Oct 04, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of acts books of acts christian inconnect. Book of acts versebyverse bible study and indepth commentary of the acts of the apostles in plain english for everyone to understand. Acts overview spurgeons verse expositions of the bible. Acts is a bridge between the gospels and the epistles.
Our contributors explore the book of acts as a theological treasure that can engage and shape our discipleship today. Gods word and spreading the gospel, the life application study bible took many. Doughty southside christian church january 2014 introduction. Verse 1 demonstrates clearly that the unnamed author of acts is the same person as the unnamed author of the third gospel luke 1.
The origin of christianity and a commentary to the acts of the. The holy spirit is such a prominent figure in the acts, that the book is. To continue the story begun in the gospel of luke ac 1. John chrysostom found it repletewith christian wisdom and sound doctrine to guide believers. There has been much debate as to the purpose of acts. The gospel of luke records what jesus began both to do and teach in his human body, and the book of acts tells us what jesus continued to do and teach through his spiritual body, the church. The genre of the book of acts is narrative history with several sermons. 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. 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. Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of acts e. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. 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.
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. Several questions can be answered from the first 2 verses. This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source with renderx xep formatter, version 3. A better title would be the acts or the workings of the holy spirit, because he is the real main character of the book. Clearly, the author ofthe book of luke is also the one who penned the book of acts. The acts of the apostles is a unique and therefore crucial book of the new testament. Acts contains the only record of the first thirty years of the early. The book of james a detailed commentary basic training bible ministries page 2 introduction to james background of the book the epistle of james is one of the general epistles, including 1 and 2 peter, 1, 2 and 3 john, and jude. The temple in this book called acts was the third temple. The book contains only a few of the acts of some of the apostles, primarily peter and paul.
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. Read acts commentary using commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible. Verse 1 luke referred to his gospel here as my first book. Kruschwitz the acts of the apostles is a hidden treasure in the new testament. But stephen reminded the jews that god was bigger than any temple. Acts of the apostles bible study notes, commentary, and comments. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the. The book of acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly paul and peter, after jesuss ascension into heaven. A commentary on the acts of the apostles by pastor galen l. The initial question regards the identity of theophilus, the one for whom the book is written. Before jesus was taken into heaven where he was enthroned to share gods rule over the world, he instructed his followers to be a witness for him.
It opens with a greeting to theophilus, who was also the intended recipient of lukes gospel. Purpose of the book as indicated previously, the original purpose of both the gospel and acts may have been to assist. We know the first part of this work as the gospel of luke. 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. Acts furnishes a ladder on which to place the epistles. Stephen said some words from the book by the prophet isaiah isaiah 66. Luke, the author of the gospel of luke, was a doctor and gentile. Study the bible online using commentary on acts and more. The eight handbooks were dedicated to people who, in different ways, had a significant influence in my life and ministry.
As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. Perhaps luke was using it to mean any christian reader. This is a strong attestation to the divine inspiration of the book of psalms. We do not recommend loose translations or oneman translations. The book of genesis those who gave the name genesis to the first book of the bible were the translators of the pentateuch. You pick up your bible and see the ministry of jesus ending in the gospel of john. Explain how the statement you shall receive power when the holy spirit has. Those eight books are now combined into the onevolume bridgeway bible commentary, which is a companion in size, style and format to the bridgeway bible dictionary, an a to z of biblical information. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of the apostles through the work of the holy spirit. Acts is the second book in the history that luke wrote. It ends without revealing how pauls trial before caesars tribunal turned out, a certain necessity if the theme of the book were about the apostles. Visit the web site to browse or download additional material for church or personal use.
