“WEST COAST BAPTIST COLLEGE”
“TRAINING LABORERS FOR HIS HARVEST”
BI 211 – Acts
“The Acts That Turned The World Upside Down”
Dane Keely - Instructor
Lecture One – “Introduction to the Book of Acts”
I. General Introduction
· No book in the New Testament has the diverse ______________ as the Book of Acts.
· Its importance to the whole structure of the New Testament; its ____________ record of the “acts of the apostles,” early __________ and its expansion, and the excitement it reveals of a Holy Spirit ____________ people being used in their generation to ___________ their world and challenging us to do the __________.
o For the ______________, Acts presents a _____________ account of the development of the church.
o For the ______________, Acts gives an ____________ account of people, places, events, and details to easily construct and verify the accuracy of the early church’s affect on the __________, and its authenticity.
o For the _______________, Acts teaches the ___________ and practices of starting new works.
o For the __________ Student, Acts gives the historical development of the ______________ from Israel to the ___________.
o For the __________, Acts gives testimony to the power of God that can ___________ the soul.
o For the _________________, Acts will put a _______ in his breast to win his world to Christ.
II. Writing of the Book of Acts
A. The Author - ______________________ (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)
B. The Human Writer - ________
1. _____________ Evidence
a) The Gospel of Luke and Acts are written by the same ___________.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-3)
b) The writer was an ________________ part of the time in Paul’s missionary journeys. (Acts 16:10-17)
Note: According to this account, the writer must have joined Paul at Troas. (This would most likely eliminate ____________ because he would have joined from his home town of Lystra.)
c) The writer was not __________, nor jailed at Philippi.
(Acts 16:20; Colossians 4:11; Acts 1:8; Acts 16:22-25)
d) The “_____” passages do not pick up again until Acts 20:5-21:18.
Note: The reason for this may have been that _______ stayed at Philippi to help this young church and/or practice medicine.
· The writer is not any of the co-___________ mentioned in verse 4 because they sailed to Troas and waited for Paul who came to them from Philippi.
· This ____________ the following: Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus.
e) Luke was with ________ during his first imprisonment.
(Acts 28:14-15; Acts 28:30; Colossians 4:14; Philemon 23-25)
f) Process of _____________:
1. Those present at _________ imprisonment:
a. Aristarchus
b. _________
c. Epaphras
d. Epaphroditus
e. Justus (Jesus)
f. ________
g. Mark
h. ____________
i. Tychicus
2. Since the writer went with Paul to ________, then Epaphraditius & Epaphras arrived later. (Phil. 4:18; Col. 4:12)
3. Aristarchus, Mark, Timothy, Tychicus are all mentioned in the _________ person in Acts. (Acts 19:29; 12:25; 16:1)
4. ______________ was a runaway slave and came to Paul later at Rome.
5. _________ deserted the faith. (2 Timothy 4:10)
C. Date of the Writing - The narrative ends two years before the Apostle Paul came to Rome, which puts it at either _____ A.D. or _____ A.D.
D. Time Span of the Book - About _____ years
E. Recipient of the Book - ________________ (name means “________ of God”)
a) Some think that he is addressing _____________ and “Theophilus is a symbolic name for the __________.
b) Others believe he is a ____________ person who may have been a high person in the government.
F. Structure of the Book –
The _______________ for Acts was provided by Luke in ____________. The effect is like throwing a rock into a quiet pond. The rock hits the water and _________ out ripples across the ____________ of the pond. The rock is the _____________ of Jesus Christ. Initially felt in ________________, the gospel message _____________ out from there in ever widening ___________ until it reached into the very ___________ of Caesar’s palace [All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household. Philippians 4:22]
1. It is an _______________ Account – it is a record of the apostles and ____________ of the early, first century church. Luke includes history and ___________ experiences of the early church. The ___________________ of the church is seen as a combination of advancement through ________________. In spite of and because of the _________________ of the early church, God provided expansion and _____________.
2. It is a ___________________ Book – it begins with _________ and ends with a ____________________ church. It is a continuation of _________ account of the Life of Christ in his Gospel, and picks up with Christ giving instructions right before His ______________. The theological structure can be seen as the message moves from a ____________ Jewish audience (Jerusalem, ___________) to those who were half-Jewish and half-Gentile (_____________), and finally to a completely Gentile audience and the repudiation of Jewish ________________ and laws [Acts 28:17-29; Romans 3, 10].
