PREFACE
Having just finished the Gospel according to Luke, it follows natural to begin now a study of the Acts of the Apostles by the same author. It is always a joy for me to complete an exposition, and if the Lord wills, I will be able to finish my studies in the New Testament before He calls me home. What a wonderful privilege He has afforded us in these wonderful studies; and what a great joy it is for me to study the expositions of the men who have gone on before me. To be able to share in their studies and then incorporate them into my own personal studies is not only enriching, but also uplifting. I pray that as we study the Acts God will continue to bless us abundantly.
I will continue to use the same format of printing the verse in the KJV and then my own Greek translation in italics. It is for my own personal benefit that I have continued to use this format so that I may not lose this knowledge that I have studied so hard to gain. God bless you as you study along with me.
Introduction
Luke the author of the third synoptic Gospel wrote the Book of Acts. It is actually a continuation of the Gospel by Luke. The Book of Acts looks backward to the Gospels aiding them by throwing light on them. Acts looks forward to the Epistles, which interpret the teachings of Christ, which were a mystery to the apostles. So we see that the Book of Acts is incomplete in that the two main subjects of the Book, Peter and Paul will complete it; Peter will be the teacher to the Jews, and Paul to the Gentiles. Peter will occupy the first half of the book, and Paul the last half. The only apostles of the twelve that are mentioned are John, Peter, and Paul, whom the Lord chose after Judas had betrayed Him. The book of Acts does not present to the reader a list of doctrines to be followed; it contains the history of the first church, empowered by the Holy Spirit with supernatural gifts to evangelize the habitable earth. The book of Acts "is free from pomp and splendor, and from costly and magnificent ceremonies. There is no apparatus to impress the senses, no splendor to dazzle, no external rite or parade to draw the affections from the pure and spiritual worship of God, How unlike to the pomp and parade of pagan worship! How unlike the vain and Pompous ceremonies, which have since, alas, crept into no small part of the Christian Church" (Barnes).
Barnes goes on to note:
"This book contains unanswerable evidence of the truth of Christianity. It is a record of its early triumphs. Within the space of thirty years after the death of Christ the gospel had been carried to all parts of the civilized and to no small portion of the uncivilized world. Its progress and its triumphs were not concealed. Its great transactions were not done in a corner. It had been preached in the most splendid, powerful, and enlightened cities; churches were already founded in Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, and at Rome. The gospel had spread in Arabia, Asia Minor, Greece, Macedon, Italy, and Africa. It had assailed the most mighty existing institutions; it had made its way over the most formidable barriers; it had encountered the most deadly and malignant opposition; it had traveled to the capital, and had secured such a hold even in the imperial city as to make it certain that it would finally overturn the established religion and seat itself on the ruins of paganism. Within thirty years it had settled the point that it would overturn every bloody altar, close every pagan temple, bring under its influence everywhere the men of office, rank, and power, and the banners of the faith would soon stream from the palaces of the Caesars. All this would be accomplished by the instrumentality of Jews - of fishermen - of Nazarenes. They had neither wealth, armies, nor allies. With the exception of Paul, they were men without learning. They were taught only by the Holy Ghost, armed with the power of God, victorious only because Christ was their Captain, and the world acknowledged the presence of the messengers of the Highest and the power of the Christian religion. Its success never has been, and never can be accounted for by any other supposition than that God attended it. And if the Christian religion be not true the change wrought by the twelve apostles is the most inexplicable, mysterious, and wonderful event that has been witnessed in this world. Their success will stand to the end of time as an argument of the truth of the scheme, will ever onward confound the infidel, and will sustain the Christian with the assured belief that this is a religion which has proceeded from the almighty and the infinitely benevolent God."
As an outline to this Book I turn to William Barclay who quotes Church historian C.H. Turner, who pointed out that Acts falls into six panels, each ending with what might be called a progress report, The six panels are:
1:1-6:7; this tells of the church at Jerusalem and the preaching of Peter; and it finishes with the summary: 'The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.'
6:8-9:31; this describes the spread of Christianity through Palestine and the martyrdom of Stephen, followed by the preaching in Samaria. It ends with the summary: 'Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.'
9:32-12:24; this includes the conversion of Paul, the extension of the Church to Antioch, and the reception of Cornelius, the Gentile, into the Church by Peter. Its summary is: 'The word of God continued to advance.'
12:25-16:5; this tells of the extension of the Church throughout Asia Minor and the preaching tour of Galatia. It ends: 'So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily.'
16:6-19:20; this describes the extension of the Church to Europe and the work of Paul in great Gentile cities like Corinth and Ephesus. Its summary runs: 'So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.'
19:21-28:31; this tells of the arrival of Paul in Rome and his imprisonment there. It ends with the picture of Paul 'proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.'
I am sure God will bless us as the Holy Spirit teaches us as we study this wonderful Book of the Acts, or Doings of the apostles.
Share freely but cite the source: http://bbbiblehelps.epizy.com