Introduction to the Book of Acts...

 

The book of Acts is the 5th book in the New Testament... following the 4 Gospels. Some have even called the book of Acts the 5th Gospel... 

The Gospel of the Holy Spirit. 

 

□ The Gospels set forth the Son of Man, who came to die for our sins - Acts shows the coming of the Son of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

 

□ The Gospels set forth what Christ began to do - Acts shows what He continued to do by the Holy Spirit, through His disciples. 

 

□ The Gospels tell of the crucified and risen Saviour - Acts portrays Him as the ascended and exalted Lord and leader.

 

□ In the Gospels we hear Christ’s teachings - in Acts we see the effect of His teachings on the "acts of the Apostles."

 

The physician Luke was its author and like the book of Luke, it was addressed to a person named Theophilus (meaning... "friend of God"). 

See ☆ Luke 1:1-3 and ☆ Acts 1:1...

 

Who exactly Theophilus was, we are not told. We hear no more of him. 

 

Still... it's interesting to ask...

Was Theophilus a Christian? Or was he a non believer that Luke was witnessing to? Was he also a Dr like Luke?

Why was he specifically mentioned in both books? 

 

The book of Acts picks up where the Gospel of Luke finishes... it's like a continuation.

 

Luke was a companion of the Apostle Paul.

 

The book was written 63 AD or later.

 

The book of Acts is basically a historical account of the birth of the Church and the history of the early Church in action in the community. Acts is like a journal covering 30 years of Church history.

 

For me, the book of Acts is one of the easiest books in the Bible to read. It is uncomplicated to understand... the language is straightforward... it flows smoothly and the incidents covered are factual, interesting and exciting. 

 

I don't see the Book of Acts as presenting anything theologically or doctrinally difficult. Even the baptism in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues is very plainly documented... and not only once but several times. 

I reckon that many theologians just like to argue. It is God's Word... why not believe and accept what He is saying.

Read it as it is... believe it as it is. 

 

Acts presents some very important introductory details and historical facts for the following nine epistles written by the Apostle Paul. 

In other words, Acts is a sort of prerequisite reading for Paul's epistles. 

 

In some Bibles, Acts is referred to as... The Acts of the Apostles. 

That is not entirely correct. 

It should rightly be called The Acts of the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit is mentioned some 40 times in Acts... guiding, leading, teaching, convicting, enabling, empowering, equipping, encouraging, healing, doing the miraculous... 

 

The amazing "acts" or works (miracles, signs, wonders, anointed preaching) that the Apostles did was only possible because the Holy Spirit worked mightily in and through them. 

An excellent example is... Peter's Holy Spirit inspired message in chapter two where 3 000 souls were saved in one hit. 

 

I believe that if anyone is called to establish and "run" a Church, then reading the Book of Acts is a must.

Acts is a very useful work showing the first planting of Christianity and of Christian Churches. 

 

Acts is an interesting read to see the Holy Spirit dynamics in play. 

And... THAT, I believe is the key to growing a successful Church... listening to, being in step with, obeying and allowing the Holy Spirit to do His thing. 

 

Unfortunately in today's world everything has to happen yesterday (instant society). However, we need to... we must give the Holy Spirit time... quality time... unrestricted time.

 

Clock watching grieves and quenches the Spirit.

 

"It's not by might, nor by power... but by My Spirit," says the Lord... and... 

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it..." 

 

The Church is not about... big congregations, fancy buildings, swish musical entertainment, man's agenda's nor grandiose community programmes. 

The Church needs to be Holy Ghost led... Holy Ghost inspired... Holy Ghost motivated...

 

A very brief summary of Acts...

It covers the ascension of Jesus to heaven; the disciples baptism in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost; speaking in tongues; the birth of the Church; it traces the explosive growth of messianic Jewish Christianity in Jerusalem and the land of Israel; the persecution of the Church; Stephen the first Christian martyr; the conversion of Saul; salvation being offered to the Gentiles as well as the Jews and... Paul's three amazing missionary journeys. 

 

And so... 

In Acts 1 to 12 we have Peter primarily witnessing to the Jews, telling them to REPENT because they needed a definite change of mind about the Messiah... and...

 

In Acts 13 to 28 we find Paul primarily witnessing to the Gentiles telling them to BELIEVE and not to change their minds concerning the Messiah... they needed to believe in Him.

 

The word "witness" (in one form or another) is also used a great many times. 

"You shall be witnesses" ☆ Acts 1:8... is at the very heart of the book of Acts. 

 

Salvation comes to this world through Christ and Christ alone...

 

☆ Acts 4:12... therefore, people must know Him.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

 

Christ’s plan includes you and me. 

Jesus told His disciples that He would send the Spirit, and that "He shall testify of Me: and you also shall bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning" 

☆ John 15:26-27...

 

Are you witnessing for Christ? If not, why not?

It is true that Christ alone can save the world, but Christ cannot save this world alone. He needs you and me.

 

Christ's promise to send the Holy Spirit was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost when He poured the Spirit on the disciples and they spoke in other tongues.

☆ Acts 2:16 - 17, 33. 

 

From that moment on, as they testified about the Saviour, the Holy Spirit testified at the same time in the hearts of their listeners.

Multitudes began to believe in the Lord.

 

It is a wonderful thing to know that when the Spirit prompts you to speak to someone about Christ, He has been working in that person’s heart and making it ready to receive your witness, or testimony. 

 

There is a perfect example of this in Acts 8 where Philip was sent to speak to the Ethiopian eunuch.

 

The book of Acts is the best guidebook to missions that has ever been written. 

In it we find the motive for missions. 

The only aim of the early believers was to bring people the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

That aim has not changed... it is (or should be) still the same for today. 

 

Jesus was their one theme... and the Word of God, their one weapon.

 

                                     *********** 

 

Dear folk, I believe that the book of Acts is as relevant today as it was back then. 

 

The modernist and liberal Christians tell us we need to be progressive in our teaching and preaching. We need to cater for people's needs. We need to be politically correct in our terminology. We've got to flow and be in step with the times. We mustn't upset our congregation.

 

I'm not sorry that I strongly disagree.

 

I say bring on the preaching and teaching that the Holy Spirit wants to have. Be in step with Him. Be sensitive to His leading. Besides, it is God Who gives the increase... 

We plant... we water... we fertilise... GOD GIVES THE INCREASE!

 

To say that all that happened in Acts was for back then is a lie from the pit itself. 

We would do extremely well to study this marvellous book today and take careful note of what it has to say.

 

They have been there and done that!

 

I feel strongly in the Lord that He wants me to "tease out" the Book of Acts chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And that I will endeavour to do under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and also refer to some Bible commentaries. 

 

Have a read and enjoy. God bless!

 

Selah! and Amen!

 

                                           **********

 

Acknowledgements...

                H. Mears "What The Bible is All About."

                J. Swaggart  "Expositor's Bible."

Barnes  Commentary on Acts 

Gill Commentary on Acts 

Clarke Commentary on Acts