firmed in Acts. Although it is incredibly immense, the twenty-eight chapters of the book of Acts can be divided into four major sections. The earthquake happens, and the shock waves expand in ever increasing circles to cover the whole earth, driven along by the Holy Spirit. The New Testament without Acts leaves a great, yawning gap. The Acts Of The Early Churches. Learn how your comment data is processed. This is the second in a three part study that shows how I believe Luke constructed his thesis, the Book of Acts. Introduction (1:1-5) A. While this is not an exclusive list, be sure to address the following elements: 1. It is titled "Acts" to emphasize that this book records the "Acts of the Apostles through the work of the Holy Spirit". Acts 16:31: “So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.’” Brief Summary: The book of Acts gives the history of the Christian church and the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as the mounting opposition to it. The first trial takes place in Jerusalem in front of a Jewish crowd at the Temple, the second before the Supreme Jewish Council in Jerusalem, the third and fourth before Felix and Festus (procurators of Judea) in Caesarea, and the fifth, also in Caesarea, before King Herod Agrippa II. Thematic Outline of the Course. The book of Acts tells us of some of the acts of some of the apostles, but more so it tells us history. Heck, if you don’t want it, get it for me and I’ll send you $25. The main theological emphasis of the book of Acts is the Holy Spirit. In addition, the messiness of real discipleship in a growing church becomes more and more of a reality, reminding us that the early Church was far from perfect. The Book of Acts finishes with Paul’s final appeals to his Jewish compatriots to accept Jesus as their Messiah and with Paul freely preaching the gospel in the heart of the Roman Empire. Book of Acts Structure Acts has two key structural principles. As a teacher, I sometimes have the opportunity to travel in many countries around the world. The significance of Acts as a historical account of Christian origins cannot be overestimated. What he did was structure it in three pairs of subject matter or sub-themes. In addition, the uproar surrounding Stephen’s sermon sparks the largest amount of persecution the Church had encountered to date, causing the Church to scatter throughout parts of Judea and Samaria. The Apostle Peter stands up and proclaims the gospel, resulting in over 3,000 people meeting Jesus. (1) B. Wrote a former treatise. If you look at Acts, you’ll notice that the first section covers Peter (Acts 1-12) and the second section covers Paul (Acts 13-28). Three Sections – This theory takes Acts 1:8 as the “center piece” of the entire book. Your email address will not be published. Outline of Acts. Though most scholars date the book c. 8… The book of Acts Thematic Analysis Essay. Notice the following locations: . Jesus’ words in Acts 1:8 provide the inspired outline Luke follows in writing Acts. It is Luke’s sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Thank you! The Re-orientation to the Program (1:6-8) 3. Acts chapter 1: Ac 1:1-9. The Ascension and Predicted Return (1:9-11) B. Indeed, from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, the book of Acts captures the witness of the church of its resurrected Lord and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Recommended Reading for December 21st, 2012 | Near Emmaus, The Types of Sermons in Acts - Think Theology : Think Theology. Spanning roughly thirty years of early Church history and covering dozens of unique stories, geographical locations, and complex theological realities, the book of Acts is what John Calvin called “a kind of vast treasure” (Calvin, The Acts of the Apostles: Vol. Although it is incredibly immense, the twenty-eight chapters of the book of Acts can be divided into four major sections. The scene, however, moves away from Paul on the offensive and moves towards Paul on the defensive. Acts furnishes a ladder on which to place the Epistles. The main purposes of the book appear to be: To present a history. 1. by Luke Geraty | Dec 19, 2012 | Biblical Theology, New Testament, Preaching. Bible book as a foundation for further study, teaching, or preaching. T he Book of Acts in the Bible, written around 62-63 A.D., may be best described as a history of the founding and growth of the early church. The commentators usually write the outline without mentioning the basis of their division. Each of these sections shows what went down as the gospel spread throughout the known world: 1-6:7 (Jews in Jerusalem), 6:8-9:31 (Hellenists & Samaritans), 9:32-12:24 (Gentiles & Antioch), 12:25-16:5 (Asia Minor), 16:6-19:20 (Europe), and 19:21-28:31 (Rome). The Background of Acts 2. (1:12-26) 3. Through the book of Acts, you’ll notice that both Apostles perform miracles through the power of the Spirit, see visions, suffer, preach powerfully, and were imprisoned and later miraculously set free. 1. The first key event is a powerful sermon preached by Stephen, one of the first deacons in the Church. The church at Antioch sends out Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey in Church history. Outline of the book. They also were involved in casting out demons and raising the dead. Therefore, Acts can be read in two sections: one covering Peter and the other covering Paul. Catch a bus? While in Jerusalem, Paul is assaulted, arrested, and experiences a total of five trials. Jesus is continuing his mission on planet earth through his Church. I’ll let you look at it when you come down to Ausitn to visit me. A. You should have bought it. d. The Importance Of The Book Of Acts. Once I’ve decided to preach through a book of the Bible, I like to form some sort of a “homiletic outline” that helps me break a book up into sections to preach through. In the book of Acts, there is a key structural marker about the increase of the Word of God. First, I need to know where I am going. Or use some other form of transportation? Sir Outlines for the Book of Acts. Book of Acts . In this section, the gospel of the kingdom was preached to the Jewish nation alone. The Lord Prepares the Disciples (1:1-11) 1. Although believers by nature, are far from God, and children of wrath, even as others, yet it is amazing to think how nigh they are brought to him again by the blood of Jesus Christ. Structure of Acts Reading Acts is like watching the effects of an earthquake. No Gentile evangelism occurred. The gospel spreads to the uttermost parts of the world. I got it – for me. The Book of Acts contains twenty-eight chapters. