Overview of the Book of Acts. ILLC Adult Bible Class September 20042 Author: Luke the physician Place written: Likely written from Rome When: 63 A.D

Overview of the Book of Overview of the Book of ActsActs

ILLC Adult Bible Class September 2ILLC Adult Bible Class September 2004004

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• Author: Luke the physicianAuthor: Luke the physician

• Place written: Likely written from RomePlace written: Likely written from Rome

• When: 63 A.D. based on the fact that Acts When: 63 A.D. based on the fact that Acts ends abruptly with Paul under house arrest ends abruptly with Paul under house arrest awaiting trial in Rome.awaiting trial in Rome.

• Written to: Your Excellency Theophilus, Written to: Your Excellency Theophilus, who is thought to be a high ranking who is thought to be a high ranking government official and believer. The government official and believer. The name means “God lover”.name means “God lover”.



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PurposePurpose• To record the establishment and To record the establishment and

early growth of the churchearly growth of the church• Give examples of conversions to the Give examples of conversions to the

gospel of Christgospel of Christ• Reveal the ministry of the Holy Spirit Reveal the ministry of the Holy Spirit

in the apostles and the early churchin the apostles and the early church



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• ThemeTheme– The book begins in Jerusalem and The book begins in Jerusalem and

ends at Rome. It describes the ends at Rome. It describes the establishment and growth of the establishment and growth of the church throughout the church throughout the Mediterranean world through the Mediterranean world through the work of the apostles and other work of the apostles and other Christians under the direction of the Christians under the direction of the Holy Spirit.Holy Spirit.



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• Key verse: Acts 1:8Key verse: Acts 1:8

• ““But you shall receive power when But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”earth.”



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Overview of the Book of Overview of the Book of ActsActs• What is the duty of a witness?What is the duty of a witness?

– To state that which is true.To state that which is true.

• What does it mean to be a witness of Christ?What does it mean to be a witness of Christ?– Confess by words or by way of life that one is a Confess by words or by way of life that one is a

child of God and the Lord Jesus is his personal child of God and the Lord Jesus is his personal SaviorSavior

– Confess that one is a member of God’s kingdom Confess that one is a member of God’s kingdom here on earth.here on earth.

– Confess that there is only one saving faith and that Confess that there is only one saving faith and that God has only one kingdomGod has only one kingdom


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• Basic OutlineBasic Outline

• I.I. Witnesses in JerusalemWitnesses in Jerusalem

• II.II. Witnesses in Judea and SamariaWitnesses in Judea and Samaria

• III. Witnesses unto the end of the III. Witnesses unto the end of the earthearth



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• I.I. Witnesses in Jerusalem (1:1-8:3)Witnesses in Jerusalem (1:1-8:3)– Early Happenings (1:1-26)Early Happenings (1:1-26)

• Introduction to the book (1:1-3)Introduction to the book (1:1-3)

•The promise of the Spirit (1:4-8)The promise of the Spirit (1:4-8)

• Jesus ascension into heaven (1:9-11)Jesus ascension into heaven (1:9-11)

•Awaiting the Spirit (1:12-14)Awaiting the Spirit (1:12-14)

•The selection of Mathias (1:16-26)The selection of Mathias (1:16-26)



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• Establishment of the church(2:1-47)Establishment of the church(2:1-47)– Outpouring of the SpiritOutpouring of the Spirit– Reaction of the crowdReaction of the crowd– Explanation by PeterExplanation by Peter– First gospel sermon (Peter)First gospel sermon (Peter)– Conversion of 3000 soulsConversion of 3000 souls– Establishing the early New Testament Establishing the early New Testament

churchchurch


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Overview of the Book of Overview of the Book of ActsActs• The church in Jerusalem (3:1-8:3)The church in Jerusalem (3:1-8:3)

– Healing of the lame man; Peter’s second Healing of the lame man; Peter’s second sermonsermon

– Persecution and church freedomPersecution and church freedom– Battling within the church; increasing Battling within the church; increasing

persecution withoutpersecution without– Matters resolved within; persecution Matters resolved within; persecution

intensifies intensifies – Stephens confession of faith and Stephens confession of faith and

martyrdommartyrdom– Saul persecutes the churchSaul persecutes the church


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Witnesses in Judea and Witnesses in Judea and SamariaSamaria


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Overview of the Book of Overview of the Book of ActsActs• II.II. Witnesses in Judea and Samaria (8:4-Witnesses in Judea and Samaria (8:4-

12:25)12:25)– The preaching of Philip (8:4-40)The preaching of Philip (8:4-40)

• Conversion of the Samaritans Conversion of the Samaritans

• Conversion of the Ethiopian eunuchConversion of the Ethiopian eunuch

– The conversion of Saul (9:1-31)The conversion of Saul (9:1-31)• Saul blinded on the road to Damascus; hears the Saul blinded on the road to Damascus; hears the

voice of Jesusvoice of Jesus

• Conversion and baptism of Saul by AnaniasConversion and baptism of Saul by Ananias

• Saul becomes Paul and begins the work of the SpirtSaul becomes Paul and begins the work of the Spirt


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• Miracles performed through Peter Miracles performed through Peter (9:32-43)(9:32-43)– Healing of AeneasHealing of Aeneas– Raising of Dorcas from the deadRaising of Dorcas from the dead

• The conversion of CorneliusThe conversion of Cornelius (10:1- (10:1-11:19)11:19)– As recorded by LukeAs recorded by Luke– As told by PeterAs told by Peter


