As part of the Course on the New Testament, session 10 provides an overview of the second part of the writing of Luke - His historical account of the Acts of the Apostles. (This is part of the New Testament Survey Course taught at Harare Theological College - 2016)

2. The Writings of Luke
1 book in 2 parts :
 Part 1 : Gospel of Luke
 Part 2 : Acts of the Apostles
Luke is the only gospel writer to continue
history from life of Christ – to report spread of
belief in Christ to ends of the earth

3. Questions :
1. When and where was ACTS ritten ?
2. Why did Luke write this 2nd book ?
3. What was Luke’s central message ?
4. Who were the central 2 people ?
5. What are the main changes in places and people reached ?
6. Why does it stop at Rome ?
7. Why does Luke not cover other missions to the east & south ?
8. What is the structure & direction of his gospel ?
9. What are the main issues Luke wants to communicate ?

4. Question 1.
How does ACTS fit
within the New Testament ?

5. Timeline : Gospels & Acts

6. Link –
Acts to
Epistles
& Events

7. The Apostles’ spread of the Gospel
ACTS only covers one important part of this spread of the Gospel
Note -> Acts does not cover the movement to the South or the East
-> Acts does not cover the work of other apostles (James, Simon, Thomas etc.)
Acts is not a complete account of gospel spread -> focused on route to Asia Minor & Rome

8. Acts part 2
focuses on the
mission of 2
main apostles
Examine the end of
the major Apostles
lives >>
What do you
notice?
ACTS

9.  Whyonly 2 apostles & 1 part of the Gospel spread?
Because :
• This was the area Luke knew well being part of the mission work
himself
• So - Luke used this part to explain the central development of
Christianity
• He was proving the reality of the gospel through to the early church
after Christ – using his direct experiences
• Explained the biggest transition –
• Jew Gentile
• Focus on Law & Circumcision Saved by Grace
• Jerusalem & Israel whole Roman Empire

10.  Why is ACTS important ?
Answers Serious Questions :
• What changed these timid men who denied Christ & fled the cross to
bold powerful evangelists ?
• How did these obscure people from a far away countryside of Judea &
Galilee become powerful leaders of a movement which overcame the
Roman empire & changed world history ?
• How did these unlearned & ordinary men (Acts 4:13) make such a
worldwide impact which changed people’s thinking & beliefs ?
• How did this movement – from a Jewish Messiah, based on Jewish
Bible, amongst Jews -> become a worldwide belief of mostly Gentiles ?
• Where do the teachings of these epistles come from after Jesus’ life ?

11. Question 2.
What is the Purpose?
Why did Luke write it?

12. A TEACHING Purpose
• Acts 1:1 declares that he previously discussed
“all that Jesus began to do and teach” and this
work is the next logical extension of the story.
• In Acts, Luke illustrates how the Great
Commission was being implemented in the life
of the church.
12

13. An EVANGELISTIC Purpose
Luke incorporates a wide spectrum of individuals who
come to faith in Acts:
• demon possessed slave girl
• government officials
• a callous jailer
• religious leaders
• a three fold account of Paul’s conversion.
13

14. An APOLOGETIC Purpose
• The early church was accused of many false things.
• In Acts, Luke helps explain that the church is not a
politically dangerous movement.
• Luke presents many of the Roman officials who
come in contact with the gospel as being favorably
disposed to it.
• The riots and disorders in Acts are clearly seen as
Jewish reactions, not Christian productions.
14

15. Also: A BIOGRAPHICAL Purpose
• Acts devotes an inordinate
amount of space to the
conversion & ministry of
Paul.
• This is done to vindicate
Paul’s apostleship in a time
when serious questions
about Paul’s authority
were being raised
(Corinthians & Galatians).
15

16. Question 3.
What was the
approach of Luke?

17. Is Luke’s writing :
• A novel / story ?
• Biography of someone’s life ?
• Scientific Document ?
• Historical document ?
17