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Six Sections – This theory is based on the idea that within Acts, Luke is using a “literary device” to help give us an indication of what the structure of the book is; this is his way of giving us his chapter markers. Sometimes chapter markers can be helpful and sometimes they are absolutely misplaced. This somewhat anticlimactic ending reminds us that the story that started in Acts 1 doesn’t end in Acts 28. The Apostles and Others Gathered in Jerusalem (1:12-14) 2. 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.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. Thus, it’s something I often find myself working on when I’m trying to take a “big picture” approach to a book of the Bible. The Lord Re-Establishes 12 Apostles (1:12-26) 1. The Promise, Power and Procedure by Walter Dunnett. 1, 20). A friend of mine is planning on preaching through the book of Acts and I was thinking about someday preaching on it. 2), and then for the Gentiles (ch. In preparation for the Church to become a trans-local movement, a few key events take place. You should begin with the following for each lesson: 1. Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The first is the geographic movement from Jerusalem, centre of God’s Covenant people, … It tells of cities and dates and people that were affected by the Gospel. Of these, the first twelve report events between the time of Jesus' last meeting with his disciples and the beginning of Paul's work as a Christian missionary. Bible Book Summary. Through the conversion of Cornelius and a large group of Gentiles, Peter comes face to face with God’s desire for all people from all cultures and backgrounds to come to know Jesus. ii. Purpose: Provides an overview of Acts and two outlines for the Book of Acts as well as an index for BFF Acts articles, powerpoints and audio/video podcasts. The book begins with Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit, which is later fulfilled in reference to the Jews (ch. Will I take an airplane? The beginning of Acts picks up the narrative where the gospel of Luke left off. Stephen’s sermon, recorded in it’s entirety in Acts 7, leads to his brutal martyrdom by the Jewish religious leaders of the day who were deeply offended by the truth he proclaimed. Very helpful, clear, and succinct. The early Church grows into a multiplying gospel community that loves God, loves people, and pushes back darkness. As you read Acts, you’ll notice that there are six “progress reports” (6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:30-31). (Acts 1:1- 7:60) 1. 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 key events that take place between Acts 6-12 lay the foundation for the mission of God to become a radically diverse trans-local movement. iii. As the book of Acts comes to a close, the focus zooms in on the Apostle Paul. Rather, the focus is clearly on some of the acts or deeds of mostly Peter (the key figure in the first half) and Paul (the key figure in the second). Jesus ascends to heaven. I suggest that the structure of Acts can reveal the … Matthias is chosen to replace Judas. Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke, was a doctor and Gentile. The whole structure of Acts is not widely discussed among scholars. Saul, who is also called Paul, becomes perhaps the greatest missionary the Church has ever seen. The Acts Of The Risen Christ. The Outlines convey the content of the book with great detail and full thoughts so that one sees clearly how the biblical text both flows and divides. Paul spends two years in prison and is then transferred to Rome where he spends an additional two years under house-arrest. What’s Luke’s structure? Here’s what I found somewhat interesting if one were going to approach Acts looking for a structure: Major Themes Required Additional Reading: John Dick, Lectures on the Book of Acts The complete Book of Acts in your Bible Assignments. And second, I have to know how I will get from place to place. 8. 10). The Book of Acts is a vital link between the Gospels and the Epistles. The Book of Acts: A History of the Early Church Gene Taylor-2-An Outline of the Book I. In an essay of 750-1000 words, analyze the thematic development of this first movement of the book of Acts. #2: Outline based on a key structural marker: The Word increased! The beginning of Acts picks up the narrative where the gospel of Luke left off. Required fields are marked *. But the command to take the gospel to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth hasn’t been attempted. During this time he is writing New Testament letters such as Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, and proclaiming the gospel to all who will listen. The Early Spread of the Church in Jerusalem. He wrote this book circa 60-62 A.D. PURPOSE OF THE BOOK As indicated previously, the original purpose of both the gospel and Acts may have been to assist The gospel is taken to Judea and Samaria. If the book was just before or after Paul’s release, then it was likely written around 63 A.D. from Rome. The Book of Acts: Summary and Overview. (2b) D. Jesus had shown Himself alive by many proofs for 40 days. (2) C. Jesus commissioned the twelve apostles. R Reference to the Holy Spirit comes in a variety of ways. The Book of Acts has also been referred to as :- i. The third key event is the conversion of Cornelius, a prominent Gentile soldier. The Acts of the Apostles is the fifth book of the New Testament which outlines the events of ‘Apostolic Age’ of Christianity. (1:1-11) 2. