I. COMPOSITION OF BOOK

A. Author - Luke the "beloved physician" (Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11; Philemon 24) clearly connected with earlier work, as author of "former treatise" (1:1) addressed also to Theophilus (Lk 1: 1-4) - eyewitness of much (16:1017; 20:5-21:25; 27:1-28:16) where he writes in first person. medical phraseology additional testimony (3:7; 12:23; 13:11; 28:8)

B. Scope - The Book of Acts has 28 chapters, 1067 verses, and 24,250 words. It covers approximately 30 years - A.D. 33 - 63 to 65 - extending from Jerusalem, through Antioch, to Rome.

II. RELATION OF BOOK TO OTHER BIBLE BOOKS

A. Bridge connecting Gospels and Epistles - outcome of former and explanation of latter, sequel of one and introduction to other.

B. Cf. last chapter of each gospel with first chapter of Acts:

[1]. Matthew refers to Resurrection; Mark to Ascension; Luke to promise of Spirit; John to Second Coming; all four facts included in introduction to Acts (1:1-11)
[2]. Each Evangelist recounts Great Commission of Christ; repeated and confirmed in Acts (1:8).

C. Cf. Epistles of Paul with Acts 13 to 28, which chapters at once introduce and illustrate them - we are dealing with the Acts of the Apostles - when you get to the Epistles, you deal with the doctrine of the Apostles.

 

III. THE PURPOSE FOR STUDY OF THE BOOK

A. Preface (1:1,2) shows connection between Acts and Luke's Gospel and purpose of both; one deals with what Jesus "began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up"; other with what Jesus continued to do, after He was taken up, through the Holy Spirit in lives of apostles as instruments (1:24; 2:33,47; 3-16; 7:59; 9:5 etc.)

B. The description of a great mission - "to do and teach" (1:1) These words sum up all activity of book:

[1]. Note the two - work and Word not one only
[2]. Note the order - conduct before precept (Lk. 24:19)
[3]. Note the work - doing

(a). equipping believers (1:8)
(b). extending the kingdom of God (1:3,8)
(c). establishing church (2:41-47)

The study of Acts will give the correct light on local church polity and government, church officers responsibilities, and general church conduct. It is amazing how few churches today, including Baptist, know anything about what the Bible teaches on these matters.

C. The Book of Acts furnishes the basic "proof texts" for four of the greatest heresies taught:

[1]. The teaching of Calvin and the Hyper-Calvinists
[2]. The teaching of Hyper-Dispensationalists
[3]. Baptismal regeneration (Catholics and Campbellites)
[4]. The Healing and Tongues movement (Glossalaia and Charismatic groups). No one can have a complete appreciation for their Bible until they have a basic grasp of all the things mentioned in this outline. Until such a time, the Bible will always be somewhat of a confusing series of seeming contradictions.

HENCE WE STUDY ACTS

I. THE EARTHLY MINISTRY - (vs. 1-8)

A. Preparatory (vs. 1) "...of all that Jesus began both to do and teach" The beginning of Christ's ministry, therefore, is in the Gospel of Luke. A future doing and teaching is implied.

B. Continuous (vs. 2) "...commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen." These constitute a set of additional commandments like Jn. 15:12 and I Jn. 2:3, which go beyond the "ten".

Furthermore, these "commandments" pertain to "the Kingdom of God" (vs. 3), which is always a reference to a spiritual state of moral righteousness (Rom. 14:17). Although this kingdom is never identical to the "Kingdom of Heaven", it is present on earth when the Lord Jesus Christ is on earth. The physical and spiritual kingdom are present in (Gen. 18:1-2 and in Lk. 24:12-49). This foreshadows the Millennium when the Kingdom of God will appear (Lk. 1:30-33). It is apparent that the Kingdom of God mentioned in Rom. 14:17 is connected with the Body of Christ in this age (Eph. 3:1-6), and since this Body is not revealed until after (Acts 9). NOTICE "REVEALED", not "FORMED" - The Kingdom of God in (Acts 1:3) has to have a Millennial application.

C. Thorough (vs. 3) "By many infallible proofs" Why do most of the "new" translation not have the courage to say infallible? What other word is appropriate when there were 500 witnesses (1 Cor. 15:6) testifying to the resurrection of a dead man and eleven of them living with that man 40 days - eating and drinking (Lk. 24:38-44) and handling him (1 Jn. 1:1)

II. THE PARTING WORDS - (vs. 4-8)

B. The question of the disciples (vs. 6) Their questions concerning the restoration of the Kingdom was not asked out of ignorance but education. They had spent 40 days being instructed by Jesus. The Lord wouldn't give them a direct answer - why? Because at that time it could go either way. Until (Acts 7) the O.T. was being fulfilled in preparation for a rapture (Ps. 50; Isa. 26; Song of Sol. 2), a seven year tribulation (Dan. 9). From (Acts 1-7) the matter is proceeding with Elijah's prophecy fulfilled (Matt. 17:11), the Anti-Christ is in the pit ready to come up (Rev. 17:8), and Moses is ready to pop up (Mal. 4:4) and start preaching as soon as Michael blows (Dan 12:1,2)

C. The Commission (vs. 8) There is no conflict between the commission and fulfillment of the kingdom promises to Israel, for it was a known fact (to a Bible believer) that the gentiles ("uttermost part of the world") would share in the kingdom blessings of Israel. This theme occurs so many times in the O.T. that Paul can appropriate passages on it for the church age (Rom. 15: 9-12; 9:25-28; 10:20,21.) The O.T. speaks of the salvation of the Gentiles (Isa. 2:1-5) through Israel. This could have been accomplished with or without a "church age".