PRINCIPLES IN SERVING GOD NEW TESTAMENT THE BOOK OF ACTS

PRINCIPLES IN SERVING GOD NEW TESTAMENT THE BOOK OF ACTS

THE AUTHOR St. Luke was the author. He addressed his Gospel to Theophilus as a documentary of the life of Christ and continued in the book of Acts with the church history. He was an eyewitness to many of the events in Acts, as is confirmed by his use of we in many sections (16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16). Luke was in charge of the work at Philippi for about 6 years. He returned with Paul to Jerusalem (during the third journey) then accompanied him in his voyage to Rome. He wrote this book in 63 AD, while Paul was still under house arrest.

PRAXIS The Greek word Praxis means acts. In the Book of Acts, we find some of the glorious acts that God gave to the pure Apostles. In the Gospel of St. Luke, he wrote about Christ s wonderful acts while in the Book of Acts he wrote about the acts of the pure Apostles and the spread of Christianity.

THE MAIN THEME The book is sometimes called The Acts of the Holy Spirit It is the only book in the Bible that does not end with Amen Since the work of the Holy Spirit in the church did not end yet.

KEY VERSE But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8 NKJV)

Part 1 Acts 1:1-6:7 Jesus witnesses spread his gospel in Jerusalem, the capital of the Jews. Part 2 Acts 6:8-12:24 Jesus witnesses spread his gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. Part 3 Acts 12:25-28-31 Jesus witnesses carry his gospel to the ends of the earth, to Rome, the capital of the Gentiles.

Contents of the Book A)Awaiting the Promise (29 AD) Jesus Ascends to Heaven Choosing Matthias (1:1-11) (1:12-26)

Contents of the Book B) The Church in Jerusalem (29-33 AD) Peter s Sermon A New Community A Lame Man Healed Beginning of Hardship Praying for Strength A Stronger Church Ananias and Sapphira Wonders and Miracles More Persecution Appointing 7 Deacons Accusing Stephen Stephen s Speech Stephen s Martyrdom (2:14-36) (2:37-47) (3:1-26) (4:1-22) (4:23-31) (4:32-37) (5:1-11) (5:12-16) (5:17-42) (6:1-7) (6:8-15) (7:1-53) (7:54-60, 8:1-4)

Contents of the Book C) Samaria and Galilee (33-46 AD) Philip Preaches in Samaria Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch The Conversion of Saul Peter s Miracles Cornelius Becomes Christian Peter Shows God s Plan for the Gentiles The Church at Antioch (Syria) James Martyred and Peter Jailed Herod Dies But the Church Grows (8:5-25) (8:26-40) (9:1-31) (9:32-43) (10:1-48) (11:1-18) (11:19-30) (12:1-19) (12:20-25)

Contents of the Book D) Paul s First Journey (47-49 AD) From Antioch to Cyprus Paul and Barnabas in Antioch of Pisidia Paul Visits Other Cities Returning Back to Antioch The Council at Jerusalem (50 AD) (13:1-12) (13:13-52) (14:1-20) (14:21-28) (15:1-35)

Contents of the Book E) Paul s Second Journey (50-53 AD) Paul and Barnabas Disagree Paul and Silas in Asia Minor Luke Describes the Work at Philippi Thessalonica and Berea Paul in Athens Eighteen Months in Corinth The Journey Completed (15:36-41) (16:1-10) (16:11-40) (17:1-12) (17:13-34) (18:1-17) (18:18-22)

Contents of the Book F) Paul s Third Journey (55-58 AD) ã The Church in Ephesus ã Paul spends over two years in Ephesus ã Paul Revisits Greece ã Meetings in Troas and Miletus ã Returning to Caesarea ã Paul Joins the Church in Jerusalem (18:23-28) (19:1-41) (20:1-6) (20:7-38) (21:1-14) (21:15-26)

Contents of the Book G) Paul s Fourth Journey (58-63 AD) Paul Arrested in Jerusalem Paul Addresses the Angry Mob Paul Spends the Night in Jail Paul in Front of the Sanhedrin Paul Taken to Felix Governor of Caesarea Waiting Two Years in Caesarea s Prison Paul s Defense Before Governor Festus Paul Witnesses Before King Agrippa Paul s Sea Voyage and Shipwreck Paul in Malta and on to Rome Paul in Rome Under House Arrest (21:27-40) (22:1-23) (22:24-30) (23:1-10) (23:11-35) (24:1-27) (25:1-12) (26:1-32) (27:1-44) (28:1-16) (28:17-31)

The characteristic of the Early Church 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church [h] daily those who were being saved. (Acts 3:42-47)

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EARLY CHURCH 1- Steadfast. 2- Fellowship. 3- Breaking of bread. 4- Prayers. 5- Wonders and signs. 6- One accord. 7- Gladness. 8- Simplicity of heart. 9- Praising God. 10- Daily growth.

The Leadership of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:29 NKJV) Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near and overtake this chariot. (Acts 10:19 NKJV) The Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are seeking you. (Acts 13:2 NKJV) As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. (Acts 13:4 NKJV) So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. (Acts 15:28 NKJV) For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. (Acts 16:6 NKJV) Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. (Acts 16:7 NKJV) After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. (Acts 18:5 NKJV) When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. (Acts 20:22 NKJV) Now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem not knowing the things that will happen to me there.