Like luke, acts is addressed to the unknown reader theophilus, and in the introduction to acts, it is made clear that it is a continuation of luke. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, did you receive the holy spirit when you believed. Jul 10, 2014 by the end of the book we see paul living in rome proclaiming the kingdom of god and teaching about the lord jesus christ with all boldness and without hindrance acts 28. Introduction when i come to acts chapter 27, it is like a breath of fresh air to me. Secondcentury christian tradition identifies the author of luke and acts as luke, a traveling companion of the missionary paul of tarsus. The background of acts 2009 by third millennium ministries. 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. Both were likely written by luke, whos said to be an early.
Whereas jesus is the chief character in the gospels, the. Study guide for acts 9 by david guzik blue letter bible. Study guide for acts 17 by david guzik blue letter bible. If the book of acts were gone, there would be nothing to replace it howson. In addition, there are topical studies on issues such as spiritual leadership, gods redemptive plan, and old testament character studies. 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. Acts 1 new international version niv jesus taken up into heaven. Acts documents the infancy of the early church from jesus instruction of his apostles before his ascension to the day of pentecost and the explosion of christianity, which continues to this day. The key personalities of acts are peter, paul, john, james, stephen, barnabas, timothy, lydia, silas, and apollos.
Then he lays his hands on them and they get the holy spirit and start to speak in tongues and prophecy. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. Paul travels to jerusalem aug 8, 2014 page 3 the same holy spirit indwells all of us who have accepted jesus christ as our personal savior. By the end of the book we see paul living in rome proclaiming the kingdom of god and teaching about the lord jesus christ with all boldness and without hindrance acts 28.
Sir william ramsay, after making a critical study of lukes writings, declared that luke was. A benjamite, a pharisee trained under the famous gamaliel, circumcised the eighth day, a roman citizen. The geographical centre of the first part is jerusalem, of the second antioch, where the first great assembly of converted heathens. We do not recommend loose translations or oneman translations.
Timothy joined paul in his missionary activities and continued to minister to the churches after paul became a prisoner in rome. Cornelius is a roman centurion hes in charge of 100 men based out of ceaseara, israel. Summary the book of acts, which continues the narrative that luke began in his. The book of acts, sometimes called the fifth gospel, is a continuation of the gospel of luke. It ends without revealing how paul s trial before caesars tribunal turned out, a certain necessity if the theme of the book were about the apostles, their ministries, and what happened to them. For instance, the author seems relatively shaky in his knowledge of pauls theology. Acts of the apostles, the second part of the work that begins with the gospel according to luke, is the story of the early church after jesuss martyrdom.
The remaining sixteen chapters describe pauls activities, beginning with his. The book of acts is an historical study of the begining of the church of jesus christ as it spread from jerusalem to rome. A chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 4 acts a short introduction heres what well be reading as we study through the book of acts. The life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epistles. Somehow, paul s nephew hears all about this and manages to find the roman tribune in charge of paul s case, claudius lysias, and warn him about the plot against paul s life. As mentioned in the origin of the bible, the book of acts is actually a letter written to theophilus by luke, the doctor who accompanied paul on his latter missionary journeys and used his medical training to carefully record what paul and the other apostles said and did as inspired by god. Study the bible online using commentary on acts 12 and more. Introduction to the book of acts acts study guide medium. The book of acts tells how the multiethnic, international. 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. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. I reserve the exclusive right to make changes to this study course e. 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. Paul could take gods past faithfulness as a promise of future blessing and protection.
Whether or not it was intended to be a historically accurate text, acts can be. Acts study noteschapter 21 watchtower online library. Luke wrote the book of acts and the gospel of luke and he dedicated his work to a man named theophilus as mentioned in the summary of the book of luke. Sir william ramsay, after making a critical study of lukes writings, declared that luke was the greatest historian, ancient or modern. The apostle peter and a new character named cornelius. Constables notes on acts 2020 edition the ground and dying. And julius treated paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.