18. ACTS: Accurate Historical Record
Convinced & Converted a major archeologist >>
• Luke-Acts has been attacked -> as historically unreliable.
• Objective scholarship DISPROVED this assumption.
• Sir William Ramsay - 30 years examining Asia Minor archeology
• At first: unbeliever, questioned Luke’s historical abilities
• After 30 years - he argued Luke’s was a master historian. >> Became
believer as a result of his research.
18

19. ACTS: Accurate Historical Record
Accuracy of Luke the historian >>
• Details of Roman society & law - like the unique rights of
Roman citizen - absolute ACCURACY.
• An accurate knowledge of political & geographical matters
associated with his works.
• Calls Philippi a colony and uses the correct term for it’s
officials.
• Calls Thessalonica’s official (which was NOT a colony) by a
different, but correct term.
19

20. Luke : A Greek Historian
• Wrote exactly as other Greek Historians of that time.
• GREEK HISTORIANS ( & Luke)
• Does active research - visits the places & interviews participants
• Examines documents for validity
• Aim - accurately represent the events and people.
• Focus on events over limited periods of time (AD 30-60)
• Concentrated on specific topic (Growth church & Mission to Rome)
• Describes & Explains – not just reports
• Recorded summary / central points of speeches (25% of ACTS)
• Compares central people (Peter – Paul)
• THEREFORE > Luke-Acts is a major historical writing from the first
century – not just a religious document – & historical
• WE > need to understand = LORD works in reality. Gospel is part of
historical reality. The resurrection of Christ & moving of the Holy Spirit is
not a belief – it is reality 20

21. Controversy >>>
Is ACTS only History?
• Did Luke write Acts just to give an account of history ?
Question >
• Did Luke just write his gospel as a history account ?
• Was history written by Moses in the 1st five books just for history?
• “Acts is not only a history of a given period, it is a handbook for Christians. It
illustrates the procedure and effectiveness of a church built on the principles
that the Holy Spirit administers” (Tenney 1985,238)
• How does this change our use of ACTS
• Are passages on church life & miracles, healing & prophecy – just history
• Are they normative? (to be applied in every church?)

22.  Style
 HISTORICALLY written
• Written in historical approach
• No other gospel writer gives dates in his narrative (1:5,2:1,3:1-2)
 HISTORICALLY ACCURATE
• Aimed to be accurate historically to show Life of Christ based on facts
& reality of history
• Named historical people & events
• Recorded carefully genealogy & family relationships
• Named clearly real places
• Experts verified his accuracy in – archaeology, Roman Law, Geography
• Exact correct use of political titles across 2 continents

23. Question 3.
What is the focus
of this book ?

24. Time period covered :
From
• AD 30 : Crucifixion of Christ
To
• AD 60 : Paul imprisoned in Rome

25. Focus
• Key idea: The BIRTH & GROWTH of the church
• Not a separate book – volume 2 of the same
writings of Luke – a follow-on to Luke’s
historical account of Jesus’ life.

26. ACTS by Luke
Main Emphasis =
Mission of the Church
 Evangelism
 cross cultural ministry
 going to the regions beyond
 preaching the gospel where it is not
present.
( Not completely exclusive: Luke speaks to issues
inside the church; Paul speaks of missions )
Focus on work of Holy Spirit =
Empowering & Equipping
believers to do Mission
(evangelism)
Paul’s Letters
Main Emphasis =
Life of the Church
 issues occurring inside the church,
 Deal with leadership problems
 Deal with doctrine & behaviour
problems
( Not completely exclusive: Luke speaks to issues
inside the church; Paul speaks of missions )
Focus on work of Holy Spirit =
Equipping believers to minister to
each other within church
What happens if we focus too much on one writing?

