KEY EVENTS IN ACTS (by chapter)

 

            Students should fill in the blanks and memorize this list by chapter so that they know the chronology of Acts and where the major events occur in the book.  It is also a reminder of the discussion points covered in the course.

 

            Events                                                                         Discussion Points

 

Ch. 1    Ascension of Christ                                                    

            Selection of                  to replace Judas

 

Ch. 2    Baptism in the Holy Spirit                                           “All”   

            Proclamation by                       and the other apostles            Baptism in the Holy Spirit

            Exhortation to the Jews about how to be forgiven      Tongues

            Community life of 3,000 who obeyed                         Worship

 

Ch. 3    Healing of the  man                                                    Miracles

            Peter’s second sermon

 

Ch. 4    Peter and          arrested; speak to Sanhedrin               Miracles and faith

            Peter and John released and report to the church        Fellowship

            Believers share their                           

 

Ch. 5    Ananias and Sapphira lie to God                                 Government and Citizens

            Apostles work                        

            Apostles arrested, released, continue preaching

 

Ch. 6    Care of the Grecian                

            Stephen arrested

 

Ch. 7    Stephen’s defense                                                        Martyrologies and Jesus’ death

            Stephen’s                                                                    

 

Ch. 8    Philip witnesses to Samaritans                                                The kingdom of God

            Philip witnesses to the                                    

 

Ch. 9    Saul’s mission to Damascus                                        Nature of baptism

            Saul’s                and early Christian life

 

Ch. 10  Cornelius and Peter see visions                                   God is no respecter of persons

            Peter speaks to Cornelius and his                   

            Cornelius and his household are baptized

 

Ch. 11  Peter reports about                 

            The church in Antioch

 

Ch. 12  Peter’s imprisonment and miraculous             

            Death of Herod Agrippa I

 

Ch. 13  Paul and Barnabas start first journey in                      

            Paul preaches at Pisidian Antioch

 

Ch. 14  Paul and Barnabas visit Iconium, Lystra,                                Elders

            Paul and Barnabas return to Syria

 

Ch. 15  Jerusalem                                                                                 Solving problems

            Letter proclaiming unity on Gentiles being saved

            Second missionary journey begun in conflict

 

Ch. 16  Paul and                       visit Phrygia and Galatia                    Open heart

            Timothy joins the group                                                          Household baptism

            Paul sees a vision of a                                      man

            Lydia and jailer converted in Philippi

 

Ch. 17  Paul and Silas in                                   and Berea                   Natural theology

            Paul’s visit to Athens

 

Ch. 18  Paul witnesses to many in                  

            Paul returns to Antioch of Syria

            Paul begins                   missionary journey

            Apollos preaches in Ephesus and Corinth

 

Ch. 19  Paul arrives in               and “re-baptizes” 12 men

            Paul preaches in Ephesus for over 2 years

            Riot of the                              

            Paul to Macedonia and Greece

 

Ch. 20  Paul returns from Macedonia via                                             Lord’s Supper and Day

            Paul bids farewell to Ephesian elders                                      Work of elders

                                                                                                            Paul’s mission method

Ch. 21  Paul takes offering from Gentiles to                           

            Paul’s arrest at the temple

 

Ch. 22  Paul’s defense before the        

            Paul claims his rights

 

Ch. 23  Paul’s trial before the                         

            Conspiracy against Paul and his journey to Caesarea

 

Ch. 24  Paul’s trial before                   

            Paul’s further contact with Felix

 

Ch. 25  Paul’s trial before                     and appeal to Caesar

            Festus asks help from King Agrippa

 

Ch. 26  Paul speaks before                              

            Response to Paul’s address

 

Ch. 27  Paul, in custody, begins journey to                              Comfort from God

            Ship encounters great storm

            Passengers and crew escape to                       

 

Ch. 28  Paul on Malta

            Paul arrives in Rome; imprisoned for  years

 

PAUL – A CHRONOLOGY

 

33-35      Conversion, time in Damascus

 

35-47      Spent time in Arabia and Damascus (Gal. 1:17)

Barnabas introduced Paul to Jerusalem church

Went to Tarsus, Syria-Cilicia area

Was with Barnabas in Antioch

 

47-48      First missionary journey

 

49        Jerusalem Council

Galatians written (early, South Galatian theory?)

