The Book of Acts John Oakes, PhD San Diego September, 2015 The Agora in Athens

Themes in Acts 1. The work of the Holy Spirit in establishing the Church. Acts 1:2, 1:4-5, 1:7, 1:16 2. The Kingdom of God. Acts 1:3, 1:6 3. Growth and development of the Church. 1:8 4. Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy 1:20

Acts Timeline AD 30 Pentecost Acts 2 32 Stephen martyred, Church Scattered. Acts 8: or 34Conversion of Saul/Paul Acts 9:1-22 about 37First Gentiles baptized. Acts 10-11:18 42 or 43Barnabas, Paul in Antioch. Acts 11: Paul’s first missionary journey Acts Council in Jerusalem. Acts Paul’s 2 nd missionary Journey Acts 16-18: Paul’s 3 rd mission journey Acts 18:23-21:16 57 Paul arrested in Jerusalem

Acts Timeline Paul a prisoner in Caesarea Paul a prisoner in Rome Book of Acts ends. 62 Paul probably freed. Went to Spain? 65 (?) Martyrdom in Rome

Luke/Acts Acts 1:1 Luke contains the things Jesus BEGAN to do…. Luke: Jesus goes to Jerusalem. Acts: Jesus goes out from Jerusalem (Acts 1:8)

Jesus in Acts Works miracles Acts 3:6,10,30 Acts 9:34, 13:11, 14:3 Seen at God’s right hand Acts 7:55-56 Appears to Saul Acts 9:4-5 Speaks to Ananias Acts 9:10-16 Tells Peter to go to Cornelius’ house Acts 10:13-15 Comforts Paul and Silas in prison Acts 18:9-10 Sends Paul to preach Acts 22:17-21 Tells Paul he must go to Rome Acts 23:11 Q: What do we learn from all this about us?

I. The Holy Spirit in Acts Acts 1:2 Instructions through the Holy Spirit. 1:4-5 Wait for the Holy Spirit. 1:7 Power from the Holy Spirit. 1:16 The Holy Spirit spoke the prophecies 2:1-4 The Holy Spirit falls on the apostles. 2:17-18 Pouring of the Holy Spirit prophesied in Joel. 4:8 Peter spoke, as he was filled by the Holy Spirit. 4:25 He spoke through David. 4:31 Filled with the Holy Spirit, the house was shaken. 5:32 The Holy Spirit witnesses to the resurrection. 6:3-6 Those known to be full of the Holy Spirit chosen to lead. to lead.

The Holy Spirit in Acts 7:55 Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. 8:29 The Holy Spirit tells Philip to share with the Ethiopian Eunuch. 9:31 The Church strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. 10:19 The Holy Spirit tells Peter to go with the three Gentile visitors. 10:44-47 The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his house. 11:28 The Holy Spirit tells Agabus about a famine. 13:2-4 The Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary work, and sends them off. 13:52 The disciples filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit In Acts 15:28 The Holy Spirit influenced the decision of the Jerusalem Council. 16:7 The Spirit of Jesus prevents going to Bithyia. 20:22 Paul compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. 20:23 The Holy Spirit warns Paul of danger. 20:28 The Holy Spirit makes and chooses elders. 21:11 The Holy Spirit tells Agabus how Paul will die. Q: What does all this tell you?

II. Acts and the Kingdom of God Acts 1:3 Jesus talking about the Kingdom of God. Acts 1:6 The disciples were sure confused about this! Acts 2 The Kingdom comes, as prophesied (Acts 2:17-21 esp. v. 20 TDOTL) Acts 10 The Kingdom comes to the Gentiles. Acts 8:12 Philip proclaims the Kingdom 14:22 We are on our way into the kingdom of God 19:8 He persuaded them about the kingdom of God., 20:25 Paul preached everywhere about the Kingdom of God. 28:23,31 Paul preached the kingdom of God.

III. Growth and Development of the Church Acts 1:8 “You will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth” How did they do it? How can we do it? The Marketplace in Corinth

Why Did They Change the World/ How Can We Change the World? Acts 5:39 A. They knew Jesus. The personal effect of the man Jesus of Nazareth. B. Powerful truth-claims. Those two alone were not enough to sustain a movement

Changing the World in Our Time C. Moral/Ethical superiority of the Christians. Christians. D. They could successfully answer the hard questions. Intellectual superiority. questions. Intellectual superiority. E. Christianity gave dignity to all people The church had compassion like no one The church had compassion like no one else else F. Because God was with them (Acts 5:39)

A. The Life of Jesus: Knowing Jesus Acts 4:1-21 Fear to Fearlessness. Acts 4:13 They took note that they had been with Jesus. Why was Paul transformed? Acts 9:1-16 We need to meet Jesus on our road to Damascus (or Reno, or Las Vegas or….)

