The document provides an overview of the book of Acts from a Foundations course. It discusses key aspects of Acts including its author (Luke), purpose, and outline. It summarizes the main points of several chapters in Acts, including chapters 1, 2, and 3. Chapter 1 discusses Jesus' post-resurrection appearances and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Chapter 2 describes the day of Pentecost and Peter's message. Chapter 3 focuses on a healing miracle performed by Peter and John at the temple.

1. Foundations (Year Two)
“Encountering the New Testament”
Session #3. Encountering
ACTS

2. Written earlier:
The NT Writings Letter of James (40’s/50’s)
Letters of Paul: Written later:
Galatians (48/49 CE) Letters of Peter (64-66)
1 & 2 Thessalonians (51-52) Mark (68-70 )
1 & 2 Corinthians (53-57) Matthew (70-80)
Romans (56-57) Luke-Acts (70-80)
Prison letters (61-62):
Hebrews (50’s/60’s?)
(Colossians, Ephesians,
Philemon & Philippians) Letter of Jude (50’s ?)
Pastoral letters (64-66): Writings of John:
(1, 2 Timothy & Titus)
Gospel, Letters &
Revelation (90-96)

3. “The spreading flame”
- the message of the book of ACTS

4. The author
Luke, the historian
Luke, the theologian
Luke, the evangelist
Luke, the missionary

5. The book
Compiled over many months (even years)
Written in Greek (for primarily Greek
speaking world)
Possibly written (compiled) from Rome
Later designated, simply “ACTS”
A second volume (LUKE-ACTS)

6. Luke’s purpose – a reminder
“In my former book… I wrote
about all that Jesus began to do
and to teach until the day he was
taken up to heaven” (Acts 1:1-2)
(see Luke 1:1-4)

7. Luke - Acts
How the good news How the good news
started spread
“all that Jesus began..” “all that Jesus
Establishment of continued..”
salvation Proclamation of
Redemptive salvation
Local, limited & brief Evangelistic
Universal, without
Coming of salvation to boundaries & prolonged
Jews Spread of salvation to
Record of Jesus as Gentiles
Christ/ Messiah Preaching of Jesus as
Lord

8. The Theology of ACTS
God’s continuing purpose in history (2:23;
3:18; 4:28)
A new message & a new mandate (5:20)
The emergence of the Church as the
people of God (Matthew 16:18)
The centrality of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 8:39)

9. ACTS – an outline
Introduction & background 1
(a) Coming of Spirit/ beginning of Church 2-5
…Glimpses into God’s new society (Peter & John)
(b) Opposition: Stephen the deacon 6-8
Persecution: Philip the evangelist
Expectation: Peter the apostle 9-12
(c) Conversion & ministry of Saul/ Paul the apostle 9
First missionary journey 13-14
(Church Council at Jerusalem) 15
Second missionary journey 15-18
Third missionary journey. 18-21
Latter days of Paul 21-28

10. ACTS 1
Waiting & Expectation

11. Waiting for the promise
More about Jesus:
Proof that he’s alive (v.3a)
Teaching about his kingdom (v.3b)
Waiting for his power (vv.4-5)
Hearing his commission (vv.7-8)
Seeing him as Lord (vv.9-11)
Turning to him in prayer (vv. 12-26)

12. Proof that he’s alive
“After his suffering, he presented
himself to them and gave many
convincing proofs that he was
alive.” (cf. 1 Cor. 15:3-8)
“witnesses of his resurrection”
(1:22; 4:2, 33; 17:18; 24:21)

13. Teaching about his kingdom
“He appeared to them over a period
of forty days and spoke about the
kingdom of God.”
(cf. Daniel 2:44; Isaiah 2:1-5; Ezekiel 7:24ff.
- Matt.3:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:18-19)
“The now & the not yet”

14. Waiting for his power
On one occasion, while he was eating with
them, he gave them this command: “Do not
leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my
Father promised, which you have heard me
speak about. For John baptized with water,
but in a few days you will be baptized
with the Holy Spirit”… and you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
on you.
(cf. Luke 24:49; Jn. 14:15-27; 15:26-27; 16:5-16)

15. Hearing his commission
Jerusalem
It is not for you to
Judea/ Samaria
know …
But you will receive
power…
And you will be my
witnesses… Ends of the earth

16. Alternative structure to the book
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
on you and you will be my witnesses…
In Jerusalem… (2:1-4, 33)
In all Judea & Samaria… (8:14-17)
To the ends of the earth.” Saul (9:17-18)
Cornelius (10:44-47)
Ephesians (19:1-7)

