A history of the early church gene taylor2an outline of the book i. Acts of the apostles executable outline study resources. Jesus ministry in lukes gospel explains gods salvation and the. At one appearance, jesus charged his apostles not to depart from jerusalem but to wait for the baptism of the holy spirit.
The acts of the apostles camp hill church of christ. This film depicts the birth of the early church through the eyes of luke, the author of the gospel of luke. Evangelism and the resulting church growth, in that sense, would be a subactivity of the total mission of the early church. It is upon that arena of evangelism and church growth that luke would have us focus.
It is a journey i have been looking forward to going through with you as i have been reading through this book over and over again the last month or so. The lord jesus christ at work by the holy spirit through the apostles human instrumentalities. Without the book of acts, our knowledge of the early history of the church would be limited to the small amount provided by the new testament epistles. Theme acts is a history of the early church and of the spread of the gospel note 1. The events described in acts occurred over a period of about 30 years about a. Acts has been called infants progress, for it traces the history and growth of the baby church. Mar 24, 2021 the book of acts is a record of the growth of the early church, started by jesuss disciples and then expanded by the apostle paul. To record the establishment and early growth of the church based on content, what else does the book appear designed to reveal. Church gospel holy spirit chapters 28 next 20 years major emphasis. Acts is too positive about the early church to have been written early. The acts of peter and philip the evangelist are recorded here as well. The book of acts is also the history of the birth, the founding, and the spread of the church from jerusalem to rome. It is not a record of all of the acts of all of the apostles, but of.
How did the early church, which was exclusively jewish, begin to. The acts of the ascended and glorified lord robert lee words concerning deeds bantu title acts 1. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. Its an exciting ride, from the coming of the holy spirit at pentecost, to shipwrecks and imprisonments, to life changing sermons delivered by exfishermen. One finds embedded in acts a record of christian defenses made to both jews e. This morning we begin a journey through the history of the early church as recorded in the book of acts. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. It describes establishment, growth, organization, and worship of the church e. Lets look first at the rhetorical strategy of the book of acts.
The lord jesus christ at work by the holy spirit through the. To prove this point, let us take a quick look at church growth in the book of acts, with a special view to the church in jerusalem. It alone offers an intensive view of early church life and history. The book of acts links jesus life and ministry to the life of the early church.
Peter preaches that the jesus they crucified, god has made lord and christ. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. The samaritans acts 8 when the church in jerusalem was scattered, as a result of persecution, an evangelist named philip went to samaria and proclaimed christ 8. Acts emphasis the importance of the day of pentecost and being empowered to be effective witnesses for jesus christ. Feb 02, 2011 the book of acts is a key historical record of what the early church believed and practiced. An overview of the book of acts the life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epi stles. This is the first lesson in our series the book of acts. The book of acts fills in all the details regarding gods promise to establish his kingdom and forgive man of their sins. The book of acts the church of christ in zion, illinois. What is fascinating about the book of acts is that it sets out early to document the requirements of salvation. May 06, 2019 book of acts the book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. A chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 4 acts a short introduction heres what well be reading as we study through the book of acts. The book of acts illustrates how the savior continued to direct his church through the inspiration of the holy ghost to those who held the keys of the priesthood. Fully come means that this was the fulfillment of the.
Chapter 2 records the fulfillment of pentecost, peters sermon, and the primary church. In looking at ekklesia, the greek word most often translated church in acts, we see churches that are locally selfgoverned and are supported by energized ministers. The book of acts chapter 1 and 2 informs the starting of the early church in jerusalem which was birthed in prayer 1. In philippi, paul met with jews on the sabbath beside a river and taught them about jesus christ. The first adjustment the early apostles faced was the absence of jesus. The geographic progression which the christ outlined for the spread of the gospel was fulfilled.
