A Witness to the World

Bible Study for Pr-Servants

April 2, 2011

A Witness to the World

Bridging the Gap

The Gospels

The Epistles

Acts gives a history of the continuation of Jesus’ work, by the Holy Spirit, through the Apostles:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” Acts 1:8

Area Jerusalem

Judea/Samaria

The World

Chapters 1-8:4 8:5-12:25 13:1-28:31

Key Speakers

PeterStephen

PhillipPeter

Paul

Focus Group

Jews JewsSamaritans

Gentiles

Gentiles

Time AD 30-33 AD 33-46 AD 46-61

1 Primarily Peter

Church Established

Preparation Church Foretold2 Church Born

3 Church Dispersed

Church Witnessing6 Church Organized

7 Peter & Others

Church Scattered

Church Expanding9 Church Dispersed10 Gentiles in the Church13 Primarily

PaulChurch Extended

First Missionary Journey15 Church in Conference16 Second Missionary Journey19 Third Missionary Journey21 Paul

ImprisonedPaul in Jerusalem

24 Paul in Caesarea27 Paul in Rome

Chapter by Chapter Outline• 1 - Ascension of Jesus, Replacement of Judas

as Apostle • 2 - Peter’s Sermon in Jerusalem• 3 - Beggar Healed, Preaching in Jerusalem• 4 - Apostles Persecuted• 5 - The Death of Ananias & Sapphari• 6 - Servers (Deacons) Chosen• 7 - Stephen stoned• 8 - Philip in Samaria, Ethiopian eunuch

converted.

Chapter by Chapter Outline• 9 - Paul’s Conversion• 10 - Cornelius’ Conversion• 11 - Cornelius’ Conversion Reported• 12 - James Martyred, Herod Dies.• 13 - Paul’s First Missionary Journey• 14 - Paul & Barnabus Preach in Various

Cities• 15 - Council in Jerusalem, Paul’s 2nd

Missionary Journey

Chapter by Chapter Outline• 16 - Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

– Paul and Silas imprisoned– Conversion of Philippians Jailer

• 17 - Paul at Athens• 18 - Paul at Corinth• 19 - Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

–Paul at Ephesus• 20 - Paul at Macedonia & With Ephesus

Elders• 21 - Paul Journeys Back to Jerusalem

Chapter by Chapter Outline

• 22 - Paul Tells of His Conversion in Jerusalem• 23 - Paul Before Sanhedrin, Plot to Kill him• 24 - Paul Before Felix• 25 - Paul Before Festus, Appeals to Caesar• 26 - Paul Tells of His Conversion to King

Agrippa• 27 - Paul Shipwrecked• 28 - Paul Goes to Rome

Focus of the Book of Acts • The book, Acts of the Apostles, records for us

the history of Christianity’s beginning, growth, and spread during at least the first 30 years--from Christ’s ascension to Paul’s imprisonment in Rome.

• Main Works in the Book of Acts: 1. The Holy Spirit’s Work2. The Apostolic Office and Work3. The Story of the Church4. The Preaching of the Gospel5. The Story of Conversion

• His mission was first promised by Christ.– John 14:16,17, 25,26; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8

• Promise fulfilled on Day of Pentecost.– Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:15-21, Acts 2:33

• Reveal the mystery of God.– Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13; Ephesians 3:3-5

• Preach the Gospel and confirm it by miracles.– Mark 16:15-20, Acts 8:6-13, Heb 2:4

• Convict and convert the sinners.– John 16:8-11

• Continue to guide and direct the apostles.– Acts 5:32, Acts 4:31, Acts 9:31, Romans 8:14

1. The Holy Spirit’s Work

• The Apostolic mission was to do the work that Jesus selected and trained the apostles to do.– Eye and ear witnesses of that about which they bore

testimony (1:2, 8, 21-22; 26:16-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; 1 John 1:1-4)

• A competent witness must give clear and accurate testimony as manifested in the Apostles.– Guided by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-13)– Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20; Acts

4:18-20; 5:28-32)

2. The Apostolic Mission and Work

• Church Members– Made up of those who believed and obeyed the gospel

commandments from all nations.• Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 9:42; 11:24; 13:12,

48; 14:1; 17:4, 34

• First Church Organization– Identity of the church and its singularity are easily

distinguishable in the Acts historical record…• Vital activity (Acts 2:41-47)• Organization of early church (Acts 14:23)• Purity (Acts 5)

3. The Story of the Church

• Mission and Work– Evangelism

• Personal: Acts 11:19,20• Congregational: Acts 11:22

– Benevolent work• Church providing for its own needy: Acts 2, 4, 6• Churches unable to care for their own: Acts 11:29-

30, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8, 9

• Teachings– Resisted false doctrine: Acts 15:1, 5,22– Each church edified by its own elders, through its

own program of teaching: Acts 11:22; 13:1-3

3. The Story of the Church “Cont’d”

• Given by a variety of expressions– “Continued steadfastly” : Acts 2:42– “Spoke/hear the word of God;” “preached/teaching

the word;” etc. Acts 4:31; 13:44; 14:25; 18:11; 15:35-36

• What did they teach and preach?– Christ: Acts 5:42; 8:5, 35; 9:20; 11:20– Kingdom of God: Acts 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31

• How did they preach and teach?– “The way of salvation more accurately” : Acts 16:17; 18:26– “Reasoned with them from the Scriptures”: Acts 17:2

4. The Preaching of the Gospel

• A number of conversions are related and have several things in common that the gospel was preached; not by any miraculous event!

• Saved by the gospel—because they believed the truth preached.

• Faith in the gospel they heard always produced the commanded work of obedience to God’s will!

• See next chart…

5. The Story of Conversion

Case Believe Repent Confess BaptismJews Acts 2:36 Acts 2:38 Acts 2:38

Samaritans Acts 8:9-13

Acts 8:12-13

Eunuch Acts 8:36-37

Acts 8:37 Acts 8:38

Saul Acts 22:16

Cornelius Acts 10:43 Acts 10:48

Lydia Acts 16:15

Jailor Acts 16:31 Acts 16:33

Corinthians Acts 18:8 Acts 18:8

• 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 (Peter’s sermons in 2:22-36; 10:34-43.

Christ as seen in Acts