1. Acts 1:1

2. A historical record A historical record – Shows how the risen Lord works today in the hearts of men The sequel to the Gospels The sequel to the Gospels – Extends Jesus' earthly ministry The background to the Epistles The background to the Epistles – Doctrinal interpretations are given in the Epistles Πράξεις (praxeis) = Acts Πράξεις (praxeis) = Acts – Title in all Greek manuscripts

3. The Key Verse The Key Verse – Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" Table of Contents for Acts Table of Contents for Acts 1.Witnessing in Jerusalem - Acts 1-7 2.Witnessing in all Judea and Samaria - Acts 8-12 3.Witnessing to the end of the earth - Acts 13-28 "You shall be witnesses to me" "You shall be witnesses to me" – Both a command and a prophecy! – The church extended its witness in these geographical directions

4. Key Characters Key Characters – Peter – 56 times – Holy Spirit – 70 times – Christ Jesus – 76 times – Paul – 146 times (1 st in Acts 7:58) Key Words Key Words – "witness" – 20 times God’s plan is that every believer should be a witness God’s plan is that every believer should be a witness – “prayer” – 30 times God’s plan is to direct and empower His plan through prayer God’s plan is to direct and empower His plan through prayer – “disciple” – 30 times God’s plan is to use His people to build into the lives of others God’s plan is to use His people to build into the lives of others

5. 28 chapters - 3 main divisions - 8:1 & 13:1 28 chapters - 3 main divisions - 8:1 & 13:1 – Geographical outline - 1:8 Witnessing in Jerusalem - Acts 1-7 Witnessing in Jerusalem - Acts 1-7 Witnessing in all Judea and Samaria - Acts 8-12 Witnessing in all Judea and Samaria - Acts 8-12 Witnessing to the end of the earth - Acts 13-28 Witnessing to the end of the earth - Acts 13-28

6. 28 chapters - 3 main divisions - 8:1 & 13:1 28 chapters - 3 main divisions - 8:1 & 13:1 – Geographical outline - 1:8 – Main character outline Peter - chapters 1 ‑ 12 Peter - chapters 1 ‑ 12 Paul - chapters 13 ‑ 28 Paul - chapters 13 ‑ 28 – At liberty – chapters 13:1 – 21:17 – In bonds – chapters 21:18 – 28:31

7. 28 chapters - 3 main divisions - 8:1 & 13:1 28 chapters - 3 main divisions - 8:1 & 13:1 – Geographical outline - 1:8 – Main character outline – Ethnic outline Jewish people – chapters 1 – 9 Jewish people – chapters 1 – 9 Shift to Gentiles – chapters 10 – 12 Shift to Gentiles – chapters 10 – 12 Primarily Gentile – chapters 13 – 28 Primarily Gentile – chapters 13 – 28

8. 1The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

9. 4And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

10. Acts 1:1 “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach” Who is the “I” ? Who is the “I” ? Who was Luke? Who was Luke?

11. Luke Luke – Gentile about the same age as Paul Acts 1:1 with Luke 1:1 ‑ 4 Acts 1:1 with Luke 1:1 ‑ 4 Only Gentile writer in entire Bible! Only Gentile writer in entire Bible! – A gifted scholar and physician Paul’s personal physician Paul’s personal physician A layman! A layman! – Paul probably led Luke to the Lord Every discipling relationship begins with: “Hello, my name is ______” Every discipling relationship begins with: “Hello, my name is ______” See every new person in your life as a Divine Appointment! See every new person in your life as a Divine Appointment!

12. Luke Luke – Colossians 4:14 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you – Philemon 1:24 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers – 2 Timothy 4:11 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry

13. Acts 1:1 “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach” Who is the “I” ? Who is the “I” ? Who was Luke? Who was Luke? What was the previous document? What was the previous document? – The Gospel According to Luke

14. 1.Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2.just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3.it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4.that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

15. The Gospel According to Luke The Gospel According to Luke – Ten historic facts form the backbone of Luke's gospel - the rest of the book is an amplification 1.The Virgin Birth of Christ 2.The Sinless Life of Christ 3.The Teachings of Christ 4.The Miracles of Christ 5.The Betrayal/Arrest/Illegal Trial of Christ 6.The Crucifixion and Death of Christ 7.The Burial of Christ 8.The Resurrection of Christ 9.The Appearances of Christ 10.The Ascension of Christ