27. Question 3.
When and Where and to Whom
was this written ?

28. When ?
 Difficult to be exact
Written Before…
 Book of
Written After …
 Life of Jesus
 Development of Christianity to bring Gentiles such
as Theophilus to salvation
Therefore Approx…
 Date: A.D. 62-64 (no mention of the
persecution under Nero in 64, the death of
Paul in the late 60’s or the destruction of the
Temple in 70).
 AD 58 – 65

29. Where ?
 No clue given – difficult to decide !
 Suggestions: Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Achaia, Caesarea
 Most likely – Rome – since Luke was with Paul at the time of
the end of this book & conclusion of this history

30. Audience ?
Theophilus
 (Luke 1:3) “to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus”
 Words ‘most excellent’ – to address person of high official position or
aristocracy (upper class)
 A Gentile – probably his patron – who covered the costs for circulating his
writings
Gentile believers (Greeks)
• Through Theophilus to be distributed to all Greek gentile believers – the
people to whom he was a missionary and ministered to throughout his
working life.

31. Question 4.
What is the structure of Luke’s Gospel ?
How do we follow the direction of Mark ?

32. ACTS : Geographical Advance
1:1-6:7 6:8-9:31 9:32-12:25 13:1-16:5 16:6-19:20 19:21-28:31
Advance in
Jerusalem
Advance
into
Judea &
Samaria
Advance to
Antioch
Advance
into
Asia Minor
Advance
into
Europe
Advance to
Rome

33. ACTS : Cross-Cultural Spread
Hebraic
Jews
Hellenic
Jews
“Half-Jews”
Converts to
Judaism
Seekers of
Judaism
No
Connection
to Judaism
Apostles Pentecost Samaria Ethiopian Cornelius Lystra
Acts 1 Acts 2 Acts 8 Acts 8 Acts 10 Acts 14

34. Geography Jerusalem Judea & Samaria Ends of the Earth
Chapters 1-7 8-12 13-28
Central Person Peter Phillip Paul
Target Audience Jews Samaritans Gentiles
Presents the
Church Being Established Extended Expanded
ACTS : Direction & Structure – Key Points

35. Joint Structure :
Luke – Acts
Towards Jerusalem
away from Jerusalem
Work of God through Christ
work of God through Church

36. ACTS : Direction

37. ACTS : Structure

38. Structure :
1. Spirit of the Church
2. Growth of the Church
3. Persecution of the Church
4. Expansion of the Church
5. Paul’s 1st journey
6. Paul’s 2nd journey
7. Paul’s 3rd journey
8. Paul’s arrest
9. Paul’s trials
10. Paul’s imprisonment

39. Question 7.
Who were the central
people in Acts?

40. Apostle Peter Apostle Paul

41. Central Messages of ACTS
1. Holy Spirit empowering & direction
2. Prayer leads – action follows
3. Signs and wonders
4. Cross cultural evangelism – to all people
5. Resistance to the gospel
6. Biblical Leadership to overcome problems
7. Integration of Jews & Gentiles
8. Care for the poor and marginalized

42. Stage 0.
Introduction

43. Luke’s Introduction - Acts 1:1-8
(1) In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and
teach,
(2) until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the
Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
(3) He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing
to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
(4) And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but
to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me;
(5) for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not
many days from now."
(6) So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time
restore the kingdom to Israel?"
(7) He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has
fixed by his own authority.
(8) 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.“

44. Luke’s Introduction
• Volume 2 of writings to Theophilus and Greek Gentiles
• Historical Proof – Christ Resurrected – appearances &
ascension
• Command to wait for promise of Father – Baptism in Holy
Spirit
• Apostles ask about Kingdom restored to Israel
• Jesus focus on a far greater eternal worldwide kingdom
• Holy Spirit in-filling for –> giving power to be Gospel
witnesses

45. Stage 1.
Spirit
of the Church

46. Day of Pentecost : Acts 2:1-41
(1) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
(2) Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the
whole house where they were sitting.
(4) All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as
the Spirit enabled them.
(5) Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under
heaven.
(6) When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each
one heard their own language being spoken.
(7) Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans?
(8) Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
(12) Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
(14) Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:
"Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen
carefully to what I say.
(16) No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
(17) "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and
daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream
dreams.

