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ACTS

The Acts of the Apostles

 

Name / Title

  1. Acts – meaning the activity, the actions

  2. NOT Acts – as laws and ordinances

  3. Titles of books are not inspired, given by men to identify them

  4. It is in facts – Some of the acts of a few of the apostles

    1. The first 10 chapters – the focus is on Peter

    2. The rest of the book – the focus in on Paul

Author

  1. Acts 1:1 and Luke 1:1-4 – Luke is the author

  2. Luke was a medical doctor – physician

  3. Traveled with Paul on parts of 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys

  4. Not the “they” and “we” passages in the book.

  5. Luke and Acts – same style, same vocabulary

  6. Acts picks up where Luke ended

Addressed to

  1. Theophilus – A Greek name meaning “Lover of God”

  2. Both Luke and Acts are written to the Greek world

  3. Probably a Roman soldier or government official

  4. Most Excellent” (Luke 1:3) is a term used to address high ranking officers or government officials.

Date

  1. Tells about Paul in Rome – 62

  2. But does not tell about the death of Paul – about 64

  3. Most believe it was written about 63

Where Written

  1. Probably from Rome – with Paul

  2. See Acts 28:16

Purpose

  1. To tell the events that resulted from the life of Christ

  2. To record the establishment, growth and spread of Christianity


 

ACTS - CHAPTER CONTENTS

 

  1. Ascension; Selection of Mathias

  2. Pentecost

  3. Lame man healed

  4. Before the council

  5. Ananias and Sapphira

  6. Grecian Widows

  7. Stoning of Stephen

  8. Samaria; Ethiopian

  9. Saul

  10. Cornelius

  11. Acceptance of Gentiles

  12. Peter escapes prison

  13. First journey

  14. Paul stoned at Lystra

  15. Jerusalem conference

  16. Second journey

  17. Mars’ Hill

  18. Corinth

  19. Twelve men at Ephesus

  20. Meeting with Ephesus’ elders

  21. Ceasarea and Jerusalem

  22. Paul’s defense

  23. Plot to kill Paul

  24. Felix

  25. Moved to Caesarea

  26. King Agrippa

  27. Shipwrecked

  28. Arrives in Rome

 


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