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• The ministry of Barnabas, Saul and The ministry of Barnabas, Saul and Peter (11:19-12:25)Peter (11:19-12:25)– Barnabas and Paul at AntiochBarnabas and Paul at Antioch– Barnabas and Paul in JudeaBarnabas and Paul in Judea– Persecution by Herod; James is Persecution by Herod; James is

beheaded, Peter is arrestedbeheaded, Peter is arrested– Peter freed from prison by an angel; Peter freed from prison by an angel;

Herod diesHerod dies


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Paul’s First Missionary TripPaul’s First Missionary Trip


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Paul’s First Missionary TripPaul’s First Missionary Trip


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Overview of the Book of Overview of the Book of ActsActs• III. Witnesses unto the end of the earth III. Witnesses unto the end of the earth

(13:1-28:31)(13:1-28:31)– The first missionary journey of PaulThe first missionary journey of Paul (13:1- (13:1-

14:28)14:28)• Departure from Antioch of SyriaDeparture from Antioch of Syria

• Mission work on island of CyprusMission work on island of Cyprus

• Mission work in Antioch of PisidiaMission work in Antioch of Pisidia

• Mission work and persecution in Iconium, Lystra, and Mission work and persecution in Iconium, Lystra, and DerbeDerbe

• Confirmation of churches and appointment of eldersConfirmation of churches and appointment of elders

• Return trip to AntiochReturn trip to Antioch


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• The issue of circumcision and the law The issue of circumcision and the law (15:1-35)(15:1-35)– A problem surfaces in AntiochA problem surfaces in Antioch– Resolution of problem in JerusalemResolution of problem in Jerusalem– Letter delivered to AntiochLetter delivered to Antioch


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Paul’s Second Missionary Paul’s Second Missionary TripTrip


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Paul’s Second Missionary Paul’s Second Missionary TripTrip


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Overview of the Book of Overview of the Book of ActsActs• The second missionary journey of PaulThe second missionary journey of Paul

(15:36-18:22)(15:36-18:22)– Paul and Barnabas separatePaul and Barnabas separate– Timothy joins PaulTimothy joins Paul– Paul’s dream of a Macedonia man calling himPaul’s dream of a Macedonia man calling him– Conversion of Lydia in PhillippiConversion of Lydia in Phillippi– Conversion of the Philippian jailorConversion of the Philippian jailor– Mission work in Thessalonica, Berea, AthensMission work in Thessalonica, Berea, Athens– Paul spends a year and a half in CorinthPaul spends a year and a half in Corinth– Paul travels back to Antioch Paul travels back to Antioch


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Paul’s Third Missionary TripPaul’s Third Missionary Trip


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Paul’s Third Missionary TripPaul’s Third Missionary Trip


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Overview of the Book of Overview of the Book of ActsActs• The third missionary journey of PaulThe third missionary journey of Paul

(18:23-21:17)(18:23-21:17)– Strengthening the disciples in Galatia and Strengthening the disciples in Galatia and

PhrygiaPhrygia– Apollos converted through Aquila and Apollos converted through Aquila and

PriscillaPriscilla– Three years in Ephesus, ending in riotThree years in Ephesus, ending in riot– Trip through Macedonia, three months in Trip through Macedonia, three months in

Greece, return through MacedoniaGreece, return through Macedonia


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• Third missionary trip continuedThird missionary trip continued– Breaking of bread and miracle at Troas; Breaking of bread and miracle at Troas;

heading back to Jerusalemheading back to Jerusalem– Meeting with the Ephesian elders at Meeting with the Ephesian elders at

MiletusMiletus– Warnings about going to Jerusalem; Warnings about going to Jerusalem;

brief stay in Tyre and Caesareabrief stay in Tyre and Caesarea– Arrival in JerusalemArrival in Jerusalem


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Overview of the Book of Overview of the Book of ActsActs• The arrest of Paul and journey to Rome The arrest of Paul and journey to Rome

(21:18-28:31)(21:18-28:31)– Arrest of Paul in the templeArrest of Paul in the temple– Defense by Paul to the Jewish mobDefense by Paul to the Jewish mob– Defense by Paul before the Sanhedrin councilDefense by Paul before the Sanhedrin council– Plot against Paul and deliverance to FelixPlot against Paul and deliverance to Felix– Appearance before Festus and appeal to CaesarAppearance before Festus and appeal to Caesar– Defense before Festus and King AgrippaDefense before Festus and King Agrippa– Journey to Rome; shipwreck along the wayJourney to Rome; shipwreck along the way– Explanation of Paul to the leaders of the Jews in Explanation of Paul to the leaders of the Jews in

RomeRome


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• Review questionsReview questions– Who wrote the book of Acts?Who wrote the book of Acts?– What is it’s theme?What is it’s theme?– What does it mean to be a witness of What does it mean to be a witness of

Christ?Christ?– How is the gospel spread?How is the gospel spread?


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Overview of the Book of Overview of the Book of ActsActs• Other topics from the book of Acts to be Other topics from the book of Acts to be

covered in later lessonscovered in later lessons– Ascension DayAscension Day– Pentecost DayPentecost Day– Martyrdom of Stephen and PersecutionMartyrdom of Stephen and Persecution– Conversion of Ethiopian EunuchConversion of Ethiopian Eunuch– Apostles Peter and JohnApostles Peter and John– Conversion of CorneliusConversion of Cornelius– Conversion of SaulConversion of Saul– Paul’s missionary tripsPaul’s missionary trips

Documents

Overview of the Book of Acts. ILLC Adult Bible Class September 20042 Author: Luke the physician Place written: Likely written from Rome When: 63 A.D