# Overview of the Book of Acts “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”– Acts 1:8 Luke begins the Book of Acts where he left off in his gospel Acts records the initial fulfillment of the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19–20 as it traces the beginning and growth of the New Testament church. Christ’s last words before His ascension were so perfectly realized in the Book of Acts that they effectively and concisely outline its contents: “ ‘You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem [chs. 1–7], and in all Judea and Samaria [chs. 8–12], and to the end of the earth [chs. 13–28]’ ” (1:8). Thus, Acts traces the rapid expansion of the gospel, beginning in Jerusalem and spreading throughout the Roman Empire.[[1]](#_ftn1) ## World Events During the Book of Acts ![[acts in historical context.png]] ## Organization of the Book of Acts ![[Organization of the Book of Acts.png]] ## Survey of the Book of Acts **Introduction and Title**—Jesus’ last recorded words have come to be known as the Great Commission: “…You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (1:8). The Book of Acts, written by Luke, is the story of the men and women who took that commission seriously and began to spread the news of a risen Savior to the most remote corners of the known world. Each section of the book (1–7; 8–12; 13–28) focuses on a particular audience, a key personality, and a significant phase in the expansion of the gospel message. As the second volume in a two-part work by Luke, this book probably had no separate title. But all available Greek manuscripts designate it by the title _Praxeis_, “Acts,” or by an expanded title like “The Acts of the Apostles.” _Praxeis_ was commonly used in Greek literature to summarize the accomplishments of outstanding men. While the apostles are mentioned collectively at several points, this book really records the acts of Peter (1–12) and of Paul (13–28). **Author**—Chapter 1, verse 1, refers Theophilus to “The former account,” that is, the Gospel of Luke. (See “Author” in Luke for the internal and external support for Lucan authorship of Luke.) Luke’s source for the “we” sections in this book (16:10–17; 20:5–21:18; 27:1–28:16) was his own memory if not some kind of diary. For the remainder of this book, Luke no doubt followed the same careful investigative procedures that he used in writing his gospel (Luke 1:1–4). As a close traveling companion of Paul, Luke had access to the principal eyewitness for chapters 13–28. It is also likely that he had opportunities to interview such key witnesses in Jerusalem as Peter and John for the information in chapters 1–12. Acts indicates that Luke may have used written documents as well (see 15:23–29; 23:26–30). **Date and Setting**—Suggested dates for the writing of Acts range from a.d. 62 to the middle of the second century. Twentieth-century archaeological discoveries have strikingly confirmed the trustworthiness and precision of Luke as a historian and show that his work should be dated in the first century. Luke’s perplexingly abrupt ending with Paul awaiting trial in Rome has led many to believe that Acts was completed prior to Paul’s trial (a.d. 62). If it was written after this crucial event, why didn’t Luke mention the outcome? Luke may have had a reason, but the simplest explanation of his silence is that Paul had not yet stood before Caesar. Acts gives no hint of the persecution under Nero (a.d. 64), Paul’s death (a.d. 68), or the destruction of Jerusalem (a.d. 70). **Theme and Purpose**—While there are four accounts of the life of Jesus, this is the only book that carries on the story from the Ascension to the period of the New Testament epistles. Thus, Acts is the historical link between the Gospels and the Epistles. Because of Luke’s strong emphasis on the ministry of the Holy Spirit, this book should really be regarded as the Acts of the Spirit of Christ working in and through the apostles. As a missionary himself, Luke’s interest in the progressive spread of the gospel is obviously reflected in this apostolic history. Luke was personally involved in the process of this story, so it was not written from a detached point of view. But this does not detract from the authority and coherence of this primary historical document. From a theological standpoint, Acts was written to trace the development of the body of Christ over the one-generation transition from a primarily Jewish to a predominantly gentile membership. This apologetic work presents Christianity as distinct from Judaism but also as its fulfillment. ### Relation of Acts to the Gospels ![[Relation of Acts to the Gospels.png]] ### Keys to Acts **_Key Word: Growth of the Church_** **_Key Verses (1:8; 2:42–47)_**—“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (1:8). “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (2:42–47). **_Key Chapter (2)_**—Chapter 2 records the earth-changing events of the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit comes, fulfilling Christ’s promise to wait until the Holy Spirit arrives to empower and direct the witness. The Spirit transforms a small group of fearful men into a thriving, worldwide church that is ever moving forward and fulfilling the Great Commission. **Christ in Acts**—The resurrected Savior is the central theme of the sermons and defenses in Acts. The Old Testament Scriptures, the historical resurrection, the apostolic testimony, and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit all bear witness that Jesus is both Lord and Christ (see Peter’s sermons in 2:22–36; 10:34–43). “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (10:43). “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (4:12). **Contribution to the Bible**—Acts is highly selective in its content, and it does not attempt to be a comprehensive survey of the first thirty years of the Christian church. Nevertheless, it is invaluable as the background history for most of the Epistles. Without it the Epistles would be quite difficult to understand, and the history of the early church would be a vague patchwork. There are certain problems in harmonizing the events in Acts with the information about Paul in his epistles, but these events generally fit well together. When Luke and Acts are joined together, they offer a monumental account of the foundation and initial development of Christianity. Their style and literary quality are unsurpassed in the New Testament. Luke uses over seven hundred words not found in the other twenty-five New Testament books—he must have been steeped in the Septuagint, because nine-tenths of these words were used in it. Luke includes about eighty geographical references and mentions over one hundred people by name in Acts. His precision