Acts of the Apostles

[Gr.praxis "deed']

Courtesy of James EarL Jones(Bible Audio)The Book of Acts

Ch.1

Ch.2-3

Ch.4-5

Ch.6-7

Ch.8

Ch.9

Ch.10-11

Ch.12-13

Ch.14-15

Ch.16-17

Ch.18-19

Ch.20

Ch.21-22

Ch.23-24

Ch.25

Ch.26

Ch.27

Ch.28

LINK

Background: This is the second installment of the story begun in Luke's Gospel and tells us what happened in early church in the first 30yrs or so. It begins with the ascension of Jesus(1) and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentacost(2). The next 10chapters show how the gospel spread beyond the locality of Jerusalem as far as Samaria,Peter, Stephen and Jacob are the main characters. Chapters 13-28 center on Paul and his 3 missionary tours taking the gospel to Greece and Europe. The whole book shows that the main source of opposition to the "new religion" came from the Jews, not the Roman government. 28chapters

Author:Luke,the beloved physician(Lk1:1-4Ac1:1-5) With Paul on some of his journeys(Col.4:14;2Ti4:11;Phm1:24), modestly reffered to himself in the book as part of the "we"(16:10-18;20:5-21:18;27-28:16)

Date and Location: Probably AD60-62, since it ends before Paul's release from prison in 62 and makes no mention of the Neronian persecutions that began in 64

Recipients:See Luke

Purpose:

-record early church history and to show the Gospel message is based on historical fact

-to show the the Gospel applies to all nations and classes of people.

Unique Features:

-a tales of 3 cities as traces the spread of Christianity:Jerusalem,Rome,Antioch of Syria

-of 3 continents:Africa,Asia,Europe

-a book of prayer:18 meetings

-a book of revivals:9

-a book of preaching:18

-quotes Arotus, Greek didactic poet.

Let us begin with Zeus, whom we mortals never leave unspoken.

For every street, every market-place is full of Zeus.

Even the sea and the harbour are full of this deity.

Everywhere everyone is indebted to Zeus.

For we are indeed his offspring... (Phaenomena 1-5). =Acts 17.28

Comparison:

Acts-the door of faith is opened to Jews,Romans and Greeks; Synoptics:Mat(Jews), Mark(Romans),Luke(Greeks)

Luke-Heb_see Luke

The Gospels: The work of Christ in humiliation;Acts:The work of Christ in exaltation

The Gospels:how Jesus came to earth to take upon himself a human body;Acts:how the Holy Spirit took himself a human body,the church

The Gospels and Epistles:Acts is the connecting link,the sequel to the Gospels,the basis of the 

Epistles

The pauline Epistles:

Acts provides the historical background of all of Paul's epistles except 1,2 Timothy and Titus

Abbreviations:Ac/Act

MV:Jas1:4
Bib1Yr: 2co9Gospel of Christ