Walking Thru The Bible
New Testament -- Acts
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ACTS
Introduction
AUTHOR: Acts is indeed a continuation of Luke's Gospel. We could well refer to
the Gospel as Volume One and Acts as Volume Two. In Acts 1:1 "the former
treatise" addressed to Theophilus (Luke 1:3) is a reference
back to Luke's Gospel.
Internal evidence, particularly the "we" passages of Acts (16:10-17; 20:5-21; 18;
27:1-28:16) confirm Luke as the author. Luke by profession was a physician. He is the only
gentile author in the New Testament. He was an eyewitness to many of the events in the book
and was Paul's co-worker.
BACKGROUND: The book of Acts begins where the gospel left off at the
resurrection and ascension of Jesus into heaven. It takes up the story there and shows the
establishment of the Kingdom (the church) and its growth. It is often called "the book of
conversions" because it shows how people in the first century became Christians.
Various titles given the book include:
- "The Acts of the Apostles"
- "The Acts of the Holy Spirit"
- "The Ecclesia Established, Evangelizes and Expands"
- "The Message and Method of New Testament Evangelism"
- "The Great Commission In Action"
- "How To Get Into Christ"
- Luke's Gospel = Christ
- Luke's Acts = How to get into Christ
- he Epistles = How to stay in Christ
- "A Book of Beginnings"
- "Book of Conversions"
- "Acts of Apostles" (Some Acts of Some of the Apostles)
CHARACTER: The book is historical and written in narrative form. The history
of the Bible is HIS STORY and the pivot point of the Bible around which all things revolve is the
Cross.
Cross
Creation - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - // - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Consummation
One "over-all" outline of the Bible is:
The Old Testament says "Someone is coming."
The Gospels say "Someone has come."
The Epistles say "Someone is coming again."
 | The Book of Acts
is a very important book in the New Testament. From the book we glean much background
material for the epistles. We see the important theme of early preaching (the resurrection),
fulfillment of prophecy and a number of miracles.
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DESIGN: The book shows the progress of Christianity from Jerusalem to all
Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. The commission of the risen Lord had already
been reported by Luke (Luke 24:46-49) and
here is the description or how it was accomplished.
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The key verse of the book is Acts 1:8. This verse is
actually like Luke's Table of Contents, or outline for the book.
The book was probably composed in about AD 61/62. It begins with the history of AD
29/30, the year of our Lord's death, and ends following two years of Paul's imprisonment at Rome
about AD 62.
OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF ACTS:
I. Spread of the Gospel in Palestine with Peter as leader.
Ch. 1-12
II. Spread of the Gospel Outside Palestine with Paul as leader.
Ch. 13-28
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ACTS
