Bible Study Guide
Bible Study Guide
Bible Study Guide
of the
APOSTLES
Introduction
TITLE
Commonly called "The Acts Of The Apostles", it is simply titled "Acts" in some of
the oldest manuscripts. It might appropriately be called "Some Of The Acts Of
Some Of The Apostles" since it does not try to describe all of the acts of all the
apostles. Rather, the focus is clearly on some of the acts or deeds of mostly Peter
(the key figure in the first half) and Paul (the key figure in the second). It might
also be called "The Acts Of The Holy Spirit", as that Person of the Godhead is very
much an active participant throughout the book.
AUTHOR
Though he does not mention himself by name, the author is undoubtedly Luke,
physician and frequent traveling companion of the apostle Paul. From 1:1-3, we
learn Acts is the second historical account to Theophilus (see below), the first
being the gospel universally attributed to Luke (cf. Luke 1:1-4).
Luke is described as "the beloved Physician" (Col 4:14), and the vocabulary of
both the gospel and Acts shows evidence of a medical mind. Mentioned as a "fellow
laborer" (Philem 24) who was with Paul in his last days (2 Tim 4:11), Luke often
accompanied Paul on his travels beginning with his second journey. By carefully
noting the use of "we" and "they" in the book of Acts, we glean that Luke joined
Paul at Troas (16:10-11), and remained at Philippi (17:1) until Paul later picked
him up on his way to Troas (20:1-6). The book ends with Luke accompanying Paul
to his imprisonment in Rome (28:16).
It is evident Luke was very careful to provide a historically accurate account in
the both the gospel and Acts (cf. Luke 1:1-4,5; 2:1-3; 3:1-2).
Sir William Ramsay, archaeologist who started his career to prove Luke to be in
error, offered this testimony as a result of his research: "Luke is a historian of the
first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy, he is possessed of the
true historic sense...in short, this author should be placed along with the greatest
of historians." In fact, Luke provides the only record of the first thirty years of the
early church.
RECIPIENT
Both the gospel and Acts were written to one man: Theophilus (Luke 1:3; Acts
1:1), whose name means "God lover". Ramsay suggests the use of "most excellent"
(Luke 1:3) was a title like "Your Excellency" (cf. 23:26; 26:25) and that Theophilus
was a government official of high rank. It is not used in Acts (1:1), and one
intriguing possibility is that he became a believer in between receiving the gospel
and Acts. Some have entertained the possibility that Theophilus was a Roman
official in charge of administering Paul's case before Caesar, and that the gospel
and Acts were written to help him understand the facts of Jesus Christ and Paul's
role in the history of the church.
Other reasons could be given for why this book was written. The detail given to
conversions and the involvement of the Holy Spirit would certainly suggest the book
is designed to reveal:
The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the apostles and the early church
The value of Acts is also seen in that it provides the historical framework for the
epistles found in the New Testament. From Romans to Revelation, names, places,
and events are mentioned upon which light is shown by the historical account of
Acts. Without Acts, the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John would be left
without a satisfying answer to the question, "What happened next?"
The book begins in Jerusalem and ends at Rome. It describes the establishment
and growth of the Lord's church throughout the Mediterranean world through the
work of the apostles and other Christians under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We
read their sermons and see the conversions which resulted as they carried out the
Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). We learn how local churches
were established, and much of their work, worship and organization. But mostly we
see the faith and efforts of those charged to be witnesses of the Lord and of His
resurrection from the dead. An appropriate theme of this book might therefore be:
"WITNESSES FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST"
OUTLINE
I.
Luke
Physician
2) To whom was this book written? What other book is addressed to this
person?
3) What might indicate that this person was an official of high rank?
4) When was this book likely written? From where? What may be
indicative of this?
63 A.D.; Rome
6) Based on content, what else does the book appear designed to reveal?
The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the apostles and the early church
"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." - Acts 1:8
9) What are the main divisions of the book as suggested by the key verse
and the outline in the introduction?