3. It is an _____________ Account – Luke 1:3, Luke had “perfect understanding,” from _________________ accounts from the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to his own experiences with Paul on his missionary journeys, and then to Rome during the first imprisonment.
Sir William Ramsay, who made the most extensive studies anyone has ever undertaken on the authenticity of this data recorded in Acts, finally said (even though he began his studies as a skeptic), “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 very greatest of historians.”
It is obvious that Acts is not a compilation of _________ or exaggerated __________, but accurate accounts that are totally reliable.
4. It is an ___________ Account – this book does not record the ___________, ___________, __________, ___________, or __________ of the apostles, but the ________ of the Apostles. This book is fast-moving, full of events, action, preaching, miracles, and the demonstration of the power of the ___________________ moving the early Church forward; turning their world ________________ for Jesus Christ.
5. It is a ___________ Account – along with Luke, Acts was written for the purpose of ______________. This book is an invaluable resource for ______________, church __________, ___________, church ____________, ______________, and much more.
G. Theme of the Book –
a. Key Verse - ___________
b. Key Word - ____________
This word is found over ______ times in the book. The Lord’s plan includes _______!
c. The Book of Acts has also been referred to as:
1. The Acts of the _______________
2. The Acts of the ________________________
3. The Acts of the __________________
H. Purpose of the Book –
The _______________ event in Luke’s theology is the _________________ of Jesus into Heaven after His ____________________. The ascension marked the end of Christ’s ____________ ministry and the beginning of the _____________ ____________ of world-wide ____________________ and edification.
I. Textual Issues in Acts –
a. Acts 1:3 – “many ____________ proofs” (KJV 1611)
“many ______________ proofs” (NIV, NASV)
“many ____________ proofs” (NWT – Jehovah’s Witness)
tekmhrion tekmerion tek-may’-ree-on
1) that from which something is surely and plainly __________
2) on indubitable evidence, a ________, sure
_______________ - (Webster’s) cannot be doubted, unquestionable.
______________ - (Webster’s) ___________ of error, never wrong.
______________ - (Webster’s) persuading by ___________ or evidence, causing to feel certain.
b. Acts 8:36-38
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
NASV – vs.37 (see footnote)
Footnote – late manuscript insertion
NIV – Footnote a – some late manuscripts vs.37
NWT – omits vs.37
c. Acts 9:3-5
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
NASV – vs.5 “Who art thou, Lord?” And He said,
NIV – vs.5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked,
NWT – vs.5 “Who are you, Lord?” He said,
J. Outline of the Book -
Note: There are several different ways to break down this book as far as main divisions.
I. The Witness in _________________ (Chapters 1-7)
(The Church ________________)
II. The Witness in ___________ and _____________ (Chapters 8-12)
(The Church ________________)
III. The Witness to the ___________________ Part (Chapters 13-28)
(The Church ________________)
K. Charts of Acts Related to the Rest of the New Testament - (See Chart)
Lecture Two – Acts 1
I. THE ___________ OF THE CHURCH.
a. The Nature of Luke’s Gospel. (vs.1)
It was an account of “ . . all that Jesus began both to ____ and _______”
__________ before speaking. __________ speak louder than words.
The Book of Acts tells of “all that Jesus ____________ to do” through the Holy Spirit and His ____________.
b. The Post-Resurrection ____________ of Christ. (vs.2)
1. It was _________ days in duration. (vs.3)
Forty is the number of ___________.
2. It was spent _______________ the Apostles.
(Matt.28:16-20; Mark 16:14-16; Luke 24:46-48; and John 20:19-23)
3. When the Lord Jesus Christ gave these words of commissioning to His Apostles, He gave them NOT to the apostles _________________ (for the commission would cease at their demise), but to them _________________, i.e. as a ____________ -- an organized _____________ of baptized believers.
c. Many ________________ Proofs (vs.3)
The credibility of Bible _________________ rests upon the fact of an empty ________ -- The ________________ of Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:12-17)
The fact of the resurrection is undeniable:
1. To _________ Magdalene (Mark 16;9)
2. To Other __________ (Matthew 28:9)
3. To __________ (I Corinthians 15:5)
4. To Two ______________ (Luke 24:15-31)
5. To Ten ____________ (John 20:19-24)
6. To ____________ Apostles (John 20:26-38)
7. To ______ Brethren at one time (I Corinthians 15:6)
8. To _________ (I Corinthians 15:6)
9. To ________ (Paul) (I Corinthians 15:8)
d. Two Kingdoms (vs.3, 6)
The last two words of both these verses mention 2 ___________ - one that is ___________, and one that is yet ____________, one ____________ and one _____________.
