Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. The book is roughly 2,750 lines fifty lines less than the canonical acts. 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. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book. Luke even began to speak in the first person plural in the latter portion of acts, as he traveled the roman empire alongside. The book of genesis records the origin of the spiritual body which we designate as the church. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier.
Acts shows what the early church believed and practiced. He preached and reportedly performed miracles in samaria, and met and baptised an. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Simon answered, pray for me to the lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me. Tell me the story jesus, write on my heart every word. The letters or epistles after acts tells us of the supreme care and guidance that god has for his people then, now, and in the future. Within the span of six verses, three different types of baptism are mentioned, though in the passage, only two are called baptism.
God took a christianhating murderer and transformed him into historys greatest christian evangelist, the author of almost half the books of the new testament. The erection of the tabernacle of witness, which continued till. In this episode we do a quick overview of the entire book, working through each of. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. My favorite resource for learning how to adore god is the book every bitter thing is sweet. Paul even continued to preach despite imprisonment and wrote important letters to the churches. Stephen said some words from the book by the prophet isaiah isaiah 66. 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. 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. Understanding the book of acts in the bible learn religions. Of the 27 books that make up what we know as the new testament, the one called the acts of the apostles is unique in the information it contains. We dont know a lot about stephen, but acts does tell us that the disciples ordained him as a. The book of acts shows how god essentially took a group of fisherman and commoners and used them to turn the world upside down acts 17.
The book of acts records the beginning of the church, the birth of the church. Acts and the gospel of luke make up a twopart work, lukeacts, by the same anonymous author, usually dated to around 8090 ad. As such it answers the question many firstcentury observers would have. The book of james is probably the oldest book of the new testament, written perhaps as early as a. James begins in the first chapter by describing the overall traits of the faith walk. Bible study tips for the book of acts unlocking the bible. The arrest of peter was intended to result in a similar execution for peter. May 12, 2010 let me summarize the importance of acts in three simple statements. Acts has been called a transitional book because it serves as a bridge.
Acts says nothing of paul the letter writer, and he is not called an apostle except in one instance acts 14. Let me summarize the importance of acts in three simple statements. The book focuses primarily on the acts of two apostles, peter and paul. Acts 5 niv ananias and sapphira now a man named bible. The book of acts is unlike any other biblical book. Recommend as many as you want, and be sure to tell me what you love about it. Watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Kjv the book of acts is the historical link between the biographical records of matthew. The book of joel is apocalyptic in nature, referring to the day of the lord. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of the apostles through the work of the holy spirit. Acts 5 new international version niv ananias and sapphira 5 now a man named ananias, together with his wife sapphira, also sold a piece of property. May 02, 2020 the book of acts shows how god essentially took a group of fisherman and commoners and used them to turn the world upside down acts 17. The difficulty with discussing baptism in the book of acts is that the book refers to numerous different types of baptism.
Then philip began with that very passage of scripture and told him the good news about jesus. It tells of cities and dates and people that were affected by the gospel. Make sure everyone reads the authors first book acts 1. Tell me the story most precious,sweetest that ever was heard. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. Acts 5 new international version niv ananias and sapphira. This is the story of christianitys beginnings and how evangelism played. The genre of the book of acts is narrative history with several sermons. Luke paints the madonna and the baby jesus, by maarten van heemskerck, 1532. He is a guest in the home of simon the tanner, by the sea. He preached and reportedly performed miracles in samaria, and met and baptised an ethiopian man, a eunuch, on the road from jerusalem to gaza, traditionally marking the start.
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, also called acts of the apostles, does not specifically identify its author. We look at the places mentioned in acts, taking them in alphabetical order. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Acts tells us how the christian movement came into beginning. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy.
It grew into the first multiethnic, international church from which missionaries were sent throughout the world to preach about jesus, the messianic messiah and risen king of all nations. Jul 04, 2016 the acts method of prayer consists of the following categories. We will look at some of the critical passages in future posts, but first, we must make a few preliminary observations about the role of baptism in the book of acts. Acts 8 niv bible and saul approved of their killing him. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90. This book contains a remarkable parallel to jesus sermon on the mount in matthew 57. Christianity today book award winner book award of excellence, foundation for pentecostal scholarship preaching today book award editors pick commentaries highly respected new testament scholar craig keener is known for his meticulous and comprehensive research. The history of moses and his acts till the exodus from egypt, vv. Peters vision in which he heard a voice telling him, what god has cleansed. The acts method of prayer consists of the following categories. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt.
The acts is an historical book, but it is not mere history. Thinking beyond thecla, and, most recently, he has coauthored, with. The resolve of herod and the jews to do away with the church, and the risk for peter, is underscored by lukes reference to the death of james, the brother of john v. Power, status, and resources are to be used for the sake of the community acts 8. Historical reliability of the acts of the apostles. This title may be a bit misleading, because 11 apostles are barely mentioned, while the book concentrates almost exclusively on the early work of peter chapters 112 and the short but influential ministry of paul chapters 28. The erection of the tabernacle of witness, which continued till the time of david, acts 7. The latin manuscripts dating to the sixth century have 44 chapters. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of the document. The rebellion and idolatry of the israelites in the wilderness, acts 7.
