Book 44 The Book Of Acts
Who wrote the book of Acts: Luke When was it written: Around 63 A.D.
The book of Acts is the historical account of the beginning of the Church and the spread of Christianity following Christ’s death, resurrection, and return to heaven. The book of Acts also provides the foundation of doctrine for the Church as God and Jesus intended it to be.
In the first chapter of Acts Luke briefly sums up Jesus’ post-resurrection time here on earth; specifically focusing on how the disciples received the Holy Spirit, the selection of a twelfth disciple to replace Judas Iscariot, and the information that after betraying Jesus, Judas killed himself out of remorse and shame.
Acts Bible study guide with interpretation
In reading the book of Acts we learn that the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples and others chosen by God to do great and miraculous things as they disbursed themselves around the world to take the message of the gospel to any and all who would listen.
But none of these actions takes place solely for the purpose of wowing the crowd or to make a point. The miracles done or experienced by early leaders of the Church are done in conjunction with the teaching and acceptance of Jesus as Savior.
The most important chapter of the Book of Acts is chapter two. In chapter two we see the establishment of the Church and the foundation of the doctrinal beliefs and essentials of salvation. The sermon preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecost, took place forty days after Jesus rose from the grave and seven days following his return to heaven.
The crowd Peter is addressing is the same crowd who had flocked to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. These were also the same people (many of them, anyway) who had taken up the ‘battle cry’ for Jesus to be killed.
Peter, knowing that the majority of the people there were staunchly entrenched in the Law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets, began by reading the message from the prophet, Joel.
Major lessons from the Book of Acts
He then followed up with words penned by Kind David. Let’s take a look at what Peter had to say, so that you, too, will be able to experience the full impact of what he had to say afterwards:
‘“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
Following this message Peter testified that he had seen, heard, and experienced Jesus; meaning he could say beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was indeed the one Joel, David, and all the other prophets of the Old Testament had spoken of.
Acts of the Apostles explained for Bible study
Thousands in the crowd were convinced and ashamed of what they had done. Desperately wanting to rectify the situation, they asked Peter what they could do. And Peter replied with the words that are the source of salvation according to the teachings of Jesus:
The remainder of chapter two through the end of chapter eight is filled with historical accounts of how the early Church started growing. They faced opposition, hardships, and uncertainties, but they faced them with hope, faith, and a spirit of perseverance.
The people shared what they had with one another, fellowshipped together regularly, and formed close family-like bonds with one another out of their desire to worship God and develop a deeper relationship with him.
The spread of the Church brought with it the need for additional leadership. This resulted in some of Jesus’ faithful followers stepping up into the roles of evangelists and leaders. Among them was Stephen. Stephen’s commitment to the spread of Christianity cost him his life at the hands of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish court system).
While some might look at Stephen’s death as a blow to the Church, it was actually a blessing. Why? Because following Stephen’s death, the Sanhedrin went on a ‘witch hunt’ to try to shut the Church down; sending scores of new Christians to other cities and towns far and wide.
They left Jerusalem, but they were not silent, and the Church began to grow even more—to Samaria, Gaza, Judea, Damascus, and many other areas.
Chapter nine is another extremely important chapter in the Book of Acts. It is here we read of the conversion of Saul. Saul was a Pharisee of Pharisees (his words). He hated Christians and all they stood for. His hatred was so great that he devoted his time to hunting them down and killing them.
Application of the Book of Acts for modern Christians
But God had other plans for Saul. God saw in him a passion so great that he (God) knew that he was capable of doing amazing things for the cause of Christ and the growth of the Church.
Saul’s conversion and name change to Paul resulted in giving us the greatest missionary of all time and thirteen New Testament books (which are letters to churches and individuals).
Chapter ten of the book of Acts is significant in the fact that Peter is sent by God to begin making salvation available to the Gentiles.
To this point, the gospel had been preached primarily to those who were Jewish or Samaritans. Yes, there are some Gentiles who had accepted Christ as their Savior prior to Peter’s visit to Cornelius, but by and large, Gentiles had been excluded.
Opening up their hearts and minds to accepting Gentiles into the Church was not an easy thing for some of the apostles to do. It went against everything they had been taught for generations. But God loves each of us and wants each and every one of us to have the opportunity to know him and spend eternity with him in heaven.
The remainder of the book of Acts tells of Paul’s missionary journeys and the continued spread of the Church under the leadership of Peter, John, Barnabas, Silas, and a few others. It is a book not only of history, though, but of doctrine that we must hold to today if we are to be the Church God called us to be.
In reading through the book of Acts you cannot help but learn that it isn’t easy to be a Christian in a sinful world and society. There are going to be times of ridicule and persecution.
Your faith is going to be tested. But you will also experience the joys and blessings that come from standing firmly on the truth and holding tight to the loving hands of God who will never leave your side.
Acts chapter summaries and key verses
Key Verses In Acts
Every book of the Bible provides us with words of wisdom, instruction, comfort, encouragement, admonishment, warning, promise, and hope. Let’s look at some of what the Book of Acts has to offer.
