BNT 150 (2): ACTS OF THE APOSTLES (3 CREDIT HOURS)
Cincinnati Christian University, Fall Semester 2012, MWF, 11:00–11:50 a.m.
Dr. Jon A. Weatherly, InstructorOffice: Presidents Hall, 2nd floor, NE corner
Office Telephone: (513) 244–8121 (ext. 8121 on campus)Home Telephone: (513) 681–7556
Mobile Telephone: (513) 240–4903email:
Fax: (513) 244–8123Course resources:
CCU MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Cincinnati Christian University is to teach men and women to live by biblical principles and to equip and empower them with character, skills, insight, and vision to lead the church and to impact society for Christ.
CCU UNDERGRADUATE BIBLICAL STUDIES COMPETENCIES:
After completing the Biblical studies major, the student will be able to:
- Exegete and apply biblical literature, employing basic interpretive principles.
- Place biblical literature into historical, cultural, and theological contexts.
- Conduct biblical research and present findings responsibly.
- Articulate informed belief in the inspiration of the Scriptures.
- Set forth a coherent theology thoroughly grounded in the teaching of the Bible.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An introduction to the study of the New Testament involving exegesis of the text of Acts, analysis of key ideas of the book, consideration of relevant historical material, discussion of controversial and practical aspects of the book, and orientation to the setting of the New Testament epistles. Required as prerequisite to all 200–399 Bible courses.
COURSE RATIONALE
The Acts of the Apostles serves as a bridge linking the story of Jesus in the Gospels to the life of the church in the letters. In contemporary Christianity the interpretation of Acts is often the subject of theological dispute. Therefore, the study of this book can provide an effective introduction to the practice of informed, faithful exegesis of Scripture that shapes the church’s theology.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The student who successfully completes this course will be able to:
- Articulate an informed exegesis of the text of Acts, reflecting the application of basic interpretive principles [competency 1]
- Describe the impact that historical and cultural background has on the meaning of the text of Acts. [competency 2]
- Conduct foundational biblical research by clearly summarizing and evaluating interpretive works on Acts. [competency 3]
- Articulate a coherent, informed understanding of the theology of Acts that addresses issues of controversy and expresses the relevance of the book’s emphases for contemporary Christianity. [competency 5]
- Express confidence in Acts as a faithful historical witness to the church’s early history and a divinely authoritative guide to the church’s ongoing work. [competency 4]
AGENDA
Note that the course meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday except for Labor Day, Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, and possibly for Sneak Day.
Aug20Introduction to the Course
22Overview of Old Testament History
Reading: Spark Notes Guide to the Old Testament, sections: “Context,” “Overview,” “Character List,” “Analysis of Major Characters,” “Themes, Motifs & Symbols”
( link available on Moodle)
Quiz: Online quiz on reading assignment, taken through Moodle before class begins
24Overview of Classical and Jewish IntertestamentalHistory
Reading: Zondervan Handbook to the Bible, pp. 527–37 (available on Moodle)
Quiz: Online quiz on reading assignment, taken through Moodle before class begins
27Overview of the Gospels
Reading: Zondervan Handbook to the Bible, pp. 538–44 (available on Moodle); Message of Acts, pp. 21–31
Quiz: Online quiz on reading assignment, taken through Moodle before class begins
29Overview of Acts
Reading: Acts ch. 1–28; Message of Acts, pp. 5–9, 21–37
Questions: Answer Questions from Study 1 in Message of Acts, p. 408.
31Acts 1
Reading: Acts 1;Message of Acts, pp. 39–59
Questions: Answer Questions from Study 2 in Message of Acts, pp. 409–10.
Sept5Acts 2
Reading: Acts 2;Message of Acts, pp. 60–87
Questions: Answer Questions from Study 3 in Message of Acts, p. 410–11.
7Acts 2
10 (Sneak Day? September 12 assignments due if Sneak Day does not occur on or prior to this date)
12Acts 2
14Acts 3:1–4:31
Reading: Acts 3:1–4:31; Message of Acts, pp. 88–104
Questions: Answer Questions from Study 4 in Message of Acts, p. 412.