The book of acts clearly focuses on the beginnings of the church, and two people the apostle peter, and the one who actually possessed the courage to go to the farthest parts of the known world with the gospel of jesus christ, his name was paul the apostle. 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. Acts and letters of the apostles captures the joys and sorrows. The book of acts is clearly not about the acts of the apostles, for if it were, it has the wrong ending. The book contains only a few of the acts of some of the apostles, primarily peter and paul. 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. The jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar. Acts is a fastmoving historical account of the first three decades of the church. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. Acts cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test.
Acts with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Most can be obtained from a good religious bookstore. And i believe god is honored and we are blessed when we take advantage of those opportunities. The fact that pauls and titus ministry on crete is not mentioned in acts reveals that the book of acts does not contain all the record of the early church. Paul wrote that on one occasion after his resurrection, jesus appeared to more than five. Acts 19 new international version niv paul in ephesus. It was famous as a place for jews to study the scriptures. Acts study noteschapter 28 watchtower online library. Book of acts bible study notes pastor steve bolewine.
Aristarchus, a macedonian of thessalonica, was with us. Peter in the first part of the book and paul in the second part. This title accurately reflects the contents of the book, which is a series of vignettes chronicling the lives of key apostles especially peter and paul in. Luke was a companion of paul on his missionary journeys, and in many parts of the book of acts it says we did this or that acts 16. A better title would be the acts or the workings of the holy spirit, because he is the real main character of the book. Notes on the book of acts the book of acts is an historical study of the begining of the church of jesus christ as it spread from jerusalem to rome.
In the final part, luke tells us that paul reached rome. Because the ship was part of the imperial grain fleet see note on verse 5, julius, not the helmsman nor the ships owner, was the ranking official on board. A free bible version and commentary on the book of acts in easyenglish. 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. Paul character bible study background and lessons name. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of the apostles through the work of the holy spirit. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. He departs from a careful analysis of apostles experiences in jerusalem. It was promised he would go to rome you must also bear witness at rome, acts 23. Davidistre abstract% thistrainingcoursestudiesthebook ofacts toprovideinsightintotheway theearlychurchworkedand.
Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. An overview of the book of acts the life of the early church is recorded and preserved. I have always looked upon the apostle paul as a godly man, a zealous servant of jesus christ, and a powerful preacher of the gospel. Sauls purpose in traveling to damascusthen saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of damascus, so that if he found any who were of the way, whether men or women, he might. Acts of the apostles summary shmoop test prep, study. Notes for acts chapter 10 johns title for chapter 10. It really should be called the acts of the holy spirit. Peter is the human main character in the first 12 chapters, paul in the second part from chapter. Paul helps them understand and then baptizes them in the name of jesus. The traditional title of this book is, in some respects, a misnomer.
The book of acts, above all else, is a story about the churchand what a story it is. The third letter is addressed to titus, a young man born of gentile parents who became a christian and who was one of the delegates sent by the church at antioch to accompany paul and barnabas when they went to. The story of paul is a story of redemption in jesus christ and a testimony that no one is beyond the saving grace of the lord. The presence and working of the holy spirit is the dominating mark of the book of acts. Holy spirit, the ministry of the apostles, paul and his dealings with the jerusalem apostles. Handout acts 10 receive bible study notes by email from. The title acts of the apostles is a bit misleading. It is more a story of the expansion of the church from jerusalem to rome. Acts 9 tells the story of the dramatic conversion of the man formerly known as saul, the persecutor. Acts is a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. 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. A pivotal point in the book of acts is when saul of tarsus the apostle paul meets jesus on the road to damascus and is converted. Acts furnishes a ladder on which to place the epistles.
Study 1 going through the book of acts words of life. Study guide for acts 28 by david guzik blue letter bible. To continue the story begun in the gospel of luke ac 1. 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. Luke is the writer, as he states in his introduction v. Read acts 12 commentary using wesleys explanatory notes. 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. The remainder of the book of acts describes pauls visit to macedonia. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book. Far from ordinary, paul was given the opportunity to do extraordinary things for the kingdom of god. These notes outline the threefold division of the book, highlighting both the historical movement and the important elements concerning the church that are given in acts. But he did not start off as a hero to the church of god, but rather a villain. Whereas jesus is the chief character in the gospels, the holy spirit.
