The Book of Acts

1. E S S E N T I A L T O The Book of Acts A correct understanding of its overall purpose A proper interpretation of the Bible as a whole!

2. Acts 2 Mid-Acts Acts 28 Israel’s Sentence Pronounced Saul’s Conversion Pentecost ACTS Acts  When Did The Church Begin? Church = The Body of Christ ARE WE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTION?

3. The book of Acts contains no mention or hint of the Mystery found in Ephesians and Colossians in any way, shape, or form anywhere within its pages! Proposal For Us To Consider

4. What is the overall purpose of Acts? Luke 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. Acts 28:20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Acts 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom toIsrael?

5. Christ 1 Philip 2 Paul 3 Paul 4 Paul Paul 5 Paul 6 της βασιλειας του θεου “the kingdom of God” To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God(Acts 1:3) But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12) Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22) And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. (Acts 19:8) And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom [of God], shall see my face no more. (Acts 20:25) And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. (Acts 28:23) Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. (Acts 28:31)

6. The Title “Lord Jesus Christ” in Acts 28:31 κυριου [#2962] ιησου [#2424] χριστου [#5547] Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? (Acts 11:17) But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus [Christ] we shall be saved, even as they. (Acts 15:11) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus [Christ], and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31) Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. (Acts 28:31)

7. το σωτηριον του θεου “the salvation of God” Only ONE other occurrence in the NT Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Luke 3:1-6) Quotation from Isaiah 40:3-5

8. Points To Consider Aboutτο σωτηριον του θεου • The term under discussion is embedded within a quotation from the book of Isaiah the prophet, specifically Isaiah 40:3-5. 2. The quotation is referring to the baptism ministry of John the Baptist which has as its goal the “remission of sins”. 3. The context of the quotation is twofold, a particular people called “My people” in Isaiah 40:1 which is obviously Israel and the city of Jerusalem in Isaiah 40:2. 4. Although Israel and their city Jerusalem is the primary focus of this prophecy, it's important to recognize that “all flesh” are also included. 5. Like Acts 28:31, this passage comes from the same human author, Luke. 6. Luke 2:30 is only other verse in Matthew-Acts containing σωτήριον [#4992] and it speaks of Christ as 'a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel’ (Luke 2:32)

9. The Pauline Pattern in Acts But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.[Isaiah 49:6] And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:45-48) Earlier in Acts 13:41 Paul quotes the following Old Testament passage as a warning to the Jews he had spoken to: Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.[Habakkuk 1:5]

10. The Pauline Pattern in Acts Later in Acts 18:5-6, we see the same pattern once again applied by Paul. This time Paul alludes to the following Old Testament passage: Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear The word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.[Ezekiel 3:17-21] Act 18:6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. Why the repetition? He’s still going to the Jew first after Acts 13:46 See Acts 17:1-3

11. The Pauline Pattern in Acts So what’s the basic pattern? • Go to the Jew first • Warn them from OT • If they don’t believe . . . • Go to the Gentiles What do we see in Acts 28:23-31? The Same Thing!