1. Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

2. Knowing God’s Word
Acts

3. Knowing God’s Word
Two weeks ago we took a look at John’s account of the gospel of Jesus
This week we move onto the book of Acts or Acts of the Apostles
Acts is the 5th book in the NT and stands alone in the divisions of the NT as the sole book of history

4. Knowing God’s Word
Luke is the author of this book of Acts (see outline of Luke)
Both Luke and Acts are written to Theophilus
Acts is a continuation of the gospel of Luke (flows well since Luke authored both)

5. Knowing God’s Word
Luke was a companion of Paul on his missionary journeys (“we” sections – 16:10-17; 20:6-16; 21; 27; 28)
We also read of Luke in Colossians 4:14, II Timothy 4:11 and Philemon 24
Luke was a physician who Paul likely used due to infirmities (II Cor. 11:23-28; 12:7-10)

6. Knowing God’s Word
Most manuscripts title the book “Acts” or “Doings” or “Acts of the Apostles”
The book focuses mostly on the apostles Peter and Paul, mentioning only John (3 times) and James (death) otherwise
More space is dedicated to Stephen, Philip, Timothy and Silas than the other apostles

7. Knowing God’s Word Acts was probably written around 63 or 64 AD
This date seems pretty accurate based upon the events of the book itself
Seems to be written following Paul’s imprisonment in Rome and before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70

8. Knowing God’s Word
The book of Acts outlines the birth and growth of the early church through the spreading of the gospel by the apostles and early church leaders
It asks and answers the question “What must I do to be saved?”
It gives us the history of the first 30 years of the church

9. Knowing God’s Word It is a book of conversions, such as:
3,000 on Pentecost (2:41)
Ethiopian Eunuch (8:35)
Paul (9:1-18; 22:3-16; 26:12-21)
Cornelius (10:47)
Lydia (16:15)
Jailor (16:33)

10. Knowing God’s Word
Shows the work of the Holy Spirit following the resurrection of Christ
Shows the great persecution that the early church was under
It shows the fulfillment of prophecies concerning the church and what Jesus taught and predicted

11. Knowing God’s Word
It also serves as the background for other books of the NT such as:
Philippi (16)
Thessalonica (17)
Corinth (18)
Ephesus (19)

12. Knowing God’s Word Key Verses in Acts: 1:8 2:36-38, 41-42, 47 3:19
4:12
5:29, 38-39
8:35-39

13. Knowing God’s Word Key Verses in Acts: 10:34-35 11:26 17:11, 30-31
20:7, 27-31, 35
22:16
24:25

14. Knowing God’s Word
Key Verses in Acts:
26:28

15. Knowing God’s Word Outline of Acts: Work of Peter & Others (1-12)
Intro; Ascension of Christ; Descent of Holy Spirit (1:1-2:13)
Church at Jerusalem (2:14-6:7)
Gospel Preached in Judea & Samaria (6:8-8:25)
Conversion of Eunuch, Saul & Cornelius (8:26-12:25)

16. Knowing God’s Word Outline of Acts: Work of Paul & Others (13-28)
Paul’s First Missionary Journey (13:1-14:28)
Dispute Over Circumcision (15:1-35)
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22)
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (18:23-21:16)
Paul at Jerusalem (21:17-23:35)
Paul at Caesarea (24:1-26:32)

17. Knowing God’s Word Outline of Acts: Work of Paul & Others (13-28)
Paul’s Voyage to Rome (27:1-28:10)
Paul in Rome (28:11-31)