This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of acts of the apostles by luke. Acts of the apostles is the second section of the gospel according to luke. Purpose of the book as indicated previously, the original purpose of both the gospel and acts may have been to assist. We have detailed a brief summary of the book of acts for bible study or sunday school lessons. A chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 4 acts a short introduction heres what well be reading as we study through the book of acts. Acts of the apostles executable outline study resources. Without this historical record, little would be known about the expansion of the church. Phrygia and galatia with a summary statement in acts chapter 15 verse 35. The beginning verses of acts make it clear that acts is a sequel of the story started in luke and written to the same man named theophilus, generally a title ascribed to highranking roman officials.
The title of the book of acts comes from the greek word praxis, a word often used in. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book. A basic story outline that includes all of the common variables. Besides linking the gospel narratives on the one hand and the apostolic letters on. It is more a story of the expansion of the church from jerusalem to rome. According to the book of acts, after his shipwreck on the island of malta acts 28 he came to italy and was put on house arrest for two years acts 28. The book of acts is the only historical record of the birth and early days following christs establishing his church. Chapters 112 we find the history of the church as it revolves around the apostle peter. Gabriel appears to zacharias and announces the birth of john, vv. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Luke was from antioch but traveled with paul all over southern europe and the middle east.
Bible blender november 10, 2010 detailed outline of the book of acts of the apostles 20171014t10. Tf a major theme in acts is gods control of history. The basic outline of marks gospel looks like the brief accounts of jesus ministry given by preachers in what other new testament book. Acts intro to acts biblica the international bible society. One may divide the book as acts 112 peter and acts 28 paul. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of the apostles through the work of the holy spirit.
A central figure in the early church and the writing of the new testament, pauls life is of great interest to all believers. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. People from many nations were beside themselves with wonder at hearing gods amazing acts in their own languages. Author two lines of argument lead to the conclusion that luke, the friend, fellow missionary, and physician of paul wrote this book, under the. In fact, the work is given in detail of only two of the apostles, peter and paul. Acts of the apostles 4 imprisonment in rome are 6062 a.
The life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epistles. The importance of the book of acts the importance of this second of lukes two. Luke had written to him before and had told him about the things that jesus did and taught. The book of acts the acts of the holy spirit the bible teachers commentary an outline and map survey paul j. The main issues revolve around whether he is a man perhaps a greek official for whom lukeacts is an apologetic for the gospel or a kind of generic. There are also agreements on many incidents, such as pauls escape from damascus, where he is. An outline of the life of the apostle paul if there were ever a man whose background made him uniquely qualified to preach to both the jews and the gentiles, it was paul. And on the other hand, he declared that he had significant theological. While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the apostles, many times you must use cross references to the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john as well as some other epistles in the new testament to get the full picture of what. The initial question regards the identity of theophilus, the one for whom the book is written. It also may be divided around the expansion of the gospel in acts 1.
Outline studies in the book of the acts of the apostles. The book is called acts or the acts of the apostles because it contains an account of some of the apostles. This is the main method of outlining that we teach in selfpublishing school. This book was written by luke to theophilus as an account of the order of events in the lives of the apostles. This is, in effect, an outline of the book of acts see plan and outline below. It might appropriately be called some of the acts of some of the apostles since it does not try to describe all of the acts of all the apostles. This is the only book that records the examples of people obeying the gospel.
Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of acts e. The book of acts is a key part of gods plan to reach the whole world. Acts concerns the very vital period in christian history between the resurrection of jesus and the death of the apostle paul, the time when christian ideas and beliefs were. This title accurately reflects the contents of the book, which is a series of vignettes chronicling the lives of key apostles especially peter and paul in. The book of acts provides a detailed account of everything that happened in the first three decades of. Author although the author does not name himself, evidence outside the scriptures and inferences from the book itself lead to the conclusion that the. Timeline of the book of acts from the bible generation word. The main issues revolve around whether he is a man perhaps a greek official for whom luke acts is an apologetic for the gospel or a kind of generic. When the holy spirit overpowered the upper room with the sound like a roaring windstorm, history changed forever. Write your topic in the center of a piece of paper, then use lines and words to draw as many connections as you can. An outline of ephesians intended to enhance and assist your study of gods holy word his letter to you. The book contains only a few of the acts of some of the apostles, primarily peter and paul. The preparation of the leaders of the jerusalem church for the gentile mission 11.
