Acts of The Apostles
1. The Author of The Book - Luke - (See notes in Lesson 2.) - Luke’s authorship of Acts is seen in :
A. Similar introductions to both books (Lu 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-2);
B. Similar literary styles;
C. Use of the pronoun “we” indicates it was written by one of Paul’s traveling companions, and careful analysis points to Luke (Acts 16:10, 19; 20:4-6);
D. Early Church fathers all agreed that Luke was its author.
2. The Recipients of The Book
A. Written to Theophilus, (Acts 1:1-2; 23:26)
B. See notes on the Gospel of Luke for information on Theophilus.
3. The Date & Place of Writing
A. Date - Written around 63 AD:
· Written after Luke
· Written during Paul’s 1st Roman imprisonment.
· Paul was evidently released from prison, traveled between Asia & Spain and imprisoned a 2nd time in Rome; then executed in 68 AD.
B. Place - Written in Rome during Paul’s 1st imprisonment.
4. The Purpose of The Book
A. To record an accurate account of Jesus’ continued work through the lives of His Apostles (Acts 1:1);
B. To show how the Apostles impacted their world for Christ (Acts 1:8; 17:6);
C. To show the geographical spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem, through Judea, to Samaria and the uttermost parts of The earth (Acts 1:8);
D. To demonstrate the importance and power of prayer in Christian witnessing (Acts 1:14; 4:31);
5. Keys to The Book
A. Key Verse - 1:8
B. Key Words:
1) Name - 33
2) Prayer - 18
3) Preach - 38
4) Spirit - 54
5) Witness - 21
6) Power - 11
7) Raised - 29
8) Salvation - 19
6. The Outline of The Book
A. Witnessing in Jerusalem and Judea (1:1-8:3)
1) Chapter 1 - The Ascension of Christ (1:1-26)
a. The Author (1:1-2)
e. The Ascension (1:9-11)
b. The Appearances (1:3)
f. The Awaiting (1:12-14)
c. The Affidavit (1:4-5)
g. The Action (1:15-26)
d. The Authority (1:6-8)
2) Chapter 2 - The Day of Pentecost (2:1-47)
a. A Demonstration of the Spirit’s power (2:1-13)
b. A Declaration of the Son’s passion (2:14-36)
c. A Decision by the Sinners present (2:37-47
3) Chapter 3 - The Healing of a Lame Man (3:1-26)
a. The man’s conditions (3:1-2)
b. The ministers compassion (3:3-7)
c. The Master’s cure (3:7-8)
d. The multitude’s curiosity (3:9-11)
e. The message communicated (3:12-26)
4) Chapter 4 - The Beginning of Persecution (4:1-37)
a. The persecution (4:1-7)
e. The prayer (4:23-31)
b. The preaching (4:8-12)
f. The power (4:32-33)
c. The predicament (4:13-18)
g. The pattern (4:32-37)
d. The persistence (4:19-22)
5) Chapter 5 - Purging and Persecution (5:1-42)
a. The Corruption (5:1-11)
d. The Christ (5:29-32)
b. The Conversion (5:12-16)
e. The Counsel (5:33-39)
c. The Command (5:17-28)
f. The Comfort (5:40-42)
6) Chapters 6 & 7 - Stephen, the First Martyr (6:1~8:3) - Consider: The witness of his:
a. life (6:1-8)
b. labors (6:8)
c. looks (6:15)
d. lips( 6:9- 7:53)
e. love (7:54- 8:3)
B. Witnessing in Samaria (8:1-12:25)
1) Chapter 8 - The Ministry of Philip (8:4-40)
a. Mass evangelism in Samaria (8:4-25)
b. Personal evangelism on the Gaza road (8:26-40)
2) Chapter 9 - The Conversion of Paul (9:1-31)
The account of Paul's conversion (9:1-19)
The aftermath of Paul’s conversion (9:20-31)
3) Chapter 10 - The Conversion of Cornelius (10:1-48)
a. The Desire of Cornelius (10:1-8)
b. The Determination of Peter (10:9-18)
c. The Direction of the Spirit(10:19-24)
d. The Declaration of Cornelius (10:1-7)
e. The Desire of Cornelius (10:1-7)
f. The Desire of Cornelius (10:1-7)
4) Chapter 11 -
a. The plea of Peter (11:1-18)
b. The church at Antioch (11:19-30)
5)Chapter 12 - The Christian Persecution (12:1-25)
a. The death of James (12:1-2)
b. The deliverance of Peter (12:3-19)
c. The death of Herod (12:20-23)
d. The dissemination of the Word (12:24-25)
C. To the Uttermost Parts of the Earth (13:1-28:31)
1) Chapter 13-14 - 1st Missionary Journey (13:1-14:28)
a. Events in Antioch (13:1-3)
b. Events in Cyprus (13:4-12)
c. Events in Galatian cities (13:13-14:20)
d. Events on The return to Antioch (14:21-28)
2) Chapter 15 - The Council at Jerusalem (15:1-35)
a. The dissension over circumcision (15:1-5)
b. The discussion (15:6-18
c. The decision (15:19-29)
d. The delivered of the letter to Antioch (15:30-35)
3) Chapter 15-18 - 2nd Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22)
a. The personnel chosen (15:36-40)
b. The churches revisited (15:41-16:5)
c. The call to Europe (16:6-10)
d. The work at Philippi (16:11-40)
e. The work at Thessalonica, Berea & Athens (17:1-34)
f. The ministry at Corinth (18:1-17)
g. The journey completed (16:18-22)
4) Chapter 18-21 - 3rd Missionary Journey (18:23-21:26)
a. Ephesus: The Power of the Word (18:23-19:41)
b. Greece (20:1-5)
c. Asia Minor: Troas & the elders of Ephesus (20:6-38)
d. From Miletus to Caesarea (21:1-14)
e. Paul with the Jerusalem church (21:15-26)
5) Chapter 21 - 28 - The Journey to Rome (21:27- 28:31)
a. Paul's arrest and defense (21:27-22:29)
b. Paul brought before the Sanhedrin (22:30-23:10)
c. Paul escorted to Caesarea (23:11-35)
d. Paul's defense before Felix (24:1-27)
e. Paul's defense before Festus (25:1-27)
f. Paul's defense before Agrippa (26:1-32)
g. Paul's voyage and shipwreck (27:1-4)
h. Paul in Malta and on to Rome (28:1-16)
i. Paul in Rome (28:17-31)
