1. Lesson 2: The Book of Conversions

2. The Strategic Placement of the Book of Acts in the N.T.
It is a vital and indispensible record of God’s holy and Divine will for man.
In simplified summaries, the major divisions of the N.T. could be stated as follows:
The Gospels: God’s vehement intent to save man
Book of Acts: God’s vivid illustrations of men being saved
The Epistles: God’s various instructions to men who are saved
Revelation: God’s victorious incentive for men who are saved

3. Great Commission: Its Command, Compliance & Consequences
Book of Acts
The Epistles
The Results
Preach/Teach
Mark 16:15
Teaching
Acts 2:14, 40; 8:4-5, 12
Taught
Rom. 10:14; Eph. 4:20-21
Saved
Mark 16:16; Eph. 2:8
Believe
Mark 16:16
Believing
Acts 2:37; 16:31
Believed
1 Co. 15:2, 11; Ep. 1:13
Remission of Sins
Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38
Repent
Luke 24:47
Repenting
Acts 2:38; 17:30
Repented
1 Thess. 1:9; 2 Pet. 3:9
Disciples
Mt. 28:19; Acts 6:7; 11:26
Baptized
Mt. 28:19;
Baptizing
Acts 2:38; 18:8; 22:16
Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27
New Relationship with God
Mt. 28:19; Gal. 3:26-27

4. Great Commission: Its Command, Compliance & Consequences
The Great Commission is simple, Jesus having used clear and precise terms.
However, some either by ignorance or by choice do not or will not “get it.”
God gave the book of Acts with clear and copious examples of the commission of Christ being followed.
Clear and precise instructions combined with clear, precise and copious examples (that correspond unambiguously with the instructions) makes God’s plan to save man crystal clear.
Any misunderstanding, misinterpretation, miscommunication or misapplication is therefore by conscious choice or willful ignorance.

5. Examples of Conversion in Acts
Those Taught
Believed
Repented
Confessed
Baptized
Saved
Jews
Acts 2:1-47
Cut to heart
(37)
Repent
(38)
(38, 41)
Remission (38)
Added (47)
Samaritans
Acts 8:5-12
(12)
Simon
Acts 8:13
(13)
Eunuch
Acts 8:26-40
(36-37)
(36-38)
Rejoiced
(39)
Saul
Acts 9:1-18
(9:18; 22:16)
Sins washed away (22:16)
Cornelius
Acts 10:25-58
(43)
Repentance
(11:18)
(47-48)
Remission of sins (43)
Lydia
Acts 16:11-15
(15)
The Jailer
Acts 16:25-34
(31, 34)
Washed stripes (33)
(33)
Saved (30)
Rejoiced (34)
Corinthians
Acts 18:4-11
(8)
Ephesians
Acts 19:1-7
(2, 4)
(5)

6. Examples of Conversion in Acts
Those who were converted in the New Testament did:
Exactly what they were told to do
Immediately what they were told to do
Uniformly (in every case) what they were told to do
Graciously receive the same blessing of salvation
Men today must follow and use the conversions in Acts as their guide (see Lesson 1).

7. A Parallel Between the Purpose and the Theme
As persons were being converted to Christ, notice what happened to Christianity (i.e., the Lord’s church).
“And that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41)
“And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47)
“Many…believed; and the number of the men came to be about 5,000” (Acts 4:4)
“And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes…” (Acts 5:14)
“…The number of the disciples was multiplying…” (Acts 6:1)
“Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).
“Then the churches…were multiplied” (Acts 9:31)
“…And many believed on the Lord” (Acts 9:42)

8. A Parallel Between the Purpose and the Theme
As persons were being converted to Christ, notice what happened to Christianity (i.e., the Lord’s church).
“And a great many people were added to the Lord” (Acts 11:24)
“The word of God grew and multiplied” (Acts 12:24)
“…A great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed” (Acts 14:1)
“…They had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples” (Acts 14:21)
“So the churches…increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5)
“A great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women” (Acts 17:4)
“Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks…” (Acts 17:12)
“And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8)