A second purpose in writing acts was to give a written defense of christianity. Bradd words in boldboldbold and underlined are the answers to the blanks on the acts study guides acts 1 the book of acts was written by luke to a man named theophilus. This summary of the book of acts provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of acts. The title acts of the apostles is a bit misleading. This theme is introduced in chapter 4 of the gospel of luke, when jesus, rejected in nazareth, recalls that the. Color map map of the new testament world this map reveals the nations within the ancient world during the first century a. The main purpose of a summary is as a simplification highlighting the major points from the original and much longer version of the subject. The summaries luke made throughout his book explain that every major section of the book of acts depicts the growth of the gospel as it spread through the witness of the early church. Timeline of the book of acts dates reference events books written historical events roman emperors c. For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own conversion experience with those in acts. Luke described to theophilus in his first letter about jesus life up to the resurrection. There has been some debate about whether this book was written to the ephesians or was a circular letter to various churches, because not all manuscripts include the words in ephesus. The lord jesus christ at work by the holy spirit through the apostles in.
The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth. In volume ii acts he told the story of the words and works of christ that were done through his apostles. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. Gabriel appears to mary and announces the virgin birth of jesus, vv. Commonly called the acts of the apostles, it is simply titled acts in some of the oldest manuscripts. A third purpose in the writing of acts was to provide stability to the new faith. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. Church gospel holy spirit chapters 28 next 20 years major emphasis. As i said, the book revolves around the apostles, peter and paul. There has been much debate as to the purpose of acts.
Acts agrees with pauls letters on the major outline of pauls career. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. The importance of the book of acts the importance of this second of lukes twovolume work can. Luke was a companion of paul on his missionary journeys, and in many parts of the book of acts it says we did this or that acts 16. If the book was just before or after pauls release, then it was likely written around 63 a. And just imagine the effect these comments should have had on theophilus and others who read lukes book. This course encounters the major changes in gods relationship with the world and his people in this key transitional book of the bible. Introduction to the book of acts acts study guide medium.
Trace the major sections of the book, consider the purpose and historical context of the book and study the major events in acts of the apostles, early church and the holy spirit. Acts of the apostles is the second section of the gospel according to luke, one. The genre of the book of acts is narrative history with several sermons. A historian as careful with details as this author proves to be would have good. Luke, the author of the gospel of luke, was a doctor and gentile. It might also be called the acts of the holy spirit, as that person of the godhead is very much an active participant throughout the book. The chart forms an overview of the geography of the book, filled with the travels of paul and co.
While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the apostles, many times you must use cross references to the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john as well as some other epistles in the new testament to get the full picture of what was. The title of the book of acts comes from the greek word praxis, a word often used in early christian literature to describe the great deeds of the apostles or other significant believers. The book of acts can be divided into two historical perspectives. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of bible.
Birth of the perfect man and his family, chapters a. This is the second lesson in our series the book of acts. Detailed outline of the book of acts of the apostles. A plotoriented story outline that tracks each scenes relationship with your plots and subplots inspired by j. We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early apostles and preachers 3. The books of acts is often called the book of the holy spirit or the book of the apostles. Luke wrote the book of acts and the gospel of luke and he dedicated his work to a man named theophilus as mentioned in the summary of the book of luke.
Second, in acts chapter 27 verses 21 through 26, luke described pauls. The book of acts is a vital link between the gospels and the epistles. From chapter to the end of the book, we have a somewhat detailed account of pauls missionary journeys and his experiences with different churches. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. Places in the book of acts this place list includes both the place names and the address in the book of acts that the place is mentioned. Rather, the focus is clearly on some of the acts or deeds of mostly peter the key figure in the first half and paul the key figure in the second. The authorship of acts is ascribed to luke for these reasons. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. Acts in greek philosophy the word logos refers to ultimate truth or reason. The detail given to conversions and the involvement of the holy spirit would certainly suggest the book is designed to reveal. Provides an overview of acts and two outlines for the book of acts as well as an index for bff acts articles, powerpoints and audiovideo podcasts. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons.
Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Whereas jesus is the chief character in the gospels, the holy spirit. Rather, the focus is clearly on some of the acts or deeds of mostly peter the key figure in. The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. An overview of the book of acts the life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epistles.