperor Famine in Judea 49 Claudius expels Jews from Rome 50-c. 93 Herod Agrippa II, tetrarch of Northern territory Paul in Corinth (18:1-18a) Gallio, proconsul of Achaia 52 Paul returns to Syrian Antioch via Ephesus and Caesarea (18:18b - 22). The third missionary journey begins (18:23ff.) Paul in Ephesus (19:1-20:1a) Felix, procurator of Judea Paul in Macedonia (20:1b - 2a) Nero, emperor Paul winters in Corinth (20:2b - 2a) 57 The voyage to Jerusalem, via Macedonia, Troas and Miletus (20:3b - 21:17). Paul is arrested in Jerusalem (21:27-36) and tried before Felix (24:1-22) Paul's Caesarean imprisonment (23:23-24:27) 59 Paul is tried before Festus and Agrippa (25:6-26:32) The voyage to Rome (27:1-28:16) Paul's Roman imprisonment (28:16ff.) 64 The probable martyrdoms of Peter and Paul in Rome Festus, procurator of Judea 64 Nero begins persecution of Christians 70 Fall of Jerusalem

4 PURPOSE AND PLAN In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. Acts 1:1-2 Since the author uses the word began to describe his purpose in writing his Gospel, then Acts could be said to be the author s continuing account of what the living Jesus Christ was doing and teaching. This makes Acts different from other historical accounts and biographies of people in the past. Whereas others have died, Luke is writing about what the risen and living Christ was doing and teaching after His death, resurrection and ascension when He was no longer visible among His followers. That realization makes what Luke records immensely applicable to us as His followers and message bearers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our day. We are rightly informed and encouraged by Acts as to what we are to be doing in here this world and with what power we have to do it by the way Jesus Christ worked through His first message bearers and moved them out into their world in their day - to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). We can be assured that our Lord is still teaching us and working in us as His disciples to that same end by the same Holy Spirit until He comes again. But what exactly was Luke s plan in documenting what Jesus did to and through His first followers? Luke does not tell us all that Jesus did through the apostles. He doesn t even tell us what happened in all the apostles lives. We do not know from Acts, for example, what happened in the lives of Matthew, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, James the son of Alpheaus, Simon the zealot, Judas the son of James or even much about John. We have nothing about the Gospel going to Crete (Titus 1:5), Illyricum, modern Yugoslavia (Romans 15:19), Pontus, Cappadocia, Bithynia (I Peter 1:1), Mesopotamia to the east, or Egypt to the south (except the Ethiopian official). We have instead, a whole lot about Peter and Paul and expansion of the Gospel westward from Jerusalem to Rome. And Rome is where Luke s record ends! The question is then why Luke chooses to record what he does the way he does. If Luke s explicitly stated purpose in his Gospel was that Theophilus might have certainty concerning the things (he had) been taught (Luke 1:4), then that surely tells us something of his ongoing purpose in Acts. That purpose for Acts may then be to defend the truth of Christianity, the authenticity of its message bearers, the apostles, and especially Paul, against the accusations, the various opponents, both Jewish and Gentile, and to document the spread of the Gospel against every human expectation all the way from Jerusalem to Rome, the center of the Mediterranean world in that day in just thirty years (33-64 A.D.)! Rome is the goal towards which the book and the progress of the Christian witness moves. The final apologetic is Paul s unhindered ministry in Rome (Acts 28:31). 3

5 According to Acts 1:8, Luke s implicit plan to document what Jesus continued to do and teach after His ascension appears to be to record the way Jesus last words to His apostles before His ascension actually happened in their acts and addresses between 33 and 64 A.D. Jesus said to them, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Jesus makes two statements, both of which He said will happen: 1. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. OVERVIEW/OUTLINE One way then to overview Acts, in view of Acts 1:8, would be to outline the ways those statements of Jesus find their fulfillment in the lives of those first witnesses. It might look something like this: I. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you Luke documents the fulfillment of this promise in several ways: 1. He reports the promise of the Holy Spirit s power. 2. He records the coming of the Holy Spirit s power. 3. He indicates the need for the Holy Spirit s power. 4. He describes the effects of the Holy Spirit s power. II. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Luke documents the fulfillment of this statement in several ways: 1. He gives many of the public speeches of the leading apostolic witnesses. He also gives many of the responses to their witness on the part of all kinds of people. 2. He records the ongoing expansion of the church by means of numerical and geographical markers. Another general outline of the narrative which tracks both parts of Acts 1:8 chapter by chapter through all of Acts is found on page 16. 4

