ACTS

Acts was written by Luke around 65AD. It is addressed to Theophilus. Not much is known about Theophilus, but most Bible scholars believe he to be a real person, probably a prominent person in Jewish society. Acts is important to us for us because it gives us the early history of the New Testament church. Most people outline it like this:

Prologue (1:1–8)

I. The Witness to Jerusalem (1:9–8:3)

A. The Anticipation of the Church (1:9–26)

B. The Day of Pentecost (2:1–47)

C. The Growth of the Church (3:1–8:3)

1. Apostles: Preaching, healing, and enduring persecution (3:1–5:42)

2. Deacons: Praying, teaching, and enduring persecution (6:1–8:3)

II. The Witness to Judea and Samaria (8:4–12:25)

A. The Gospel to the Samaritans (8:4–25)

B. The Conversion of a Gentile (8:26–40)

C. The Conversion of Saul (9:1–31)

D. The Gospel to Judea (9:32–43)

E. The Gospel to the Gentiles (10:1–11:30)

F. The Persecution by Herod (12:1–25)

III. The Witness to the Ends of the Earth (13:1–28:31)

A. Paul’s First Missionary Journey (13:1–14:28)

B. The Jerusalem Council (15:1–35)

C. Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (15:36–18:22)

D. Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (18:23–21:16)

E. Paul’s Jerusalem and Caesarean Trials (21:17–26:32)

F. Paul’s Journey to Rome (27:1–28:31)

John MacArthur says this about Acts: “Acts abounds with transitions: from the ministry of Jesus to that of the apostles; from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant; from Israel as God’s witness nation to the church (composed of both Jews and Gentiles) as God’s witness people. The book of Hebrews sets forth the theology of the transition from the Old Covenant to the New; Acts depicts the New Covenant’s practical outworking in the life of the church.“

Acts is a book of action. It gives the present day church a pattern for for to do missions- sending authority through the local assembly. It provides a model for church government- local control/no hierarchy. It provides the timing for baptism- after salvation. While not a theological book, requiring great interpretative and exposition skills, Acts is not lean on doctrinal truth. The Gospel is presented no less than 20 times in the 28 chapters. Numerous conversions are recorded.

Acts is a book of instruction. Because it gives us a history of the practices of the early Christian church, it should be viewed as a model for today’s churches. It provides instruction is how to govern the church, how to do outreach, how to deal with contention and disagreement and how to respond to persecution.

Acts is a book of the GOSPEL. As mentioned above, the Gospel is its message. Preachers like Peter, Paul, Stephen and Philip present the gospel in a clear, concise way. They do it in front of crowds of educated people and to a single individuals traveling in a chariot. The common theme is the need of man for a Saviour.