Acts Introduction - KJV (King James Version)
Synopsis:
Acts picks up where Luke's Gospel leaves off, recording the early progress of the gospel as Jesus' disciples took it from Jerusalem throughout Judea, Samaria, and the rest of the Mediterranean world. The story begins with Christ's ascension and the events of Pentecost. As Gentiles begin responding to the gospel, the focus shifts to Paul and his missionary journeys. Acts forms a bridge between the four Gospels and the rest of the New Testament, showing how the apostles carried on Christ's work and providing a historical background for Romans through Revelation. The Acts of the Apostles is the second of two New Testament books written by Luke. Like his Gospel, Acts was a letter to Luke's friend Theophilus, written sometime in a.d. 62-64.
Authorship: Luke via the Apostle Paul
- “we passages” in Acts (Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16)
- 'the physician' (Col 4:14)
- "we" (2 Tim 4:11)
Date of Composition: 63-64 AD (prior to 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem)
- Critics will try to date it after 70 AD because of Jesus' prediction of the Temple being destroyed (Lk 21:20).
- Acts closes with Paul's arrest in Rome dated to 62 AD
- Acts is the 2nd account written to Theophilus (Acts 1:1)
Simple Outline:
1. Witnesses to the Jews (Acts 1-7)
A. Birth of the Church (Ch 1-2)
B. Progress of the Church (Ch 3-7)
2. Witnesses to the Samaritans (Acts 8-12)
A. Expansion of the Church (Ch 8-12)
3. Witnesses to the Gentiles (Acts 13-28)
A. Paul's 3 Missions (Ch 13-21)
B. Paul's Trials (Ch 21-28)