Overview of Acts The book of Acts begins with an explicit reference to the gospel of Luke. The author calls it my former book. The present book is a continuation of the gospel. In that gospel, the events of the life of Jesus are recounted up to the time of his resurrection and ascension. Acts, after a brief introduction, continues with the events of the early church after Jesus ascension. The focus of the book is on the work of Christ carried on in the church by the Holy Spirit. NIV Compact Bible Commentary, Pg. 497 The exalted Christ will now work by his Spirit, who thus becomes the primary actor in the book of Acts. The Spirit sends the good news to the ends of the earth, brings new converts into the community, guides and empowers the apostles and the church to carry out their mission, and acts in judgment both inside and outside the church. The Drama of Scripture, Pg. 175 In Acts God is purposeful Acts portrays God as a missionary God in all of this activity God is a saving God in Acts, God is encountered personally most frequently by the Holy Spirit. Theological Interpretation of the New Testament Review from Last Week In the first fifteen chapters of the books of Acts, we saw the ascension of Christ, the promise of the coming of the Spirit, the coming to the Spirit, and the subsequent power that was promised. Christ said that the gospel would have a global reach. In the first fifteen chapters we see this fulfilled as it is still being fulfilled today. The greatest news was that the gospel was not just for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles. Peter was the main player in the first part of Acts, but the story began to shift its focus to Paul s ministry. At the end of last week s study, it was decided at the Jerusalem council that the Gentiles did not need to be circumcised. I. Paul Continues His Missionary Journeys Acts 16:1-21:26 a. Timothy joins Paul in the ministry Acts 16:1 5 (ESV) 1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, 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 brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. FBC Durham Bible For Life Page 1
5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. Why would Paul circumcise Timothy in light of a different action with Titus? (Galatians 2:3 (ESV) 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.) Paul not only served the purpose of spreading the gospel to new areas, but to also do what? b. God uses what man meant for evil for His glory in Philippi Acts 16:22 34 (ESV) 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here. 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. Joseph s take on his life Genesis 50:20 (ESV) 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. What was Paul and Silas response to suffering? FBC Durham Bible For Life Page 2
How did the Philippian church start? c. Fruit and persecution Acts 17:10 13 (ESV) 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. The name Berea needs little introduction in Christian circles. It stands for serious Bible study by those who wish to learn what God has to say in his Word. Whenever Christians refuse to take someone s explanation of a Scripture passage at face value but examine the exposition to see whether it is true to the biblical text, Bereans are present. For Bereans, the Scriptures are basic, relevant, and precious. Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles, Pg. 619-20 Why should we all examine the Scriptures following the teaching of even the greatest of teachers? d. Paul reasoning with the philosophers of the day Acts 17:16 21 (ESV) 16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, What does this babbler wish to say? Others said, He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean. 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. FBC Durham Bible For Life Page 3
The urgency of Paul's message came from his appeal to the eschatological aspects of the OT Scriptures: God has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed (v.31). Paul had begun with the Genesis narratives, and he now concluded with ideas derived directly out of later texts of the OT (e.g., Da 7:914). Hence, for him, the decisive proof of God's work was the Resurrection (cf. Da 12:2 ). This was also the point at which Paul's hearers broke in on him: Some of them sneered, but others said, We want to hear you again on this subject ( 17:32 ). NIV Compact Bible Commentary e. Other being us to proclaim the gospel Acts 18:24 28 (ESV) 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. God is not just using Paul, but many others the spread the gospel. What this passage shows in the development of the church is that the knowledge of the Holy Spirit was still not universal. This is a descriptive passage rather than a prescriptive passage on the Holy Spirit. Where else did Apollos come up in Scripture? f. The economic impact of the gospel brings persecution in Ephesus Acts 19:23 27 (ESV) 23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the FBC Durham Bible For Life Page 4
great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship. This passage shows the power of the gospel. Ephesus was a major city and the teaching of Paul over the 2+ years led to negative economic impact at the temple of Artemis. This passage shows the power of the gospel to transform even the most pagan, and should serve as an encouragement to us to trust the power of the Gospel to transform lives. Note that this time the persecution was at the hand of the Gentiles unlike most situations in the past where it was at the hand of the Jews. g. Paul s word to church leaders Acts 20:17 35 (ESV) 17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 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. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember FBC Durham Bible For Life Page 5
the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. What advice did Paul give for church leaders? II. Paul in Prison At Then End Of His Ministry Acts 21:27-28:31 a. The source of persecution among the Jews Acts 22:21 24 (ESV) 21 And he said to me, Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles. 22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live. 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. What was one of the primary reasons that the Jews opposed Paul? Ultimately the flogging did not take place because Paul invoked protection from such actions due to his Roman citizenship. Paul was not about to undergo such torture unnecessarily; and as they stretched him out for the flogging, he wisely inquired: Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn t even been found guilty? 48 The seemingly innocent question immediately caught the attention of the centurion in charge of the scourging. It definitely was not legal to examine a Roman citizen by scourging. The Valerian and Porcian laws clearly established the illegality of such an act, and any Roman officer who transgressed this exemption would himself be guilty of a serious breach of law. The centurion immediately halted the process and lost no time in reporting the new development to his commanding officer (v. 26). Acts New American Commentary, pg. 464-65 b. Paul s wisdom in challenging his accusers Acts 23:6 10 (ESV) 6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial. 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and FBC Durham Bible For Life Page 6
the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees party stood up and contended sharply, We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him? 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. Paul s actions remind us of Jesus words in Matthew 10:16 19 (ESV) 16 Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. c. Paul s imprisonment just another way to proclaim the gospel Acts 24:24 27 (ESV) 24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you. 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. What was Felix s real reason to come see Paul? What was Paul always faithful to do? d. Paul is faithful to proclaim the gospel to the Jews even though many will not believe Acts 28:23 31 (ESV) 23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. 25 And disagreeing among themselves, they FBC Durham Bible For Life Page 7
departed after Paul had made one statement: The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 26 Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. 27 For this people s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. 28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen. 30 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. What does this passage teach us about proclaiming the gospel? Takeaways from Every situation is an opportunity to proclaim the gospel Persecution will come from all directions The likelihood of someone positively responded to the gospel is not the basis on which we decide whether or not to share the gospel The power of the Holy Spirit, promised by Christ in Acts 1:8, has now carried the gospel all the way to Rome for proclamation to those in the highest leadership positions in the Roman empire. Bibliography Bartholomew, Craig G., and Michael W. Goheen. The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004. Kistemaker, Simon J. and Hendriksen, William, vol. 17, Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles, New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001. Polhill, John B. vol. 26, Acts, The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995. Sailhamer, John. NIV Compact Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994. Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nelson s Complete Book of Bible Maps & Charts: Old and New Testaments, Rev. and updated ed. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1996. Vanhoozer, Kevin J., Daniel J. Treier, and N. T. Wright. Theological Interpretation of the New Testament: A Book-by-book Survey. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008. FBC Durham Bible For Life Page 8
Appendix A Nelson s Complete Book of Bible Maps & Charts: Old and New Testaments FBC Durham Bible For Life Page 9