Lesson 5
CHAPTER FIVE
ACTS
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:
C Name the author of the book of Acts.
C Identify to whom the book of Acts was written.
C State the purpose for the book of Acts.
C Write the Key Verse of the book of Acts from memory.
C State the Life and Ministry Principle for the book of Acts.
INTRODUCTION
AUTHOR: Luke
TO WHOM: All believers, although the book is specifically addressed to Theophilus.
PURPOSE: The book concerns what Jesus continued to do and teach after His ascension through His spiritual Body, the Church (Acts 1:1-2).
KEY VERSE: Acts 1 :8
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: The true evidence of the Holy Spirit is directed power: Power to become witnesses for the purpose of extending the Gospel throughout the world.
MAIN CHARACTERS: John, Peter, Paul, Silas, Barnabas, John Mark, Philip, Stephen, Ananias and Sapphira , Dorcas , Cornelius, Felix, Agrippa.
OUTLINE
(Note: This outline follows the command of the Lord given in Acts 1:8 for the extension of the Gospel from Jerusalem to Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world).
Introduction
Acts 1:1-11
I. Introduction: 1:1-2
A. To: Theophilus: 1 :1
B. Concerning: What Jesus continued to do and teach after His ascension through
His spiritual Body, the Church: 1:1-2
II. The ministry of Jesus after the resurrection: 1:3
A. Its duration : Forty days : 1:3
B. Its purpose: Infallible proof: 1:3
C. Its message: The Kingdom Of God: 1 :3
III. The final meeting of Jesus with His disciples: 1:4-8
A. The command to the disciples: 1:4-5
B. The question of the disciples: 1:6
C. The caution to the disciples: 1:7
D. The commission to the disciples: 1:8
IV. The ascension of Jesus into Heaven: 1:9-11
A. Description of the ascension: 1:9
B. Declaration of His second coming: 1:10-11
Part One:
