Acts Lesson 1

ACTS

KEY VERSE: Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

KEY WORD: WITNESS (Found thirty times)

KEY THEME: POWER OF GOD FOR WITNESSING

DATE: 63 AD (Covers a period of thirty-two years) WRITER: LUKE (Acts 1:1; Luke 1:3, II Timothy 4:11)

WRITTEN TO: THEOPHILUS (Lover of God – Friend of God) FROM: ROME

THE BOOK:  NO. IN BIBLE – 44TH BOOK; NO. OF CHAPTERS- 28;  NO. OF VERSES – 1,007  NO. IN ORDER OF WRITING – 5TH IN NEW TESTAMENT.

PURPOSE:  TO SET FORTH GOD’S PLAN FOR WITNESSING TO THE LOST.  In the key verse (1:8), the disciples were told to witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost part of the earth.  1. The witness in Jerusalem recorded in Ch. 1-7.  2. The witness in Judea and Samaria recorded in Ch. 8-12.  3. The witness in the uttermost part of the earth recorded in Ch. 13-28.

DIVISIONS: Peter and the Church at Jerusalem Ch. 1-12 Jews.  Paul and the Church at Antioch Ch. 13-28 Gentiles.

OUTLINE:  INTRODUCTION: 1. God’s Man Simon (Peter)  2. God’s Martyr Stephen  3. God’s Missionary Saul (Paul). I. THE CHURCH EMPOWERED IN THE UPPER ROOM (1:12-2:47).  II. THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED IN JERUSALEM (3-7). III. THE CHURCH EXTENDED TO JUDEA AND SAMARIA (8:1-9:43). IV. THE CHURCH ENLIGHTENED CONCERNING GENTILES (10-12). V. THE CHURCH ENLARGED TO UTTERMOST PARTS (13-28).

MISCELLANEOUS:  GIVE PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING IN THE BOOK OF ACTS:  1. THE PERSON: LORD JESUS CHRIST.  2. THE POWER: HOLY SPIRIT.  3. THE PREACHERS: PETER, PAUL, STEPHEN, PHILLIP.  4. THE PLACES: JERUSALEM, ANTIOCH, ROME.  5. THE PROGRAM: MISSIONS, WITNESSING.  THE BOOK OF ACTS: 1. Covers a thirty-three year span of time.  2. Records the Acts of the Holy Spirit.  3. Contains twenty-two sermons on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  4. Is a record of actual history.  5. Is an instruction manual for Christians.  6. Gives an exposition of Christian doctrines.  7. Contains a number of thumbnail biographies.  8. Has a strong missionary emphasis.  9. Records several notable conversion stories.  10. Stirs revival and builds up those who read Acts.

SEVERAL MISSIONARIES IN ACTS: 1. BARNABAS MISSIONARY EXHORTER (11:22-23).  2. SAUL (PAUL) MISSIONARY TEACHER (11:26).  3. JOHN MARK MISSIONARY HELPER (13:5).  4. SILAS MISSIONARY EVANGELIST (15:40-41).  5. TIMOTHY MISSIONARY PASTOR (16:1).  6. LUKE MISSIONARY DOCTOR (16:10-13).  7. APOLLOS MISSIONARY ORATOR (18:24, 27, 28).  8. AQUILLA MISSIONARY TENTMAKER (18:18).  9. PRISCILLA MISSIONARY ASSISTANT (18:2, 18, 26).

DIFFERENCES IN EARLY CHURCH AND PRESENT CHURCH:  THEN: Receptive to Word of God.  Obedient to Spirit.  Added to Church.  Continued in Prayer.  Steadfast in Service.  Fearful of God.  Sold Possessions.  One Accord.  House to House.  Glad.  Praised God.  NOW: Rebellious to Word of God.  Disobedient to Spirit.  Subtracted from Church.  Ceased Praying.  Unstable in Service.  No Fear of God.  Keep Our Possessions.  Discord.  Church to Church.  Sad.  Praise Man.    DR. Tom Wallace

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