The gospels matthew, mark, luke, and john describe the life and ministry of jesus christ when he was in the flesh, while much of the rest of the new testament is made up of letters written by the apostles to the early church after the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of jesus. This article will examine how matthew, mark, luke, and john treat a specific doctrine the doctrine of repentance. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. Acts and the epistles bible study questions and commentary. This seminarylevel study also retains its depth and uses an engaging interactive format. The term pentecostal refers to christians who believe in the baptism of the holy spirit with speaking in tongues, as described in the new testament book of acts, chapter 2, verses 1 through 4. Both were probably written by luke, an early christian who traveled with the apostle paul. He wrote this gospel and its sequel, the book of acts.
According to lee, the book of acts refers to the formative history of the early church, while establishing luke as a charismatic theologian who demonstrates that baptism in the holy spirit is an experience of empowering to facilitate the mission of the church. Reference to the holy spirit comes in a variety of ways. The full name of it is, the acts of the apostles, but there are not many apostles mentioned in it. Acts of the apostles executable outline study resources. Keeping to tradition, bsf, or bible study international, is alternating an old testament study with a new testament study. The author of the prophecy is identified only as joel the son of pethuel. Well try to put the book of acts in context to prepare us to take on the text. James, john, peter, and paul are the only ones who appear in any prominence.
One is simply to strengthen believers as witnesses to the work and life of jesus, both in history and in their lives. The book of acts suggests that one person wrote both the gospel of luke and the book of acts. Purpose of the book as indicated previously, the original purpose of both the gospel and acts may have been to assist. Here are a few of the reasons why actsand thus our study of this bookis so important. This is the second lesson in our series the book of acts. In acts, the gospel expands not through human strength, but through weakness, opposition, and persecution. We find this important background information on the book of james in acts 8. The sword of the spirit is gods word and is the only offensive protection we have so we need to learn how to use this weapon by studying it. Each paragraph in the esv translation of acts has been evaluated and a factual statement about its content was recorded in one sentence. Activities for the book of acts three sets of activities based on the book of acts, created by the department of christian education of the orthodox church in america to the teacher. Several questions can be answered from the first 2 verses. The book of acts is the action book of the new testament, and it constitutes therefore one of the most exciting books of the bible. Jul 10, 2014 the book of acts does not primarily provide us with human patterns to emulate or avoid.
In this passage, luke is restating the great commission challenge jesus gave in luke 24. Luke is giving an account of the salvation of the gentiles to theophilus, a gentile convert. The second is to serve as preparation for urbana96. Here is a summary and overview of the book of acts. Parsons writes his commentary acts grand rapids, mi. 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. It opens with a greeting to theophilus, who was also the intended recipient of lukes gospel. Therefore, when a church begins to dwindle, lose its power, and turn dull and drab in its witness, it needs desperately to get back into the spirit, expectation, knowledge and teaching of the book of acts. Authorship of actsluke is the author of the book acts.
Jesus of nazareth, a man approved of god among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which god did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know. The recipient of the book, theophilus, is the same person addressed in the first volume, the gospel of luke. Sir william ramsay, after making a critical study of lukes writings, declared that luke was the greatest historian, ancient or modern. Introduction to bsfs study of the book of acts atozmom. A better title for this book is the acts of the holy spirit and because of this the book of acts is an unfinished book.
Luke is the writer, as he states in his introduction v. Acts is the book that reveals the power of the church. Study 1 going through the book of acts words of life. Holy spirit is the cornerstone of the acts of the apostles, attributed to the apostle luke. The orator tertullus also addressed felix with a similar title 24. It tells the story of ordinary people who were pio. The main theological emphasis of the book of acts is the holy spirit. The book of acts tells how the multiethnic, international. The book is most commonly called the acts of the apostles, although it is quite probable that, in its original form, it had no title at all. Over the centuries it has been called simply acts, or the acts eusebius. The initial question regards the identity of theophilus, the one for whom the book is written.
Acts of the apostles 4 imprisonment in rome are 6062 a. Acts 34 then peter, filled with the holy spirit, said to them, rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man. The book begins with jesus promise of the holy spirit, which is later fulfilled in reference to the jews, and then for the gentiles. The book of acts, sometimes called the fifth gospel, is a continuation of the gospel of luke. It is possible that the recipient of acts was a roman official or nobleman who became a christian true according to our textbook, there are five key ideas in the book of acts. The greek septuagint lxx, and latin vulgate versions follow the hebrew masoretic text, titling this book after joel the prophet, the recipient of the message from god 1. Consequently, acts is the continuing story of jesus work. In acts 1 and 2 we see that jesus prepared both the understandings and the whole lives of his disciples before he sent them out. Importance the book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. Acts intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Paragraphbyparagraph outline for the book of acts josh.
Acts put your faith where the action is by warren w. 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. 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. Many of these studies have indicated a number of ways in which luke was a. It simply begins once he is no longer bound by the limitations of time and space. It is a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. Outline studies in the book of the acts of the apostles. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends.