1. The Kingdom of ________. (vs.3)
This is a _____________ kingdom (Rom.14:17; John 18:36) The Gospel of the kingdom began with the preaching of __________________, continued with the preaching of the ________ Himself, and is spread today through the agency of His _____________. (Matthew 10:6,7; 16:19)
Note: The Kingdom of God (invisible, universal) is NOT the same as a __________ (visible, local).
2. The Kingdom to ___________. (vs.6)
This is the _________, visible, universal _____________ reign of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 25:31)
Of this kingdom, the Scripture is clear – the ________ of its establishment is with the ________. vs.7 (Matt. 24:36)
e. The ____________ of the Father. (vs.4)
This promise was given by __________ in John 7:37-39; 14:16-26; 15:26, 27; 16:7-15. It is the sending to _________ of the ________ Person of the Godhead – The ________________.
f. Holy Ghost _____________. (vs.5)
This verse recalls the prophecy of John recorded for us in each of the 4 Gospels (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; and John 1:33), and also in Acts 11:16.
A careful examination of these Scripture verses shows:
1. The Holy Spirit NEVER ___________ - Christ does!
It is _______________ and dangerous to seek such a thing as so many today.
2. Christ’s baptizing with the Holy Ghost was a _______ only event. (Romans 6:3; I Corinthians 12:13)
II. THE _________________ OF THE CHURCH.
a. The Great Commission was given to ____________.
1. Acts 1:4 “And, being ASSEMBLED together with them . . .”
A New Testament Church is an ‘assembly of baptized __________
2. Acts 1:6 “. . . were COME TOGETHER . . .”
3. John 20:19, 21
Here the disciples were ______________. Here the Lord gave the Commission.
b. The _____________. (vs.8)
“Ye shall be ______________ unto Me.” The message of every New Testament Baptist Church is ‘Christ __________, __________, and __________ again.’
c. The __________. (vs.8)
The Lord presented a definite strategy for the __________________ of the world. (Luke 24:47)
d. The ____________. (vs.8)
The task of witnessing of Christ cannot be effectively accomplished in the power of the _________ (mere human effort), but in the power of the ________________. (Zechariah 4:6)
e. The _______________ of the Lord Jesus Christ. (vs.9)
It was ______________ for the Lord to return to glory for the _________ _________ to come. (John 16:7, 8, 13)
III. THE __________ OF THE CHURCH.
In these verses we have one of the great promises concerning the ___________ coming of Jesus Christ.
a. Given by ___________
b. A ____________ Return.
“ . . . this SAME Jesus . . .” (I Thes.4:16; John 14:3)
c. A ___________ Return.
“ . . . as ye have SEEN Him . . .”
There is no __________ returns like the Jehovah Witnesses teach.
d. A ____________ Return.
“ . . . SHALL so come . . .” There is no doubt with any Bible-believing Christian that Jesus is coming ________. (I John 3:2; 2 Peter 3:10 Note the ‘wills’ and ‘shalls’)
e. A ____________________ Return.
“ . . . in LIKE MANNER . . .” Jesus ascended from the ________ of Olives (vs.12), and Zechariah 14:4 tells us He shall return to this very
mount in His coming in _________ and __________ to set up His _________________ kingdom. (Zechariah 14:8,9)
f. This Promise is Part of the Hope of Every ____________. (Titus 2:13)
IV. THE ____________ OF THE CHURCH.
There is evidence in Scripture of a __________ in existence for some time before _____________ - doing ________________ work (Matthew 10:5-7), _____________ (John 4:1,2), observing the Lord’s _____________ (Matthew 26:26-29), ___________ (Matthew 26:30; Hebrews 2:12), and many other things. They were an ‘_____________ assembly of baptized believers’ --- a ___________.
a. The Place. (vs.13)
They assembled in the ________ room. The fact of a place suggests definite ____________. All churches, by definition, are _________.