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. A number of factors and presuppositions affect the date of this book. The letters or epistles after Acts tells us of the supreme care and guidance that God has for His people – then, now, and in the future. 1. Two Sections – In this theory, it’s suggested that Luke structures Acts around two main characters (Peter and Paul). Well, something similar is true when we read the book of Acts. Acts Summary. Discussion on it is almost ignored in many commentaries. The second key event is the conversion of Saul, arguably the fiercest human antagonist of the early Church. The death and resurrection of Jesus is the epicentre. Part 1: Foundations For Mission. Acts contains the following sets of threes and may be outlined in the following manner: The first part of Acts (Acts 1-8) is dominated by activities of the Twelve and those associated with the Jerusalem assembly. I like option #3 simply because it tracks what Jesus commanded the 12 to do and Paul repeated,”To the Jew first and then to the Gentiles”. Based on Acts 1:1 - 6:7. This is, in effect, an outline of the book of Acts (see Plan and Outline below). As the people of God scatter, so does the mission of God. by Jay Smith. I just saw Colin Hemer’s out of print ground breaking historical study of Acts for $20 at a local store – which I may need to get since every internet search showed the cheapest to be about $60. The disciples are commanded to wait in the city of Jerusalem until Jesus pours out the Holy Spirit in power. That treatise ended on the day of ascension. These pages may be copied and distributed freely; we only ask that if you quote from this work you give the appropriate credit. Structure and Content 3. Acts is a bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles. This becomes the watershed moment for the Church as the gospel is made crystal clear and God’s mission to have a people from every tribe, tongue, nation, and language is preserved. As the Church grows and expands, suffering and persecution begin to set in. As you read Acts, you’ll notice that there are six “progress reports” (6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:30-31). The genre of the book of Acts is Narrative History with several Sermons. Introduction to the Beginning of the Church (1) A. The prophecy from Joel is lived out throughout the Acts of the Apostles. (Acts 11:19 -28:31) III. Outline of the Book of Acts The Gospel is Preached From Jerusalem to All Judea - Chapters 1-7 The Gospel is Preached in Samaria - Chapter 8 The Gospel is Preached to the Gentiles - Chapters 9-12 It helps to know where the story is going and what literary techniques or strategies Luke uses to guide us to ou… As I was thinking about it, I started to remember that I had put some work into researching whether or not there was a structure to the book of Acts. Every book of the Bible outlined in section headings. Among the most important are: (1) authorship; (2) the solution to the synoptic problem; (3) whether the Olivet Discourse was truly prophetic or a vaticinium ex eventu; and especially (4) the date of Acts. The gospel is preached in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1 - 8:3) 2. Six Sections – This theory is based on the idea that within Acts, Luke is using a “literary device” to help give us an indication of what the structure of the book is; this is his way of giving us his chapter markers. Published by {{FrontlineChurch}} content created by {{Frontline Church Content Team}}. By the grace and power of God, the Church experiences much missional success in Jerusalem. What are some ways that we can show the Holy Spirit is working in our lives today? The Acts Of The Holy Spirit. Jerusalem (no persecu­tion) Acts 2:46-47 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, praising God and having favour with all the people. Whenever we try to outline a book of the Bible, we look for markers that the writer included in order to denote a section ending or section beginning. Allow the group to discuss. In Acts 15, a crucial conference is held in Jerusalem to discuss the conditions for Gentile membership in the Church. Jesus commissions his disciples into the mission of God and then ascends into heaven. The Gospel in Jerusalem (Acts … Paul launches out on his second and third missionary journeys, strengthening existing churches along the way. It might also be called "The Acts Of The Holy Spirit", as that Person of the Godhead is very much an active participant throughout the book. His structure is to provide a narrative of how the gospel was preached from Jerusalem (chapters 1-7), Judea and Samaria (8-10), and to the ends of the earth (11-28). Outline of Acts I. Despite the Church’s struggles from within and from outside struggles, “the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem” - Acts 6:7. Within the book, there is a definite structure behind it with reoccurring and consistent themes and characteristics that continually appearing throughout it. Jesus commissions his disciples into the mission of God and then ascends into heaven. (Acts 8:4-11:18) 3. “If the Book of Acts were gone, there would be nothing to replace it” (Howson). The Reaffirmation of the Promise (1:1-5) 2. Daughters prophesy in Acts 21:8-9, young men see visions in Acts 9:10, and wonders and signs happen throughout the book. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Introduction Acts 1:1-11 . Perhaps Luke was writing with the hopes of preventing two separate churches developing (one for Jews, the other for Gentiles). Acts Of The Apostles 4 imprisonment in Rome are 60-62 A.D. WRITER:Dr. Luke, who also wrote the third Gospel (Acts 1:1). On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes in a dramatic way and fills 120 disciples with power and boldness for mission. Before each trip, I always make sure I understand two important things. Acts 1:1-2 “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 … In power ’ words in Acts 1:8 provide the inspired outline Luke follows in writing Acts scatter, so the. 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