6 I. BUT YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME UPON YOU,... Acts 1:8a Luke documents the fulfillment of this promise in several ways: 1. He reports the promise of the Holy Spirit s power. - John answered them all, saying, I baptize you with water, but He who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Luke 3:16) - Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and said to them, Thus it is written, that... repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:45-49) - And while staying with them, He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. (Acts 1:4-5) And then come Jesus last words before His ascension, forming a key verse to the whole book: - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,... (Acts 1:8a) The repetition of the promised coming of the Holy Spirit in special power indicates the importance it was to our Lord and to the building of His kingdom. It was therefore especially important to Luke at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Luke goes on to cite Peter s reference to it in the Old Testament prophecies in his record of what was said on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2: And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,... (from Joel 2:28-32) 5

7 2. He records the coming of the Holy Spirit s power. Acts 2:1-41 The coming of the Holy Spirit seems timed so that devout men from every nation under heaven (2:5) would be present to hear the first proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ right in Jerusalem. - Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia,... (2:9a) - Generally eastward - Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,... (2:9b-10a) - Generally northwest - Egypt and parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene... Arabians... (2:10b-11) - Generally south - visitors from Rome... Cretans (2:10c-11) - Generally westward Note: Those first hearers were also knowledgeable of the Old Testament (2:16-21, 25-28, 34-35) which served to identify what they were seeing and to further authenticate the message of Peter. 6

8 3. He indicates the need for the Holy Spirit s power. 1) The first Christians needed extraordinary courage because they were considered uncultured and uneducated and therefore without socio-political or religious clout. - Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? (Acts 2:7) - Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people,... Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. (Acts 4:8, 13-14) 2) The first Christians needed extraordinary courage because they were up against religiously hostile and financially threatened opposition. - Now when they heard these things, they [the Sanhedrin] were enraged,... But he [Stephen], full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.... Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. (Acts 7:54-58) - And there arose in that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered... except the apostles.... Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. (Acts 8:1,4) - Demetrius, a silversmith, in Ephesus... said, there is danger... that this trade of ours may come into disrepute.... They were enraged. (Acts 19:24-28) 4. He describes the effects of the Holy Spirit s power. 1) The Holy Spirit s power shows up in the boldness with which the believers kept on speaking the word of God in the face of threats. - And now Lord, look upon their threats and grant your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,... And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:29,31) Note: There was a solidarity of heart, mind and means among them all too, as Acts 4:32-35 indicates. That is a mark of the Spirit s power among God s people in every generation, and so necessary if they are going to speak with the power of credibility. 7

9 2) The Holy Spirit s power shows up in the overcoming of magical forces. - But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the power of God that is called Great. And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing the signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. (Acts 8:9-13) Signs and great miracles often accompanied the preaching of of the gospel, attesting to its veracity. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. (Acts 2:43) It [the message] was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will. (Hebrews 2:3-4) 3) The Holy Spirit s power shows up in the way believers became both encouraged and encouragers. Consider one man named Barnabas whose mention throughout Acts is worth a study in itself. Two references say what a man full of the Holy Spirit does to encourage fellow believers: - Joseph, who was called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet. (Acts 4:36-37) - The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted (encouraged - NASB) them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. (Acts 11:22-24) 8

