The book contains only a few of the acts of some of the apostles, primarily peter and paul. Paul discussed with them righteousness, selfcontrol, and the judgment to come, and then felix terminated the conversation. The tradition from the earliest days of the church has been that luke, a companion of the apostle paul, wrote the books of luke and acts colossians 4. Acts with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. In chapter nine of acts, luke tells us the famous story of pauls. Luke wrote the book of acts acts of the apostles to record how believers were empowered by the holy spirit, worked to spread the gospel of christ, and are a model for the future church. Acts commentary commentary critical and explanatory. The book of acts, also called acts of the apostles, does not specifically identify its author. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. The book of the acts of the apostles forms the fifth, and last, of the historical books of the new testament.
My conclusion about pauls message and example as the book of acts portrays them. The key personalities of acts are peter, paul, john, james, stephen, barnabas, timothy, lydia, silas, and apollos. Paul keeps on preaching about jesus in the synagogues around ephesus. The book of acts bible study christianity oasis ministry has provided you with the book of acts bible study on the book of acts bible study events. The geographical centre of the first part is jerusalem, of the second antioch, where the first great assembly of converted heathens was formed. The temple in this book called acts was the third temple. There is a range of literature either about or purporting to be by paul, including letters, narratives, prayers, and apocalypses. The acts of the apostles, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. Stephen said some words from the book by the prophet isaiah isaiah 66. Outline of the book of acts detailed acts of the apostles.
The second half, however, follows the missionary journeys of one remarkable person, paul. In the book of acts, we discover how gods multiethnic, international church grew through persecution and missionary journeys throughout the world. It is worth noting that in this history of the early christian church, luke mentioned neither pauls death ad 6468 nor the persecution of christians that broke out. With peter, the emphasis is the jewish church in jerusalem and judea. Andy patton the first half of acts tells the story of the early years of the christian movement from the point of view of a variety of characters. The acts of the apostles is a unique and therefore crucial book of the new testament. The book of acts describes how the church spread after jesus ascended to heaven. The beginning verses of acts make it clear that acts is a sequel of the story started in luke and written to the same man named theophilus, generally a title ascribed to highranking roman officials. The apostle paul spent his life proclaiming the risen christ jesus throughout the roman world, often at great personal peril 2 corinthians 11. For example, individuals journeying by sea would have to find available ships and accept delays caused by loading and unloading cargo.
It alone presents an extensive picture of early church life and history. Whereas jesus is the chief character in the gospels, the holy spirit, working through the apostles, is the dominant character in the book of acts. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. Jan 05, 2009 in chapter nine of acts, luke tells us the famous story of paul s conversion.
Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. This the book of acts bible study on the book of acts bible study verses looks at the book of acts bible study stories and asks what is the book of acts bible study about, who is in the book of acts bible study stories, why is the book of acts. And on this account it has been generally placed at the end of the four gospels. It includes, among others, an episode reminiscent of the greek fable of androcles and the lion, in which paul escapes from the wild. Book of acts acts of the apostles may 7, 2017 may 5, 2017 by holyone the book of acts also know as acts of the apostles, frequently alluded to just as acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Does acts relate what actually happened and paul as he actually was. This is the first mention of paul in the book of acts. Then he lays his hands on them and they get the holy spirit and start to speak in tongues and prophecy.
Peter is the human main character in the first 12 chapters, paul in the second part from chapter. Book of acts bible study book of acts bible study stories. Some have concluded that theophilus was the magistrate who heard pauls case in rome and that acts and luke was a legal brief in pauls defense isbe, theophilus 3. As previously noted, the book of acts gives us a historical look at pauls life and times. He taught the facts about the lord jesus christ and nobody tried to stop him. Historians believe that the author of acts did not have access to any of pauls letters. The acts of paul is one of the major works and earliest pseudepigraphal series from the new testament apocrypha also known as apocryphal acts. Acts concerns the very vital period in christian history between the resurrection of jesus and the death of the apostle paul, the time when christian ideas and beliefs were.
To continue the story begun in the gospel of luke ac 1. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth. An overview of the book of acts, which provides an introduction to the apostles and gives a brief summary of the leaders, peter and paul, as well as the other apostles. To visit and encourage the churches there, and to gather those who will be carrying the financial gifts from those churches to the church in jerusalem, which once again was suffering through a famine see great famine. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. Barnabas, simeon called niger, lucius of cyrene, manaen who had been brought up with herod the tetrarch and saul. Pauls activities and teachings recorded in the book of acts. It is an important book in understanding how we can be directed by the holy spirit and the role of jesus lessons in our lives. Understanding the book of acts in the bible learn religions.
Luke was from antioch but traveled with paul all over southern europe and the middle east. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. This is the story of christianitys beginnings and how evangelism played. This versebyverse bible study and commentary of the acts of the apostles the book of acts or simply acts is in depth but uses plain language that everyone can understand, as well as a format that will engage you. Kruschwitz the acts of the apostles is a hidden treasure in the new testament. John chrysostom found it repletewith christian wisdom and sound doctrine to guide believers. Paul said, johns baptism was a baptism of repentance. But john himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning jesus. Paul, still called saul at this point, has taken an active part in the persecution of the christian movement after the. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Although approximately half of acts deals with pauls life and works, the book of acts does not refer to paul writing letters. Probably written about ad 160180, the acts of paul is an account of the apostle pauls travels and teachings. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries.
