Acts 1:1-14
Lesson 218
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
"The Acts of the Apostles"
Authorship:
Acts was written by Luke (Lucas), an educated and "beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14), around AD 62. Some Bible scholars believe Luke was from Antioch, while others say Philippi. A protégé of Paul's, he is the only Gentile writer of the New Testament. He also wrote "The Gospel According to St. Luke." Luke was the leader of the Philippian Church then worked and traveled with Paul on at least one of his missionary journeys. Luke also accompanied Paul when guards took him in chains to stand trial in Rome. On their way, they were shipwrecked on the island of Melita for three months before being picked up by another ship (Acts 27:1-28:16). When they arrived in Rome, Paul was held in chains under house arrest for two years (Acts 28:30-31). Luke never met Jesus, but much of his writings come straight from eyewitnesses who did (Luke 1:1-2). Since Luke's Gospel includes several stories from the Virgin Mary's life, he probably knew her well. We know little more about Luke, he is only mentioned three times in the Bible (Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24), yet between his two books he wrote a quarter of the New Testament, making him a major contributor to Christianity and worthy of study.
Purpose and Theme:
Acts is a sequel to the four Gospels and a prequel to the Epistles. It is the written history of the early church. Luke's book is called the "Acts of the Apostles," but it mainly covers the acts of Peter and especially Paul. Acts tells us what the disciples did after the accession of Christ and contains important spiritual lessons. It details the conversion of Paul, and the founding, spreading, and early life of the Christian church. The key subject of Acts is how the Gospel was offered to Gentiles (non-Jews). Just thirty years after the crucifixion, Christianity had spread to thirty countries, islands, and provinces and extended itself into Europe and Asia. To accomplish this amazing growth, the early missionaries suffered persecution, beatings, imprisonment, and sometimes death. Paul walked over ten thousand miles on his three missionary journeys before being imprisoned and executed. But Christianity couldn't spread by itself; it needed the Holy Spirit of God to guide and propel it. With that in mind, perhaps the key verse in Acts are Jesus' words of encouragement;
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
From the early business of replacing the disgraced disciple Judas Iscariot (1:23-26), to Paul surviving a shipwreck (27:27-44), to Paul preaching for two years while in chains in Rome (28:30-31), Acts is a fast-paced history of the early church.
Acts was written by Luke (Lucas), an educated and "beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14), around AD 62. Some Bible scholars believe Luke was from Antioch, while others say Philippi. A protégé of Paul's, he is the only Gentile writer of the New Testament. He also wrote "The Gospel According to St. Luke." Luke was the leader of the Philippian Church then worked and traveled with Paul on at least one of his missionary journeys. Luke also accompanied Paul when guards took him in chains to stand trial in Rome. On their way, they were shipwrecked on the island of Melita for three months before being picked up by another ship (Acts 27:1-28:16). When they arrived in Rome, Paul was held in chains under house arrest for two years (Acts 28:30-31). Luke never met Jesus, but much of his writings come straight from eyewitnesses who did (Luke 1:1-2). Since Luke's Gospel includes several stories from the Virgin Mary's life, he probably knew her well. We know little more about Luke, he is only mentioned three times in the Bible (Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24), yet between his two books he wrote a quarter of the New Testament, making him a major contributor to Christianity and worthy of study.
Purpose and Theme:
Acts is a sequel to the four Gospels and a prequel to the Epistles. It is the written history of the early church. Luke's book is called the "Acts of the Apostles," but it mainly covers the acts of Peter and especially Paul. Acts tells us what the disciples did after the accession of Christ and contains important spiritual lessons. It details the conversion of Paul, and the founding, spreading, and early life of the Christian church. The key subject of Acts is how the Gospel was offered to Gentiles (non-Jews). Just thirty years after the crucifixion, Christianity had spread to thirty countries, islands, and provinces and extended itself into Europe and Asia. To accomplish this amazing growth, the early missionaries suffered persecution, beatings, imprisonment, and sometimes death. Paul walked over ten thousand miles on his three missionary journeys before being imprisoned and executed. But Christianity couldn't spread by itself; it needed the Holy Spirit of God to guide and propel it. With that in mind, perhaps the key verse in Acts are Jesus' words of encouragement;
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
From the early business of replacing the disgraced disciple Judas Iscariot (1:23-26), to Paul surviving a shipwreck (27:27-44), to Paul preaching for two years while in chains in Rome (28:30-31), Acts is a fast-paced history of the early church.
Acts is broken down into three parts:
1) Chapters 1-12 - The first twelve chapters center around Peter and describes the birth of the church (1:1-2:47); its growth (3:1-8:1a); its trials (8:1b-12:25); and its efforts to reach out to Jews (entitled "From Jerusalem to Antioch.")
2) Chapters 13-21 - The focus of Acts now shifts from Peter to Paul. Paul's missionary work; reaching out to Gentiles.
3) Chapters 21-28 - Paul faces the mob and council (21:18-23:30); Paul before the Governors (23:31-25:12); Paul before the king (25:13-26:32); Paul in Rome (entitled "Antioch to Rome").
1) Chapters 1-12 - The first twelve chapters center around Peter and describes the birth of the church (1:1-2:47); its growth (3:1-8:1a); its trials (8:1b-12:25); and its efforts to reach out to Jews (entitled "From Jerusalem to Antioch.")
2) Chapters 13-21 - The focus of Acts now shifts from Peter to Paul. Paul's missionary work; reaching out to Gentiles.
3) Chapters 21-28 - Paul faces the mob and council (21:18-23:30); Paul before the Governors (23:31-25:12); Paul before the king (25:13-26:32); Paul in Rome (entitled "Antioch to Rome").
Study Tip:
As you read, concentrate on how you can apply each teaching to your life.
As you read, concentrate on how you can apply each teaching to your life.