10 II.... AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM AND IN ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE END OF THE EARTH. Acts 1:8b Luke documents the fulfillment of this statement in several ways: 1. He gives many of the public speeches of the leading apostolic witnesses, especially those of Peter and Paul, to document the fulfillment of Jesus words... you will be my witnesses Nine by Peter: 1: : :12b-26 4:8b-12 5:29b-32 8: :34b-43 11: : Nine by Paul: 13:16b-41, : :22b-31 20:18b-35 22: :10b-21 26: : :17-28 Note: 20% of Acts is made up of speeches by Peter and Paul, 25% if Stephen s address is included. We might rightly ask why so many sermons and statements by Peter and Paul? 1) Both Jews and Gentiles beyond Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria needed to be assured that Peter and Paul spoke with equal authenticity and had the very same message from God, the Holy Spirit. Luke even deliberately records the parallels between Peter s and Paul s ministries to indicate that they were apostles of Jesus Christ sharing the same commission and message and authenticating marks (see page 17). 9

11 2) The sermons by Peter and Paul, recorded as they are, enables those men to preach to us too and in the power of the same Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit s intention that all peoples hear the saving truth of those messages down through the years. - And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and... for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord calls to Himself. (Acts 2:38-39) This universality includes us who are far off temporally and geographically. Jesus is the Savior of the whole world and nobody is excluded from the offer of salvation in Him. The truth of that ` came somewhat slowly to the apostles but it came (see for example: Acts 10:43; 11:12, 17; 13:38; 15:9; 17:30; 22:21). 3) Luke is careful to record the increasing inclusiveness and universality of the responses to the preaching of the Gospel. Here is a sampling: - Jews from all over the Roman empire (2:37-41) - Men and women (5:14) - Priests (6:7) - Samaritans (8:12-14) - African government official (8:35-39) - Roman military officer and his household (10:44) - Gentiles in Europe (11:19-21; 13:48-49) - Roman proconsul (13:12) - Jews and Gentiles at the same time (14:1) - Gentile business woman (16:14) - Roman jailor and his family (16:30, 34b) - Gentile men and women (17:12) - Some academic elites in Athens (17:34) - Synagogue ruler and family in Corinth (18:8) - Rome, the hub of the Gentile world (28:14b, 24) Luke then enters these last words of Paul into the record: Therefore let it be known to you (Jews) that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen. (28:28) And so we have to this day! 10

12 2. He records the ongoing expansion of the church to document the fulfillment of Jesus words,... in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 1) The numerical markers of the expansion: - In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120)... (Acts 1:15) - So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41) - And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47) - But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. (Acts 4:4) - And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. (Acts 5:14) - And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7) - So the church... was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. (Acts 9:31) - And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:21) - And a great many people were added to the Lord. (Acts 11:24) - But [despite persecution, James execution and Peter s imprisonment] the word of the Lord increased and multiplied. (Acts 12:24) - So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. (Acts 16:5) - So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. (Acts 19:20) 2) The geographical markers of the expansion: -... and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem,... (Acts 6:7) - And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria,... (Acts 8:1) - Now those who were scattered because of the persecution... traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch,... (Acts 11:19) - And so we came to Rome. (Acts 28:14) See a mapped out picture of this expansion throughout Acts on Page

13 THE EXPANSION OF THE CHURCH FROM A.D. THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS #1. Acts 1:1-8: A.D. Jerusalem #2. Acts 8:4-11: A. D. Judea and Samaria #3. Acts 11: or 47 A.D. Samaria and beyond #4. Acts 13:1-14: A.D. Europe (Eastern Turkey) Paul s first missionary journey #5. Acts 15:36-18: A.D. Europe (Western Turkey and Greece) Paul s second missionary journey Acts 18:23-21: A.D. Paul s third missionary journey #6. Acts 21:17-28: A.D. Rome 12