Mar 23, 2015 this video explains the transitional book that is the book of acts, and how it starts with jews to jews, and slowly changes to gentiles, as the jewish nation as a whole rejects jesus christ, and. The book of acts also describes the work of the two apostles peter and paul. In verse 24 we learn that felix and his wife drusilla sent for paul and invited him to speak of the christian faith. Stoic philosophy, using stoic terms and metaphors to assist his new gentile converts in their understanding of the gospel and to explain his christology. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of. A good study bible we recommend the following features. The we passages show the author was a companion of pauls acts 16. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in jesus. The book of acts, which continues the narrative that luke began in his gospel, is especially important because it was the first written history of the christian church.
Acts chapter explained discover the 66 books of the bible. The gospel of luke and the book of acts form a single, twovolume work. Jesus had shown himself alive by many proofs for 40 days. Pauls epistles, as many circumstances in them are referred to by the narrative contained. A history of the early church gene taylor2an outline of the book i. But stephen reminded the jews that god was bigger than any temple. He changes his name to paul and takes up the discipleship torch. We may be sure that luke himself stayed as close as possible to paul. Before he left ephesus, paul wrote to the church in corinth of greece achaia, now concerning the. We may assume that he left after a few months at most.
The author distinguishes himself from pauls other companions in acts by naming them. In acts 24 we learn of an encounter between paul and felix, governor of judea, who was trying pauls case. The one led by demetrius in ephesus just after paul decided to leave ephesus see ephesus theater. This video explains the transitional book that is the book of acts, and how it starts with jews to jews, and slowly changes to gentiles, as the jewish nation as a whole rejects jesus christ, and. The book of acts tells how the multiethnic, international.
The geographical centre of the first part is jerusalem, of the second antioch, where the. May 07, 2017 book of acts acts of the apostles may 7, 2017 may 5, 2017 by holyone the book of acts also know as acts of the apostles, frequently alluded to just as acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Most can be obtained from a good religious bookstore. An approximate date given to the acts of paul is 160 ce. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. Paul helps them understand and then baptizes them in the name of jesus. If so, why does the paul of acts seem different from the paul of his letters. Paul the apostle commonly known as saint paul and also known by his hebrew name saul of. The book of acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly paul and peter, after jesuss ascension into heaven. From chapter to the end of the book, in chapter 28, it is tempting to see paul as the main.
It is more a story of the expansion of the church from jerusalem to rome. Clearly, the author ofthe book of luke is also the one who penned the book of acts. The eunuch invites philip to travel with him and explain. Then paul stood up, and beckoning with his handas was his manner on such occasions acts 21. New testament scholarship has long debated the accuracy of the portrayal of the apostle paul in the book of acts. The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. This versebyverse bible study and commentary of the acts of the apostles the book of acts or simply acts is indepth but uses plain language that everyone can understand, as well as a format that will engage you. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier date is also. In chapter nine of acts, luke tells us the famous story of pauls conversion. One piece of evidence suggesting this is that acts never directly quotes from the pauline epistles. While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the apostles, many times you must use cross references to the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john as well as some other epistles in the new testament to get the full picture of what was. We do not recommend loose translations or oneman translations. Tertullian found it heretical because it encouraged women to preach and baptize.
Some folks are into it and some are pretty dead set against him. Acts of paul, one of the earliest of a series of pseudepigraphal noncanonical new testament writings known collectively as the apocryphal acts. Acts is a fastmoving historical account of the first three decades of the church. Men of israel, and ye that fear god by the latter expression meaning religious proselytes, who united with the jews in all acts of ordinary worship.
Nov 08, 2012 an overview of the book of acts, which provides an introduction to the apostles and gives a brief summary of the leaders, peter and paul, as well as the other apostles. It is assumed that paul died a martyrs death in the midtolate ad 60s in rome. Acts niv now in the church at antioch there were bible. Paul was a consenting witness to stephens stoning by the high priest and the council. Preparations for a worldwide witnessing work address to theophilus jesus shows himself during 40 days and speaks about gods kingdom jesus instructs the apostles to stay in jerusalem and wait for the promised holy spirit jesus answers the apostles question about when the kingdom will be restored to israel jesus commissions the apostles to be witnesses of him to the ends of the. The author quite certainly was luke for the following reason.
Acts of paul consists of the third letter to the corinthians, an account of his martyrdom, and other narratives depicting his preaching and activity. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. Our contributors explore the book of acts as a theological treasure that can engage and shape our discipleship today. The book of acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly paul and peter, after. An example can be seen by comparing actss accounts of pauls conversion acts 9. Of pauls unnamed companions only titus and luke could have been with paul during each of the three we passages.