Instead, it repeatedly calls us to reflect upon the work of god, fulfilled in jesus christ, establishing the church by the power of the holy spirit. This is the third in a series of three smallgroup bible study discussion guides luke 19, luke 1024 and selected portions of acts which explore the meaning of witness. Acts tells what happened following the ascension when jesus started to work through his new body, which is the church. Recipient both the gospel and acts were written to one man. The acts of the apostles, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. Therefore, it may be appropriate to date this letter shortly before the jerusalem council e. Designed for individuals and small groups alike, this 12week study through the book of acts explores the history of the early church after christs ascension. Study 1 going through the book of acts words of life ministries. But notice that this preparation came in the context of community. The new testament without the book of acts leaves a great yawning gap.
Carefully, paragraph by paragraph, the book of acts has been evaluated in the following pages. Luke in his twovolume work, luke acts, emphasizes repentance more than any other nt author. Most pentecostal christians study the bible study as a personal religious or spiritual practice. If the book was just before or after pauls release, then it was likely written around 63 a.
The main issues revolve around whether he is a man perhaps a greek official for whom luke acts is an apologetic for the gospel or a kind of generic. He was also the author of its companion work, the gospel of luke. The beautiful, amazing, powerful, weak, dysfunctional church a chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 6 acts 1 50 days 1. Last year, we took a look at people of the promised land, starting with joshua and ending with solomon. The book of revelation deals extensively with what is yet future. Probably christian jews who fled jerusalem during the persecution of stephen in acts 78. Introduction to the book of acts study resources blue letter bible.
Bible study tips for the book of acts unlocking the bible. The book of acts is a vital link between the gospels and the epistles. Welcome to ivy baptist churchs bible study on demand before beginning this study, please take an opportunity to download the worksheet for this bible study. The bible can sometimes be confusing, especially for kids and new believers. Briefly mention each of the six pieces of the armor of god and explain what each piece is to be used for. Makes up over onefourth of the entire new testament. Robert j martin the central thrust of the book of acts is spreading the good news by witnessing. Joel is referred to only once in the new testament acts 2. Acts of the apostles a study of new testament history overview introduction.
Mar 05, 2018 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. The genre of the book of acts is narrative history with several sermons. The book of acts was written within the lifetime of most of the eyewitnesses of the life, death and resurrection of jesus christ. Lifeway provides a variety of acts bible studies for your next personal or small group study. 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 book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. The gospels matthew, mark, luke, and john describe the life and ministry of jesus christ when he was in the flesh, while much of the rest of the new testament is made up of letters written by the apostles to. The acts of the apostles, or simply the acts, is the second part to the gospel of luke in the new testament. 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. Learn and imitate the teaching of the early christian preachers, by evaluating the background and needs of the audience, and studying the structure and content of the inspired preachers. The importance of the book of acts liberty university. Hello friends, it is that time again our tuesday, middle study will be in the book of adidas and all you dont need to be a renter of our tuesday noon bible study as airy upper pineapples of christ, all welcome come on in, were going to be studying the gospel of luke as to the book of acts specific looking a lot.
This material is taken from the action bible study. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 1715 words. Rather, 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. These studies will be expository, devotional, practical and varied, and this is an introduction to the whole book 1 title. The book of acts, also named the acts of the apostles, is the continuation of the gospel of luke, but the book of acts should not be considered a full account of all the acts of the apostles. 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. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of the apostles through the work of the holy spirit. This is the first time paul was identified in the book of acts as being a member of the pharisaic sect. Activities for the book of acts orthodox church in. Luke has several important themes that he develops in acts.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. He included it as part of his bible studies in the book of acts. The esv study bible includes maps on many of the pages in the book of acts that help illustrate the various places mentioned in acts and routes taken by the apostles as they proclaim the gospel. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Luke wrote his gospel and also the book of acts compare luke 1. The opening verses of luke and acts mention theophilus as the recipient of lukes. In many ways acts is the most exciting book in the new testament because it is full of movement and interest. Today begins a study of the book of acts in this daily bible study series. Acts bible study the book of acts bible study lifeway. This reading plan explains 7 biblical concepts brought up in the book of acts to help you understand the book more completely. Luke, the author of the gospel of luke, was a doctor and gentile. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book. The book of acts is unlike any other biblical book. The importance of the book of acts the importance of this second of lukes twovolume work can.
A bible study lesson series about the beginning of christianity as revealed in the book of the acts of the apostles. The recipient of the book,theophilus, is the same person addressed in the first volume, the gospel of luke see introduction to luke. John macarthur takes readers on a journey through biblical texts to discover what lies beneath the surface, focusing on meaning and context, and then reflecting on the explored passage or concept. It might also be called the acts of the holy spirit, as that person of the godhead is very much an active participant throughout the book. 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. There has been much debate as to the purpose of acts. Book of acts versebyverse bible study and indepth commentary of the acts of the apostles in plain english for everyone to understand. The same title was applied to the recipient of acts, theophilus. This would make james the first nt book which was written. The book of acts chronicles the birth and growth of the early church.
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