The book of the acts of the apostles typically shortened to simply acts was almost certainly written by luke or at least whoever recorded the book of luke. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible. Historical reliability of the acts of the apostles wikipedia. People from many nations were beside themselves with wonder at hearing gods amazing acts in their own languages. The purpose of the book of acts is governed by the jews response to peter and paul. Its the only book in the entire bible that tells the story of the early church in the years after jesus died. Acts 1 new international version niv jesus taken up into heaven. David jeremiahs teaching on chapters five through nine separates the transitional from the permanent and highlights every theological and practical principle upon which the church was established.
Commentary on the book of acts of the apostles by matthew. The bible prophesied that jesus christ, the son of god, would come to our earth. Sssh the book of acts misunderstood, maligned, mistreated, and often reviled, paul nevertheless pressed on in faith. Acts ends abruptly with paul imprisoned in rome, waiting to bring his appeal before caesar. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. Acts is a marvelous example of the flawless accuracy of the bible.
Certain people came down from judea to antioch and were teaching the believers. The temple in this book called acts was the third temple. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Acts is the only biblical book that chronicles the history of the church immediately after jesuss ascension. 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. Lesson 1 investigates the author, historical setting, and the theological background of the book of acts.
This film depicts the birth of the early church through the eyes of luke, the author of the gospel of luke. Book of acts a prophetic witness we present to you the notion that the book of acts is a prophetic witness. Kjv the book of acts is the historical link between the. 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.
Acts bible book with full chapters king james version. The acts is an historical book, but it is not mere history. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. A bible study lesson series about the beginning of christianity as revealed in the book of the acts of the apostles.
The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book. The acts of the apostles is a patterned and repetitive portrayal of ancient events that seeks to tell a sacred history rather than only recount an accurate, verifiable human history. The book of acts is the second book written by luke, the first one being the book of luke, the third book of the gospel. Acts narrates the founding of the christian church and the spread of its message to the roman empire, providing theological insight and practical guidance for christian churches in the first generation. Its subject and intention is nicely summarised by the words of the lord in chapter 1. In acts, he told how the good news about jesus christ spread. The most popular bible verses from acts 1 found 26 verses acts 1. The offering sent by barnabas and saul to the jerusalem elders. Watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of acts in the bible king james version. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. 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. We have gained these insights partly through spiritual numbers related to the order of books in the.
The book of acts is a key part of gods plan to reach the whole world. Our purpose is to reveal that the book of acts is not only merely a history book, but also foreshadows end time events in detail. The book of acts tells how the multiethnic, international church grew. Acts with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. 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. Acts 15 niv bible certain people came down from judea. An immense amount of apostolic service is left unrecorded, and mention is made of just a few incidents which serve to show the way the spirit of god operated in bearing witness to the risen and exalted jesus, and in conducting the disciples into the fulness of christian blessing. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. The book of acts, also called acts of the apostles, does not specifically identify its author. The forward progress of the church is the second turning point study on the book of acts. 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. Jesus followers received the holy spirit on pentecost and became filled and equipped to spread the good news that would restore gods. 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. This brought paul and barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them.
The book of the acts new international commentary on the. But stephen reminded the jews that god was bigger than any temple. Peter is not mentioned in acts after the account of the council. In only three decades, a small group of frightened believers in jerusalem transformed. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy.
In the latter portion of acts, luke recorded three rejections of the jews to pauls overtures of salvation. Bible study lesson sheets these are lessons designed for either a class or personal study. This book is in the guides to new testament exegesis series, edited by scot mcknight for baker book house. There are sections in acts where the storytelling switches to we did this or that acts 16. Read one chapter each day and spend time with god using the devotionals and questions provided. Who is the author of the book of acts in the holy bible. Acts reading guide devotional reading plan youversion.
Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of acts e. 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. To reduce spam, please enter the word share in the box below. The church is born eight studies for groups or individuals by dr r. The promise of the holy spirit in the first book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the holy spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. Luke recorded three rejections by the jews to peter and the apostles associated with him to the message of repentance and proclamation of the kingdom. An ancient prologue to lukes gospel indicates that luke was first a follower of the apostles and then became close with paul. The historical reliability of the acts of the apostles, the principal historical source for the apostolic age, is of interest for biblical scholars and historians of early christianity as part of the debate over the historicity of the bible archaeological inscriptions and other independent sources show that acts contains some accurate details of 1st century society with regard to the titles. Kjv bible verses from acts, often referred to as the acts of the apostles, is not to be considered as a history of what was done by all the apostles, who were dispersed into different nations. When the holy spirit overpowered the upper room with the sound like a roaring windstorm, history changed forever. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. For information regarding wayne jacksons book, the acts of the apostlesfrom jerusalem to rome, phone the office of courier publications toll free 18888182463. 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. The acts of the apostles, the second volume of lukes twovolume work.
One piece of evidence that supports this is that, in luke 1. Book of acts a prophetic witness bible numbers for life. This reading guide was written by newspring staff and volunteers to guide you through the book of acts in 28 days. Stephen said some words from the book by the prophet isaiah isaiah 66. It is worth noting that in this history of the early christian church, luke. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt.
Building christianity into the most popular religion in the world wasnt easy. The book of acts is the link between the gospels and the epistles. 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. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of god. We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early apostles and preachers 3. Jesus taken up into heaven 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. The beheading of james and the imprisonment of peter. The book of acts is the record of that commission beingcarried out. The exact phrase is only found in acts, where it occurs twice in t. Acts 2 new international version niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost.
For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own conversion experience with those in acts. Details in this sacred document are checkable, and they pass the test of historicity with flying colors. Acts 1, new international version niv the bible app. Now the rest of the acts of jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of jehu the son of hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of israel. Our questions about what really happened are not the same as those asked or answered by the books author, for he assumes many events rather than seeking to. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. Albert mohler guides groups through the first half of the book of acts, showing how the ascension of christ, the coming of the spirit, and the birth and growth of the church. The book of acts is the second of a twovolume work the first being the gospel according to luke traditionally attributed to luke, a physician and traveling companion of paul. In my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach niv.
Acts 1 niv jesus taken up into heaven in my bible gateway. 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. While nowhere asextensive asthe foakesjackson and lake massive fivevolume work, this book introduces the essential issues for exegetical study of the book of acts. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. The acts of the apostles, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church.
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