Bible Study for Pr-Servants April 2, 2011 A Witness to the World

Bridging the Gap The Gospels The Epistles Acts gives a history of the continuation of Jesus’ work, by the Holy Spirit, through the Apostles: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” Acts 1:8

AreaJerusalemJudea/SamariaThe World Chapters1-8:48:5-12:2513:1-28:31 Key Speakers Peter Stephen Phillip Peter Paul Focus Group Jews Samaritans Gentiles TimeAD 30-33AD 33-46AD 46-61

1 Primarily Peter Church Established Preparation Church Foretold 2 Church Born 3 Church Dispersed Church Witnessing 6 Church Organized 7 Peter & Others Church Scattered Church Expanding 9 Church Dispersed 10 Gentiles in the Church 13 Primarily Paul Church Extended First Missionary Journey 15 Church in Conference 16 Second Missionary Journey 19 Third Missionary Journey 21 Paul Imprisoned Paul in Jerusalem 24 Paul in Caesarea 27 Paul in Rome

Chapter by Chapter Outline 1 - Ascension of Jesus, Replacement of Judas as Apostle 2 - Peter’s Sermon in Jerusalem 3 - Beggar Healed, Preaching in Jerusalem 4 - Apostles Persecuted 5 - The Death of Ananias & Sapphari 6 - Servers (Deacons) Chosen 7 - Stephen stoned 8 - Philip in Samaria, Ethiopian eunuch converted.

Chapter by Chapter Outline 9 - Paul’s Conversion 10 - Cornelius’ Conversion 11 - Cornelius’ Conversion Reported 12 - James Martyred, Herod Dies Paul’s First Missionary Journey 14 - Paul & Barnabus Preach in Various Cities 15 - Council in Jerusalem, Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey

Chapter by Chapter Outline 16 - Paul’s Second Missionary Journey – Paul and Silas imprisoned – Conversion of Philippians Jailer 17 - Paul at Athens 18 - Paul at Corinth 19 - Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – Paul at Ephesus 20 - Paul at Macedonia & With Ephesus Elders 21 - Paul Journeys Back to Jerusalem

Chapter by Chapter Outline 22 - Paul Tells of His Conversion in Jerusalem 23 - Paul Before Sanhedrin, Plot to Kill him 24 - Paul Before Felix 25 - Paul Before Festus, Appeals to Caesar 26 - Paul Tells of His Conversion to King Agrippa 27 - Paul Shipwrecked 28 - Paul Goes to Rome

Focus of the Book of Acts The book, Acts of the Apostles, records for us the history of Christianity’s beginning, growth, and spread during at least the first 30 years--from Christ’s ascension to Paul’s imprisonment in Rome. Main Works in the Book of Acts: 1.The Holy Spirit’s Work 2.The Apostolic Office and Work 3.The Story of the Church 4.The Preaching of the Gospel 5.The Story of Conversion

His mission was first promised by Christ. –John 14:16,17, 25,26; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8 Promise fulfilled on Day of Pentecost. –Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:15-21, Acts 2:33 Reveal the mystery of God. –Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13; Ephesians 3:3-5 Preach the Gospel and confirm it by miracles. –Mark 16:15-20, Acts 8:6-13, Heb 2:4 Convict and convert the sinners. –John 16:8-11 Continue to guide and direct the apostles. –Acts 5:32, Acts 4:31, Acts 9:31, Romans 8:14 1. The Holy Spirit’s Work

The Apostolic mission was to do the work that Jesus selected and trained the apostles to do. –Eye and ear witnesses of that about which they bore testimony (1:2, 8, 21-22; 26:16-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; 1 John 1:1-4) A competent witness must give clear and accurate testimony as manifested in the Apostles. –Guided by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-13) –Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20; Acts 4:18-20; 5:28-32) 2. The Apostolic Mission and Work

Church Members –Made up of those who believed and obeyed the gospel commandments from all nations. Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 9:42; 11:24; 13:12, 48; 14:1; 17:4, 34 First Church Organization –Identity of the church and its singularity are easily distinguishable in the Acts historical record… Vital activity (Acts 2:41-47) Organization of early church (Acts 14:23) Purity (Acts 5) 3. The Story of the Church

Mission and Work –Evangelism Personal: Acts 11:19,20 Congregational: Acts 11:22 –Benevolent work Church providing for its own needy: Acts 2, 4, 6 Churches unable to care for their own: Acts 11:29- 30, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8, 9 Teachings –Resisted false doctrine: Acts 15:1, 5,22 –Each church edified by its own elders, through its own program of teaching: Acts 11:22; 13: The Story of the Church “Cont’d”

Given by a variety of expressions –“Continued steadfastly” : Acts 2:42 –“Spoke/hear the word of God;” “preached/teaching the word;” etc. Acts 4:31; 13:44; 14:25; 18:11; 15:35-36 What did they teach and preach? –Christ: Acts 5:42; 8:5, 35; 9:20; 11:20 –Kingdom of God: Acts 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31 How did they preach and teach? –“The way of salvation more accurately” : Acts 16:17; 18:26 –“Reasoned with them from the Scriptures”: Acts 17:2 4. The Preaching of the Gospel

A number of conversions are related and have several things in common that the gospel was preached; not by any miraculous event! Saved by the gospel—because they believed the truth preached. Faith in the gospel they heard always produced the commanded work of obedience to God’s will! See next chart… 5. The Story of Conversion

CaseBelieveRepentConfessBaptism Jews Acts 2:36Acts 2:38 Samaritans Acts 8:9-13 Acts 8:12-13 Eunuch Acts 8:36-37 Acts 8:37Acts 8:38 Saul Acts 22:16 Cornelius Acts 10:43Acts 10:48 Lydia Acts 16:15 Jailor Acts 16:31Acts 16:33 Corinthians Acts 18:8

The resurrected Savior is the central theme of the sermons and defenses in Acts. The Old Testament Scriptures, the historical resurrection, the apostolic testimony, and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit all bear witness that Jesus is both Lord and Christ (Peter’s sermons in 2:22-36; 10: Christ as seen in Acts