Acts of the Apostles

ACTS

I. Author and Date--
A. Preface helpful--Theophilus


B. Luke is probably from Antioch

C. “we” sections Acts 16:9-18; 20:4-16; 21:1-18; 27:1-28:16


II. Purposes
A. Main--to show how the church emerged from its origins as a Jerusalem based group of Jewish believers to a chiefly Gentile, world-wide phenomenon.

B. Secondary--


III. The Structure of Acts
A. Key to understanding--both geographical and theological movement in the book and these are closely tied together.
B. Key verse--Acts 1:8



C. Ch. 1-12 Jerusalme to Samaria, with focus upon Peter

D. Ch. 13-28 Samaria to Rome, with focus upon Paul.

E. Six panels. Each limited to a specific geographical area and each concludes with a single summary statement.

1. 1:4-6:7
2. 6:8-9:31
3. 9:32-12:24
4. 12:25-16:5
5. 16:6-19:20
6. 19:21-28:31

IV. Interpretative principles for Acts

A. Distinguish between didactic and historical (narrative) portions of the Bible.

B. What is descriptive history of early church must not be translated into normative experience for the ongoing church.

C. Teaching of apostles is normative; the experience of the apostolic church may or may not be the normative experience for church today.

D. Example--Acts 1:15-26, choosing leaders for the church by lot

V. First panel !:5-6:7
A. General remarks
1. Scene--Jerusalem
2. No chronological notes after Pentecost

3.Not exhaustive; rather, representative pictures of what life was like for early church in Jerusalem.

B. Pentecost
1. Eschatological event--


2. O.T. background--

3. O.T. hope--Jer. 31:31; Is. 32:15; Joel 2:28-30


4. Unique, therefore, unrepeatable

5. External signs
a. Speaking in tongues was in real, foreign languages.

b. Purpose of tongue at least twofold:
(1)authenticated believers--

(2)judgement to unbelievers, especially Jews, fulfilling the curse of Is. 28:11. cf. I Cor. 14:21

c. Purpose not evangelism, at least directly
(1)addressed to God

(2)Peter’s evangelistic sermon



6. Peter’s sermon


C. 2:43-5:42
1. The church sits under the apostles’ teaching, having fellowship, sharing their meals, praying, and even sharing goods.
2. Didn’t sell all that they had. cf. 2:46

3. Gave up exclusive property rights--no communism!

4. Ch. 4 narrates an encounter with Jewish authorities


5. Ch. 5 finds the purity of the Christian community under attack.
Ananias and Sapphira


D. 6:1-6 Appointment of the Seven



E. Summary--
1. New powerful community within Judaism
2. Self-awareness of decisive break with Judaism is lacking.

3. Predestination--2:23; 4:27,28; cf. 13:48.
VI. Second panel 6:8-9:31
A. Dominated by Hellenists


B. Stephen narrative--ch. 6&7
1. Innocence theme stressed--




C. 8:1-3 first persecution of Christians; Hellenists flee--become first Christian missionaries.
D. Philip 8:4-25, the conversion of the Samaritans
1. Advance of the gospel

2. Not contrary to the teaching of the apostles.



3. Spirit withheld for several reasons
(a)Apostles see their decision confirmed

(b)Samaritans know they are accepted by Jewish community

4. Given hostility between Jews and Samaritans, steps must be taken to insure that rival Jewish and Samaritan churches are not set up.

5. No pattern established.

E. The conversion of Paul--9:1-31