Background study of the book of acts

Lesson 1 investigates the author, historical setting, and the theological background of the book of acts. This is the story of christianitys beginnings and how evangelism played. Unlike a typical commentary, which interprets the meaning of each text, keeners book offers insights. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. At the end of the gospel of luke jesus says that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in. If the book was just before or after pauls release, then it was likely written around 63 a.

Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. Our lesson will touch on three crucial aspects of the background of acts. Study guide for acts 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. A background study can explain elements that are not clear. Both were written by luke, a physician who traveled with the apostle paul. Though sauls persecution scattered believers from jerusalem, peter, with the other apostles, remained behind. The book of acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly paul and peter, after jesuss ascension into heaven. Introduction to the book of acts study resources blue letter bible.

With the establishment of deacons, peter led the hebrew believers and stephen the greek believers. But ye shall receive power, after that the holy ghost is come. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. How does the historical setting help us understand acts. In many ways acts is the most exciting book in the new testament because it is full of movement and interest. Acts is a fastmoving historical account of the first three decades of the church. I read this bible study book as part of my yearlong study on the book of acts. It is useful to make some preliminary points on acts in order to highlight the importance of this book in the new testament.

The author of the acts of the apostles is the same author of the gospel of luke. Parsons writes his commentary acts grand rapids, mi. The acts of the apostles is a unique and therefore crucial book of the new testament. These studies will be expository, devotional, practical and varied, and this is an introduction to the whole book. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth. Some have suggested that a better title might be the acts of the holy spirit. Luke acts makes up 28% of the new testamentmore than that written by either paul or john. The effect of his preaching had been to electrify the people of judah to the point that.

An overview of the book of acts the life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epistles. In only three decades, a small group of frightened believers in jerusalem transformed. A third theme common to both lukes gospel and to acts is the inclusion of the gentiles in the new kingdom. When we study an epistle, such as the book of james, we can usually find more background information about the audience and sometimes about the authors interaction with the audience in the book of acts. For a comprehensive study of the history of criticism of the book of acts see w. Acts of the apostles 4 imprisonment in rome are 6062 a.

In addition, there are topical studies on issues such as spiritual leadership, gods redemptive plan, and old testament character studies. Stephen said some words from the book by the prophet isaiah isaiah 66. The differences can be accounted for in style, and context. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book.

In these next few lessons, were are going to be diving into some background material for acts. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. What are some ways that we can show the holy spirit is working in our lives today. Acts and historical narrative, at luther seminarys bible tutor. Luke is uniformly identified as the author acts by the second century a. The temple in this book called acts was the third temple. We find this important background information on the book of james in acts 8. Herod the kinggrandson of herod the great, and son of aristobulus. Content includes book studies on luke, ephesians, thessalonians, james, 1 samuel, john, and acts. Acts 1 background information with maps and images. It analyzes the historicalcultural background of every passage of the new testament in clear, nontechnical language, making it especially useful for those without expertise in greek or ancient history. The book of genesis records the origin of the physical universe. Bible study of acts lesson 1 bible study blueprint.

It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. The beautiful, amazing, powerful, weak, dysfunctional church a chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 6 acts 1 50 days 1. The book of acts describes the true history of the early church and the spread of the gospel. While it may be tempting to skip ahead and dive right in to studying the passages in. The acts of the apostles, or simply the acts, is the second part to the gospel of luke in the new testament. The book of acts records the beginning of the church, the birth of the church.

The prophecy from joel is lived out throughout the acts of the apostles. Was christianity attractive to the socially disenfranchised. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier date is also. Besides linking the gospel narratives on the one hand and the apostolic letters on the. Both were probably written by luke, an early christian who traveled with the apostle paul. Acts was read as a reliable history of the early church well into the postreformation era, but by the. Background the book of acts or the acts of the apostles is also. Includes lessons about the kingdom of christ, church organization and worship, examples of conversion, the nature and purpose of miracles, and the work of the holy spirit. 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. Both books are addressed to theophilus, and the latter acts refers. A background study can help communicate the force of what is being communicated. A short threelecture survey of the background and contents of the book of acts in partnership with third millennium ministries the gospel coalition exists to equip the next generation of believers, pastors, and church leaders to shape life and ministry around the gospel. Several questions can be answered from the first 2 verses.

The book of acts ends just as it begins, emphasizing the apostles role as those who expanded gods kingdom on earth, through their proclamation. The theme or key to the book of acts is found in 1. For ecclesiastical purpose, it may have been written in order to edify the church, serving as a history. Hopefully, youve had a chance to complete the suggested assignments in our bible study of acts orientation. 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.

The background of acts third millennium ministries. Lukes narrative in acts demonstrated that paul did see jesus in his resurrection, spent years in personal study with christ before taking up the mantle of apostleship, and was accepted on an equal footing by the other apostles. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy. As such, it provides us with a valuable account of how the church was able to grow and spread out from jerusalem into the rest of the roman empire. Purpose of the book as indicated previously, the original purpose of both the gospel and acts may have been to assist. He was also the author of its companion work, the gospel of luke. The book of acts or the acts of the apostles bartleby.

A history of the criticism of the acts of the apostles. The purpose of lukeacts may be ecclesiastical or apologetic. As the gospels end and the book of acts begins, we see a transition that men couldnt have predicted, but that god had long planned. Since acts ends with paul awaiting trial before caesar, some have wondered if lukeacts are not defense briefs on pauls behalf to give a roman official background on pauls case. The importance of the book of acts the importance of this second of lukes twovolume work can. General resources for the book of acts check the scripture index for links and study resources pertaining to specific pericopes. Was the church being persecuted when the book of acts was written. Watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. As we study the book of acts, many theological questions come to mind. This character study will focus on the life of paul as a missionary and how he. But stephen reminded the jews that god was bigger than any temple. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt.

The implications of this are that the people and places mentioned in the book are historically true. In acts, jesus sends the holy spirit to empower his disciples as they carry. John the baptist had prepared the way for the messiah by teaching repentance toward god. It alone presents an extensive picture of early church life and history. The book of acts, also called acts of the apostles, does not specifically identify its author. The book certainly does not tell all the acts of all the apostles. The acts of the apostles, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church.

Actschapters 112 bible study book is a sixsession study that will equip you and your group members to understand significant events in the early church, like jesus commission and ascension, pentecost and the birth of the church, the persecution of the early christians, philip and the eunuch, pauls damascus road conversion, and peters vision. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. Acts 2 background information with maps and images. Acts intro to acts biblica the international bible society. The background of acts 2009 by third millennium ministries. Authorship of actsluke is the author of the book acts. Study basics about bible books, people, dates, places, and content, and take webbased selftests. A bible study lesson series about the beginning of christianity as revealed in the book of the acts of the apostles. As we approach the book of acts, we must always keep in mind that luke wrote out of his background in the old testament and first century beliefs about the kingdom of god in christ.

Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. Purposes of the book of acts reformed bible studies. Acts is the only biblical book that chronicles the history of the church immediately after jesuss ascension. In this examination of the gospel of luke, my objective is to present a summary of background and introductory issues, point out some general observations, delineate the purpose, theme, unfolding and outline of the gospel.

Acts ends abruptly with paul imprisoned in rome, waiting to bring his appeal before caesar. He at this time ruled over all his fathers dominions. Acts records the origin of the spiritual body which we designate as the church. Study 1 going through the book of acts words of life. It is worth noting that in this history of the early christian church, luke. The tradition from the earliest days of the church has been that luke, a companion of the apostle paul, wrote the books of luke and acts colossians 4.