Forming The Witness In Jerusalem
Acts 1:12-7
I. The forming of the witness: 1 :12-2 :4
A. Christ’s disciples waiting in Jerusalem: 1:12-26
1. The gathering of the disciples: 1:12-15
a. Their meeting place: 1:12-13
b. Their number and names: 1:13-15
c. Their purpose: 1:14
2. The exhortation given to the disciples: 1:15-22
a. The speaker: Peter: 1:15
b. The message 1:16-22
(l ) Background: 1:16-20
(2) Instructions : 1 : 2 1 – 2 2
3. The response of the disciples: 1:23-26
a. The nomination: 1:23
b. The prayer: 1:24-25
c. The election: 1:26
B. The baptism in the Holy Spirit: 2:1-4
1. The occasion: 2 :1
2. The people: 2:1
3. The place : 2:1
4. The event: 2:2-4
a. The wind : 2:2
b. The tongues as of fire: 2 :3
c. Speaking in tongues: 2 :4
Part Two: Functioning Of The Witness In Jerusalem
Acts 2:5-7
I. The first witness: 2:4-40
A. The manner in which the witness was given: 2:4-6
B. The reaction to the witness: 2:7-13
C. The sermon by Peter: 2:14-36
1. Prophecy concerning the time: 2:17
2. Prophecy concerning the spirit: 2: 17-18
3. Prophecy concerning the event: 2:19-20
4. Prophecy concerning salvation: 2:21
5. The work of Jesus: 2:22-36
a. Jesus was approved of God: 2:22
b. Jesus was crucified: 2:23
c. Jesus arose from the dead: 2:24-32
d. Jesus is exalted at God’s right hand: 2:33-35
e. Jesus is now the Lord and Christ: 2:36
D. Response to the message: 2:37-40
1. Conviction: 2: 37
2. Inquiry: 2:37
3. Instruction : 2 : 3 8
4. Promises: 2:38-39
5. Exhortation: 2:40
II . The first local church : 2 : 4 1 – 4 7
A. Membership of the first church: 2:41
1. Their identity: They which received the Word.
2. Their number: 3,000
B. Spiritual practices of the first church : 2 : 4 2
1. The apostles’ doctrine.
2. The fellowship of the saints.
3. Communion.
4. Prayer.
C. The living pattern of the first church: 2:44-46
1. Voluntary communal system: 2:44-45
2. Daily worship and testimony: 2:46
3. Fellowship in the homes: 2:46
4. Unity: 2:46
D. The witness of the local church: 2:46-47
1. Nature of the witness: 2:46-47
2. Results of the witness: 2:47
III. The first miracle: 3:1-26
A. The miracle described: 3:1-11
1. The setting: 3 :1
2. The man and his need: 3:2-3
3. The message: 3:4-6
4. The miracle: 3:7-8
5. The reaction of the multitude: 3:9-11
B. The miracle explained: 3:12-18
1. The man was not healed by the power of the apostles: 3:12
2. The man was healed by God for the purpose of glorifying Jesus: 3:13-15
3. The man was healed by faith in the name of Jesus: 3:16
4. The man was healed to demonstrate the fulfillment of prophecy: 3:17-1 8
C. The message of Peter: 3:19-26
1. The promise made by Peter: 3:19-21
a. What God challenged Israel to do: 3:19
b. What God promised He would do: 3:19-21
2. The prophecy of the prophets: 3:22-26
a. The prophecy by Moses and the prophets: 3:22-24
b. The promise of the covenant: 3:25
c. The plan of the Messiah: 3:26
IV. The first opposition: 4:1-31
A. The arrest: 4:1-4
1. Source of the opposition : 4:1
2. Reason for the opposition: 4:2
3. Form of the opposition: 4:3
B. The trial: 4:5- 14
1. The court: 4:5-6
2. Questions of the court: 4:7
3. Statement by Peter: 4:8-12
a. Source of his answer: 4:8
b. His answer: 4:9-10
c. His testimony concerning Jesus: 4:10-12
d. His declaration concerning salvation: 4:12
4. The evidence considered by the court: 4:13-14
a. The character of the witnesses: 4:13
b. The testimony of the man who was healed: 4:14
5. The decision: 4: 15-22
a. The consultation: 4:15-17
b. The decision: 4:17-18
c. The response of Peter and John: 4:19-20
d. The release: 4:21-22
6. The reaction: 4:21-31
a. The prayer of the church: 4:23-30
b. The activity of the church: 4:31
V. The first discipline of sin : 4 : 3 2-5: 16
A. Organization of the church: 4:32-37
1. Its fellowship : 4 : 3 2
2. Its witness : 4 : 3 3
3. Its economy: 4:32-37
B. The first sin disrupting the fellowship: 5:1-10
1. The sin: 5:1 -2
2. Exposure of the sin: 5:3-4
3. Disciplining of the sin: 5:5-10
C. The results of discipline: Fruitful witness of the fellowship: 5:11-16
1. Reverent attitude of the members: 5:11
2. Unity: 5:12
3. Miraculous signs: 5:12, 15-16
4. Community response: 5:12-14
