Introduction to the Book of Acts

Good morning! ☀️

"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."

May you be covered in His dust.

My plan is to post my notes on Tuesdays and Fridays. We’re full-time missionaries and raising five little ones, so that won’t always be possible, but I’ll do my best.

When you think of Acts, what comes to mind?

For me, I think of the birth of the church, but what does that even mean??? Maybe you think about Paul’s conversion? Or Pentecost?

Yes! That’s all in there, but there’s so much more!

Let’s get into it!

Introduction to the Book of Acts

The Book of Acts was written by Luke the Physician, who also wrote the Gospel of Luke.

That’s important for a few reasons:

Luke is known for being very detailed and accurate in his writings. His work as a doctor might have helped him be thorough when recording events. His attention to detail helps us better understand the history of early Christianity.

By writing both books, Luke gives us seamless links to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection (in the Gospel of Luke) with the early growth of the Christian church (in Acts). This helps us see how Jesus' teachings and events shaped the early Christians' actions and beliefs.

Luke often says he got his information from eyewitnesses. This makes his accounts more believable because they’re based on firsthand experiences of people who saw Jesus' ministry and the early church's growth.

The Gospel of Luke is typically dated to have been written around 60-70 AD, and the Book of Acts is thought to have been written shortly after, around 70-90 AD.

That doesn’t sit quite right with me.

The destruction of the Temple was a major event for the Jewish people and early Christians. If it had already happened by the time these texts were written, Luke would likely have mentioned it. Since he didn't, many scholars believe this supports the idea that both works were written before 70 AD.

Acts 1:8 is often seen as an outline for the entire book:

This verse shows how the Gospel spread from Jerusalem to Rome, with the Holy Spirit empowering the apostles to spread the message of Jesus Christ.

The structure of Acts

The Book of Acts can be divided into two main parts: Peter's ministry (chapters 1-12) and Paul's ministry (chapters 13-28).

Peter’s Ministry (1:1-12:24): The first twelve chapters focus on Jerusalem, with Peter leading the efforts towards the Jewish people. The early church grows quickly, gaining thousands of converts.

Stephen’s martyrdom in chapter 7 is significant, leading to increased persecution of Christians.

This persecution scatters the believers, spreading the Gospel beyond Jerusalem to nearby regions.

Paul’s Ministry (12:25-28:31): From chapter 13 onward, the focus is on Paul and his missionary journeys.

Over about ten years, Paul goes on three major journeys, planting churches and spreading the Gospel across Asia Minor and Europe.

He wrote letters to those churches, and thirteen of them are in the New Testament.

The Book of Acts is so rich!

Here’s what you can expect to see in the upcoming weeks:

Pentecost (Acts 2): The Holy Spirit empowers the apostles to preach boldly, converting about 3,000 people.

Stephen’s Martyrdom (Acts 7): Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr, and his death sparks a wave of persecution against the church in Jerusalem.

Conversion of Paul (Acts 9): Saul, a fierce persecutor of Christians, encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus, converts, and becomes Paul, a major Christian missionary.

Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15): This council decides that Gentile converts do not need to follow Jewish law, a significant step for including Gentiles in the church.

Paul’s Missionary Journeys: Paul travels widely, spreading the Gospel and establishing churches, facing both success and intense opposition, including beatings, imprisonments, and a shipwreck.

Paul’s Imprisonment and Journey to Rome (Acts 21-28): Despite being arrested and facing multiple trials, Paul stays committed to his mission. He appeals to Caesar and is taken to Rome, where Acts ends with him under house arrest, still preaching the Gospel.

How can you not absolutely love the Book of Acts???

Look for chapter 1 on Friday.

I love you,

George
Uncovering Scripture

George Sisneros is a full-time missionary in Guatemala and the founder of Ordinary Missionaries and the El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys.

He’s been married to his wife, Vonda, for 25 years. He’s a father to nine children, five adopted.

George and his family will be expanding to Cuba in 2024.

You can get George’s bestselling book, Do You Love Me? Giving up the American Dream to Serve the Underprivileged, on Amazon.