Lesson 1: Introduction to the Book of Acts

Title of the Book: Acts of Apostles The title of the book was added later after its writing – it is not inspired. The book does not contain all of the acts of all of the apostles. The book actually only records some (a few) of the acts of some (a few) of the apostles. “Acts of Apostles” (without the definite articles) represents well the actual records.

Place of the Book: New Testament Historical Book The design of the O.T. was to bring man to Christ (Gal. 3:24). In the four accounts of the gospel, readers are introduced to Jesus, the Christ, who came to save man from their sins that separate them from God. The gospels leave readers with anticipation that something is going to happen. In Acts, after coming to a faith in Jesus and a knowledge of one’s sinfulness in the gospel accounts, readers are shown what they must do to be saved and to become a Christian. In the rest of the New Testament, readers are told how to live the Christian life by serving and worshiping God and serving our fellowman. In the last book of the New Testament, readers are given a glimpse into the eternal reward awaiting the children of God, who are saved by Christ and in His church.

Author of the Book: Luke The book of Acts was authored by the same person who wrote the third gospel account. – Addressed to the same person, Theophilus (Acts 1:1 ~ Luke 1:1-4). – Acts 1:1 ties the book of Acts with a “former treatise”… – The uniformity of writing style and vocabulary confirm same author An interesting evidence of Luke’s authorship are the “we” sections in the book. – The author claims to have been a traveling companion of Paul, using the plural pronouns, “we,” “us” and “our” (Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16). – The author was with Paul during his first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:16). – Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon during this imprisonment and included Luke as one of his companions, calling him “the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14; Phile. 24). – Luke is the only one who fits into the “we” sections of the book.

Author of the Book: Luke There is a close correlation between Luke’s gospel account and the book of Acts. – The gospel ends with the promise of the Spirit and the ascension of Jesus (Luke 24:49-53); Acts begins with the same the promise of the Spirit and the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:4- 11). – The gospel ends with instructions to the apostles to tarry in Jerusalem and to preach repentance and remission of sins (Luke 24:45-49); Acts opens with the apostles in Jerusalem preaching repentance and remission of sins (Acts 1:12; 2:5, 38). – The stated purpose of the gospel account (Luke 1:1-4) holds true in Acts. – The gospel sets forth the “Acts” of Christ; Acts sets for the “Acts” of apostles. Luke was the only Gentile to author a New Testament book (cf. Col. 4:10-17).

Recipient of the Book: Theophilus “Theophilus” is a compound name – theos (God) and philos (love) – Means “lover of God” or “loved of God” Theophilus was most likely a Gentile Christian; Luke was the only Gentile N.T. writer. He may have been a government official; Luke called him “most excellent” in Luke 1:3 (see Acts 26:25 for the only other time that expression is used in the New Testament). Given the timing of the writing (while Paul was in Roman prison), the recipient of the two treatises (an official in the Roman government), and the success of Paul’s preaching while in prison (even among “Caesar’s household,” see Phil. 1:12-13; 4:22), is it possible that Theophilus was a convert of Paul from the Roman palace?

Date & Place of the Writing: A.D. from Rome The book closes (abruptly) with the imprisonment of Paul in Rome for two years (28:30). – It closes without giving the outcome of Paul’s appeal to Caesar (liberated or death). Luke, the author, was with Paul during his 2-year Roman imprisonment (60-62 A.D.), which makes this the most reasonable timeframe and place of origin for the writing.

Main Theme: Establishment and Spread of N.T. Christianity The primary theme of the book is the historical record (the Divine record) of the origin, establishment & spread of New Testament Christianity in the first-century world during its first three decades of existence (33-62 A.D.). – This involved records of the men who did the work and the methods they employed. – This involved the spreading of the gospel to “the uttermost parts of the earth.” At the end of the book of Acts, Paul wrote that “the gospel” had been “preached to every creature under heaven” (Col. 1:23). Three major factors contributed to this end: – The providential work of God – A people whose hearts were open and receptive – Mobilized Christians committed to seeking and saving the lost

Main Theme: Establishment and Spread of N.T. Christianity There are other themes and emphases in the book of Acts: – Acts bridges the gap between the old and the new. – Acts emphasizes the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in the lives and work of the apostles and church leaders. – Acts shows Christianity was not viewed as politically dangerous but was given civil approval on a number of occasions. – Acts sets forth, as if its main course, the labors of the apostle Paul. – Acts presents the proper organization of the individual congregations of the Lord’s church and yet their common goal and their mutual love.

Main Purpose: Detail Accounts of Conversions to Christ This is the primary purpose/reason the Holy Spirit inspired Luke to write the book of Acts: To give readers multiple cases of conversion (and even non-conversions), the main purpose for which Jesus died and the main work for which the apostles were commissioned. – J.W. McGarvey said, “If we extract from the book all accounts of this kind [i.e., conversions to Christ and unsuccessful attempts at the same], together with the facts and incidents preparatory to and consequent upon each, we shall have exhausted almost entirely the contents of the book” (New Commentary, xviii). – The Lord knew that men are more effectively taught and more easily motivated by examples than they are by instructions.

Main Purpose: Detail Accounts of Conversions to Christ The conversion accounts not only show “how” to be saved but “who” can be saved. – The numerous converts in the book of Acts represented all classes of people. – The gospel is truly for all!

Main Purpose: Detail Accounts of Conversions to Christ Men today must follow and use the conversions in God’s book of Acts as their guide. – Suppose today that someone’s “conversion story” (i.e., what they did to “be saved”) does not line up with (match) the conversions accounts in God’s book of Acts. If it does not match God’s pattern, it is not of God. One who wants to know if he is a genuine convert to Christ will test “what he did” with “what they did” in the book of Acts to determine its genuineness. – Suppose today that someone’s “conversion story” (i.e., what they did to “be saved”) lines up with (matches) identically the conversion accounts in God’s book of Acts. If it matches God’s pattern, it is of God. One who wants to show others how to be saved is bound by God to use His pattern for salvation and not man’s.

Outline of the Book: Acts 1:8 Spreading the Gospel in Jerusalem (Acts 1-7) Spreading the Gospel in Judea & Samaria (Acts 8-12) Spreading the Gospel in the Uttermost Parts of the Earth (Acts 13-28)