This is the story of christianitys beginnings and how evangelism played. Most can be obtained from a good religious bookstore. If the book was just before or after pauls release, then it was likely written around 63 a. The book of acts also describes the work of the two apostles peter and paul. The book of acts sermon outlines this material is from, a web site containing sermon outlines and bible studies by mark a. The book of acts is clearly not about the acts of the apostles, for if it were, it has the wrong ending. The beautiful, amazing, powerful, weak, dysfunctional church a chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 6 acts 1 50 days 1. At the end of the gospel of luke jesus says that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at jerusalem. Acts 1 the books is a special book in the new testament o its the historical account of the apostles and the spread of the church outward from jerusalem following jesus resurrection as many have noted, its probably misnamed its called the acts of. Its subject and intention is nicely summarised by the words of the lord in chapter 1. It alone presents an extensive picture of early church life and history. Matthews gospel is the bridge that leads us out of the old testament and into the new testament. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. In order to ascertain the purpose of the book of acts, we must start with the realization that acts is the second part of a two part work. If a bible reader were to jump from malachi into mark, or acts, or romans, he would be bewildered. Understanding why they were to wait is the key to understanding this passage. This represents the premillennial view held by fundamentalists and conservatives who correctly see the book of revelation as recording actual past, present and future history. If the book of acts were gone, there would be nothing to replace it howson. The subject matter of the book of acts is the living god as revealed. Using the opportunity, peter began by showing that the apostles were not drunk as some thought, because it was too early. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of the document. 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. A commentary on acts of the apostles bible study guide. 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. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy.
The title acts of the apostles is a bit misleading. At one time the gospel of luke and the book of acts were joined together as one book with two volumes. The presence and working of the holy spirit is the dominating mark of the book of acts. The conversation jesus is referencing is recorded in. As it is expected, the book of acts has a similar literary style as the gospel of luke because it is the second volume of lukes account. We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early apostles and preachers 3. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. Here at the beginning of acts luke picks up his narrative where the gospel leaves off. But ye will receive power, the holy spirit having come upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses both in jerusalem and in all judaea and samaria and to the end of the earth. The book which we call the acts of the apostles may be said to complete the pentateuch of new testament history. He backtracks slightly to give more detail about jesus teaching of the. Acts 1, new international version niv the bible app.
The outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. An overview of the book of acts, which provides an introduction to the apostles and gives a brief summary of the leaders, peter and. Bible study lesson sheets these are lessons designed for either a class or personal study. Four of these books present the person of our lord. It is intended to help you better understand some of the background and issues in lukes second volume. The signs and preaching at samaria which resulted in the conversion of the samaritans and simon.
Since the book of acts is the continuation of the gospel account of all jesus. But it is more likely that theophilus was a real person. Jesus had shown himself alive by many proofs for 40 days. The book of acts focuses on gods mission, as god draws people. A history of the early church gene taylor2an outline of the book i.
There are different ways to divide the book of acts. The new testament without acts leaves a great, yawning gap. The author quite certainly was luke for the following reason. Pdf versions of past issue contents, and encourage them to request their free. A commentary on the acts of the apostles southside christian. 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. This futuristic approach sees the book outlined as follows. It is more a story of the expansion of the church from jerusalem to rome.
The book of acts is focused on gods mission, as god draws people into his orbit and. Watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Acts of the apostles 4 imprisonment in rome are 6062 a. The main issues revolve around whether he is a man perhaps a greek official for whom luke acts is an apologetic for the gospel or a kind of generic. How would the ascension of jesus aid the apostles understanding in times to come.
One of the earliest manuscripts, the codex sinaiticus, gives as the title the simple word acts, with no mention of the apostles. In acts, jesus sends the holy spirit to empower his disciples as they carry. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. Whereas jesus is the chief character in the gospels, the holy spirit. Paul the traveler and the roman citizen, was to show. So, as it is giving us a historical explanation for the expansion of the. This commentary is based upon my personal devotional notes and reflections on the book of acts. Commentary on the book of acts of the apostles by matthew. 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 is a fastmoving historical account of the first three decades of. A good study bible we recommend the following features. The book of acts is the link between the gospels and the epistles. Publication of any commentary or other bible reference work produced for.
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. These letters were sent out as circular epistles to be passed around and read in several locations. Imagine what it would be like if the book of acts wasnt in the bible. The gospel of luke and the book of acts form a single, twovolume work. He explains, this dimension is vital to understanding earliest. 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. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. In this passage, luke is restating the great commission challenge jesus gave in luke 24. In his book, the bearing of recent discovery on the trustworthiness of the new testament, ramsay explained that the purpose of his book, st. The book of acts is also the account of the work of the holy spirit in and through the church. A chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 6 acts 1 50 days 1. For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own conversion experience with those in acts.
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