17Acts 3:1–4:31
19Review
21Exam 1: Introduction, Acts 1:1–4:4:31
24Acts 4:32–6:7
Reading: Acts4:32–6:7; Message of Acts, pp. 105–124
Question: Answer Questions from Study 5 in Message of Acts, pp. 413–414
26Acts 6:8–7:60
Reading: Acts 6:8–7:60; Message of Acts, pp. 125–143
Questions: Answer Questions from Study 6 in Message of Acts, pp. 414–15
28Acts 6:8–7:60
Oct1Acts 8
Reading: Acts 8; Message of Acts, pp. 144–164
Questions: Answer Questions from Study 7 in Message of Acts, pp. 415–416
3No class: Dr. Weatherly will be out of town
5Fall Break
8Acts 9:1–31
Reading: Acts 9:1–31; Message of Acts, pp. 165–180
Questions:Answer Questions from Study 8 in Message of Acts, pp. 416–417
10Acts 9:32–11:18
Reading: Acts 9:32–11:18; Message of Acts, pp. 181–199.
Questions:Answer Questions from Study 9 in Message of Acts, pp. 417–418
12Acts 9:32–11:18
15Acts 11:19–12:24
Reading: Acts 11:19-12:24; Message of Acts, pp. 200–213
Questions: Answer Questions from Study 10 in Message of Acts, pp. 418–419
17Review
19Exam 2: Acts 4:32–12:24
22Acts 13
Reading: Acts 12:25–14:28; Message of Acts, pp. 215–239
Questions:Answer Questions from Study 11 in Message of Acts, pp. 419–420
24Acts 12:25–14:28
26Acts 15:1–16:5
Reading: Acts 15:1–16:5; Message of Acts, pp. 240–257
Questions:Answer Questions from Study 12 in Message of Acts, pp. 420–421
29Acts 16:6–17:15
Reading: Acts 16:6–17:15; Message of Acts, pp. 258–275
Questions: Answer Questions from Study 13 in Message of Acts, pp. 421–422
31Acts 17:16–34
Reading: Acts 17; Message of Acts, pp. 276–291
Questions:Answer Questions from Study 14 in Message of Acts, pp. 422–423
Nov2Acts 18:1–19:41
Reading: Acts 18:1–19:41; Message of Acts, pp. 292–314
Questions:Answer Questions from Study 15 in Message of Acts, pp. 423–424
5Acts 18:1–19:41
7Acts 20:1–21:17
Reading: Acts 20:1–21:17; Message of Acts, pp. 315–333
Questions:Answer Questions from Study 16 in Message of Acts, pp. 424–425
9Review
Essay: Summary and Evaluation of The King Jesus Gospel
12Exam 3: Acts 12:25–21:17
14Acts 21:18–23:25
Reading: Acts 21:18–23:25; Message of Acts, pp. 335–357
Questions:Answer Questions from Study 17 in Message of Acts, pp. 425–426
16Acts 24:1–26:32
Reading: Acts 24:1–26:32; Message of Acts, pp. 358–382
Questions:Answer Questions from Study 18 in Message of Acts, pp. 426–427
19-23Thanksgiving Break
26Acts 24:1–26:32
28Acts 27:1–28:31
Reading: Acts 27:1–28:31; Message of Acts, pp. 383–405
Questions: Answer Questions from Study 19 in Message of Acts, pp. 427–428
30Acts 27:1–28:31
Reading: Acts 28; Message of Acts, pp. 394–405
Dec3Review
5Review
7Review
12Final Exam (tentative date): Acts 21:18–28:31 and comprehensive matters
The professor may modify this agenda as the semester develops. Consequently, not all topics may be covered. Any modifications will be announced in class.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS.
Each student should have a copy of the Bible, including Old and New Testaments, in a contemporary English translation (New International, New American Standard, English Standard, etc.). Each student must bring a copy of the Bible to class each day, as well as materials for taking notes. Other books need not be brought to class unless the professor specifies otherwise for a particular day.
Primary Textbook: Stott, John R. W. The Message of Acts: The Spirit, the Church and the World. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1990.
Supplemental Textbook: McKnight, Scott. The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.
Other reading assignments will be found online on the Moodle site for the course (
ATTENDANCE, CLASSROOM DEMEANOR AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The attendance policy in the CCU student handbook will apply to this course: students who miss more than four sessions of the class will receive the grade of FA (failure due to absences) unless they can document that their absences were for school-sponsored travel, illness or family emergency. Students who are chronically tardy or asleep or who read, play computer games, instant message or do other “multitasking” in class may also be counted absent. No other specific penalty for absences will be assessed, but students are reminded that there is no substitute for active participation in class sessions.
During class sessions, students are expected to give their full attention to lectures, discussions and activities. That means no talking (except as part of class discussion), messaging, reading, sleeping, or multitasking. Because digital devices provide innumerable distractions, the professor does not allow the use of laptops, tablets or smart phones in this class. Students who believe that they can take notes more effectively on a tablet or laptop must schedule an appointment with the professor to discuss their needs and obtain permission and conditions for its use.