47. ACTS 2 : Day of Pentecost

48. Day of Pentecost
• Not a new festival - Jewish yearly festival (Shavuot) celebrating
giving of Torah on Mount Sinai – Parallel = write Law on your hearts
• Mass immigration – 10000s Jews & God-fearers from across 3
continents (often come yearly for Passover & stay for Pentecost)
• ‘Pente’ = 50 – days counted after Passover
• Jesus plan & promise comes true – from obeying & staying
• Evidence = speak tongues (human languages)
• Impact = draws 1000s – hear all their languages
• Response = Peter preaches Gospel from OT prophecy
• Fulfillment of Jonah’s prophecy = Holy Spirit poured out on all
• Result = 3000 saved

49. Controversial Issues:
• Did this take place in an upper room or the temple ?
• Was this baptism a once-off to start the church & reach special
groups (Samaritans & Gentile) ?
• Why are the people saved not recorded as baptized in the Holy Spirit ?
• Why are only certain groups recorded as baptized in Holy Spirit – Acts 8,10, 19
• Was Luke only mentioning several times or it only happened for specific times?
• Does every believer need to experience a baptism / empowering of
the Holy Spirit ?
• Is this different from being sealed with the Holy Spirit?
• Is tongues to be a human language or also other (1 Cor.14:14-19) ?
• Is tongues evidence of baptism in Holy Spirit for everyone ?

50. Stage 2.
Growth
of the Church

51. ACTS 2: Model of Church?
• They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching
and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to
prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many
wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
• All the believers were together and had everything
in common. They sold property and possessions to
give to anyone who had need.
• Every day they continued to meet together in the
temple courts. They broke bread in their homes
and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
praising God and enjoying the favour of all the
people.
• And the Lord added to their number daily those
who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

52. Acts 2: Model
• Devoted together – a community devotion not individual
• to Apostles teaching = central, scripture based (e.g Peter speech)
• to Fellowship = deep friendship, agape love, to be as one
• to Breaking Bread = as Jesus did, with a meal (automatically)
• to Prayer = central – daily & weekly – personal, not formal
• to praise & worship = no loudspeaker & musicians always needed
• everything in common = sold possessions – not one in need
• 2 meetings = (large) Temple & (small groups) homes
• Home was the hub, the centre of church life – intimate, personal,
sharing, all participated
• Impact = people saved & gospel community grew

53. Controversial Issues
• Was this just for the time or normative? - Why did Luke specifically
record this?
• Is your church devoted to the Bible based Apostles preaching?
• Is there a deep fellowship, agape love, becoming one as the Trinity?
• Where is / should be the central place for fellowship?
• Should Breaking of bread be mainly in services or in homes? – how
should it be done? – is it central?
• Where is / should be the central place for prayer & worship
• Are we called to sell possessions & share in common? Was this for
that special time with many visitors saved in Jerusalem.
• Should it be the case in church that there is not one in need?

54. Personal Questions
• Do I ignore this passage & take it as just
history or directly apply it ?
• If I apply it – what changes do I & we
need to make now?

55. Miracles with Evangelism?
Acts 5:12-16
(12) The apostles performed many signs and wonders
among the people. And all the believers used to meet
together in Solomon's Colonnade.
(13) No one else dared join them, even though they were
highly regarded by the people.
(14) Nevertheless, more and more men and women
believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
(15) As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and
laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow
might fall on some of them as he passed by.
(16) Crowds gathered also from the towns around
Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by
impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

56. Miracles with Evangelism
• Throughout ACTS: evangelism & miracles
• Fulfillment of the Christ’s Great Commission in Mark 16:15-18
• Follow-on from Christ – share & demonstrate the gospel
• Miracles demonstrate the power of the gospel message & bring
people to hear gospel

57. Controversial Issues
• Were these miracles only done by the apostles ?
• Were these miracles just for that time ? Are we still in the time of
Joel’s prophecy?
• Was it because the church just started – not needed anymore ?
• Does the NT argue that miracles were for a limited period
• Are we to expect miracles (supernatural actions of God – e.g.
sudden healing, dead risen, deliverance etc)
• Should we expect shadows to have power? (‘even’) why?
• How do I interpret this passage? How do apply what I interpret?

