The Acts of the Apostles. An Introduction

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Clinton McKenzie
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1 The Acts of the Apostles An Introduction

2 Acts 1:1-3 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

3 Organization A. Geography B. Literary work: characters, plot, beginning middle, and end. C. Apology (defense): Kingdom of God Resurrection and end of days Gentiles D. Theology Presence of the Holy Spirit God is not hindered (Acts 28:31)

6 Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

7 the power from on high will come upon you 2:33

8 Wayne Forte, Ascension, 1990

9 you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem Peter John The Community

10 Acts 2:42-3:1 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

11 Acts 4

12 Central Argument Question: Verse 7 Response: Verse 10 No Opposition possible Question 2: Verse 16 Response Verse 17 Opposition possible: Verse 20 End of Story verse 21

13 Question ( v. 7) : By what power (dynamis) or in what name do you do this? Response (v.10): this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. Opposition (v.14): they had nothing to say in opposition

14 Question Two (v. 16): What will we do with them? Response Two (v.17): ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Opposition: we cannot keep from speaking

15 Verse 21: They let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened.

16 St. Stephen Mourned by Sts. Gamaliel and Nicodemus, Caracini, 1615

17 and you will be my witnesses in all Judea

18 and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth."

19 The Conversion of Paul on the Road to Damascus, Peter Bruegel the Elder, 1567

21 To the ends of the earth Ethiopian minister Cornelius the Roman centurion Antioch 15 Jerusalem Council 16 and Ephesus Jerusalem Visit Trip to Rome

22 First, Cornelius and Peter Acts 15 Keystone chapter Geography Theology Apology All align here for a big move that changes God s people forever.

23 Peter Baptizing Cornelius, Trevisani, 1709

24 Acts 16 Taking a chance on people Acts 16:1-2 Paul went on also to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium.

25 Acts 16: On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. 14 A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. 15 When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.

27 Acts 16:16 16 One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortunetelling.

28 Acts 16:19-21 But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 20 When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe."

29 Acts 16: When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods.

30 Acts 16: When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." 29 The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

31 Acts 16:36-37 And the jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, "The magistrates sent word to let you go; therefore come out now and go in peace." 37 But Paul replied, "They have beaten us in public, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they going to discharge us in secret? Certainly not! Let them come and take us out themselves."

33 Acts So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him. Some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities." (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.) 19 So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus and asked him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 It sounds rather strange to us, so we would like to know what it means." 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new. 22 Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, "Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way.

34 Acts 17:5-9 5 But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason's house. 6 When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, "These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus." 8 The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, 9 and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go.

35 Acts 19 Paul in Ephesus Acts 19: When this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone was awestruck; and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised. 18 Also many of those who became believers confessed and disclosed their practices. 19 A number of those who practiced magic collected their books and burned them publicly; when the value of these books was calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver coins.

36 Acts 19:24-28 A man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the artisans. 25 These he gathered together, with the workers of the same trade, and said, "Men, you know that we get our wealth from this business. 26 You also see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has persuaded and drawn away a considerable number of people by saying that gods made with hands are not gods.

37 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her." 28 When they heard this, they were enraged and shouted, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

38 Acts 19:32 32 Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

39 Acts 19: But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours all of them shouted in unison, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 35 But when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Citizens of Ephesus, who is there that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple keeper of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell from heaven? 36 Since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.

40 Acts 19: You have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the artisans with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges there against one another. 39 If there is anything further you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion." 41 When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

41 Back in Ephesus (Acts 19) Paul charges the elders in the congregation there.

44 Acts 28: He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

45 Begin to summarize What have we seen on the way to the ends of the earth?

46 Few believers created immediately Risk of public misunderstanding, danger, punishment Taking the risk of unlikely leaders (Paul himself, Timothy, Lydia, jailer, Cornelius, and many more.) Many ways God speaks to and moves folks. Including dreams, visions, other voices, Holy Spirit.

47 Filled by the Holy Spirit Luke 1:15, 41, 67; 4:1, 2 etc. Acts 2:4; 4:31; 6:3, 5; 7:55; 9:17; 11:24; 13:9, 52; 15:8, 28; 16:6, 7, 16, 18; 17:16; 18:25; 19:1,2,6, 12, 13, 15; 20:22, 23, 28; 21:4, 11; 23:8, 9; 28:25 There are additional references to being guided by the Spirit in Luke s Gospel, not included here.

48 Parrhesia/Parresia Acts 2:29 Acts 4:13, 29, 31 Acts 9:28 Acts 13:46 Acts 14:3 Acts 18:26 Acts 26:26 Acts 28:31

49 Themes for us?

50 Systems-breaking Theopolitical Power of God and God s Spirit will not be hindered. Power of God through Holy Spirit and Jesus name (cf. Acts 2:33) New leadership for a [re-]new[ed] Israel.

52 To Thessalonika

55 In Corinth Acts 18: But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal. 13 They said, "This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the law." 14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of crime or serious villainy, I would be justified in accepting the complaint of you Jews; 15 but since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I do not wish to be a judge of these matters."

56 16 And he dismissed them from the tribunal. 17 Then all of them seized Sosthenes, the official of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of these things.

Letters to the Seven Churches. Chapter 2: 1-3:22

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