The book is more a story of the extension of the church from jerusalem to rome than it is a complete history of the apostles acts. The gospel draws people in, constitutes them as the church centered on the grace of jesus, and then sends them out in mission to the world. Preparations for worldwide witnessing, jesus ascension, outpouring of holy spirit, persecution of disciples, sauls conversion, paul and barnabas, missionary tours. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. Workbook on the book of acts the church of christ in. Actually, it is a very small record, and only the ministries of two of the apostles are emphasized.
The title of the book of acts comes from the greek word praxis, a word often used in early christian literature to describe the great deeds of the apostles or other significant believers. New testament of the bible cliffsnotes study guides. Some folks are into it and some are pretty dead set against him. Study 1 going through the book of acts words of life ministries. The early religious training paul receives comes from the best rabbinical school in jerusalem. Counting acts, 15 of the 27 books of the new testament are written by or about paul, which makes him a serious contender for the second most important person. In many ways acts is the most exciting book in the new testament because it is full of movement and interest. Bible study of acts join us for an inspiring study on the. The ship on which paul traveled was forced southward by strong winds, from cnidus on the sw tip of asia minor to below crete. The book of acts books of acts christian inconnect. Book of acts bible study notes pastor steve bolewine 2 so, entering a ship of adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of asia. While in the city of philippi, paul and his companion, silas, were thrown into prison.
We should also understand that what peter said here was only a summary, as are all the. He was born into a jewish family in the city of tarsus. Claudius lysias has his soldiers take paul to caesarea to appear in front of the governor there named felix. The new testament without acts leaves a great, yawning gap. The subject of the book of acts, what is its primary focus of attention, is the church of jesus christ. The apostle paul i make no personal claim to the word or work of god, any or all of this book may be copied and freely distributed. They cried out charges as expected see notes above 3. Book of acts bible study notes pastor steve bolewine pastor steve acts bible study lesson 21. These studies will be expository, devotional, practical and varied, and this is an introduction to the whole book.
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. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. Luke volume ii, often called the acts of the apostles, completes the pentateuch of the new testament. The title of the book of acts comes from the greek word praxis, a word often used in. The book of acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly paul and peter, after jesuss ascension into heaven. The importance of this will become clear as we study acts. Acts, as it is commonly called, is a second volume of the gospel of luke.
They answered, no, we have not even heard that there is a holy spirit. If luke knew the outcome of the trial paul was waiting for see 28. After an earthquake shook the prison, they were released and at pauls insistence were given a police guard until they were safely out of the city. In the book of acts, we discover how gods multiethnic, international church grew through persecution and missionary journeys throughout the world. Acts 19 paul in ephesus while apollos was at bible. This web page contains lesson plans for a multiweek study of your choice. Pentecost ii it is no longer a jewish thing a summary of chapter 10. Study of acts discussion notes chapter 9 introduction in chapter 9 of acts, luke begins to give a broader view of what is taking place in the new testament church. A good study bible we recommend the following features. That is exactly what the acts of the apostles book is. It wasnt so much that nothing would stop paul as it was that nothing would stop gods promise from being fulfilled. A major figure in the book of acts and the new testament is the apostle paul.
Apparently, the ship was passing the sw end of the island of cyprus as it sailed eastward toward tyre. Content includes book studies on luke, ephesians, thessalonians, james, 1 samuel, john, and acts. In regard to this unhappy contention between paul and barnabas, and their separation from each other, we may make the following remarks. But it is here, in our text, that i see paul as a very wise man in practical matters, a man who is a leader of men, and whose counsel is taken seriously because he knows what he. On his first missionary journey about nine years earlier, paul, along with barnabas and john mark, had encountered on cyprus the sorcerer elymas, who opposed their preaching.