The Acts of the Apostles
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- Part 2 of the 2 volume set Luke / Acts
- Historical narrative - the first history of the spread of the Gospel
- Traditional title: “Acts of the Apostles”
- Could also be “Acts of Jesus by the Holy Spirit”
- Without it we would know nothing of the Gospel’s advance from Jerusalem to the ends of earth in the first years after the resurrection
- written to equip and encourage the further spread of the Gospel!
Author and Audience and Date
Who was Luke?
- traveling companion of Paul, who called him a “fellow worker” (Philemon 23-24 NASB95)
- also a doctor, called the “beloved physician” by Paul (Colossians 4:14 NASB95)
- it seems that Luke only stayed with Paul at the end of his life (2 Timothy 4.11 NASB95)
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his refined Greek writing style, and his profession as a doctor, show that he was highly educated
- not only the writer, but also a 1st-hand participant in the “we” passages
- Acts 16.10-17 NASB95
- Acts 20.5-21.18 NASB95
- Acts 27.1-28.16 NASB95
Audience and Date
- Both Luke and Acts are addressed to Theophilus (loved of God), and that is all we know for certain
- it is possible that he may have been Luke’s patron in bearing the cost of writing Luke and Acts
- Luke intends his writing to be for people everywhere, but gives honor to Theophilus by naming him.
- Date: obviously after Luke, and before Paul’s death. c. AD 65
Structure
Luke-Acts
- Part 1, Luke, ends with the Ascension – Part 2, Acts, begins with the Ascension
- The end of Luke anticipates the beginning of Acts
- Luke brings us to Jerusalem and the Cross to inaugurate the Good News
- Acts takes the Good News of the Cross out from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth
Pentecost is the inaugural event - the launch of “the Acts of the Holy Spirit”
Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the house. The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’S house. (2 Chronicles 7:1-2 NASB95)
And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. (2:2-4)
Outline
but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” (1:8)
- Judea: 1.1-6.7
- Samaria: 6.8-9.31
- Ends of the earth: 9.23-28.31
When Acts concludes the good news of Jesus has been taken to the furthest reaches of the known world (Rome).
The ending isn’t an ending - we the readers are to carry on the story!
A Tale of 2 apostles
- Peter - chapters 1-12
- Paul - chapters 13-28
Detailed Outline
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outline image from ConformingToJesus.com
Themes
The Progress of the Word
This flows from the 3-part structure from 1.8, and is a pervasive theme in Acts
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. (2:41)
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. (6:7)
But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied. (12:24)
When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. (13:48-49)
So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. (19:20)
These accounts are meant to encourage us.
Key events in the transition from Jews to all nations
- Faithful witness and death of Stephen - disciples spread out from Jerusalem due to persecution
- Conversion of Cornelius and this household - God pours out His Spirit on Gentiles!
- Jerusalem Council in chapter 15 - Gentiles are not required to follow Moses
Paul always goes to the Synagogue first, but then to the Gentiles
“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’” When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:46-48 NASB95)
Spirit-enabled sermons
- Peter on Pentecost (Acts 2.14-40 NASB95)
- Peter in Solomon’s Porch (Acts 3.12-26 NASB95)
- Stephen before the Sanhedrin (Acts 7.1-53 NASB95)
- Peter to Cornelius and his household (Acts 10.34-43 NASB95)
- Paul in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13.16-41 NASB95)
- Paul in Athens (Acts 17.22-31 NASB95)
These sermons are meant to strengthen and equip us to preach in power
Fulfillment of the Promises
- Old Testament => New Testament
- Promises made => Promises kept.
Necessity - God’s Plan MUST be fulfilled
δεῖ - “it is necessary” - just as Luke did in the gospel
Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas.. (1:16)
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (9:15-16)
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (14:21-22)
Angelic Intervention
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” (5:19-20)
And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. (12:7)
For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ (27:23-24)
God deploys His heavenly messengers to ensure that His plan proceeds!
Visions
There are a number of passages in Acts that record visions given by God
Example: Peter’s vision of the descending sheet in chapter 10
- Sets the stage for the Gospel to come to Gentiles (“ends of the earth”)
- He comes to the house of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the entire household
- This is revolutionary! The Jews first, but not the Jews only.
- The plan of God for the seed of Abraham (Matthew 1:1) to be a blessing to all the nations (Gen. 12:1–3) is coming to fruition.
Scripture fulfilled
- Peter’s first sermon on Pentecost: but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel…” (2:16)
- Peter’s defense before the Sanhedrin: “He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. (4:11)
- Stephen’s entire defense before the Sanhedrin in chapter 7 which precipitated his martyrdom
- Philip with the Ethiopian Eunuch: “The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. (8:34-35)
- Paul to the unbelieving Jews in Rome: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers” (28:25)
God’s Plan cannot be hindered
Peter, again from his preaching on Pentecost:
“this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.” (2:23)
The saints responding to Persecution:
“For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. (4:27-28)
These two passages show that the most horrific event in human history did not happen outside the will of God, but rather the opposite: the crucifixion of Jesus was part of God’s eternal and unstoppable plan.
Salvation
- This is the central theological them in both Luke and Acts
- This why the disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit - to be enabled to be His witnesses
Peter
there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. (4:12)
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (5:30-31)
Paul
Brethren, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. (13:26)
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (16:30-31)
The Holy Spirit
- The Holy Spirit is named 41 times in Acts, not counting the references of just the “Spirit”.
- Pentecost is the watershed moment - the Promise of the Father fulfilled
Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (1:4-5)
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses… (1:8)
It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” (19:1-2)
- The Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Bogdan’s sermon at the Retreat
- Waiting in Jerusalem - sometimes we need to seek and ask and wait
Witness
- The Greek word μάρτυς (martyr) means “witness
- This word occurs 11 times in Acts. What is a witness?
someone who testifies to what they have seen and heard - must be first-hand, not hear-say
- Preaching is not merely information about God
- Preaching with power is the proclamation (kerygma) of God by the Spirit from a witness (one who has seen and heard)
Assignment
Preparing
- Read chapter 7 of Introducing the New Testament (Acts)
- Read the sermons:
- Peter on Pentecost (2.14-40)
- Peter in Solomon’s Porch (3.12-26)
- Stephen before the Sanhedrin (7.1-53)
- Peter to Cornelius and his household (10.34-43)
- Paul in Pisidian Antioch (13.16-41)
- Paul in Athens (17.22-31)
- Watch The Bible Project Acts Part 1 and Acts Part 2 below
Respond to the following:
Knowing
- The ministry of which 2 apostles are most highlighted in the Book of Acts?
- Who was our first martyr (witness) to the Good News of Jesus Christ?
- To whom does Paul proclaim “the unknown god” whom they worshipped in ignorance?
Reflecting
Choose two or three of the following:
- Write a one sentence summary of the Acts of the Apostles.
- How does Stephen’s defense in chapter 7 show that the Gospel is not some new innovation?
- What was revolutionary about Peter’s visit to the home of Cornelius in chapter 10?
- If you were to name one personal takeaway from Acts, what would it be?
Communicating
A witness is someone who has first-hand knowledge of something seen and heard. “Testimony” is what a witness gives, i.e. relating to another what he or she has seen and heard. In a few sentences, write out a testimony you might give to someone you may meet on the street.