The acts of the apostles is a unique and therefore crucial book of the new testament. The work of the holy spirit in the early church sermon outline. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist. Luke wrote the book of acts acts of the apostles to record how believers were empowered by the holy spirit, worked to spread the gospel of christ, and are a model for the future church. An overview of the book of acts the life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book. Christ and tells of the mighty way that god works in those believers to spread the good news about his son through all the earth. Acts is too positive about the early church to have been. It alone presents an extensive picture of early church life and history. To the genuineness and authenticity of this book, the early christian fathers bear unanimous testimony.
Specific accounts are recorded of people from africa the eunuch, acts 8, europe philippi, acts 16, and asia antioch of syria, acts 11 being taught the. Study guide the book of acts embry hills church of christ. Second, we will examine early church history and its witness concerning. Iscariot was saul of tarsus, chosen personally by the lord jesus christ galatians 1. The holy spirit comes upon the apostles on pentecost.
He designed it to be read more as a narr ativ e than simply as a ref erence book. Please read each lesson ahead of time and answer the questions the best that you can. Lesson 1 introduction and the ascension of jesus acts 1. Acts contains the only record of the first thirty years of the early church 2. Luke was a companion of paul on his missionary journeys, and in many parts of the book of acts it says we did this or that acts 16. The background of acts third millennium ministries. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. It would be an enriching experience to read them together, as acts gives the history of the founding of the churches to which the epistles are directed. Acts was read as a reliable history of the early church well into the. The first is that the good news of jesus is not just for jews.
The work of the holy ghost in the primitive church proposition. Acts ends abruptly with paul imprisoned in rome, waiting to bring his appeal before caesar. Acts facts bible study churches of christ australia. Written in the late 19th centur y, commentar y on the acts of the apostles is a versebyverse look at acts, which mcgar vey believed many theologians had misunderstood bef ore. As the church expands geographically two great surprises appear. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. It depicts the struggles and problems that they faced as well as the solutions to overcome the difficulties.
The life and travels of the apostle paul are followed. The book of acts jerry vines first baptist church, jacksonville, fl 32202 introduction acts tells the story of the birth of the church of jesus christ and its development from jerusalem to rome. Now there were in the church that was at antioch certain prophets and teachers. In the book of acts christ himself continues his work through the lives of his disciples. The book of acts is the only historical record of the birth and early days following christ s establishing his church. The book of acts furnishes a ladder on which to place the epistles. Acts 812 describes the beginning of this worldwide expansion of the early christian church. Outline studies in the book of the acts of the apostles. Acts tells us a great deal about the lifestyle of the first christian community. We will explore how luke used summary statements for six periods of time in his history.
Though christ came into the world, as was prophesied, his kingdom had not been established at the point of his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into heaven see acts 1. Examples of conversions to the gospel of christ the ministry of the holy spirit in the apostles and the early church what is offered as the theme of the book of acts. The book of acts is a vital link between the gospels and the epistles. It is the very start of the things we know and teach and stake our very salvation in, the church, the very body of christ made up of believers that find eternal salvation in christ. The holy spirit appears prominently in acts, so much so that the book has been called the gospel of the holy spirit. It is filled with powerful markers that help us, as the church today, become the living image of christ in the world. Inasmuch as acts is primarily the record of the performance of the early church, no homiletical treatment of the book would be complete without some reference to the several churches whose faults and foibles, strengths and weaknesses, triumphs and tragedies are reported by luke.
Much of this episode is a flashback, picking up from the dispersion of believers in 8. As you continue on reading we discover that about 3000 people gladly received those instructions that day and were baptized into christ for the remission of their sins in acts 2. In it we see the great beginnings of the church, the spread of the gospel throughout the world, and examples of faithful men and women of the first century. It is worth noting that in this history of the early christian church, luke. I would like to receive email updates about the jesus film project. Not only did the birth, life, death, and burial prove jesus to be the christ but there were many witnesses of his resurrection from the dead see acts 2. Acts shows what the early church believed and practiced.
