The book of acts is an adventure thrill ride from start to finish, but we tend to skip over a lot of the incredibly compelling details. In the book of acts, we discover how gods multiethnic, international church grew through persecution and missionary journeys throughout the world. Both books are addressed to theophilus, the authors patronand perhaps a label for a christian community as a whole as the name means beloved of god, and the preface of acts explicitly references my former book about the life of jesusalmost certainly the work we know as the gospel of luke. Dec 15, 2017 the primary reason for the book of acts is to show how god was just, fair, in setting israel aside for a time. Luke recorded three rejections by the jews to peter and the apostles associated with him to the message of repentance and proclamation of the kingdom. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. The recipient of the book, theophilus, is the same person addressed in the first volume, the gospel of luke see introduction to luke. The book of acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly paul and peter, after jesuss ascension into heaven.
Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and the surrounding world. Jan 28, 2010 the first observation i have is a political one. As we can see, if one were to demythologize the book of acts, as those of a liberal bent are wont to do, much would be missing concerning the amazing growth and development of the early church. Paul is placed on house arrest in rome where he teaches and writes letters to the churches, summarizing the purpose of the book of acts. As such it answers the question many firstcentury observers would have. Jun 05, 2015 acts is the story of the apostles bearing spiritempowered witness to jesus christ in jerusalem acts 1.
So, god interrupted that prophetic program and began a mystery program that he had kept secret. The purpose of acts as was stated, acts is the second part of what was originally a twopart, single volume i. Acts has been called a transitional book because it serves as a bridge. The book of acts is not a epistle, it is called as the book of acts. The book of acts tells how the multiethnic, international. The secondary purpose of acts of the apostles is to uphold how christianity is similar to judaism barker, n. 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 purpose of the book of acts is governed by the jews response to peter and paul. Neither the third gospel nor the acts provide an explicit statement of. The book of acts forms a bridge between the gospels and pauls epistles.
The acts of the apostles, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Acts tells us how the christian movement came into beginning. The holy spirit in the book of acts preaching source. We come to the conclusion of our introduction to the book of acts today by looking at its purpose and theme. In the latter portion of acts, luke recorded three rejections of the jews to pauls overtures of salvation. The gospel of luke is unique in that is a meticulous historyan orderly account luke 1. Term paper on purpose of acts of the apostles assignment looking at the book in its context, one realizes that the only historical information presented regarding the advance of the gospel between jerusalem and rome, when this part of the world constituted civilization in the west. Political forces are at work in the united states much like they have been in europe. Even that title, of course, was not original because acts was the second part of the gospel of luke.
The authorship of the gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles, collectively known as lukeacts, is an important issue for biblical exegetes who are attempting to produce critical scholarship on the origins of the new testament. What was the purpose of the book acts of the apostles answers. Traditionally, the text is believed to have been written by luke the companion of paul named in colossians 4. It was originally written in colloquial greek to broaden his audience barker, n. As luke wrote to theophilus and the early church, he highlighted the vital importance of spreading the gospel of the kingdom of god through their witness to the nations of the earth in the power of the holy spirit. Therefore, it is reasonable to include lukes purpose for acts as falling under his purpose for the book of luke. Apr 16, 2020 term paper on purpose of acts of the apostles assignment looking at the book in its context, one realizes that the only historical information presented regarding the advance of the gospel between jerusalem and rome, when this part of the world constituted civilization in the west. The book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our counselor. Instead, it repeatedly calls us to reflect upon the work of god, fulfilled in jesus christ, establishing the church by the power of the holy spirit.
When the book opened, national israel refused to hear peter and the 11 apostles preach about jesus christ. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. The book of the acts of the apostles typically shortened to simply acts was almost certainly written by luke or at least whoever recorded the book of luke. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth. Besides linking the gospel narratives on the one hand and the apostolic letters on the. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier date is also. This is the story of christianitys beginnings and how evangelism played a role in the spread of faith around the world.
The purpose of luke acts may be ecclesiastical or apologetic. Acts of the apostles was the only book of this genre to be included in the canon of the new testament, so the later books of acts are known as apocryphal acts. Luke had no way of knowing how long the church would continue. The structure and purpose of the acts of the apostles in comparison with the gospel of luke. Barring a major upset to a political party and a financial miracle that this nation doesnt collapse financially under the weight of its massive debt which would send this nation into crisis mode, christians in the united states might very well suffer in. What was the purpose of the book acts of the apostles. Who was chosen to replace judas iscariot among the twelve. In this topic we briefly survey the book of acts and observe the ministries of women. As it is expected, the book of acts has a similar literary style as the gospel of luke because it is the second volume of lukes account. Only one other theme is put forward three times in. The almost stereotyped, threefold repetition is clearly meant to mark an important part of lukes message. This is the story of christianitys beginnings and how evangelism played. As with the other two synoptic gospelsmatthew and markthis books purpose is to reveal the lord jesus christ and all he began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven acts 1. Luke recorded three rejections by the jews to peter and the apostles.