 

49-51      Second missionary journey

 

50        1-2 Thessalonians written

 

52-56   Third missionary journey

            1-2 Corinthians and Romans written

 

58-60   Caesarean imprisonment

 

59-60   Appeals to Caesar, sent from Caesarea to Rome

 

60-62   Paul under house arrest in Rome

            Prison letters written

 

62        Paul’s release; possible trip to Spain

            Paul goes to Crete

            1 Timothy and Titus written

 

64-68   2 Timothy written

Paul’s death

 

 

ACTS OF APOSTLES

INTRODUCTION

 

I. Benefits of the study of Acts:

           

A. Find out how the church Jesus built got started. 

 

 

            B. Learn about how to interpret Scripture. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            C. See the connection between this story and the rest of the Bible.

 

           

D. Answer your questions.

 

           

E. Provide tools for making personal applications of many teachings of Scripture.

 

 

 

II. Author:

 

Internal evidence. 

 

 

External evidence.  

 

 

 

III. Recipient (1:1): 

 

 

 

IV. Date: 

 

 

 

V. Genre:

 

 

ACTS OF APOSTLES

HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION

 

A. General.

1. John Chrysostom (347–407).

 

 

 

 

2. John Calvin (1509–1564).

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Ferdinand Christian Baur (1792–1860). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B. 19th century Church of Christ.

            1. Canon within the canon.

 

 

            2. Alexander Campbell.

 

 

            3. Walter Scott.

 

 

            4. J. W. McGarvey.

 

 

 

 

            5. Problems?

 

 

ACTS OF APOSTLES

Six Fundamental Themes

 

1. The Continuation of God’s Purpose in History

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. The Mission and the Message

 

 

 

 

 

3. Progress Despite Opposition

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. The Nature of Faith and Unbelief

 

 

 

 

 

5. The Inclusion of Gentiles in the People of God

 

 

 

 

6. The Life and Organization of the Church

 

 

 

MAIN THEME OF ACTS

 

What the main theme is not: 

 

Criteria for main theme:

            Anticipated in Gospel of Luke.

 

            Makes sense of the whole story of Acts.

 

Theme: Bearing witness to the restoration of God’s people through the Holy Spirit.

 

I. Bearing witness (1:8).  The Gk. root marturevw, diamartuvromai, mavrtu~ (testify, witness) occurs fairly steadily from ch. 1 to ch. 28.

 

II. Restoration of God’s people. 

A. Restoration includes continuity.  Examples? 

 

B. God’s people.  It becomes evident that Gentiles are a part of God’s larger purpose.  Lk. 4:18-30.  When we speak of restoration, the pattern/paradigm is: 1) the restoration of Israel, and then 2) bringing in of Gentiles.  Gentiles become part of Israel.  Ac. 1:8- Start with Jews (ch. 1), then Samaritans (ch. 8), then God-fearing Gentiles (ch. 10).  Was this the expectation of the OT?  James thinks so.  Ac. 15:14-20- When the question about Gentiles becoming Christians is brought up, James gives Scriptural rationale of restored Israel bringing in Gentiles. 

 

More evidence of continuity.  No need to abolish the Mosaic law for Jews.  Jewish Christians saw Christianity as the true fulfillment of Judaism.

 

Emphasis on continuity- not a whole new thing.  The church, composed of Jews and (to use Paul’s language in Romans) ingrafted Gentiles, is not the new Israel, but the true Israel, restored Israel. 

 

There are 4 components of restoration in OT/Acts (prophecy/fulfillment).