B. Powerful Truth Claims Acts 2:22-24 –Jesus fulfilled the OT prophecies –Jesus worked signs, wonders and miracles –Jesus was raised from the dead Acts 3:11-16, 4:33, 5:29- 32, 13:26-35 Acts 26:24-32 True and Reasonable

Be born in Bethlehem Be raised in Galilee near Nazareth Be despised and rejected by men Be meek and silent before his accusers Be “pierced” Be crucified Have his garments divided and gambled over Be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver Come to Jerusalem to make atonement for sin in about AD 33 And many more….

C. Ethically and Morally They Were Very Different. We need to be as well!! Acts 17:5-9 Acts 19:17-20 Confronting the world and its ways. Acts 19:23-41 They confronted idolatry Us today? Marketplace, Corinth

Being Different Just Might Get Us Into Trouble A Little Riot in Ephesus

D. Engage the World Intellectually With the Christian World View Acts 17:16-34 Paul in Athens We need to confront the enemy in the Areopagus and in the Lecture Hall of Tyrannus The Areopagus in Athens

The Lecture Hall of Tyrannus

Acts 17:16-34 Paul confronts Greek World Views God is Creator. He exists outside creation. –Disproves pantheism/Stoicism. God is close to us. –Disproves deism/Epicureanism. God is personal and has given us an individual purpose. God will bring all of us to judgment. Evil will be defeated –Disproves dualism/Gnosticism.

Paul Confronts Greek World Views

The Bible and Other World Views (cont.) Acts 17:16-34 Paul shares the gospel by arguing for the Christian World View. –v Paul finds common ground. –v Paul argues for the superiority and the truth of the Christian world view as opposed to Epicureanism/pantheism and Stoicism/deism –v. 28 Paul quotes from Aretas a Stoic philosopher. “ For we are his offspring.” –v Having laid the groundwork, Paul points them to Jesus. –v Some, but not all were converted.

Christianity Offers Solutions to the Big Problems of Human Beings The Problem of Evil The Problem of Suffering The Problem of Death

The Christian World View Has Given Us: Science Abolition of Slavery (Wilberforce) Civil Rights Women’s Rights Christian groups do a majority of all benevolent work in the world (James 1:27, Micah 6:8)

How, then, should we interact with members of other religions? Find common ground. Give respect where respect is due. Acknowledge the good and do not make personal attacks—especially toward revered people. Highlight distinctions in world view/theology and introduce them to Jesus Christ. This is EXACTLY what Paul did in Acts 17:22-34

E. The Church Met Needs/We Need to Meet Needs Acts 2:44-45 All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling… Acts 3:6-10 Silver and gold we do not have, but what we have we will give. In the name of Jesus, get up and walk. What a testimony. We do not have much but what we have we will freely give. Acts 4:32-35 All needs were met. Acts 5:12-16 Meeting needs, healing.

Julian “the apostate.” ( ) “ Atheism (i.e. Christian faith) has been specially advanced through the loving service rendered to strangers, and through their care for the burial of the dead. It is a scandal that there is not a single Jew who is a beggar, and that the godless Galileans care not only for their own poor but for ours as well; while those who belong to us look in vain for the help that we should render them.”

F. If God is With Us…. Acts 5:38-39 With God’s help, they did it. They conquered the world. With God’s help, so can we.

Growth of the Church Acts 2:41 Three thousand added that day. Acts 4:4 The disciples grew to five thousand. Acts 6:7 The number of disciples increased rapidly and a large number of priests were obedient. Acts 8:4 Those scattered preached the word wherever they went. Acts 9:31 Acts 11:24 Acts 16:5 Acts 17:6 Caused trouble all over the world.

IV. Use of Prophecies

Chapter 13 Who was Sergius Paulus?

Chapter 13 Paul’s First Missionary Journey

Chapter 17:6 Politarchs

Another example of Acts 17:6 Politarchus πολιτάρχας

Areopagus of Athens Acts 17:19

Probably what Paul looked at when preaching at Areopagus: Acropolis in Athens

Pantheon of Athena in the heart of the Acropolis

Acts 18:11-18 Proconsul in ancient Greece by the name of Gallio The Greek inscription refers to Gallio noted in the Bible. It was written in the 1st century AD and was discovered in the Temple of Apollo in Delphi in It originally consisted of various fragments that were pieced together in The artifact is now in the Delphi museum, Greece.

Temple of Apollo at Delphi where Delphi Inscription was discovered in the 20th century, used to date the proconsulship of Gallio which provides a peg for the chronology of Paul. [4]Delphi Inscription [4]

Theatre at Ephesus Acts 19:29

Chapter 20: Paul’s Third Missionary Journey: Concluded AD53-58

Chapter 21:35-40 The Location of the Temple and the Barracks (of Fort Antonia) in Jerusalem

Acts 21:35-40 Paul’s Defense on the Temple Stairs

Acts 23:24 Marcus Antonius Felix was the ancient Roman procurator of the Judaea Province from AD. Felix ’ s cruelty and licentiousness, coupled with his accessibility to bribes, led to a great increase of crime in Judaea.

Acts 23:35 Model of Herod’s Palace/Praetorium

Chapter 27-28