Reading the Book of Acts

(From an Evangelical Perspective)

I.       Introduction

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

“And [Paul] lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unhindered.” (Acts 28:30-31)

II.    The Churches

Church in Jerusalem:  Jews

Church in Antioch:  Greeks

A.     Foundations of the mission

1.        In Jerusalem (2:1-13)

2.        In Antioch (11:19-26, 13:1-3)

B.     The beginning of the mission

1.        In Jerusalem (2:1-13)

2.        In Antioch (13:1-3)

C.     Crisis/difficulties encountered in the works

1.        Church in Jerusalem

 a.      Incident of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-16)

(a)     Incident per se

(b)     Solutions

(c)     Consequence

 b.      Incident of daily distribution (6:1-7)

(a)     Incident per se

(b)     Solutions

(c)     Consequence

 c.      Persecutions (4:1-35, 5:17-42)

(a)     Incident per se

(b)     Solutions

(c)     Consequence

2.        Church in Antioch

 a.      Controversy over gentile Christian and the mosaic law (15:1-35)

(a)     Incident per se

(b)     Solutions

(c)     Consequence