THEME
The theme of the Book of Acts involves the Church and its witness. The Book of Acts covers a period of 30-33 years. Acts includes the movement of Christianity westward through the four main centers of early church history – Jerusalem, Antioch in Syria, Ephesus, and Rome.
The author of Acts was Luke the physician and was written probably in Rome while Paul was in prison in about 63 A.D. Luke was not a Jew or one of the 12 apostles. He was evidently a personal friend of the Apostle Paul. Luke begins the Book of Acts by showing that this is a continuation of the Gospel according to Luke. The Book of Acts is addressed to Theophilus, who we also read about in Luke 1:3-4. The name Theophilus means “lover of God.” So, in a very true sense, the book is addressed to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are three main periods of Acts. They are; 1) the Jewish Period (Acts 1-9) where the key man was Peter, 2) the Transitional Period (Acts 10-12), and 3) the Gentile Period (Acts 13-28) where the key man was Paul.
A few important historical dates can be found within the Book of Acts. The first is the death of Herod Agrippa I in 44 A.D. – Acts 12:23. The second date involves the expelling of Jews from Rome in 52 A.D. – Acts 18:2. The third is the arrival of Festus as Procurator in 53 A.D. – Acts 25:1. The fourth date includes Nero’s persecution of Christians in 64 A.D.
And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. (Acts 12:23)
And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, (Acts 18:2)
Festus therefore, having arrived in the province, three days later went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. (Acts 25:1)
APPLICATION
The Book of Acts can be a great source of inspiration and challenge to any Christian. Many of the life situations correspond to those we face today. It was sometimes difficult for the disciples to face the persecution and opposition to the Gospel. It was even more difficult to deal with internal problems within the church. Individually, it was often a challenge to come to terms with the demands of the Gospel within their lives. Many attitudes toward themselves and others changed as the love and power of the Gospel was demonstrated among them.
There are many lessons in Acts that have application to our churches today. The tremendous impact of the personal witness of believers is evident throughout this book. We also see the strength of united prayer and the true unity of all who have put their trust in the Savior. We find that there are answers to the problems of a church if they arc dealt with in love, understanding, and forgiveness. We also find valuable approaches to the problems of poverty, race relations, and other sociological difficulties. We see what a church can do through the power of the Holy Spirit filling and overflowing from the lives of the believers.
SPECIAL FEATURES
1. Prominence of Jesus Christ – on every page
2. Prominence of the Holy Spirit – 1 Corinthians 6:19, Acts 1:8
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)
but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
3. The power of the Church
4. Prominence of the Church – visible expression and invisible impact
5. Prominence of places – Jerusalem and Rome
6. Prominence of persons – 110 people mentioned by name
7. Prominence of the Resurrection – the center of evangelism and great verification of Jesus Christ’s work.
8. Prominence of Peter and Paul – first half and second half respectively. Acts deals with the Roman world primarily.
9. A more correct title for the Book of Acts would be: The Lord Jesus Christ at Work by the Holy Spirit Through the Apostles
OUTLINE
Jesus Christ in Jerusalem
Acts 1 – Preparation for the Holy Spirit’s coming
Acts 4 – First persecution of the Church
Acts 5 – The Sin Unto Death – the ultimate divine discipline for believers
Acts 6 – Deacon’s appointment
Acts 7 – Steven was the first martyr – an example of dying grace
Judea and Samaria
Acts 8 – Conversion of Ethiopian treasurer
Acts 9 – Conversion of Saul of Tarsus
Acts 10 – Conversion of Cornelius the Roman Centurion
Acts 12 – Peter defends the ministry in Antioch
Acts 12 – James martyred
Jesus Christ at Work in the Outmost Areas
Acts 13 -14 – Paul’s first missionary journey
Acts 15 – Council at Jerusalem
Acts 16 – 19 – Paul’s second missionary journey
Acts 20 – Paul’s third missionary journey
Acts 21 – Paul goes to Jerusalem and is arrested
Acts 22-23 – Paul recovers from carnality
Acts 24-26 – Paul’s defense
Acts 27-28 – Paul’s imprisonment in Rome
IMPORTANT NOTES
Roman Emperors at The Time of The Gospels And Acts
Augustus 31 B.C. – 14 A.D.
Tiberius 14 – 37 A.D.
Caius Caligula 37 – 41 A.D.
Claudius 41 – 54 A.D.
Nero 54 – 68 A.D.
Paul’s Voyage to Rome
Jerusalem – Acts 21:17
Antipatris – Acts 23:31
Caesarea – Acts 23:33
Cyprus – Acts 27:4
Myra – Acts 27:5
Cnidus – Acts 27:7
Crete (Cape Salome) – Acts 27:7
Lasae – Acts 27:8
Clauda – Acts 27:16
Melita (Malta) – Acts 28:1
Syracuse – Acts 28:12
Rhegium – Acts 28:13
Puteoli – Acts 28:13
Apii Forum – Acts 28:15
Three Taverns – Acts 28:15
Rome – Acts 28:16
