The witness of the church in Judea and Samaria 27:1 – 28:31

THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA 27:1 – 28:31

The Orchestrated Power of the Progressive Witness of the ChurchActs

• If Luke’s first work in the Gospel was to communicate the person and ministry of Jesus – that is, what Christ began,

• then Luke’s second work in the book of Acts was to communicate about the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives and activities of the apostles in the early church – what the Holy Spirit continued to do.

Acts Opening thoughtsIts place in connection with the Gospels

Acts 1:1 – 5:42 Opening thoughtsA key verse 1:8 “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.”

Acts 1:1 – 5:42 Opening thoughtsA key verse 2:32 “This Jesus God

raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.”

Acts 1:1 – 5:42 Opening thoughtsA key verse 3:26 “God, having

raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Acts 1:1 – 5:42 Opening thoughtsA key verse 4:12 “And there is

salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” JESUS

Acts 1:1 – 5:42 Opening thoughtsA key verse 5:32 “And we are

witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Acts 1:1 – 7:60 Opening thoughtsA key verse 6:14 “for we have

heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

Acts 1:1 – 7:60 Opening thoughtsA key verse 7:60 “And falling to

his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Acts 8:1 – 12:25 Continuing onA key verse 8:22 “Repent,

therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.”

Acts 8:1 – 12:25 Continuing onA key verse 9:5 “And he said,

“Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Acts 8:1 – 12:25 Continuing onA key verse 10:39 “And we are

witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,”

Acts 8:1 – 12:25 Continuing onA key verse 11:18 “When they

heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Acts 8:1 – 12:25 Continuing onA key verse 12:24 “But the word

of God increased and multiplied.”

Acts 13:1 – 14:28 Continuing onA key verse 13:38 “Let it be known to

you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Acts 13:1 – 14:28 Continuing onA key verse 14:22 “strengthening

the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Acts 15:1 – 34 Continuing onA key verse 15:16-18 “‘After this I will

return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.’”

Acts 15:34 – 18:22 Continuing onA key verse 16:30-32 “Then he

brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.”

Acts 15:34 – 18:22 Continuing onA key verse 17:30-31 “The times of

ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Acts 15:34 – 18:22 Continuing onA key verse 18:4 “And he reasoned

in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks…

18:9 …And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent”

Acts 18:23 – 21:16 Continuing onA key verse 19:17 “And this

became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.”

Acts 18:23 – 21:16 Continuing onA key verse 20:24 “But I do not

account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

Acts 18:23 – 21:16 Continuing onA key verse 21:13 “Then Paul

answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Acts 21:17 – 28:31 Continuing onA key verse 21:19b-20a “he related

one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified God.”

Acts 21:17 – 28:31 Continuing onA key verse 22:8 “And I answered,

‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’”

22:21 “And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Acts 21:17 – 28:31 Continuing onA key verse 23:11 “The following

night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.’”

Acts 21:17 – 28:31 Continuing onA key verse 24:14-15 “But this I confess

to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.’”

Acts 21:17 – 28:31 Continuing onA key verse 25:9 “But Festus,

wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?”

Acts 21:17 – 28:31 Continuing onA key verse 26:9 “And Paul said,

“Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

Acts 21:17 – 28:31 Continuing onA key verse 27:25 “So take heart,

men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”

Acts 21:17 – 28:31 Continuing onA key verse 28:24 “And some were

convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.”

28:31 “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.”

Acts 1:1 – 28:31A reminder of the structure of the book

THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM (1:1 – 7:60)

 THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA (8:1 – 12:25)

THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH (13:1 – 28:31)

Inception of the Church1:1 – 2:4

Jerusalem2:5-7:60

Judea Samaria8:1-12:25

End of the Earth13:1-21:16

All boundaries21:17-28:31

3%

22%

18%

32%

25%

The Book of Acts: Amount of time spent on each section

Acts 21:17 – 28:31 Opening thoughtsHow Section III is structured

1. Paul in Jerusalem

(21:17-23:35)

2. Paul in Caesarea

(24:1-26:32)

3. Paul in Rome

(27:1-28:31)

III. THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

(13:1 – 28:31)

F. The Journey across all boundaries (21:17 – 28:31)

The Sea Voyage to Italy (27:1-28:15)

Paul as a Prisoner in Rome (28:16-31)

III. THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

(13:1 – 28:31)

F. The Journey across all boundaries (21:17 – 28:31)

3. Paul in Rome

(27:1-28:31)

37

38

39

40

41

F. Across All Boundaries

(21:17 – 28:31)

(27:1-28:15)

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

Syracuse

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

F. The Journey across all boundaries (21:17 – 28:31)

Highlights: 27:1 The

III. THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

(13:1 – 28:31)

Paul in Rome(27:1-28:31)

The Sea Voyage to Italy (27:1-28:15)

F. Across All Boundaries

(21:17 – 28:31)

(28:16-31)

F. The Journey across all boundaries (21:17 – 28:31)

Highlights: 28:16 The

III. THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

(13:1 – 28:31)

Paul in Rome(27:1-28:31)

Paul as a Prisoner in Rome (28:16-31)

Let’s look at a summary; And, then close in prayer.

III. THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

(13:1 – 28:31)

F. The Journey across all boundaries (21:17 – 28:31)

F. Across All Boundaries

(21:17 – 28:31)

(27:1-28:15)

F. Across All Boundaries

(21:17 – 28:31)

(28:16-31)

The Sea Voyage to Italy (27:1-28:15)

Paul as a Prisoner in Rome (28:16-31)

III. THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

(13:1 – 28:31)

F. The Journey across all boundaries (21:17 – 28:31)

3. Paul in Rome

(27:1-28:31)

Acts 21:17 – 28:31 Opening thoughtsHow Section III is structured

1. Paul in Jerusalem

(21:17-23:35)

2. Paul in Caesarea

(24:1-26:32)

3. Paul in Rome

(27:1-28:31)

III. THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

(13:1 – 28:31)

F. The Journey across all boundaries (21:17 – 28:31)

Acts 13:1 – 28:31How Section III is structured

III. THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

(13:1 – 28:31)

E. The Witness the Church in the Uttermost Parts

(13:1 – 21:16)

F. The Journey Across all Boundaries

(21:17 – 28:31)

Inception of the Church1:1 – 2:4

Jerusalem2:5-7:60

Judea Samaria8:1-12:25

End of the Earth13:1-21:16

All boundaries21:17-28:31

3%

22%

18%

32%

25%

The Book of Acts: Amount of time spent on each section

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

Philippians 1:12-14

88

The life setting of the Book of Acts spans:

• 4 Roman Emperors,• 15 Judean and Samaria rulers,• 4 rulers in the Galilean and Northern

territories,• the loss of 4 disciples of Christ who were

martyred, • and, at least, eleven written epistles from

the New Testament!

LIFE SETTING

90

A reminder of the structure of the book

THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM (1:1 – 7:60)

 THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA (8:1 – 12:25)

THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH (13:1 – 28:31)

THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH

The Orchestrated Power of the Progressive Witness of the ChurchActs

91

Thank you Lord for the inception of the Church! Thank you Lord for this beginning witness of the

Church in Jerusalem; the witness of Peter and John, of the apostles, remembering Stephen.

Thank you Lord that you extend the ministry into Samaria

Thank you Lord, that you extend you’re the ministry into the uttermost parts.

We look forward to see how you orchestrate the witness of the Church; a witness by the Church of You.