Understanding the book of acts this book correlates the epistles written by paul during and after the acts period with the text. An ancient prologue to lukes gospel indicates that luke was first a follower of the apostles and then became close with paul. Below we will summarize each stage in this great movement. Careful and accurate, this incisive exploration of lukes account of the events following the resurrection will shed light on cultural and political realities at the time the church was in its infancy. God took a christianhating murderer and transformed him into historys greatest christian evangelist, the author of almost half the books of the new testament. This plan takes you through the books of luke and acts over the course of 52 days. This workbook was designed for bible class study, family study, or personal study. Not yet signed up to receive how to understand the bible via email. The codex contains a copy of the new testaments book of acts, as well as another work yet to be determined.
The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. It is widely believed that the book of acts is the second volume in lukes gospel. The acts of the apostles is a unique and therefore crucial book of the new testament. You can follow along here at the blog, but we recommend signing up for email updates here. Jan 31, 2018 the artifact is a codex, or ancient book, written in the coptic language, that dates between a. The genre of the book of acts is narrative history with several sermons. Acts of the apostles niv audio bible non dramatized youtube. Book of acts read, study bible verses online bible study tools. Watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. While the first volume was what happened while jesus was here. The esv study bible includes maps on many of the pages in the book of acts that help illustrate the various places mentioned in acts and routes taken by the apostles as they proclaim the gospel.
T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. Acts is a fastmoving historical account of the first three decades of the church. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of the document. Understanding the book of acts in the bible learn religions. In only three decades, a small group of frightened believers in jerusalem transformed. It is an important book in understanding how we can be directed by the holy spirit and the role of jesus lessons in our lives. Mar 23, 2015 this video explains the transitional book that is the book of acts, and how it starts with jews to jews, and slowly changes to gentiles, as the jewish nation as a whole rejects jesus christ, and. Acts leaves no stone unturned as it brings every feature of interest and debate about the book of acts to our attention. This is the story of christianitys beginnings and how evangelism played. In addition, there are topical studies on issues such as spiritual leadership, gods redemptive plan, and old testament character studies. Luke, the author of the gospel of luke, was a doctor and gentile.
In his gospel, luke tells us that jesus helped the disciples to understand the scriptures. Kjv the book of acts is the historical link between the biographical records of matthew. Therefore, it is reasonable to include lukes purpose for acts as falling under his purpose for the book of luke. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. The life and teachings of jesus christ are established in the four gospel narratives, and the book of acts provides a coordinated account of the beginning and spread of the church as the result of the work of the risen lord and the holy spirit through the apostles. This will help you place yourself in the shoes or sandals of the apostles and understand the kindness of god in the gospel being for all people. Learning and observing themes in certain books of the bible can have a tremendous effect on your understanding of the book and whole bible.
The understanding the bible commentary series helps readers navigate the strange and sometimes intimidating literary terrain of the bible. How to understand the bible is available as a print book at. Acts 1 niv jesus taken up into heaven in my bible gateway. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. He taught them these things after his resurrection luke 24. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers.
Each book includes videos specifically designed to enhance your understanding and engagement with gods word. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. Mar 04, 20 the esv study bible includes maps on many of the pages in the book of acts that help illustrate the various places mentioned in acts and routes taken by the apostles as they proclaim the gospel. The gospel of luke and the book of acts form a single, twovolume work. The recipient of the book, theophilus, is the same person addressed in the first volume, the gospel of luke see introduction to luke. As the book of acts shows, regardless of what city paul was in, sabbathkeeping was his manner, habit or custom according to gods commandments acts 17. It alone presents an extensive picture of early church life and history. Understanding the book of acts berean bible society.
The gospels matthew, mark, luke, and john describe the life and ministry of jesus christ when he was in the flesh, while much of the rest of the new testament is made up of letters written by the apostles to the early church after the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of jesus. Content includes book studies on luke, ephesians, thessalonians, james, 1 samuel, john, and acts. Bible study tips for the book of acts unlocking the bible. The book of acts, youll discover how the old and new testaments together present christianity as a continuation. But we know that our god will triumph, that every knee will someday bow to jesus christ as lord, to the glory of god the father phil. This video explains the transitional book that is the book of acts, and how it starts with jews to jews, and slowly changes to gentiles, as the jewish nation as a whole rejects jesus christ, and. This is the story of christianitys beginnings and how evangelism played a role in the spread of faith around the world. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of the apostles through the work of the holy spirit. While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the apostles, many times you must use cross references to the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john as well as some other epistles in the new testament to get the full picture of what was. The book of acts, youll discover how the old and new testaments together present christianity as a continuation of gods plan for salvation. In acts, jesus sends the holy spirit to empower his disciples as they carry. The book of acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly paul and peter, after jesuss ascension into heaven. The book of acts is unlike any other biblical book. But you will receive power when the holy spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in jerusalem and in all judea and samaria, and to the end of the earth.
The hitherto unrevealed dispensation committed to paul is developed, showing both the differences and the similarities between gods spiritual programs for israels kingdom and for the church which is the. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. May 02, 2020 the book of acts shows how god essentially took a group of fisherman and commoners and used them to turn the world upside down acts 17. In the bible as we know it today, readers hardly have a hope of understanding and appreciating the marvelous twovolume history of luke acts. The book of acts is part two of the compelling story of jesus and reveals how the church was established in spite of extreme opposition.
The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. Acts is the only biblical book that chronicles the history of the church immediately after jesuss ascension. The book of acts is a record not only of might conversions, but also of fierce opposition to the preaching of the gospel. As such, it provides us with a valuable account of how the church was able to grow and spread out from jerusalem into the rest of the roman empire. The bible is an enormous book covering much information and. These accessible volumes break down the barriers between the ancient and modern worlds so that the power and meaning of the biblical texts become transparent to contemporary readers. The first half has been split off and placed in a group of gospels, with the book of john intervening between it and the second half, which is presented as history. Acts and the gospel of luke make up a twopart work, lukeacts, by the. On this understanding, mention of the martyrdom of paul c. Mar 31, 2015 get the whole book version of how to understand the bible here. This versebyverse bible study and commentary of the acts of the apostles the book of acts or simply acts is indepth but uses plain language that everyone can understand, as well as a format that will engage you.