58. Leadership & Delegation : Acts 6:1-7
(1) In those days when the number of disciples was increasing,
the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic
Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily
distribution of food.
(2) So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It
would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of
God in order to wait on tables.
(3) Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who
are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this
responsibility over to them
(4) and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the
word."
(5) This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a
man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus,
Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to
Judaism.
(6) They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and
laid their hands on them.
(7) So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in
Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests
became obedient to the faith.

59. Stage 3.
Persecution
of the Church

60. Stage 4.
Expansion
of the Church

61. ACTS : Process of Evangelism

62. Dealing with Disputes: Council of Jerusalem

63. The Turning – Point :
Acts 15:1-20
(1) Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers:
"Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot
be saved."
(2) This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul
and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to
Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
(4) When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles
and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
(6) The apostles and elders met to consider this question.
(7) After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that
some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my
lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that
he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
(9) He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke
that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?
(19) "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles
who are turning to God.

64. Paul
- Background
- Upbringing
- Training
- Ministry

65. ACTS : chronology of Paul’s Life
Date A.D Events in Paul’s Life
1 Birth of Paul
14 Paul Sent to Jerusalem to Study Under Gamaliel
34 Paul’s Conversion (Acts 9)
44 Paul’s Ministry in Antioch
47 Paul’s 1st Missionary Journey
49 The Jerusalem Council
50 Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
54 Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey
58 Paul Imprisoned at Caesarea
60 Paul’s 1st Roman Imprisonment
62 Paul’s Release
64 Paul’s 2nd Roman Imprisonment
& Execution

66. Paul’s Name
• HEBREW name was SAUL meaning “asked of God”
• ROMAN name was PAUL meaning “little.”
• In epistles - always refers to himself as PAUL
• Luke refers to him pre-conversion as Saul then after Acts
13:9 he refers to him as Paul.
• Paul himself uses the name Saul to describe his conversion
experience in Acts 22 & 26

67. Paul’s Birth
• Exact date of birth is unknown.
• Approx. born within a decade of the time of Jesus’ birth”
• Since …
• At Stephen’s death (c. A.D. 33), Paul was a “young man”
according to Acts 7:58 (someone under the age of 40)
• By A.D. 61 he calls himself and “old man” (Philem. 9) a term for
someone over 50 - he may well have been born about the time
as Jesus

68. Paul’s Home ( Acts 21:39 )
68

69. Paul’s Home : Tarsus
• In Roman Province of Cilicia – Asia Minor (now
Turkey)
• Prosperous from business of making clothing
• ‘University’ City – place of much learning,
education & philosophy (like Athens +
Alexandria)

70. Paul’s Religious Upbringing
• Pharisee + the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6)
• “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of
Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of
Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for
zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic
righteousness, faultless” (Philippians 3: 5-6)
• Sent to Study (from approx. 13 years)
- in Jerusalem
- under major Rabbi Gamaliel.
• "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought
up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was
thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I
was just as zealous for God as any of you are
today” (Acts 22:3)

71. Paul’s Vocational Training
• TENT-MAKER by trade (Acts 18:3)
• “Among the Jews, the boys were compelled to
learn trades” (Freeman & Chadwick 1998:530).
• Rabbis were especially required to learn a trade
as work was highly valued among the Jews.
• Tent making would included all types of
leatherworking
• Largest purchaser of tents was the Roman
army!
• Tent making allowed Paul to minister for free
• though he himself reminds us in 1 Corinthians 9:14,
“the Lord has commanded that those who preach
the gospel should receive their living from the
gospel.”

72. Paul’s Roman Citizenship
• BORN a Roman citizen (Acts 22:7).
• Very unusual for a Jewish person !
• His FATHER had to have been a Roman citizen.
• Since family were strict Pharisee Hebrews (Phil. 3:5)
• did NOT support / compromise with empire
• Therefore likely that “Paul's father, grandfather, or even great-
grandfather had rendered some outstanding service to the
Roman cause…. A firm of tent-makers could have been very
useful to a fighting proconsul (Bruce 1977:37).
• Rights of Citizen
• FAIR public trial if accused
• EXEMPT from most humiliating forms of punishment
• PROTECTION against summary execution
• ABLE to appeal to Caesar (emperor) for trial over local judge