It is worth noting that in this history of the early christian church, luke mentioned neither pauls death ad 6468 nor the persecution of christians that broke out. The work of the holy spirit in the early church sermon. Acts was read as a reliable history of the early chu. Jesus had shown himself alive by many proofs for 40 days.
The book of acts tells us how his church began in jerusalem and spread to the ends of the earth. Hamilton october 2001 outline study of the book of acts. Ludlowthe book of acts was written by luke after his gospel as the second part of a great twovolume work on jesus christ and the early christians. The acts of the apostles forms a bridge between the record of jesus christs life and teachings in the four gospels and the writings and labors of his apostles. The normative versus the exception much debate has transpired in recent years over certain events in the book of acts. In this lesson we will study the role of the holy spirit in the early church. In it we see the great beginnings of the church, the spread of the gospel throughout the world, and examples of faithful men and women of the first. Acts records the beginnings of the church and reveals the steps one must obey to become a christian. The life and teachings of jesus christ are established in the four gospel narratives, and the book of acts provides a coordinated account of the beginnings of the church. The book of acts is a record of the growth of the early church, started by jesuss disciples and then expanded by the apostle paul.
Mcgarvey, in his introduction to this commentar y, notes that he wrote the work with the reader in mind. And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the. The holy spirit in the book of acts preaching source. The book of acts is a clear and concise work that exposes the reality of christ, the existence of the kingdom of. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of the document.
As luke describes it early on in the book, they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers 2. Oct 28, 2017 the acts of the apostles is an exceptional piece, hence its an important book of the new testament. This document has been generated from xsl extensible. In the summer of 2014 we began a study looking through the entire book of acts. Whereas the gospel of luke focuses on the life and ministry of jesus christ, the acts of the apostles builds upon what jesus did and taught see acts 1. Understanding the book of acts is so important for anyone seeking to know god and follow his plan for our lives today. The book of acts, which continues the narrative that luke began in his gospel, is especially important because it was the first written history of the christian church. And it also provides the continuation of everything jesus began both to do and teach. The holy spirit can scarcely be said to have been dismissed from the book of acts at any point. Luke here describes the founding of the church in antioch, a church that will become the launching point for pauls outreach to the gentiles acts. He spoke to the apostles concerning the kingdom of god.
Acts sheds light on the ministry gift of the holy spirit, which empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our counselor. Every prophecy ever written about the messiah in the old testament is fulfilled in the man jesus christ see acts 3. Acts of the apostles, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. The book of acts was written to provide a history of the early church. Without this historical record, little would be known about the expansion of the church. 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. Outline of the book of acts churchchristfloral heights. Christin all the book of acts discover the book ministries. Acts record the establishment and activities of the firstcentury church. 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.
Introduction to the acts of the apostles the church of. The work of the holy spirit in the early church sermon outline by kevin cauley on the task of the holy spirit in the primitive church. The holy spirit is the presence of the living lord jesus in spiritual power in the lives of men. The authors primary purpose was to give a detailed account of how men and women were converted to. One modern christian writer describes how the early church worked together to carry out gods will after jesus christ ascended. Up to this point, the book of acts recounts the churchs growth among jews in jerusalem and judea. The book of acts is the only historical record of the birth and early days following christs establishing his church. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book. The ministry of the holy spirit in the apostles and the early church. Luke wrote the book of acts and the gospel of luke and he dedicated his work to a man named theophilus as mentioned in the summary of the book of luke. Walking through the book of acts provides us with more than just a history of the early church. At one appearance, jesus charged his apostles not to depart from jerusalem but to wait for the baptism of the holy. The book of acts contains important information for all today.
Church growth in the book of acts a church of christ can and will grow spiritually and numerically when it is faithful to the word of god. A chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 2 acts. Jul 07, 2004 an overview of the book of acts the life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epi stles. The book focuses on the acts of two apostles, peter and paul.
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