in citing locations (e.g., provinces, cities, specific sites) and titles (e.g., consul, tetrarch, proconsul, Asiarch) was once challenged by critics but is now verified by archaeological evidence. Another prominent feature of this book is the amount of space given to speeches and sermons; no less than twenty-four messages are found in its twenty-eight chapters. **Survey of Acts**—Luke begins the Book of Acts where he left off in his gospel. Acts records the initial fulfillment of the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19–20 as it traces the beginning and growth of the New Testament church (This growth pattern can be seen in 1:15; 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 13:49; 16:5; 19:20). Christ’s last words before His ascension are so perfectly realized in the Book of Acts that they effectively outline its contents: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (1:8). Acts traces important events in the early history of Christianity from the ascension of Christ to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to the rapid progress of the gospel, beginning in Jerusalem and spreading throughout the Roman Empire. Acts is a pivotal book of transitions: from the Gospels to the Epistles (history), from Judaism to Christianity (religion), from law to grace (divine dealing), from Jews alone to Jews and Gentiles (people of God), and from kingdom to church (program of God). The profound changes that took place on the cross required about a generation to be effected in time (Acts covers c. thirty years). Acts is a history of extraordinary events. The three movements in Acts follow its key verse (1:8): (1) Witness in Jerusalem (1:1–8:4); (2) witness in Judea and Samaria (8:5–12:25); and (3) witness to the uttermost part of the world (13–28). **_Witness in Jerusalem (1:1–8:4):_** After appearing to His disciples for “forty days” (1:3), the Lord tells them to wait in Jerusalem for the fulfillment of His promise concerning the Holy Spirit. Ten days after His ascension, this promise is significantly fulfilled as the disciples are suddenly empowered and filled with the Holy Spirit. This takes place on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), fifty days after Firstfruits (the Resurrection). Because every Jewish male is required to appear at the sanctuary for this feast (see Ex. 23:14–17; Deut. 16:16), Jerusalem swells with Jews and proselytes from throughout the Roman Empire. The disciples are transformed and filled with courage to proclaim the brand new message of the resurrected Savior. Peter’s powerful sermon, like all the sermons in Acts, is built upon the Resurrection; and three thousand people respond with saving faith. After dramatically healing a man who was lame from birth, Peter delivers a second crucial message to the people of Israel resulting in thousands of additional responses. The religious leaders arrest the apostles, and this gives Peter an opportunity to preach a special sermon to them. The enthusiasm and joy of the infant church are marred by internal and external problems. Ananias and Sapphira receive the ultimate form of discipline because of their treachery, and the apostles are imprisoned and persecuted because of their witness. Seven men, including Stephen and Philip, are selected to assist the apostles. Stephen is brought before the Sanhedrin; and in his defense there, he surveys the Scriptures to prove that the Man they condemned and killed was the Messiah Himself. The members of the Sanhedrin react to Stephen’s words by dragging him out of the city and making him the first Christian martyr. **_Witness in Judea and Samaria (8:5–12:25):_** Philip goes to the province of Samaria and successfully proclaims the new message to a people who are hated by the Jews. Peter and John confirm his work and exercise their apostolic authority by imparting the Holy Spirit to these new members of the body of Christ. God sovereignly transforms Saul the persecutor into Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles, but He uses Peter to introduce the gospel to the Gentiles. In a special vision Peter realizes that Christ has broken down the barrier between Jews and Gentiles. After Cornelius and other Gentiles come to Christ through his preaching, Peter convinces the Jewish believers in Jerusalem that “the Gentiles had also received the word of God” (11:1). Even while experiencing more and more persecution, the church continues to increase, spreading throughout the Roman Empire. **_Witness to the Uttermost Part of the World (13–28):_** Beginning with chapter 13, Luke switches the focus of Acts from Peter to Paul. Antioch in Syria gradually replaces Jerusalem as the headquarters of the church, and all three of Paul’s missionary journeys originate from that city. The first journey (a.d. 48–49) concentrates on the Galatian cities of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. After this journey, a council is held among the apostles and elders of the church in Jerusalem to determine that the gentile converts need not submit to the law of Moses. The second missionary journey (a.d. 50–52) brings Paul once again to the Galatian churches, and then for the first time on to Macedonia and Greece. Paul spends much of his time in the cities of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth, and later returns to Jerusalem and Antioch. In his third missionary journey (a.d. 53–57), Paul spends almost three years in the Asian city of Ephesus before visiting Macedonia and Greece for the second time. Although he is warned not to go to Jerusalem, Paul cannot be dissuaded. It is not long before Paul is falsely accused of bringing Gentiles into the temple. Only the Roman commander’s intervention prevents his being killed by the mob. Paul’s defense before the people and before the Sanhedrin evokes violent reactions. When the commander learns of a conspiracy to assassinate Paul, he sends his prisoner to Felix, the governor in Caesarea. During his two-year imprisonment there (a.d. 57–59), Paul defends the Christian faith before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa. His appeal to Caesar requires a long voyage to Rome, where he is placed under house arrest until his trial.[[1]](#_ftn2) ## Map: Acts and the Progress of the Gospel in Palestine ![[Map-Expansion of the Early Church.png]] ## Luke's Sources for Writing Acts ![[Luke's sources for writing Acts.png]] Source: Jensen, I. L. (1981). _Jensen's Survey of the New Testament: Search and discover_. Chicago: Moody Press. --- [[1]](#_ftnref1) Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). _Talk thru the Bible_. Nashville: T. Nelson. [[2]](#_ftnref2) Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). _Talk thru the Bible_. Nashville: T. Nelson.