The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book. As luke wrote to theophilus and the early church, he highlighted the vital importance of spreading the gospel of the kingdom of god through their witness to the nations of the earth in the power of the holy spirit. The book of acts is a remarkable work of history and theology. This summary of the book of acts provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the. This summary of the book of acts provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters 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.
Ancient books were generally written on papyrus scrolls. Several questions can be answered from the first 2 verses. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. The importance of the book of acts the importance of this second of lukes twovolume work can. Jan 02, 2011 the book of acts sunday school lesson series january 2, 2011 by kelly henderson take your students on a journey through the book of acts where they will learn lessons from the early church after jesus ascended to heaven and believers received the gift of the holy spirit.
Dec 27, 2017 acts is the only one history book which explained what happened after jesus was resurrected and what happened to the disciples of christ. Luke is the writer, as he states in his introduction v. The acts is an historical book, but it is not mere history. Acts or lukeacts is intended as a work of edification, meaning the empirical demonstration that virtue is superior to vice. Here is a sample excerpt to give a taste of what you can glean from this well done commentary. The title of the book of acts comes from the greek word praxis, a word often used in early christian literature to describe the great deeds of the apostles or other.
Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. By faith in the name of jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. God took a christianhating murderer and transformed him into historys greatest christian evangelist, the author of almost half the books of the new testament. Theres no better explanation for how to live out the great commissionfollowing the instruction of the resurrected jesus christ to spread his teachings to all the nations of the worldthan in the book of acts. And it proposes to show the continuation of all that jesus began both to do and teach. 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 is the only one history book which explained what happened after jesus was resurrected and what happened to the disciples of christ. Jews from the thenknown world have come to celebrate the feast of pentecost. Therefore, it is reasonable to include lukes purpose for acts as falling under his purpose for the book of luke. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
The book focuses primarily on the acts of two apostles, peter and paul. In only three decades, a small group of frightened believers in jerusalem transformed. Besides linking the gospel narratives on the one hand and the apostolic letters on the. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. Acts 2 new international version niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. Book of acts definition of book of acts by the free. It alone presents an extensive picture of early church life and history. In the book of acts, we discover how gods multiethnic, international church grew through persecution and missionary journeys throughout the world. In this video i share the outline to acts, the overall message, key lessons learned and the key events, people and places in the book of acts. Home written by david summary on the book of acts chapter by chapter. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of acts. 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. Outside of the book of acts, luke who also wrote acts uses the word in luke 7.
The book of acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly paul and peter, after jesuss ascension into heaven. Luke, the author of the gospel of luke, was a doctor and gentile. First of all luke mentions the fact that acts is the sequel to the gospel of luke written around 5560 ad, and therefore must have been written later. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. The waiting in rome for two years, yet preaching and teaching 28. 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. 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. Acts is a fastmoving historical account of the first three decades of the church. This versebyverse bible study and commentary of the acts of the apostles the book of acts or simply acts is indepth but uses plain language that everyone can understand, as well as a format that will engage you.
This commentary has been through advanced checking. In the latter portion of acts, luke recorded three rejections of the jews to pauls overtures of salvation. 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. 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. The acts of the apostles is a unique and therefore crucial book of the new testament. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible gateway.
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. From the empowering by the holy spirit in chapter 2, the early church made a great impact on all it encountered, the apostles peter and john playing a. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth. The bible book of acts with full chapters, footnotes and bible commentary to aid your bible search, reading, and study. Remember this is a jewish feast day that is being celebrated. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90. Staggs commentary focuses on lukes purposes in writing acts. Summary on the book of acts chapter by chapter welcome. Book of acts read, study bible verses online bible study tools. The genre of the book of acts is narrative history with several sermons. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. Here is a summary and overview of the book of acts. In acts, jesus sends the holy spirit to empower his disciples as they carry. 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 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. The book will therefore have been written only after the end of this time. Book of acts definition of book of acts by the free dictionary. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of the document. The book of acts gives us a history of the work of the early church and the holy spirit, within the theatre of the known world. A good study bible we recommend the following features. Today we are going to begin a study of the book of acts and focus on the mission of the church for today.