73. Paul’s Conversion (Acts 9)
• Saul destroying the church
• House to house – taking Christians to prison
• Asked High Priest for letter to Damascus
• Aimed to arrest Christians in Damascus &
bring back to Jerusalem to imprison
• Blinding vision of Christ on Road to Damascus
• ‘Why do you persecute me?’
• Vision to Ananias (Christian) to pray over Saul

74. Paul’s Personal Traits
• Paul knew he was called by God (Rom. 1:1-6), he had received revelation
from JESUS (Gal. 1:12) and was as such COMPELLED to his ministry of
Apostleship (1 Cor. 9:16).
• Paul had a deep love for the CHURCH (2 Cor. 11:8; Phil. 1:3-11; Col. 2:1-5).
• Paul was ADAPTABLE - willing to become all things to all men (1
Cor. 9:22).
• Paul was VERSATILE - able to be a deep theologian, missionary, church
planter, evangelist, or discipler and to do it to Jews, Gentiles, the
wealthy, the poor, those in authority, intellectuals and the young and
old alike.
• Paul could PERSEVERE both with his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7); his
poor eyesight (Gal. 4:15) & his beatings, imprisonments, & other
hardships (2 Cor. 11) (Guthrie 1976:386-391).

75. Paul: His Ministry

76. (Jensen 1981:236)
76

78. Acts: Part 2
Chapters 13 - 28
The
Mission Journeys

79. Acts 13 : 1 - 4
Sending out
from
Antioch

80. Acts 13:1 ‘Prophets and Teachers’
– Prophets: one filled with the Spirit who speaks
charismatic utterances from God (foretelling and
forthtelling) for edification, exhortation,
correction, and comfort.
– Teachers: one empowered by the Spirit to expose
and explain the meaning and significance of the
gospel of Jesus Christ as he has fulfilled the OT
writings (Law, Prophets, Writings) and to make it
relevant to the hearer.
– Eph 4:11-12 Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors
and Teachers

81. The Five Leaders
• Barnabas (Acts 4, 9, 11) : leader, son of encouragement; the
leader of the work
• Simeon, called “Niger” : Jewish name with Latin nickname
– dark complexion”
• Lucius of Cyrene : possibly a founding leader and member
• Manaen : brought up in Herod the Great’s court (with
Herod Antipas the tetrarch). Name means comforter
• Saul : the former Jewish terrorist; 14 years later

82. Diverse Leadership Team
• Note the team concept
• Note the diverse ethnic and geographic background of this
team
• The result was a very multiethnic church
• They prepared themselves to hear from the Spirit by fasting
and praying
• When he spoke (through prophets?), they were ready to
obey and send their best.

83. Spirit’s Initiative for the Mission
 Church was ministering to the Lord and fasting
(13:2) [ministering: doing public service at one’s
expense; fasting: denial of food to seek God]
 The Spirit speaks when? As the church is
engaged in ministry for him and in fasting
 How did the Spirit speak? Prophet; inner voice?
 The message was to the whole church: set apart
for me . . . Two men: Barnabas and Saul, with
proven ministries (11:26)
 The Lord had already been speaking to the two

84. Importance of the Mission
• 40% of the leadership team was called and sent.
• The “call” was from the Spirit, not people.
• The church responded immediately
• The decision was affirmed by further prayer and fasting.
• Hands were laid on them: commission, convey blessing; association
and solidarity; transference of anointing
• Sent out with prayer, love, and financial support

85. How were they Sent?
• After prayer and fasting
• They laid on hands for anointing of the Spirit in their
ministry efforts
• They were authorized by the church and officially
represented the Antioch church
• They loved them
• They encouraged them
• They financially supported them
• The missionaries were accountable to the church

86. Paul -
1st Missionary Journey

87. 1st Journey
Acts 13-14
• Sent from Antioch
• Cyprus
• Antioch (Pisidia)
• Iconium
• Lystra