VI. The first persecution: 5:17-43
A. Source of opposition: 5:17
B. Action of the opposition: 5:18
C. Deliverance by God: 5:19-26
1. His act: 5:19
2. His command: 5:20
3. Response to His command: 5:21
4. The discovery of His act: 5:21-23
5. The results of His act: 5:24-26
D. Trial: 5 : 2 7 -4 0
1. Indictment by the Sanhedrin: 5:27-28
2. Defense made by Peter: 5:29-32
3. Investigation by the Sanhedrin: 5:33-39
4. Injustice of the decision of the Sanhedrin: 5:40
E. Response to persecution: 5:41-42
1. Rejoicing: 5:41
2. Unity: Met daily together: 5:42
3. Witnessing: Teaching and preaching: 5:42
VII. The first organization: 6:1-7
A. The need for the organization: 6:1
B. The organization suggested: 6:2-4
1. Source of the suggestion : 6:2
2. The reason for the suggestion : 6:2
3. The suggestion: 6 :3
4. The advantage of the suggestion: 6 :4
C. The organization set up : 6:5-6
1. The method used: 6:5-6
2. The men chosen: 6:5
3. Their ordination: 6 :6
D. The results of the organization: 6 :7
1. The word increased: 6 :7
2. The disciples multiplied: 6:7
3. Obedience to the faith: 6:7
VIII. The first martyr: 6:8 -8:1
A. The description of Stephen: 6:3-15
1. One of the seven: 6 :3,5
2. Filled with the Holy Ghost: 6 :5
3. A man of good reputation : 6:3
4. A man of faith: 6:5
5. A man of wisdom: 6:3, 10
6. A man with special power: 6:8
7. An effective witness: 6:9-10
B. The persecution of Stephen: 6:11-15
C. The message of Stephen: 7:1-53
1. Abraham: 7:1-8
2. The patriarchs: 7: 9-16
3. Moses: 7:17-43
a. In Egypt: 7:17-28
b. In the wilderness: 7:29-43
4. The tabernacle: 7:44-50
a. Of Moses: 7:44
b. Of Joshua: 7:45
c. Of David: 7:45-46
d. Of Solomon: 7:47-50
e. Of God: 7:48-50
5. The prophets: 7:51-53
D. The witness of Stephen: 7:54 -8:1
1. The attitude of the council: 7:54
2. The announcement by Stephen: 7:55-56
3. The action of the council: 7:57-59
4. The death of Stephen : 7:59-8 :1
Part Three: The Witness In Judaea and Samaria
Acts 8-12
I. Transition: Results of the death of Stephen : 8:1-4
A. The persecution: 8 :1,3
B. The burial of Stephen: 8 :2
C. The extended witness of the church : 8:4
II. The witness of Philip: 8:5-40
A. Ministry in Samaria: 8:5-25
1. The witness of Philip: 8:5-13
a. The work of Philip: 8:5-7, 12
b. The response of the Samaritans: 8:6-12
c. Simon the Sorcerer: 8:9-13
2. The work Peter and John: 8:14-17
a. The coming of Peter and John: 8:14
b. The coming of the Holy Spirit: 8:15-17
c. The response of Simon: 8:18-19
d. The warning of Simon: 8:20-24
B. Ministry to the Ethiopian: 8:26-40
1. Preparation: 8:26-28
2. The witness: 8:29-35
3. The response: 8:36-38
C. Transition to Azotus: 8:39-40
III . The witness of Saul: 9: 1- 31
A. The conversion of Saul: 9:1-9
1. His purpose: 9:1-2
2. His vision: 9:3-9
3. The voice: 9:4-7
4. The blindness: 9:8-9
B. The commissioning of Saul through Ananias: 9:10-19
1. The call: 9:10-16
2. The commission: 9:17-19
C. The mission of Saul: 9:20-31
1. Saul at Damascus: 9:20-25
a. His witness: 9:20-22
b. The response: 9:21-23
c. His escape: 9:23-25
2. Saul at Jerusalem: 9:26-30
a. His reception: 9:26-28
b. His activity: 9: 2 8-29
c. His departure: 9:29-30
D. Transition: Rest in the church: 9:31
IV. The witness of Peter: 9:32-12:35
A. At Lydda: 9:32-35
1. The believers: 9:32
2. The sick man: 9:33
3. Healing of the sick man: 9:34
4. The response: 9:35
B. At Joppa: 9:36-43
1. The death of Dorcus: 9:36-37
2. The call of Peter: 9:38-39
3. The ministry of Peter: 9:40-41
4. Response to the ministry: 9:42-43
C. At Caesarea: 10:1-48
1. Cornelius’ vision: 10:1-8
a. The man Cornelius: 10:1-2
b. The vision of Cornelius: 10:3-6
c. The response of Cornelius: 10:7-8
2. Peter’s vision : 1 0 : 9 -2 2
a. The vision: 10:9-12
b. The voice: 10:13-16
3. The arrival of the messengers: 10:17-22
4. The visit to Cornelius’ house: 10:23-48
a. The journey: 10:23
b. The reception: 10:24-27
c. The explanation: 10:27-28
d. The question: 10:29
e. The answer: 10:30-33
f. The unfinished sermon: 10:34-43
(1) God is no respecter of persons: 10:34-35
(2) Spread of the Gospel: 10:36-37
(3) The Gospel message: 10:38-43
g. The response of Cornelius: 8:44-48
D. At Jerusalem: 11:1-12:25