Nov 08, 2012 an overview of the book of acts, which provides an introduction to the apostles and gives a brief summary of the leaders, peter and paul, as well as the other apostles. The book of acts tells how the multiethnic, international. The book of acts records three of pauls missionary journeys by which the church was established, the people of god, the christians who would change the world. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Secondly luke at the end of acts luke mentions pauls twoyear imprisonment in rome. Summary on the book of acts chapter by chapter welcome to. Summary on the book of acts chapter by chapter by unknown. Here is a look at our fifth book in the new testament filtering through all the examples we see of the word faith. 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.
Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy. It is also the early church account and how the church spread to the gentile world non jewish world in asia minor and europe. This post will exhaustively look at every example we see in the book of acts with a brief commentary on each. From the empowering by the holy spirit in chapter 2, the early church made a great impact on all it encountered, the apostles peter and john playing a major role in this early work. Our story starts off where the gospel of luke left offjesus is back now that hes resurrected, jesus decides to hang out and chat with his disciples whom luke calls apostles for forty days. Book of acts synonyms, book of acts pronunciation, book of acts translation, english dictionary definition of book of acts. As was stated, acts is the second part of what was originally a twopart, single volume i.
The explanation of paul to the leaders of the jews in rome 28. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier date is also. Most can be obtained from a good religious bookstore. Sir william ramsay, after making a critical study of lukes writings, declared that luke was the greatest historian, ancient or modern. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible. Acts begins with jesuss charge to the twelve apostles to spread the gospel throughout the world. Jul 19, 2018 lesson 2 part 4 book 17 explanation of acts 2. 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. Acts bible book with full chapters king james version. Frank stagg in his commentary, the book of acts, the early struggle for an unhindered gospel, asserts the purpose is primarily the movement of the message about jesus the gospel from a strictly nationalistic judaism to a universal message for all humans. An overview of the book of acts, which provides an introduction to the apostles and gives a brief summary of the leaders, peter and paul, as well as the other apostles.
It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of the apostles through the work of the holy spirit. You can find the best commentary on acts for you using the tools on the right side. Jun 12, 2017 the book of acts niv audio holy bible high quality and best speed book 44 duration. Acts is the only biblical book that chronicles the history of the church immediately after jesuss ascension. Author although the author does not name himself, evidence outside the scriptures and inferences from the book itself lead to the conclusion that the. 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.
It is a unique and crucial book that chronicles the story of gods grace flooding out to the world through the lives of the apostles in the decades immediately following christ. 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. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. Jesus said, you will receive the spirit and be my witnesses. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. Peter serves as the leader of the apostles and the. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. Watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of acts, sometimes called the fifth gospel, is a continuation of the gospel of luke. Study the bible online using commentary on acts and more. Acts of the apostles, the second part of the work that begins with the gospel according.
The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of. Verse 1 luke referred to his gospel here as my first book. 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 is the second book in the history that luke wrote. The beginning verses of acts make it clear that acts is a sequel of the story started in luke and written to the same man named theophilus, generally a title ascribed to highranking roman officials. The purpose of the book of acts is governed by the jews response to peter and paul. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. This is the story of christianitys beginnings and how evangelism played. 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. Read acts commentary using commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. Luke was from antioch but traveled with paul all over southern europe and the middle east. But i want you to look at the two words in the middle of that verse.
The book of acts, also called acts of the apostles, does not specifically identify its author. The beautiful, amazing, powerful, weak, dysfunctional church a chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 6 acts 1 50 days 1. Acts indepth versebyverse commentary and bible study of acts chapter in plain english. 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. The book of acts clearly focuses on the beginnings of the church, and two people. We do not recommend loose translations or oneman translations.
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