            1. Promises and fulfillment are Davidic (2 Sam. 7:8-16; Is. 11; Eze. 39; et al.; Ac. 2).

            2. Jews returning from all over to Jerusalem (Is. 27:12-13; 44:26-28; Eze. 11:17; Ac. 2).

            3. Representatives from 12 tribes (Israel and Jacob; Jer. 31:1; apostles in Ac. 1-2).

            4. Outpouring of Holy Spirit.  Apostles understood the connection (Ac. 1:5-6). 

 

III. Holy Spirit is the one who brings restoration.

A. OT.  Is. 44:1-5- Metaphor of liquid being poured out on Israel and Jacob (north and south).  What is the point of the dry bones story (Eze. 37)?  Eze. 37:14.  Eze. 39:25, 28-29- Restoration theme again includes the HS.  True restoration entails HS.  The Restoration of Israel is not a literal restoration of land, for Paul says his citizenship is in heavenly Jerusalem.  It is a restoration of close communion with God, not of land. 

 

B. Luke-Acts.  Lk. 3:15-16- People understood that part of the messianic package is that he brings the HS.  John: “I don’t give HS; Messiah does.”  HS is what was promised in OT.  Messiah brings it.

 

 

Story of the Bible

 

5 components.

 

  1. God. 

 

  1. Creation.  Creation is God’s first act of grace. 

 

  1. Fall.  In the fallen world, we learn dependence on God in the wilderness. 

 

  1. Re-Creation/Redemptive History.  God seeks to redeem, not scrap it all and start over, although he could have done that.  Jesus’ death and resurrection mean atonement for sin.  His resurrection is eschatological. 

 

  1. Eschaton.

 

Where does Acts fit into this picture? 

 

 

 

THE HERODIAN FAMILY

Acts 12, 25-26

 

Name and Relation       Year of Death                Bible Story and Chapter

 

Herod the Great

 

 

 

 

Herod Antipas

 

 

 

 

Herod Agrippa I

 

 

 

 

Herod Agrippa II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACTS – MAPS TEST

 

Know the locations of the following cities, especially according to their regions, on which journey each was visited, and in geographical relation to one another.  (For maps, see http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/CN092MAPS1.htm .)

 

Jerusalem

Antioch of Syria

Rome

 

1st Journey

Cyprus

Antioch of Pisidia

Iconium

Lystra

Derbe

 

2nd Journey

Philippi

Thessalonica

Berea

Athens

Corinth

 

3rd Journey

Ephesus

Troas

 

 

ACTS—REVIEW FOR TEST 7

 

1. Whom did Barnabas want to take on the second journey?

 

2. Where was Timothy’s home?

 

3. Who forbid Paul to go to Asia and Bithynia?

 

4. Where does Luke join the trip?

 

5. Upon entering a town, where did Paul usually preach first?

 

6. Paul baptizes a woman named                     whose business was to sell                             .

 

7. What does it mean that God opened Lydia’s heart?

 

8. Who is the main worker in conversion?

 

9. How did the pagan servant girl refer to God?

 

10. Who broke the law in Philippi?

 

11. While in jail, Paul and Silas are                  and                  at midnight when there is an .

 

12. Who heard the word of the Lord along with the jailer?

 

13. The jailer and his family are baptized when?  Household baptisms have been used to defend what practice?

 

14. Paul accuses the magistrates of beating them without what?

 

15. While evangelizing, why is it important to know your audience well?

 

16. How did the Jews in Thessalonica feel about Paul’s success among the Gentiles?

 

17. From Thessalonica, where did the brothers send Paul and Silas by night?

 

18. The Jews in Berea are called “noble” for what reason?

 

19. What city had a blend of idolatry and philosophy?

 

20. What did the Epicureans and Stoics believe?

 

21. Where did Paul preach in Athens?

 

22. In his speech, Paul approvingly quoted ideas from what culture?

 

23. What primarily sets Christianity apart from the Greek philosophies?

 