It alone presents an extensive picture of early church life and history. Todd penner is the author of numerous essays on the acts of the apostles, including the book in praise of christian origins. 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. This commentary on acts, his magnum opus, may be the largest and most thoroughly documented. With caroline vander stichele, he cowrote contextualizing gender in early christian discourse. Acts tells the story of the first christian martyr. Ill pick 1 to 3 recommendations that im most interested in based on your comment but dont already own, and ill buy the books for myself along with a pizza for whoever recommended it. Godly men buried stephen and mourned deeply for him. Its initial chapters describe the churchs founding and early years. Barnabas, simeon called niger, lucius the cyrenian, manaen a close friend of herod. The life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epistles. Several questions can be answered from the first 2. Stephen and the hellenists in lukan apologetic historiography bloomsbury, 2004. 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.
It is the historical link that joins the life of christ with the growth of the christian church. Tim and i are working on a series of videos that will tell the story of jesus as recorded by luke in his gospel. The acts of the apostles is a unique and therefore crucial book of the new testament. Acts 8 niv bible and saul approved of their killing. The early church fathers ascribed to him authorship of both the gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles, which would mean luke contributed over a quarter. The book of acts tells how the multiethnic, international. 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. Paul and the early church were not at odds with the laws of the old testament. As such it answers the question many firstcentury observers would have asked. Chapters 12 refer to a plague of locusts which ravaged judah at the time. Luke, the author of the gospel of luke, was a doctor and gentile. Recommend as many as you want, and be sure to tell me what you love about it ill pick 1 to 3 recommendations that im most interested in based on your comment but dont already own, and ill buy the books for myself along with a pizza for whoever recommended it. 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.
Four days ago, i was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Within the writing itself are some clues as to who the author was. The gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles make up a twovolume work which scholars call lukeacts. Acts has been called a transitional book because it serves as a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. The book of acts describes how the church spread after jesus ascended to heaven. The book of acts tells us of some of the acts of some of the apostles, but more so it tells us history. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout judea and samaria. The theme or key to the book of acts is found in 1. Joel was a prophet in the southern kingdom of judah during the period of the divided kingdom 930722 bc. 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. This commentary on acts, his magnum opus, may be the largest and most. Acts facts people, places, and verse by verse study. The book of acts is the record of that commission beingcarried out. The title of the book of acts comes from the greek word praxis, a word often used.
He was one of the seven chosen to care for the poor of the christian community in jerusalem. Seeking to add a few new books to my shelves, and im interested to hear what books youd all recommend. Many scholars think these acts of peter were among the first of the apocryphal books. Tell how the angels, in chorus, sang as they welcomed his birth. The book of james outlines the faith walk through genuine religion 1.
Witherington, acts, 390, who regards the passage as introducing a turning point in the narrative commensurate with the idea of the movement of the gospel to the gentiles. A adoration first, before anything else, adore god, worship him, tell him how good he is, name his attributes. Contest tell me about a bookmovie that impacted you. The first part, the gospel of luke, tells how god fulfilled his plan for the worlds salvation through the life, death, and. The record from the book of acts couldnt be clearer. The book of acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly paul and peter, after jesuss ascension into heaven. Each place is located on a map and then we note the people and events associated with that place.
The spirit came upon jesus new covenant family with wind and. One of my teachers had asked me about books i liked to read because she always saw me with a book on my desk or in my bag and i had told her in language a third grader uses, mind you that i had worked my way through our school library, reading all of the books that looked interesting to me and even some that i didnt think i would enjoy. Acts method of prayer free printables mercy is new. Book of acts read, study bible verses online bible study tools.
He was one of the seven chosen to care for the poor of the christian community in jerusalem acts 6. Acts 5, new international version niv the bible app. Luke wanted to show how the church penetrated the world of his day in ever widening circles jerusalem, judea, samaria, the ends of the earth until it reached. The death of james and the deliverance of peter acts 12. Most notable is the incongruity between pauls gospel message in acts and the message we see in his letters, especially romans and galatians. Although it cannot be proved that the author of acts was a physician simply. The book of acts is a key historical record of what the early church believed and practiced.
But ye shall receive power, after that the holy ghost is come upon you. Acts is an extremely important book in that it shows what the death of jesus accomplished. But stephen reminded the jews that god was bigger than any temple. Several questions can be answered from the first 2 verses. The book of the acts new international commentary on the new testament by f. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me acts 10. Some think that this epistle was written in response to an overzealous. An ancient prologue to lukes gospel indicates that luke was first a follower of the apostles and then became close with paul.
Rackham, acts, 194, who argues convincingly from the events of chapters 14 that the ergon is the mission to the gentiles. The acts of the apostles, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the. Get your eyes and focus off of yourself and place them on god. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1.