1. The problem of Gentile conversion: 11:1-18
a. The problem: 11 :1-3
b. The explanation of God’s work among the Gentiles: 11:4-17
(1) The vision: 11:4-10
(2) The visitors: 11:11
(3) The visit: 11:12-16
c. The decision: 4:18
V. The church in Antioch of Syria: 11:19-30
A. Evangelization of Antioch: 11:19-21
B. Visit by Barnabus: 11:22-24
C. Saul chosen as pastor-teacher: 11:25-26
D. Information revealed by Agabus: 11:27-30
VI. Persecution led by Herod: 12:1-25
A. The murder of James: 12:1-2
B. The arrest of Peter: 12:3-4
C. The deliverance of Peter 12:5-19
D. The death of Herod: 12:20-23
VII. The declaration of the Word: 12:24-25
Part Four: Witness To The Uttermost Parts Of The Earth
Acts 13-28
I. The first missionary journey: 13:1-14:28
A. The call to ministry: Acts 13:1-3
B. Ministry in Paphos in Cyprus: 13:4-12
C. Ministry in Antioch in Pisidia: 13:13-50
1. Transition to Pisidia: 13: 13-16
2. The message: 13:17-37
a. The exodus deliverance: 13:17
b. The wilderness wanderings: 13:18
c. The conquest of Canaan: 13:19
d. The rule of Saul and David: 13:20-23
e. The ministry of John the Baptist: 13:24-25
f. Crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus: 13:26-37
g. The invitation: 13:38-41
3. The response: 13:42-50
D. Ministry in Iconium: 13 :51-1 4:5
E. Ministry in Lystra: 14:6-25
F. Ministry in Syria: 14:26-28
II. The Jerusalem council: 15:1-35
A. The problem: 15 :1-3
B. The sessions: 15:4-21
1. First public session: 15 :4-5
2. Private session of the apostles and elders: 15:6
3. Second public session: 15:7-21
a. Peter’s report: 1 5 : 7 -1 1
b. Paul and Barnabas’ report: 15:12
c. James’ report: 15:13-21
C. The decision: 15:19-21
D. The letters: 15:22-35
III. Second missionary journey: 15:36-18:22
A. The argument: 15:36-41
B. Ministry at Lystra: 16:1-5
C. Ministry at Troas: 16:6-10
D. Ministry at Philippi: 16:11-40
E. Ministry at Thessalonica: 1 7:1-9
F. Ministry at Berea: 17:10-14
G. Ministry at Athens: 17:15-34
H. Ministry at Corinth: 18:1-18
I. Ministry at Ephesus: 18:19-21
J. Jerusalem and Antioch: 18:22
IV. Third missionary journey: 18:23-21:14
A. Asia Minor: 18:23
B. Ministry in Ephesus: 18:24-19:41
1. Apollos: 18:24-28
2. Disciples of John: 19:1-7
3. School of Tyranus: 19:8-12
4. The sons of Sceva: 19:13-17
5. Dedication of the converts: 19:18-20
6. The decision: 19:21
7. Defenders of Diana: 19:23-41
C. Ministry in Macedonia and Greece: 20:1-5
D. Ministry in Troas: 20:6-12
E. Ministry in Miletus: 20:13-38
1. The journey: 20:13-16
2. Meeting with the elders from Ephesus: 20:17-35
a. Review of his ministry: 20:17-21
b. Facing the future: 20:22-24
c. Paul’s conscience: 20:25-27
d. The warning 20:28-31
e. Commended to God: 20:32
f. Paul’s example in labor: 20:33-35
3. The farewell: 20:36-38
F. Ministry in Tyre: 21:1-6
G. Ministry in Ptolemias: 21:7
H. Ministry in Caesarea: 21:8-14
V. The final visit to Jerusalem and the trip to Rome: 21:15-28:31
A. Jerusalem: 21:15-23:32
1. Transition to Jerusalem: 21:15-17
2. Rumors against Paul: 21:18-30
a. That he had degraded the law of Moses: 21:18-26
b. That he had desecrated the Temple: 21:27-30
3. The reaction of Paul: 21:23-26
4. The rescue of Paul: 21:30-32
5. Replies by Paul: 21:33-23:10
a. The Jewish crowd: 22:1-23
b. The Roman centurion: 22:24-26
c. Chief captain: 22:26-30
d. The Sanhedrin: 23:1-10
(l) Paul’s confession: 2 3:1
(2) Encounter with the high priest: 23:2-5
(3) A divided court: 23:6-10
6. The revelation to Paul: 23:11
7. Revenge against Paul: 23:12-15
8. Rescue of Paul: 23:16-32
a. The plot revealed: 23:16-22
b. The letter: 23:25-30
c. The escape: 23-32
B. Caesarea: 23:33-26:32
1. Before Felix: 23:33-24:27
a. The accusations of Tertulius: 24:1-9
b. The answer of Paul: 24:10-21
c. The response of Felix: 24:22-27
2. Before Festus: 25:1-12
3. Festus and Agrippa: 25:13-27
4. Before Agrippa: 26:1-32
a. Paul speaks for himself: 26:1-23
b. Invitation to the Savior: 26:24-29
c. The verdict: 26:30-32
C. Enroute to Rome: 27:17-28:31
1. The storm: 27:1-44
2. The serpent: 28:1-6
3. The healing: 28:7-10
4. The journey continues: 28:11-15
D. Rome: 28:16-31
l. Meeting with the Jews: 28:16-29
2. Ministry: 28:30-31