24. Which were the two most important cities Paul would visit on his voluntary mission trips?

 

25. In Corinth, who was the synagogue ruler that believed?

 

26. Who is the Corinthian official that confirms the date of Paul’s trip to Corinth?

 

27. What does the Ephesus narrative teach about the occult?

 

28. The Ephesian Christians wrote a recommendation letter for whom?

 

29. The disciples Paul found in Ephesus had not heard of whom?

 

30. How many of these disciples were there?

 

31. What letter did Paul write from Ephesus around AD 55?

 

32. Whose sons tried to drive out demons?

 

33. What did the new Christians do with their magic books?

 

34. What is the silversmith’s primary concern about Paul’s preaching?

 

35. Where does the Ephesian mob take two of Paul’s companions?

 

36. What does the crowd shout for two hours?

 

37. Know the following verses: 16:30-31; 17:11.

 

 

ACTS—REVIEW FOR TEST 8

 

1. What letter does Paul write from Macedonia about AD 55?  For what does he commend the Macedonians in 2 Cor. 8:1-11?

 

2. How long does Paul stay in Greece?  What letter does he write from there?  What four things does Paul ask the disciples to whom he writes to pray for (Rom. 15:30-32)?

 

3. Who fell asleep and then fell dead during Paul’s speech?

 

4. What verse has often been used to prove that we should take the Lord’s Supper every Sunday?

 

5. In Luke-Acts, “breaking bread” means what?

 

6. What 3 elements are linked together in Lk. 24 and Acts 20?

 

7. What is the primary significance of “the first day of the week?”

 

8. The word for Sunday in Greek and Latin comes from the word for what?

 

9. Be familiar with the biblical, historical, and theological reasons for taking the Lord’s Supper on Sunday.

 

10. Where does Paul meet the Ephesian elders?  What did Paul say about his former work in Ephesus? 

 

11. How did Paul describe the content of his preaching in Ephesus?

 

12. How long did Paul minister in Ephesus?

 

13. What metaphor does Paul use to describe the Ephesian elders and their task?

 

14. In what mission city did Paul stay and work the longest?

 

15. What words of Jesus are here recorded that appear nowhere else?

 

16. What principles do we learn from Paul’s mission work?

 

17. What did the disciples warn Paul about?

 

18. What prophet came from Judea?

 

19. What was the rumor in Jerusalem about Paul’s teaching?

 

20. What did Paul agree to do about the rumor?

 

21. When did sacrifices finally end at the temple?

 

22. What was the charge against Paul at the temple?

 

23. How did Paul address the crowd at the temple?

 

24. According to Acts 22:17-21, where did Paul go to pray after his conversion?

 

25. What did the high priest Ananias order his servants to do to Paul?

 

26. Paul says he is on trial about what issue?

 

27. A vision guarantees that Paul will get to what city?

 

28. Who uncovered the plot to kill Paul?

 

29. To be safe, where did the commander send Paul?

 

30. What was the commander’s name?

 

31. Felix waited for whom to arrive before starting the hearing?

 

32. What does Paul call the church?

 

33. Why had Paul come to Jerusalem in the first place?

 

34. What did Paul speak to Felix and Drusilla about?

 

35. Festus suggested that Paul be taken back to Jerusalem to be tried by what group?

 

36. To whom did Paul appeal?

 

37. Who was the royal guest of Festus?

 

38. What indicates that Paul was once a member of the Sanhedrin?

 

39. What does it mean that Paul was “kicking against the goads?”

 

40. Summarize Paul’s message before Festus and Herod Agrippa II.

 

41. How does the travel narrative to Rome contribute to the theological aim of Acts?

 

42. The soldiers on board wanted to kill whom at the shipwreck?

 

43. What does barbarian mean?

 

44. When was ship navigation at a standstill?

 

45. About what year does Paul arrive in Rome?

 

46. Know the following verses: 20:7; 20:28-29; 22:16; 28:20.