All 66 books of the bible explained monday, april 2, 2018. A personal catastrophe does not explain it either because luke already wrote enough to fill his scroll. It alone presents an extensive picture of early church life and history. The abrupt ending of acts allows for an early date around the time of the events, but could. It is mainly about two of the apostles peter and paul. Here are some of the key themes that luke highlights for. Interpreting the book of acts guides to new testament exegesis. The fifth book of the new testament begins where the first four end. An example can be seen by comparing actss accounts of pauls conversion acts 9. Luke begins with a global perspective, dating the birth of jesus to the reign of the roman emperors in luke 2. The word revolution can refer to a radical change in the way people think, act, and view the world.
The book begins with the ascension of jesus and goes on through pauls jail time in rome, which opens his ministry to the church at rome. Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of acts e. Sir william ramsay, after making a critical study of lukes writings, declared that luke was the greatest historian, ancient or modern. It is the greatest sequel ever written, the sequel of sequelsthe sequel to the story of christ see 1. Bible study questions on the book of acts introduction. Paul was not one of the original apostles, but he later adopted that title for himself. The earliest date for the book of acts is the two year imprisonment which is recorded in acts 28. These have recorded the life, words and acts of our savior from his birth to the cross, the tomb, the resurrection, and the great commission. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of the document.
Acts introduction commentary peoples new testament. Stephen said some words from the book by the prophet isaiah isaiah 66. Luke is the writer, as he states in his introduction v. The book of acts is the name given to the second part of a two volume work traditionally identified as having been written by luke, a companion of the apostle paul. We do not recommend loose translations or oneman translations. The book of acts was penned by luke, the physician. The structure of the books of luke and acts are closely tied. The ending of acts plays an important role in route of determining the book s date.
The offering sent by barnabas and saul to the jerusalem elders. Introduction to acts bible commentary produced by tow project the acts of the apostles depicts the early church working hard to grow itself and serve others in the face of opposition, shortages of people and money, government bureaucracy church bureaucracy came later, internal strife, and even the forces of nature. In my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the holy spirit to the apostles he had chosen. Get unlimited access to the best stories on medium and support writers while youre at it. Interpreting the book of acts guides to new testament exegesis liefeld, walter l on. But stephen reminded the jews that god was bigger than any temple. The difficulty with this date is in explaining lukes use of mark since. Both books are most easily tied to the geography of the book. From there we see jesus ministry move from galilee 49, through samaria and judea 1019. Read one chapter each day and spend time with god using the devotionals and questions provided. Most can be obtained from a good religious bookstore. Introduction to acts bible commentary theology of work. Really, very little is written about the apostles in acts.
Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. Consider the copernican revolution, when nicolaus copernicus 14731543 showed that the earth was not the center of the universe but actually circled the sun. Understanding the book of acts in the bible learn religions. For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own conversion experience with those in acts. Book of acts versebyverse bible study and indepth commentary of the acts of the apostles in plain english for everyone to understand. This seminarylevel study also retains its depth and uses an engaging interactive format. We know that paul and his associates arrived in rome in a.
It makes reference to about 100 geographical places including regions, provinces, cities, and islands around or near the mediterranean sea. Baker, acts, evangelical commentary of the bible, edited by walter elwell grand rapids, mi. A chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 6 acts 1 50 days 1. The book of acts ends abruptly with pauls imprisonment in rome.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. The most probable explanation for leaving the reader in suspense is that the outcome of pauls appeal had not yet been decided when the book was being written. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy. Its subject and intention is nicely summarised by the words of the lord in chapter 1. Luke wrote the book of acts acts of the apostles to record how believers were empowered by the holy spirit, worked to spread the gospel of. We cannot properly interpret the book of acts by merely teaching the experiences the.
The main issues revolve around whether he is a man perhaps a greek official for whom lukeacts is an apologetic for the gospel or a kind of generic everyman since the name means lover of god. The book acts was written by luke and contains 28 chapters. The acts of the apostles is a unique and therefore crucial book of the new testament. This heliocentric suncentered model radically transformed the way people thought about. Acts intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Interpreting the book of acts guides to new testament. Hopefully, youve had a chance to complete the suggested assignments in our bible study of acts orientation in these next few lessons, were are going to be diving into some background material for acts. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. Acts introduction scofield reference bible commentary. Introduction book of acts commonly called the acts of the apostles, it is simply titled acts in some of the oldest manuscripts.