For ecclesiastical purpose, it may have been written in order to edify the church, serving as a history of both jesus and his apostles. There are different ways to divide the book of acts. The book of acts, which continues the narrative that luke began in his gospel, is especially important because it was the first written history of the christian church. Oct 04, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In fact, we would have a difficult time explaining how so many greeks, romans, and barbarians i. The acts of the apostles was written by a physician named lucian in english luke. Or apologetically it may have been composed to make the case that christianity was not a threat to the roman empiremore specifically, it seems that. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. Acts is the only biblical book that chronicles the history of the church immediately after jesuss ascension. As was stated, acts is the second part of what was originally a twopart, single volume i.
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. If he did, the book is a sequel to the gospel of luke. For ecclesiastical purpose, it may have been written in order to edify the church, serving as a history. It is an important book in understanding how we can be directed by the holy spirit and the role of jesus lessons in our lives. Just as his gospel opens with a dedication to theophilus, so also does acts. On one level, as is true of most literary works, luke had many purposes and acts has many themes. There may be two purposes for paul having written the book of ephesians. In acts, jesus sends the holy spirit to empower his disciples as they carry. The abrupt ending of acts allows for an early date around the time of the events, but could.
The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. The first part, the gospel of luke, tells how god fulfilled his plan for the worlds salvation through the life, death, and. The purpose of lukeacts may be ecclesiastical or apologetic. According to church tradition, luke wrote the book of acts. The book of acts is unlike any other biblical book. Perhaps the greatest of all points paul makes in this book is the fact that it is by grace you have been.
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. 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. The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. Purposes of the book of acts reformed bible studies. The acts of the apostles, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. The gospels matthew, mark, luke, and john describe the life and ministry of jesus christ when he was in the flesh, while much of the rest of the new testament is made up of letters written by the apostles to the early church after the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of jesus. Introduction to the book of acts study resources blue letter bible. Bible biblestudytools video what is the message of the book of acts.
As you prepare to work through acts and new testament history this year, take time today to skim the book of acts. As we go through the book, well see a simple formula repeated over and over again. While the birth of the church is found in acts though not in the way most think lukes purpose was far different. In my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach v. The book of acts describes how the church spread after jesus ascended to heaven. Acts and the gospel of luke make up a twopart work, luke acts, by the same anonymous author, usually dated to around 8090 ad. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. One finds embedded in acts a record of christian defenses made to both jews. As weve already said, luke wrote the book of acts and the purpose was probably so wed have a historical record of how the church started and how it grew and. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. The book of acts was written to provide a history of the early church.
Asked in history of the united states what was the purpose of the espoinage and sedition acts. The earliest title for the book seems to have been simply the acts. Theres never been much contention about the authorship of acts. Alexander states the purpose of acts in his commentary, as. Understanding the book of acts in the bible learn religions. Whilst this was his foremost motivation in writing the book there were additional reasons. Lets take a look at some of the most intriguing things in acts and develop a new appreciation for this fascinating book. The latest date for the book of acts is in the second century writings of the church fathers. The book of acts ends abruptly with pauls awaiting trial before. Almost every commentator on acts maintains its purpose is to tell the story of the birth and growth of the church. Jul 10, 2014 the book of acts does not primarily provide us with human patterns to emulate or avoid. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. Pdf the structure and purpose of the acts of the apostles.
Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. They contended that acts gives the impression of being a pure history, that the historical purpose of the book could not be more clearly expressed than in luke 1. 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. Watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. It is the historical link that joins the life of christ with the growth of the christian church. The book of acts is a remarkable work of history and theology. Some have suggested, however, that not the acts of the apostles who have no major importance in the book but the acts of the. The primary reason for the book of acts is to show how god was just, fair, in setting israel aside for a time.
As such, it provides us with a valuable account of how the church was able to grow and spread out from jerusalem into the rest of the roman empire. The earliest date for the book of acts is the two year imprisonment which is recorded in acts 28. Our interest here is to highlight lukes overarching purpose and theme. Bible study tips for the book of acts unlocking the bible.