Acts Introduction - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

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                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                              Introduction

TITLE

Commonly called "The Acts Of The Apostles", it is simply titled "Acts"
in some of the oldest manuscripts.  It might appropriately be called
"Some Of The Acts Of Some Of The Apostles" since it does not try to
describe all of the acts of all the apostles.  Rather, the focus is
clearly on some of the acts or deeds of mostly Peter (the key figure in
the first half) and Paul (the key figure in the second).  It might also
be called "The Acts Of The Holy Spirit", as that Person of the Godhead
is very much an active participant throughout the book.

AUTHOR

Though he does not mention himself by name, the author is undoubtedly
Luke, physician and frequent traveling companion of the apostle Paul.
From 1:1-3, we learn Acts is the second historical account to Theophilus
(see below), the first being the gospel universally attributed to Luke
(cf. Lk 1:1-4).

Luke is described as "the beloved Physician" (Col 4:14), and the
vocabulary of both the gospel and Acts shows evidence of a medical mind.
Mentioned as a "fellow laborer" (Phm 24) who was with Paul in his last
days (2Ti 4:11), Luke often accompanied Paul on his travels beginning
with his second journey.  By carefully noting the use of "we" and "they"
in the book of Acts, we glean that Luke joined Paul at Troas (16:10-11),
and remained at Philippi (17:1) until Paul later picked him up on his
way to Troas (20:1-6).  The book ends with Luke accompanying Paul to his
imprisonment in Rome (28:16).

It is evident Luke was very careful to provide a historically accurate
account in the both the gospel and Acts (cf. Lk 1:1-4,5; 2:1-3; 3:1-2).
Sir William Ramsay, archaeologist who started his career to prove Luke
to be in error, offered this testimony as a result of his research:
"Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of
fact trustworthy, he is possessed of the true historic sense...in short,
this author should be placed along with the greatest of historians."  In
fact, Luke provides the only record of the first thirty years of the
early church.

RECIPIENT

Both the gospel and Acts were written to one man:  Theophilus (Lk 1:3;
Ac 1:1), whose name means "God lover".  Ramsay suggests the use of "most
excellent" (Lk 1:3) was a title like "Your Excellency" (cf. 23:26;
26:25) and that Theophilus was a government official of high rank.  It
is not used in Acts (1:1), and one intriguing possibility is that he
became a believer in between receiving the gospel and Acts.  Some have
entertained the possibility that Theophilus was a Roman official in
charge of administering Paul's case before Caesar, and that the gospel
and Acts were written to help him understand the facts of Jesus Christ
and Paul's role in the history of the church.

TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING

The book ends abruptly with Paul under house arrest awaiting trial in
Rome (28:16,30-31).  This may indicate that the book was written before
Paul's trial and eventual release.  The dates for Paul's first
imprisonment in Rome are 60-62 A.D.  If the book was just before or
after Paul's release, then it was likely written around 63 A.D. from
Rome.

PURPOSE OF THE BOOK

As indicated previously, the original purpose of both the gospel and
Acts may have been to assist Theophilus in some official capacity in
learning about Jesus and His apostles.  Yet the inspiration and
preservation of the book would indicate an important future role in the
providence of God.  Based on its content, I would offer the following
purpose of this book:

   * To record the establishment and early growth of the church

Other reasons could be given for why this book was written.  The detail
given to conversions and the involvement of the Holy Spirit would
certainly suggest the book is designed to reveal:

   * Examples of conversions to the gospel of Christ

   * The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the apostles and the early
     church

The value of Acts is also seen in that it provides the historical
framework for the epistles found in the New Testament.  From Romans to
Revelation, names, places, and events are mentioned upon which light is
shown by the historical account of Acts.  Without Acts, the gospels of
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John would be left without a satisfying answer
to the question, "What happened next?"

THEME OF THE BOOK

The book begins in Jerusalem and ends at Rome.  It describes the
establishment and growth of the Lord's church throughout the
Mediterranean world through the work of the apostles and other
Christians under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  We read their
sermons and see the conversions which resulted as they carried out the
Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-16).  We learn how local
churches were established, and much of their work, worship and
organization.  But mostly we see the faith and efforts of those charged
to be witnesses of the Lord and of His resurrection from the dead.  An
appropriate theme of this book might therefore be:

                 "WITNESSES FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST"

KEY VERSE:  Acts 1:8

   "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon
   you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all
   Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

OUTLINE

I. THEIR WITNESS IN JERUSALEM (1:1-8:3)

   A. PREPARATION (1:1-26)
      1. Introduction to the book (1:1-3)
      2. The promise of the Spirit (1:4-8)
      3. The ascension of Jesus (1:9-11)
      4. The waiting for the Spirit (1:12-14)
      5. The selection of Matthias (1:16-26)

   B. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH (2:1-47)
      1. The outpouring of the Spirit (2:1-4)
      2. The reaction of the crowd (2:5-13)
      3. The explanation by Peter (2:14-21)
      4. The first gospel sermon by Peter (2:22-36)
      5. The conversion of 3000 souls (2:37-41)
      6. The beginning of the church (2:42-47)

   C. THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM (3:1-8:3)
      1. The healing of the lame man; Peter's second sermon (3:1-26)
      2. The first persecution against the church; the liberality of the
         church (4:1-37)
      3. The first trouble within; increasing persecution without
         (5:1-43)
      4. The disturbance within resolved; intensifying persecution
         without (6:1-15)
      6. The address and martyrdom of Stephen (7:1-60)
      7. The persecution involving Saul against the church (8:1-3)