17. Seeing him as Lord
After he said this, he was taken up before their
very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he
was going, when suddenly two men dressed in
white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they
said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky?
This same Jesus, who has been taken from you
into heaven, will come back in the same way
you have seen him go into heaven.“
“Jesus Christ is LORD” (2:33-36; 4:18-20, 26; 5:29-31;
7:56; 9:5; Eph. 1:11, 20-23; Col. 1;15-20; Phil. 2:9-11)

18. Turning to him in prayer
They all joined together constantly in prayer,
along with the women and Mary the mother of
Jesus, and with his brothers.
They proposed two men: Joseph…and Matthias.
Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's
heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left
to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots, and the
lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven
apostles.
Matthias – the right or wrong choice?

19. ACTS 2
The coming of the Spirit (1:1-13)
The content of the Christian message
(1:14-41)
The formation of Christian community
(1:42-47)

20. The coming of the Spirit
A significant day (when?)
The physical phenomena (what?)
The spiritual phenomena (what?)
The company of hearers (why?)

21. A significant day!
Passover (1st month 14thday) Death of Christ
 Unleavened bread (15th) (1 Cor. 5:7 “Christ our Passover”)
Firstfruits Resurrection of Christ/ Coming of
 Weeks (50 days after the Spirit (1 Cor. 15:20-23;
firstfruits of harvest) Rom.8:23)
Trumpets (7th month) Life between the now & the not
 Day of Atonement (10th) yet (saved & being saved)
 Tabernacles (15th)
Phil. 3:20-21; Heb. 11:8-16
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all
together in one place.”

22. The Promise?
Luke 24:49
“I (Jesus) am going to send you what my Father
has promised; but stay in the city until you have
been clothed with power from on high.”
Acts 1:4
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he
gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem,
but wait for the gift my Father promised, which
you have heard me speak about.”

23. The Fulfillment!
Acts 2:32-33, 38-39 (Peter)
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all
witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God,
he has received from the Father the promised
Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now
see and hear……Peter replied, "Repent and be
baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is
for you and your children and for all who are far off—
for all whom the Lord our God will call."

24. Galatians 3:14 (Paul)
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to
Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ, so that by faith we might receive the
promise of the Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13
And you also were included in Christ when you heard
the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal,
the promised Holy Spirit.

25. Physical phenomena
“they heard…a God’s powerful
sound like a presence.
violent wind” (Gen. 1:2; Ezekiel 37)
“they saw…what God’s purifying
seemed to be presence.
tongues of fire” (Ex. 13:21-22)
The Holy Spirit

26. Spiritual phenomena
“All of them were …to control &
filled with the empower our lives
Holy Spirit”
“(All of them) …to release our lips
began to speak in (in worship & witness)
other tongues”

27. The company of hearers

28. Baptism & fullness
For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will
be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (1:5)
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.(2:4)
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Instead, be (being) filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18)
Initiation ongoing filling (control)

29. The content of the Christian message
1. PROMISE
2. FULFILMENT
• He came The
• He lived kerygma
• He died
• He is alive
• He is Lord
3. RESPONSE

30. “They offered a gift – they looked for a response”
 OFFER:
1. A new life (through the Holy Spirit)
2. A new status (forgiven & accepted)
 RESPONSE:
1. Repent – 3:19; 17:30
2. (Believe &) be baptized – 2:38; 20:21
3. Demonstration - 26:20

31. Formation of the Christian community
 “People of God” (Gen. 12; 1 Pet. 2:9-10)
“They devoted themselves to…”
1. (the) Apostles Teaching
2. (the) Fellowship
3. (the) Breaking of bread – Worship
4. (the) Prayers

32. A Missional Community
Evangelism Social justice
with power with compassion
“in word” “in deed”
Foundation
(Teaching/ Sharing/ Worship/ Prayer)

33. The focus of a community church,
which is missional
Gathered as the people of God
Empowered by the Spirit of God
Equipped with the message of God
Sent to be the people of God…
…in the community & the world

34. ACTS 3
A community of word & power
The ongoing ministry of Jesus
through his followers
(“The ACTS of the APOSTLES”)

35. ACTS 1:1-2
“In my former book… I wrote about all that Jesus
began to do and to teach until the day he was taken
up to heaven…”
JOHN 14:12-14
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will
do what I have been doing. He will do even greater
things than these, because I am going to the Father.
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that
the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask
me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

