Bible Study.




Acts-The History

In the Amplified Bible in the introduction to the book of Acts it provides the basic history of the spread of Christianity during the three decades immediately following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.



It also states the book of Acts traces the expansion of the early church and the ministry of the followers of Christ. Peter is the central figure in the establishment of the church in Jerusalem. Then Paul becomes the foremost leader so the major part of the book of Acts is devoted to Paul and his mission. The Holy Spirit is also mentioned many times in this book. And there was conflict as the Gentile were added to the church. Those who were Jewish felt that the Gentiles needed to do all that the Jews did, such as being circumcised, but that was not necessary for the Gentiles to do.



Outline

Christ’s parting instructions-1:1-11

The church in Jerusalem-1:12-7:60

Expansion in South and North-8:1-12:23

Paul’s first missionary journey-12:24-14:28

The Jerusalem conference-15:1-35

Paul’s second missionary journey-15:36-18:22

Paul’s third missionary journey-18:23-20:2

Paul in Jerusalem and Caesarea 20:3-26-32

Paul’s mission in Rome 27:1-28:31

　

　Acts 1:1-3 (KJV)*

“The former treatise, have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.







Let’s Have A Closer Look

Questions



1. Who wrote the book of Acts? Luke



2. Who was this letter written to? Theophilus. No doubt, Luke also had a larger readership in mind.




3. Why was he writing this letter? Luke wrote the Book of Acts to inform Theophilus about events that took place after Jesus' ascension and after the baptism of the Holy Spirit, "the promise of the Father." One could describe the Book of Acts as the "acts" of the Holy Spirit



4. How many days after Jesus was resurrected did He appear to His disciples? Forty days

5. What did Jesus talk about during those days? His Kingdom and commissions them to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to make disciples of all people (the Great Commission).