Main Focus
• Old Testament – Christ in Prophecy
• Gospels – Christ in History
• Acts – Christ in the Church
• Epistles – Christ in Experience
• Apocalypse – Christ in coming Glory
• Gospels – Christ in History
• Acts – Christ in the Church
• Epistles – Christ in Experience
• Apocalypse – Christ in coming Glory
Acts: ""
Written by: Luke
Chapters:28
Verses:1007
Chapters 1-12 Peter and Philip
Chapters 13-28 Paul
Acts covers the first 40 years
Revelation Chapters 2 and 3 cover the next 2000+
-----Acts 1-----
Theophilus θεόφιλος (only 2 places in scripture where this name was ever used)
The name “Theophilus” literally means “loved by God,” but carries the idea of “friend of God.”
Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Luke 1:1-4
1 Forasmuch
as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those
things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
Jesus in Action
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until
the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost
had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
v.2 apostles whom he had chosen:
Matthew 10; Mark 3:13-20
Holy Spirit
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Witness
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
I remember a church I use to attend that had this verse on a big sign over the front of the church.
This was speaking to believers and telling them/us that we need to be witnesses of Jesus Christ : Locally > Regionally > Globally.
Acts
Jerusalem Chapters 1-7
Judaea, and in Samaria Chapters 8-12
Rome Chapters 13-28
Global Revelation Chapters 2 and 3
Unity and Prayer
14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. - esv
Last Mention of Mary in the Scriptures.
Casting Lots
23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
Proverbs 18:18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
Cool thing I never knew was that after the Holy Spirit arrives, casting lots ceases for believers because now they have the Holy Spirit to guide them.
-----Acts 2-----
The Birth of the Church ( Bride of Christ )
-----Acts 3-----
-----Acts 4-----
-----Acts 5-----
-----Acts 6-----
-----Acts 7-----
-----Acts 8-----
-----Acts 9-----
-----Acts 10-----
-----Acts 11-----
Christians
26 And
when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to
pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and
taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in
Antioch.
-----Acts 12-----
Faith
9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
-----Acts 13-----
-----Acts 14-----
Knocked down, got up, got going
19 And
there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded
the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing
he had been dead.
-----Acts 15-----
-----Acts 16-----
1st Mention of Timothy (Timotheus)
16 Then
came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there,
named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and
believed; but his father was a Greek:
-----Acts 17-----
Search the scriptures, validate what you hear with the God's Word.
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
To The Unknown God
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
I love how in this chapter Paul took something that they could relate to and was able to share the Gospel without diluting or contaminating the message.
Used this in a youth group study and broke them up in teams for an exercise:
Handed each group an object, Coin, bottle of water, padlock, pen, and band-aid.
Gave each team about 5 min to come up with a way to use that object to find a way to "share" something about God to the rest of the group. Point them to Him with that object(use bible references also). Encouraged them to try and change their way of thinking and throughout the day when they come across something to stop and think how could I use this to point someone to God and His Word.
-----Acts 18-----
1After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,
Around A.D. 49
3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
1 Corinthians 4:12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
1 Thessalonians 2:9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