88. Paul -
2nd Missionary Journey

89. 2nd Journey
Acts 16 - 18
• Return: Derbe, Lystra
• Return: Iconium, Antioch
• Philippi
• Thessalonica
• Corinth
• Ephesus
• Jerusalem

90. Paul -
3rd Missionary Journey

91. 3rd Journey
Acts 18 - 21
• From: Antioch
• Return: Churches
• via: Asia Minor
• via: Macedonia
• via: Greece

92. Paul -
4th Missionary Journey
• From Imprisonment in Caesarea to imprisonment in Rome

93. Acts 22 - 28
• Arrested in Jerusalem
• Prison in Caesarea
• On Trial + Death Plot
• Sail to Crete
• Shipwreck @ Malta
• Sail to Rome
• House Arrest in Rome
4th Journey : to Rome

94. Paul -
5th Missionary Journey
• Between 1st and 2nd Imprisonment in Rome
• Not Recorded in Acts

95. • Saved from Trial =2Tim4:16
• Sent Titus >> Crete Church
• Sent Trophimetes >> Miltus
• To : Timothy at Ephesus
• To : Spain
• Back to: Ephesus
• To: Troas
• To: Macedonia
• Return to Rome
• Speech / Actions oppose
Rome - On Trial
• Imprisoned – cold dark cell
• Executed
5th Journey : Return to Execution
+ Paul’s tripto Spain

96. 1st Imprisonment 2nd Imprisonment
Accused by the JEWS of HERESY &
sedition
Accused by the ROMANS of
sedition
GOOD living conditions in a
rented house (Acts 28:30-31)
POOR living conditions in a cold
dark cell
Many friends visited Few friends visited
Had many opportunities to witness Had few opportunities to witness
Expected FREEDOM (Phil. 1:24-26) Expected EXECUTION (2 Tim. 4:6)
Comparing
Paul’s 1st & 2nd Imprisonment in Rome

97. Key Lessons from Paul’s Life
• Waited on God 1st for direction & action
• Led by the Holy Spirit (to Macedonia)
• God’s will was more important than success in numbers
(heading for trial and Rome)
• Work in team-work
• Worked with the Jerusalem church & all leaders
• Took Suffering & hardship as part of the missionary work

98. Key Lessons from Paul’s Missions
• He went first to the Jew then to the Gentile
• He reached out to their culture – e.g.. Rome
• Ongoing debate, reasoning & persuasion
• Miracles alongside the Message
• Beyond Evangelism -> make disciples
• Beyond Evangelism -> Set-up & develop churches

99. Messages
 Sent out from Church of Antioch – not lone rangers!
 Sent & Led by the Holy Spirit
 TEAM MINISTRY – co-workers
 Persecution & Abuse = normal reaction
 Gospel to every culture =the rulers + prisoners, Jews + Gentiles
 Explained & Reasoned to Jews from Scripture
 Adapted Message to Gentiles peoples & cultures
 Miracles & Healings part of the Gospel message
 Regular Building Believers’ faith = ongoing ministry
 Invested in Building churches – 1 ½ yrs Corinth + 2 yrs Ephesus

100. Challenge > Us
1. Are we ministering UNDER the leadership of a church ?
2. Are we always LED by the Holy Spirit ?
3. Do we work in TEAM MINISTRY as close-knit team-work ?
4. Do we PERSERVERE through persecution ?
5. Do we reach out to ALL people & culture groups ?
6. Do we ADAPT the Gospel message to the people ?
7. Do we PRAY for healing as part of our Gospel message ?
8. Do we KEEP -ON teaching & building believer’s faith ?

101. Which of Paul’s Principles is your Church applying?
 He reached out to their culture – e.g.. Rome
 Ongoing debate, reasoning & persuasion
 Miracles alongside the Message
 Beyond Evangelism - make disciples
 Beyond Evangelism = Set-up & develop churches

102. Recap: Can you answer these 10 Questions
1. Who was Luke ?
2. When and where was Acts written ?
3. To whom was it written ?
4. What style and language was it written in ?
5. Why did Luke write Acts ?
6. What is the structure & direction of Acts ?
7. What are the main issues Luke wants to communicate ?