14 Summary thoughts on the accuracy of Luke s account of the Expansion of the Church As to the accuracy of Luke s obvious and deliberate attempt to record the expansion and growth of the Christian Church inclusively, numerically and geographically from Pentecost in Jerusalem (33 A.D.) to Paul s arrival in Rome (60-62 A.D.) and probable martyrdom there in 64 A.D., we have some interesting confirmation from one of the most respected Roman source historians, Cornelius Tacitus (c A.D.), a man who was hostile toward Christianity and Christians (making his comments all the more interesting in that he would have had no interest in exaggerating the numbers). He made the following statement about Nero s first great persecution of the Christians in Rome in 64 A.D.: To suppress the rumor [that he had set fire to Rome], Nero fabricated as culprits, and punished with the most refined cruelties, a notoriously depraved class of people whom the crowd called Christians. The originator of the name, Christus, had been executed in the reign of Tiberius by the governor of Judea, Pontius Pilatus.... First, the self-acknowledged members of the sect were arrested. Then, on their information, a vast multitude was condemned... The Christian historian, Paul Maier, Professor of Ancient History at Western Michigan University, wrote in his book, The First Christians (Harper and Row, 1976), page 23, about this citation by Tacitus: The startling phrase, of course, is the vast multitude of Roman Christians persecuted. For Tacitus the Latin multitudo ingens, while indefinite, elsewhere suggests numbers in the high hundreds at the very least, and because he detested the Christians and would thus have no interest in stretching his figures on them, ancient historians generally take Tacitus at face value. His is positive evidence from a hostile source and is therefore unusually strong and convincing. This evidence, in turn, has an obviously important bearing on conversion claims at the first Pentecost. How could there be a vast multitude of Christians available for persecution only thirty-one years later in a Rome 1,500 miles away unless the movement had the kind of powerful ignition described in Acts? Any historian would have to admit that a profound religious explosion must have occurred in Jerusalem some years earlier, since its repercussions shook distant Rome with extraordinary speed. For a philosophy or teaching to spread this far, this fast in the ancient world is absolutely unparalleled, and scholars have not devoted enough attention to this fact. Clearly, the spiritual waves breaking on the shores of Italy had been building from the rushing, mighty wind of the first Pentecost. 13

15 CONCLUSION Having, therefore, considered the historical account Luke has recorded for what the risen Jesus Christ continued to do after His ascension in fulfillment of His words to the apostles in Acts 1:8, we too can be deepened in our own certainty concerning the things [we] have been taught, which was Luke s stated reason for writing his two books for Theophilus (Luke 1:4; Acts 1:1). With that deepened assurance of the truth of those things, we can take great incentive and encouragement for our own lives from the ways the Holy Spirit of God moved those first believers into their world in their day so powerfully and effectively. For example: 1. Ordinary, but obedient, believers can indeed make a profound difference for Christ and His kingdom no matter what their status is in their world. 1) We have the same power and the comfort of the same Holy Spirit. - And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power or by what name did you do this? Then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,... Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. (Acts 4:7, 8, 13) - So the church... walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit,... multiplied. (Acts 9:31) 2) We have the same recourse to and privilege of corporate prayer. - And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God,... And now Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak Your word with all boldness,... And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:24, 29, 31) 3) We have the same choice which is to take the initiative in speaking the truth of the Gospel in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. - And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. (Acts 8:1, 4) 14

16 2. Believers with reason to feel inadequate and disqualified for service can live so as to fulfill their reason-for-being before God despite past failures or fearful futures. 1) Paul said that David served the purpose of God in his own generation. (Acts 13:36) And that despite adultery and murder in David s past. 2) Paul himself, despite all he had done to destroy the early church and being forewarned of all he would suffer for Christ, could still say, But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24) And so he did for he says in II Timothy 4:7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. Closing Question: How do you view the prospect of fulfilling your own purpose in life before God in the face of your own misgivings and fears about the future and finishing well? We all have such feelings. Robertson McQuilkin put his fears like this: I fear... that I should end before I finish, or finish but not well. That I should stain Your honor, shame Your name, grieve Your loving heart. Few, they tell me, finish well. Lord, let me get home before dark. Here is Paul s resolve in the face of such legitimate fears:... in every way we show ourselves to be servants of God: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, praise and blame; genuine, yet regarded as imposters; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying and yet we live on; beaten and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. (II Corinthians 6:4-10) John Newton ( Amazing Grace ) wrote this soon after the loss of his wife, Mary, The bank of England is too poor to compensate for such a loss as mine. But the Lord, the all-sufficient God, speaks, and it is done. Let those who know Him and trust Him, be of good courage. He can give them strength according to their day. He can increase their strength as their trials increase... and what He can do He has promised that He will do. 15

