Acts is the story of the spread of the Good News of Jesus in outward ripples from Jerusalem after the Day of Pentecost, and it is the sequel to the Gospel of Luke.

In the tables that follow for each book, the first table is from The Life Application Bible (Tyndale, 1996) and the second table is from Bruce Wilkinson, Your Daily Walk (Zondervan, 1991).

ACTS AUTHORLuke (a Gentile physician) WHATThe Story of the Early Church, for Theophilus and all lovers of God WHERE Jerusalem, Samaria, Lydda, Joppa, Antioch, Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Caesarea, Malta, Rome WHENA.D WHYTo give an accurate account of the birth and growth of the Christian Church KEY PEOPLE Peter, John, James, Stephen, Philip, Paul, Barnabas, Cornelius, James (Jesus’ brother), Timothy, Lydia, Silas, Titus, Apollos, Agabus, Ananias, Felix, Festus, Agrippa, Luke

Ten Sermons 3 by Peter (2:14-36; 3:11-26; 10:34-43) 1 by Stephen (7:1-53) 6 by Paul 3 defense speeches in Jerusalem & Caesarea (22:1-21; 24:10-21; 26:1-29) 1 to Jews on his first Journey (13:16-47) 1 to Gentiles on his second Journey (17:22-31) 1 to Christians on his third journey (20:18-35)

The Cyclical Story Line of Acts A.Christian Leaders preach the Gospel B.Listeners are converted and added to the Church C.Opponents (often Jewish, but sometimes Gentile) begin to persecute the Christian leaders D.God intervenes to rescue the leaders or otherwise protect the Church

“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.”

Ripple 1: Jewish Pentecost When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:1-4).

Ripple 2: Samaritan Pentecost When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17).

Judea Samaria The Ends of the Earth

Ripple 3: Gentile Pentecost While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:34-35, 43-48).

The Fruit of Pentecost Power to live triumphantly Courage to face danger bravely Unlearned eloquence for sharing their faith Unstoppable joy that was independent of their circumstances

“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.”

Oakland Mills Columbia The U.S.

We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations #446

We’ve a story to tell the nations that shall turn their hearts to the right, a story of truth and mercy, a story of peace and light, a story of peace and light.

For the darkness shall turn to dawning, and the dawning to noon-day bright, and Christ’s great Kingdom shall come on earth – the Kingdom of love and light.

We’ve a song to be sung to the nations that shall lift their hearts to the Lord, a song that shall conquer evil and shatter the spear and sword, and shatter the spear and sword.

For the darkness shall turn to dawning, and the dawning to noon-day bright, and Christ’s great Kingdom shall come on earth – the Kingdom of love and light.

We’ve a message to give to the nations – that the Lord who reigneth above hath sent us His Son to save us and show us that God is love, and show us that God is love.

For the darkness shall turn to dawning, and the dawning to noon-day bright, and Christ’s great Kingdom shall come on earth – the Kingdom of love and light.

We’ve a Savior to show to the nations who the path of sorrow hath trod, that all of the world’s great peoples might come to the truth of God. Might come to the truth of God.

For the darkness shall turn to dawning, and the dawning to noon-day bright, and Christ’s great Kingdom shall come on earth – the Kingdom of love and light.