36. Structure
Three major blocks:
An early miracle …opposition commences
(3:1-4:31)
Summary paragraph #1. (4:32-38)
A major warning …“Ananias & Sapphira”
(5:1-11)
Summary paragraph #2 (5:12-16)
An ensuing conflict …persecution by Jewish
(5:17-42) religious hierarchy

37. What precisely did Jesus do?
A reminder:
“Jesus of Nazareth was a man
accredited by God to you by
miracles, wonders and signs,
which God did among you through
him.” (Acts 2:22)

38. Isaiah 61/ Luke 4
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to announce good news to the poor.
He has sent me to
proclaim to the prisoners - freedom
and to the blind - recovery of sight
to release the oppressed – into freedom,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor”

39. The ministry of Jesus (Lk. 4:40-44)
Word Deed
Teaching Healing &
deliverance
Revelation by Actions of the
the Spirit Spirit
Parable Miracle

40. What is a miracle?
A “mighty work” ( dunamis )
A “sign” ( semeion )
A “wonder” ( teras )
miracle (faith in) GOD

41. “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Spirit and power (dunamis), and how he went
around doing good and healing all who were
under the power of the devil, because God was
with him.” (Peter in Acts 10:38)
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to
destroy the devil's work.” (John in 1 John 3:8)

42. So what’s really happening?
The kingdom The kingdom
of God is of darkness is
coming in being cast
(among you) (thrown) out
Deliverance/
Healing exorcism

43. Or, to put it another way
The message: The evidence:
The kingdom of God Healing, deliverance…
has come: salvation,
God has entered history, reconciliation,
in the person and work of forming of Christian
Jesus Christ, community,
& is continuing to do so transformation of
through the Holy Spirit, society.
For the redemption/ trans-
formation of this world.

44. Christians - Power to heal?
“Everyone was filled with awe, and
many wonders and miraculous signs
were done by the apostles.”
(Summary by Peter, Acts 2:43)

45. Remember their experience with Jesus
"When Jesus had called the Twelve together,
he gave them power and authority to drive
out all demons and to cure diseases, and he
sent them out (two by two) to preach the
kingdom of God and to heal the sick...So they
set out and went from village to village,
preaching the gospel and healing people
everywhere."
Luke 9:1-6 (cf. Mark 6, Matthew 10)

46. A specific example (Acts 3)
The location & setting
The (actual) miracle
The reactions

47. Reactions…
Faithful preaching of the message
Opposition from religious hierarchy
Great stimulation to prayer
Christians living in the fear of God
Compassionate generousity and miraculous
ministry “in the name of Jesus”

48. The “name” of Jesus
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I
have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, walk.“ (3:6)
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you
see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name
and the faith that comes through him that has given
this complete healing to him, as you can all see. (3:16)

49. The “name” of Jesus
They had Peter and John brought before them and
began to question them: "By what power or what
name did you do this?“ (4:7)
It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
whom you crucified but whom God raised from the
dead, that this man stands before you healed.
This is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has
become the cornerstone.'
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no
other name given under heaven by which we must
be saved.“ (4:10-12)

50. Further reactions to “the name”
But to stop this thing from "We gave you strict orders not
spreading any further among to teach in this name," he
the people, we must warn said. "Yet you have filled
these men to speak no Jerusalem with your teaching
longer to anyone in this and are determined to make
name." Then they called us guilty of this man's blood.“
them in again and com- (5:28)
manded them not to speak His speech persuaded them.
or teach at all in the They called the apostles in and
name of Jesus.(4:17-18) had them flogged. Then they
Stretch out your hand to heal ordered them not to speak
in the name of Jesus, and
and perform miraculous let them go.
signs and wonders through
the name of your holy The apostles left the Sanhedrin,
servant Jesus.“ (4:30) rejoicing because they had
been counted worthy of
suffering disgrace for the
Name. (5:40-41)

51. Opposition & persecution (Chs. 4-5)
Reasons for Reaction to
opposition opposition
Content of their Faithful witness
message
Power in their lives Fear of God… rather
than men
Stigma of their Inner joy/ outward
allegiance growth

52. The forgotten people of ACTS
 Stephen, the deacon (chs. 6-7)
 Philip, the evangelist & his 4 prophetic daughters (ch. 8; 21:9)
 Simon, the sorcerer (ch. 8)
 Peter, the apostle (chs. 9b.-12)
 Barnabas, the encourager aka Joseph (4:36/ chs. 9,11)
 Gamaliel, the Pharisee (5:34; 22:3)
 Ananias, the witness (9:10ff.)
 Dorcas & Lydia, the female disciples (9:36ff.)
 Cornelius, the centurion (10:1ff.)
 James, the bishop (15:13-21)
 Apollos, the teacher (18:24-28)
 Priscilla & Aquila, the pastors (18:2, 26)
 Mark, Timothy, Silas & Luke, the co-workers