17 THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH Outline of Contents Milford E. Olson I. THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS IN JERUSALEM, 1:1-8:3 A. The Author s Introduction, 1: The Relationship of Acts to the Gospel of Luke, An Affirmation of Jesus Post-resurrection Ministry, 3 3. The Promise of the Holy Spirit Baptism, 4-5 B. The Apostolic Preparation for the Christian Witness, 1:6-26 C. The Advent of the Holy Spirit with Power for the Christian Witness, 2:1-47 D. The First Miracle of the Apostles and Subsequent Persecution, 3:1-4:31 E. The First Disciplinary Action in the Apostolic Church, 4:32-5:11 F. The Miraculous Ministry of the Apostles and Official Opposition, 5:12-42 G. The Democratic Organization in the Apostolic Church, 6:1-7 H. The Ministry and Martyrdom of Stephen, 6:8-8:3 II. THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS IN JUDEA, SAMARIA, AND BEYOND, 8:4-12:25 A. The Ministry of Philip in Samaria and Ethiopia, 8:4-40 B. The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus, 9:1-31 C. The Ministry of the Apostle Peter, 9:32-11:18 D. The Founding of the Christian Church in Antioch, 11:19-30 E. The Persecution of the Christian Church by Herod Agrippa I, 13:1-28:31 III. THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS TO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH, 13:1-28:31 A. Paul s First Missionary Journey, 13:1-14:28 B. The Conference at Jerusalem - the Question of Christian Freedom, 15:1-35 C. Paul s Second Missionary Journey, 15:36-18:23 D. Paul s Third Missionary Journey, 18:24-21:16 E. Paul s Imprisonment and Trial in Jerusalem, 21:17-23:35 F. Paul s Trials before Roman Authorities in Caesarea, 24:1-26:32 G. Paul s Voyage to Rome and His Ministry There, 27:1-28:31 16

18 THE PARALLEL MINISTRIES OF PETER AND PAUL IN ACTS 1. Both were filled with the Holy Spirit (4:8 and 9:17; 13:9). 2. Both preached the word of God with boldness (4:13, 31 and 9:27, 29). 3. Both bore witness before Jewish audiences to Jesus crucified, risen and reigning, in fulfillment of Scripture, as the way of salvation (e.g. 2:22ff. and 13:16ff.). 4. Both preached to Gentiles as well as Jews (10:34ff. and 13:46ff.). 5. Both received visions which gave vital direction to the church s developing mission (10:9ff.; 16:9). 6. Both were imprisoned for their testimony to Jesus and then miraculously set free (12:7ff. and 16:25ff.). 7. Both healed a congenital cripple, Peter in Jerusalem and Paul in Lystra (3:2ff. and 14:8ff.). 8. Both healed other sick people (9:41 and 28:8). 9. Both exorcized evil spirits (5:16 and 16:18). 10. Both possessed such extraordinary powers that people were healed by Peter s shadow and by Paul s handkerchiefs and aprons (5:15 and 19:12). 11. Both raised the dead, Tabitha by Peter in Joppa and Eutychus in Troas by Paul (9:36ff. and 20:7ff.). 12. Both called down God s judgment on a sorcerer/false teacher, Peter on Simon Magus in Samaria and Paul on Elymas in Paphos (8:20ff. and 13:6ff.). 13. Both refused the worship of their fellow human beings, Peter that of Cornelius and Paul that of the Lystrans (10:25-26 and 14:11ff.). It seems clear enough that Luke wants to show that both Peter and Paul were apostles of Christ, with the same commission, gospel and authentication. It is in this way that he demonstrates the unity of the apostolic church. (from John Stott s commentary, The Spirit the Church and the World ) 17