INTRODUCTION TO ACTS

Luke wrote two books to Theophilus ('lover of God'). In the Gospel of Luke he told about the things that Jesus did and taught until he ascended into heaven. In Acts, Luke wrote about the continuing work of the ascended Jesus through the Holy Spirit in the church. Luke was the only Gentile writer of the New Testament. He shows how God himself transformed a narrow, exclusive community of believers, bound by their own culture and traditions, into a universal, world-wide church--a church free to cross all human barriers to bring the gospel to all men everywhere.

Acts is organized around Acts 1:8: 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' These are the words of the Risen Christ. This is not an ordinary command. It is an imperative. It is related to the very existence of the church. The church is a body of believers who are sent into the world to witness to the Risen Christ. Chapters 1-12 focus on Peter, and chapters 13-27, on Paul.

God's mission for his church is not a new idea. When God called Abraham, he promised, 'Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.' Jesus' saving work on the cross and his glorious resurrection is the blessing to all people who believe. But the good news of forgiveness of sins and eternal life must be carried to all nations by the church--the body of Christ, the people of God.

OUTLINE OF ACTS

1. To Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria

a. 1:1-7:60--The Witness in Jerusalem

(Climaxed by Stephen's martyrdom)

b. 8:1-12:25--To Judea and Samaria

(Peter's ministry; Paul's conversion)

2. To the Ends of the Earth

a. 13:1-15:35--Paul's 1st Journey

(With Barnabas--Jerusalem Council)

b. 15:36-21:15--2nd and 3rd Journeys

(2nd--To Europe; 3rd--In Ephesus)

c. 21:16-28:31--God's heart for the world

(To Jerusalem and to Rome in chains)

(One-to-one Bible study in a rented house)

1. Proofs that he is alive (1-3a)

After his death and resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples. During that time he planted in them resurrection faith and hope in the kingdom of God. The foundation of the Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus. This is the good news. When God raised Jesus from the dead, he accepted his sacrifice for the sins of the world. He proved him to be the Son of God and Christ the Savior (Ro 1:4; 4:25).

2. The kingdom of God (3b-5)

Jesus began his ministry on earth preaching about the kingdom of God (Mk 1:15). It was the theme of his parables; he taught his disciples to pray, 'Your kingdom come.' The kingdom of God was the main theme of the teaching of the risen Jesus. Jesus' people must put their hope in the kingdom of God, not in the things of the world. He told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. God's kingdom must rule our hearts and his power fill our lives before we can go out to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Application: Lord, dwell with me in all your risen power. Use me in your kingdom's work.
One Word: Jesus is risen; my hope is in him