53. The preaching &
ministry of Philip
(the evangelist)

54. The earliest
preaching &
ministry of
Peter (the
apostle)

55. Conversion
(& early journeys
of Saul)

56. Paul: The missionary
Paul’s three (post-conversion) convictions:
1. His whole previous way of life lay under the
rebuke of God (Phil. 3:4-11)
2. The Jesus whom he had been persecuting
was the Son of God, truly alive and in
ultimate control (1 Cor. 15; Col. 1:15-20)
3. He (Paul) had been called to take this
message to the world (Gal. 1:1, 13-17)

57. The early ministry of Barnabas & Saul

58. Antioch: The missionary church
They were a…
1. Worshipping church
2. Waiting church
3. Willing church (Ch. 13:1-3)

59. The first missionary journey
Paul & Barnabas GALATIA 46-48 CE

60. The first missionary journey
Stage #1 (13:4-12) Opposition
(cf. chs. 4, 8, 19)
Stage #2 (13:13-52) The message: Jesus
Stage #3 (14:1-21) The strategy:
Cities & synagogues
Stage #4 (14:21-28) The consolidation:
Discipleship, leadership & prayer

61. Paul writes to the Galatian churches?

62. Church Council at Jerusalem 49 CE
“Resolving conflicts in the church”
Lessons from Acts 15:1-35

63. The difficulty (vv.1-5)
A disagreement…or something more?
Is doctrine important?
Primary & secondary doctrines?
What’s going on in Galatia? (cf. Gal. 1:7)
Heresy = any belief or theory that is strongly at
variance with established doctrine

64. The discussion (vv. 6-21)
Setting the scene (vv.1-5)
The testimony of Peter
The testimony of Paul (& Barnabas)
The verdict of James
The consent of the (whole) church

65. The decision (vv. 22-35)
The letter
The couriers
The requests (not absolutes!)

66. What’s this got to do with us?
1. Diversity in non-essentials unity in essentials
2. Knowing where & when to draw the line
3. Acknowledge dependence on larger Church
4. Celebrate what God is doing even in the
midst of difficulties
Don’t let the fundamentals become incidental -
or the incidentals will be come fundamental!

67. The second missionary journey
Paul & Silas EUROPE 49-52 CE

68. The second missionary journey
Conflict between Paul & Barnabas
Barnabas & Mark go to Cyprus/ Paul & Silas to Asia
Timothy joins the mission team
“The man of Macedonia” - Go West young man!
Philippians conversions: Lydia, Slave girl & Jailor
Thessalonica (The persecutors)
Berea (The disciples)
Athens (The philosophers)
Corinth (18 months of fruitful ministry)
Ephesus - Antioch

69. Paul writes his first two letters
“To the Thessalonians” (from Corinth)

70. The third missionary journey
Paul GREECE & ASIA 53-58 CE

71. The third missionary journey
Asia Minor
Ephesus (three levels of spiritual warfare)
…but three years of fruitful ministry
Macedonia – Greece (3 months) - Macedonia
Miracle at Troas (Eutychus)
Farewell to the Ephesian elders
Tyre – Caesarea – Jerusalem
Report to James & the bishops
“When they heard this, they praised God”

72. Paul writes “To the Corinthians” 56-57 CE
Letter #1 From the Corinthians
Letter #2 1 Corinthians (56)
Letter #3 A severe letter
Letter #4 2 Corinthians (57)

73. Paul writes “To the Romans” 57-58 CE

74. The latter days of Paul:
The journey to Rome 58-61 CE

75. The latter days of Paul, 58-61 CE
Arrested in Jerusalem (21:27-22:29)
Paul’s defense before the Roman authorities
Paul before the Sanhedrin (22:30-23:11)
The plot (of “the forty”) to kill Paul (23:12-22)
Paul’s imprisonment at Caesarea (2 years)
Trial before Felix, the Governor (24:1-27)
Trial before Festus, the Governor (25:1-22)
Trial before King Agrippa (25:23-26:32)
Journey to Rome (storm – shipwreck - Malta)
Paul under house-arrest in Rome (2 years)

76. Paul’s “Prison letters”
(…under house arrest 61-63 CE)

77. Paul is released for further ministry
& writes his “Pastoral letters” 64-66 CE
Timothy (Ephesus) Titus (Crete)

78. Paul’s final words (2 Timothy)
Paul is martyred (beheaded) under Nero, 67 CE