Likewise, policies regarding academic integrity as published in the CCU student handbook will apply in this course. Because this course encourages group work on some assignments, students are urged to observe that group work can be done only on the assignments so designated and that groups may not divide up those assignments for individual contributions but must work together on the entire assignment with all group members participating throughout the assignment.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS
Students who require academic accommodations due to any documented physical, psychological, or learning disability should request assistance from the Academic Support Director, Marie Reeves, within the first two weeks of class. The Academic Support Office is located in the lower level of the Worship and Ministry Building (room 153). You may also contact the office by phone (244-8420).
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING FORMULA
No assignment for this course may be turned in late (i.e. after class on the date indicated in the agenda). Students absent for planned travel must submit assignments before leaving. Students who have a legitimate excuse for not turning in an assignment on time must submit that excuse (illness, family or ministry emergency) to the professor in writing, indicating the assignments missed and the reason. Legitimate excuses will excuse the student from submitting quizzes or questions for credit, though completing the missed work will still be an important learning activity. Any such assignment turned in late for any reason (including “I had it done on time but I forgot to turn it in”) will be returned without a grade. Do not bother asking for exceptions to this policy. If illness, family emergency or ministry emergency prevents a student from turning in the summary and evaluation of The King Jesus Gospel on time, the student can receive an extension by explaining the circumstances in writing to the professor.
Quizzes and Questions (15% of Final Grade)
For reading assignments delivered online (all at the beginning of the course), students must take an online quiz on the reading before the beginning of class on the day the reading assignment is due.
For reading from Message of Acts, students must complete the study questions for each section of reading, found in the back of the book, as indicated on the agenda. Students are strongly encouraged to form groups of 3–5 to answer these questions throughout the semester: each group must work together to answer all questions (it is a violation of academic integrity for students to turn in answers that they have not all worked on together). Groups will turn in one copy of questions and answers for the entire group.
Answers to questions should be in complete sentences and paragraphs: short phrases, lists and the like are normally not sufficient.
Questions and answers should be word processed using a standard, proportionally spaced font of 10–12 points and printed on one side of the page. Single or double spacing is acceptable. The questions and answers should be presented as follows: (a) question number (as it appears in the textbook); (b) the text of the question (copied from the textbook); (c) the group’s or individual’s answer (normally a short paragraph). Here is an example, from the first question of Study 1 on p. 408 of The Message of Acts:
- Why is Acts suich a valuable book (pp. 5f.)?
Acts is valuable for several reasons. It provides the history of the early church. It frames the background for the rest of the New Testament, showing how the gospel spread from Jerusalem to the Roman world and introducing Paul, who wrote many of the letters of the New Testament. Acts is also valuable for the inspiration it provides to readers, though we must be careful not to “romanticize” the early church as if it were perfect.
Summary and Evaluation of The King Jesus Gospel(20% of final grade)
By the date indicated on the agenda, students will read Scot McKnight’s The King Jesus Gospel and write a paper summarizing the contents of the book and evaluating its contribution to their understanding of the New Testament, especially the book of Acts. These papers cannot be completed in groups. Papers must be word processed, double spaced, using a standard, proportionally spaced font of 10–12 points and margins of 1.0–1.5 inches. Four to six pages should be sufficient. Advice on the preparation of this assignment will be given in class.
Exams (65% of final grade)
Students will take four exams through the semester. Each will consist of a blend of objective questions (true/false, multiple choice, matching, fill-the-blank) and essays. Exams must be taken on the day and time scheduled except in cases of illness, family emergency, ministry emergency or university-sponsored travel. Exams will be over the material noted in the agenda. The first three exams each will be worth 15% of the final grade (45% total). The fourth exam will cover both the final unit and the entire semester’s study and will be worth 20% of the final grade.
The assignments and grading formula may be modified at the professor’s discretion depending on circumstances that develop during the semester. Any such modification will be announced in class. The professor may modify the grading formula for individual students, but only in the student’s favor (e.g. to recognize marked improvement through the semester, later exams may be weighted more than earlier ones).
SEEING THE PROFESSOR OUTSIDE OF CLASS
The professor welcomes the opportunity to meet with students to talk about Acts, the New Testament, the church, spiritual growth, evangelism, theology, and all related matters. Such opportunities are best scheduled in advance. Please see Tracey Burroughs, academic administrative assistant (, 513.244.8160), to schedule a time to meet.