II. THEIR WITNESS IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA (8:4-12:25)

   A. THE PREACHING BY PHILIP (8:4-40)
      1. The conversion of the Samaritans (8:4-25)
      2. The conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch (8:26-40)

   B. THE CONVERSION OF SAUL OF TARSUS (9:1-31)
      1. The appearance of the Lord on the road to Damascus (9:1-8)
      2. The baptism of Saul by Ananias (9:9-19)
      3. The initial ministry and persecution of Saul (9:20-31)

   C. THE MIRACLES OF PETER (9:32-43)
      1. The healing of Aeneas (9:32-35)
      2. The raising of Dorcas from the dead (9:36-43)

   D. THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS (10:1-11:18)
      1. The account recorded by Luke (10:1-48)
      2. The account retold by Peter (11:1-18)

   E. THE MINISTRIES OF BARNABAS, SAUL AND PETER (11:19-12:25)
      1. The work of Barnabas and Saul in Antioch (11:19-26)
      2. The work of Barnabas and Saul in Judea (11:27-30; 12:25)
      3. The persecution by Herod; James beheaded, Peter arrested
         (12:1-4)
      4. The release of Peter from prison by an angel; Herod's death
         (12:5-24)

III. THEIR WITNESS TO THE END OF THE EARTH (13:1-28:30-31)

   A. THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF PAUL (13:1-14:28)
      1. The departure from Antioch of Syria (13:1-3)
      2. The ministry on the island of Cyprus (13:4-12)
      3. The preaching in Antioch of Pisidia (13:13-52)
      4. The work and persecution in Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (14:1-20)
      5. The confirmation of churches and appointment of elders
         (14:21-23)
      6. The return trip to Antioch (14:24-28)

   B. THE ISSUE OF CIRCUMCISION AND THE LAW (15:1-35)
      1. The problem surfaces in Antioch (15:1-3)
      2. The problem resolved in Jerusalem (15:4-29)
      3. The letter delivered to Antioch (15:30-35)

   C. THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF PAUL (15:36-18:22)
      1. The separation of Paul and Barnabas (15:36-41)
      2. The addition of Timothy to Paul and Silas (16:1-5)
      3. The call to come to Macedonia (16:6-10)
      4. The conversion of Lydia in Philippi (16:11-15)
      5. The conversion of the Philippian jailor (16:16-40)
      6. The proclamation of Christ in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens
         (17:1-34)
      7. The year and a half at Corinth (18:1-17)
      8. The quick trip back to Antioch (18:18-22)

   D. THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF PAUL (18:23-21:17)
      1. The strengthening of disciples in Galatia and Phrygia (18:23)
      2. The conversion of Apollos by Aquila and Priscilla (18:24-28)
      3. The three years at Ephesus, ending with a riot (19:1-41)
      4. The trip through Macedonia, three months in Greece, and return
         through Macedonia (20:1-5)
      5. The breaking of bread and miracle at Troas; heading toward
         Jerusalem (20:7-16)
      6. The meeting with the Ephesian elders at Miletus (20:17-38)
      7. The warnings on the way to Jerusalem; brief stays in Tyre and
         Caesarea (21:1-14)
      8. The arrival in Jerusalem (21:15-17)

   E. THE ARREST OF PAUL AND JOURNEY TO ROME (21:18-28:31)
      1. The counsel of James and elders of the church in Jerusalem
         (21:18-25)
      2. The arrest of Paul in the temple (21:26-40)
      3. The defense by Paul to the Jewish mob (22:1-30)
      4. The defense by Paul before the Sanhedrin council (23:1-10)
      5. The plot against Paul and deliverance to Felix (23:11-35)
      6. The trial before Felix; procrastination by Felix (24:1-27)
      7. The appearance before Festus and appeal to Caesar (25:1-12)
      8. The defense before Festus and King Agrippa (25:13-26:32)
      9. The journey to Rome; shipwreck along the way (27:1-28:16)
     10. The explanation of Paul to the leaders of the Jews in Rome
         (28:17-29)
     11. The waiting in Rome for two years, yet preaching and teaching
         (28:30-31)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE INTRODUCTION

1) Who is the author of the book of Acts?  What was his profession?
   - Luke
   - Physician

2) To whom was this book written?  What other book is addressed to this
   person?
   - Theophilus (Ac 1:1)
   - The gospel of Luke (Lk 1:3)

3) What might indicate that this person was an official of high rank?
   - Being addressed as "most excellent" (Lk 1:3)

4) When was this book likely written?  From where?  What may be
   indicative of this?
   - 63 A.D.; Rome
   - It is when and where the book abruptly ends (Ac 28:30-31)

5) What is proposed as the primary purpose of the book of Acts?
   - To record the establishment and early growth of the church

6) Based on content, what else does the book appear designed to reveal?
   - Examples of conversions to the gospel of Christ
   - The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the apostles and the early
     church

7) What is offered as the theme of the book of Acts?
   - Witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ

8) What is the key verse?
   - "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon
     you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all
     Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Ac 1:8

9) What are the main divisions of the book as suggested by the key verse
   and the outline in the introduction?
   - Their witness in Jerusalem (1:1-8:3)
   - Their witness in Judea and Samaria (8:4-12:25)
   - Their witness to the end of the earth (13:1-28:31)
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