Authorship of actsluke is the author of the book acts. It is a history of the beginning of the christian congregation and its rapid growth despite opposition. Introduction book of acts welcome to santa claus united. Acts of the apostles is the one historical book of the new testament, and much of what we know about the early years of christianity comes from this book. Before beginning the heart of his lesson, what did peter have to explain first. The key personalities of acts are peter, paul, john, james, stephen, barnabas, timothy, lydia, silas, and apollos. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth. The book of acts describes how the church spread after jesus ascended to heaven. In the former treatise he tells what jesus began both to do and teach. The book has been called the acts of the apostles, really a misnomer because acts has very little to say concerning most of the original twelve apostles. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Amazing grace baptist church, hamburg bible study material 1. Acts with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
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. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. Besides linking the gospel narratives on the one hand and the apostolic letters on. Here is a summary and overview of the book of acts. This theme is introduced in chapter 4 of the gospel of luke, when jesus, rejected in nazareth, recalls that the. In the acts of the apostles luke continues the account of christianity begun in. Bible commentary on acts introduction book introduction acts. The miracle here in acts had happened because god had glorified jesus. The book of acts ends with paul in house arrest waiting to present his case before caesar. Introduction to the book of acts study resources blue letter bible.
Acts reading guide devotional reading plan youversion. This book is to the gospels what the fruit is to the tree that bears it. He shows us how god is working and speaking in this story and our own stories. Clearly, the author ofthe book of luke is also the one who penned the book of acts. Since luke is the author of acts, any date between ad 60 and 100 is reasonable as conzelmann points out. 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. Empowered by the holy spirit, godly men and women took seriously their lords final words and began to spread the news of the risen savior to the most remote corners of the known. The book of acts mentions about 100 individuals by name. The book focuses primarily on the acts of two apostles, peter and paul. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. Peters activities are described at some length, and john and philip are mentioned, but more than half of the book is about paul and his connection with the christian movement. The temple in this book called acts was the third temple. In the gospels we see the corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying.
This reading guide was written by newspring staff and volunteers to guide you through the book of acts in 28 days. Introduction this bible study material begins our studies on the book of acts. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. Several questions can be answered from the first 2 verses. In this book we see the first mention of the dispensation of the holy spirit and jesus command to take his gospel to all the world. We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early apostles and preachers 3. This workbook was designed for bible class study, family study, or. Archaeological findings support the accuracy of lukes account. The book of acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly paul and peter, after jesuss ascension into heaven. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Introduction to the book of acts acts study guide medium. A workbook suitable for bible classes, family studies. For a more detailed discussion consult a textual commentary on the greek new testament by bruce m.
Chapterbychapter bible studies acts kathleendalton. 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. An overview of the book of acts, which provides an introduction to the apostles and gives a brief summary of the leaders, peter and paul, as well as the other apostles. Staggs commentary focuses on lukes purposes in writing acts. The waiting period introduction the gospel story has a sequel. This is the story of christianitys beginnings and how evangelism played. Acts introduction commentary commentary critical and. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. This is when the lord pours out his spirit across the whole earth and simultaneously shakes everything that can be shaken.
The book of acts is the link between the gospels and the epistles. In the acts of the apostles luke continues the account of christianity begun in the gospel which bears his name. The book of acts, the early struggle for an unhindered gospel, asserts the purpose is primarily the movement of the message about jesus the gospel from a strictly nationalistic judaism to a universal message for all humans. A good study bible we recommend the following features. The three chapters of the book of joel work together as a clear prophetic picture, containing an intricately connected message for the greatest hour of human history. The genuineness, authenticity, and canonical authority of this book were never called in question within the ancient church. The latest date for the book of acts is in the second century writings of the church fathers. While acts is a record of history, luke weaves many theological themes into these stories to teach us about god and his mission.
It stands immediately after the gospels, in the catalogues of the homologoumena, or universally acknowledged books of the new testament see introduction to our larger commentary, vol. The book of acts, sometimes called the fifth gospel, is a continuation of the gospel of luke. Acts 1 indepth versebyverse bible study and commentary of acts chapter 1 in plain english. Many people call acts the acts of the apostles, but really, if you want to add to the name acts, perhaps, a better name would be the acts of the early church.
1494 723 221 568 596 49 832 350 964 549 628 1282 281 59 263 1333 925 1069 17 1237 1423 1385 51 1389 41 425 909 576 52 681 426 546 1081 949 586 56 1263 1364 725 211 806 1459