Information about the ACTS of the Apostles
Title: Most translations use the above misleading title for this book. However, It covers only few acts of a few apostles—mainly the acts of Peter and Paul.
Author: Luke—determined from various passages that use the pronoun ‘we’ where Luke travels with Paul to Rome, 2 Timothy 4:11 and Acts 27:1.
Divisions of the book: Acts 1:8 presents an obvious division in the words of Jesus. “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The book opens with the apostles witnessing in Jerusalem. Work in Judea and Samaria follows. Then, the gospel goes to all the world.
A simpler division:
- Work of the church until the death of Herod, Acts 12:23.
- The work of Paul to preach the gospel, Acts 13-Acts 28.
Design: The book records conversions to Christ again and again. Thus, Acts describes the message, its effect on people, and what they did to become members of church and receive forgiveness of sins.
Work of the Holy Spirit: The unfolding of the plan of God concerned a giving of the Holy Spirit as a guide to providing salvation. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit as a Helper, John 16:7, 12. “…Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: …to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you…
…“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things… to come.”
Just before He ascended, Jesus again promised the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:4. “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
The Holy Spirit came as promised, Acts 2:1-4. “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place… suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind…
It filled the entire house where they were sitting…
Divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Throughout this book, the Spirit guided and directed the apostles and Paul as they taught and baptized.
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