16. The Gospel According to Luke The Gospel According to Luke – Who wrote more of the New Testament than any other person? Luke 27.49 % 2 books Luke 27.49 % 2 books Paul27.07 %14 books Paul27.07 %14 books John20.36 % 5 books John20.36 % 5 books Matthew 13.29 % 1 book Matthew 13.29 % 1 book Mark 8.19 % 1 book Mark 8.19 % 1 book Peter 2.02 % 2 books Peter 2.02 % 2 books James 1.26 % 1 book James 1.26 % 1 book Jude.33 % 1 book Jude.33 % 1 book

17. The Gospel According to Luke The Gospel According to Luke – Who wrote more of the New Testament than any other person? Luke and Acts each fit on a single scroll 35 feet long! Luke and Acts each fit on a single scroll 35 feet long! Both were written by a Gentile who was a layman! Both were written by a Gentile who was a layman! – The incredible wisdom of God!

18. Disciple Making is a two way street! Disciple Making is a two way street! – 1 Corinthians 12:4-30 – All parts working together to make one body – The Church = “The Body of Christ” The importance of an individual! The importance of an individual! – Two documents – 27.5% of the New Testament – Written to one person!

19. “Theophilus” “Theophilus” – Theos = God – Philos = Brotherly love Was Theophilus a real person?” Was Theophilus a real person?” – Luke 1:3 “most excellent Theophilus” – Kratistos = “Most Excellent” Acts 23:26 “most excellent governor Felix” Acts 23:26 “most excellent governor Felix” Acts 24:3 “most excellent Felix” Acts 24:3 “most excellent Felix” Acts 26:25 “most excellent Festus” Acts 26:25 “most excellent Festus”

20. The Gospel of Luke - Luke 1:4 The Gospel of Luke - Luke 1:4 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed As a witness to Christ for Theophilus! As a witness to Christ for Theophilus! – Did Luke’s Gospel accomplish its purpose? What is the evidence? What is the evidence? Acts 1:1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach Acts 1:1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach

21. The Gospel of Luke - Luke 1:4 The Gospel of Luke - Luke 1:4 – Witness of Christ The Book of Acts - Acts 1:1 The Book of Acts - Acts 1:1 “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach” “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach” – “began” The Gospel of Luke was only the beginning! The Gospel of Luke was only the beginning! – “to do” – “to teach” What is Jesus doing today? What is Jesus doing today? He continues “doing and teaching”! He continues “doing and teaching”! Acts 28:31 – The book just stops with Paul teaching “unhindered” in Rome Acts 28:31 – The book just stops with Paul teaching “unhindered” in Rome

22. The Gospel of Luke - Luke 1:4 The Gospel of Luke - Luke 1:4 – Witness of Christ The Book of Acts - Acts 1:1 The Book of Acts - Acts 1:1 – Jesus continues doing and teaching – Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth – Empowered by the Holy Spirit – Guided by prayer and the Word of God – Following the example of the lives of Peter, Philip, Stephen, Barnabas, Paul Peter, Philip, Stephen, Barnabas, Paul See Jesus at work in them! See Jesus at work in them! Know He will do the same in our lives! Know He will do the same in our lives!

23. Great Commission – “make disciples of all nations” Great Commission – “make disciples of all nations” – Making Disciples 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also – Was Theophilus a faithful man? – What is the evidence? The Gospel of Luke The Gospel of Luke Acts Acts

24. Museum of Science and Industry – Chicago Museum of Science and Industry – Chicago – “Largest science museum in the western hemisphere” – Checkerboard – 1 wheat seed on 1 st square 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 on 8 th square 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 on 8 th square Bronze plaque underneath Bronze plaque underneath “This is the potential for multiplication from one grain of wheat. We had to stop with the 8 th square because the square could not contain the numbers it had multiplied to by the 8 th square. Had we continued to the 64 th square, there would have been enough wheat seeds to fill the entire subcontinent of India 50 feet deep!” “This is the potential for multiplication from one grain of wheat. We had to stop with the 8 th square because the square could not contain the numbers it had multiplied to by the 8 th square. Had we continued to the 64 th square, there would have been enough wheat seeds to fill the entire subcontinent of India 50 feet deep!”

25. John 12:24-26 John 12:24-26 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

27. Edgar Sathuluri, Hyderabad, India December, 2000

30. In the book of Acts we see the process Jesus continues to do and to teach at work! In the book of Acts we see the process Jesus continues to do and to teach at work! – Dr. Luke and others found a Theophilus It made no difference whether they were in a position of rank or not! It made no difference whether they were in a position of rank or not! The same potential is in every person The same potential is in every person – Anybody who is faithful, available, and teachable can get in on this! – You just have to be willing to die to self! – God will do the rest – to the ends of the earth, until the end of time!