Bible Commentaries
Acts

ACTS

The Acts of the Apostles

Name / Title

1. Acts - meaning the activity, the actions

2. NOT Acts - as laws and ordinances

3. NOT Acts - as acting, pretense or hypocrisy

4. Titles of books are not inspired, given by men to identify them

5. It is, in fact, some of the acts of a few of the apostles

1. The first 10 chapters - the focus is on Peter

2. The rest of the book - the focus in on Paul

Author

1. Act_1:1 and Luk_1:1-4 - Luke is the author

2. Luke was a medical doctor - physician

3. Traveled with Paul on parts of 2 nd and 3 rd missionary journeys

4. Note the "they" and "we" passages in the book.

5. Luke and Acts - same style, same vocabulary

6. Acts picks up where Luke ended

Addressed to

1. Theophilus - A Greek name meaning "Lover of God"

2. Both Luke and Acts are written to the Greek world

3. Probably a Roman soldier or government official

4. "Most Excellent" ( Luk_1:3 ) is a term used to address high ranking officers or government officials.

Date

1. Tells about Paul in Rome - 62

2. But does not tell about the death of Paul - about 64

3. Most believe it was written about 63

Where Written

1. Probably from Rome - with Paul

2. See Act_28:16

Purpose

1. To tell the events that resulted from the life of Christ

2. To record the establishment, growth and spread of Christianity

ACTS - CHAPTER CONTENTS

1. Ascension; Selection of Mathias

2. Pentecost

3. Lame man healed

4. Before the council

5. Ananias and Sapphira

6. Grecian Widows

7. Stoning of Stephen

8. Samaria; Ethiopian

9. Saul

10. Cornelius

11. Acceptance of Gentiles

12. Peter escapes prison

13. First journey

14. Paul stoned at Lystra

15. Jerusalem conference

16. Second journey

17. Mars' Hill

18. Corinth

19. Twelve men at Ephesus

20. Meeting with Ephesus' elders

21. Ceasarea and Jerusalem

22. Paul's defense

23. Plot to kill Paul

24. Felix

25. Moved to Caesarea

26. King Agrippa

27. Shipwrecked

28. Arrives in Rome

The ABC's of Acts

(you should notice a pattern)

Chapter with key verses in parenthesis

1 Ascension of Christ (9).

Apostle appointed (26).

2 Beginning of the body (1-4).

3 Cripple cured (6).

4 Disciples detained (3).

5 Envious saints (1-2)

Escape from prison (17-20).

6 Faithful few chosen (seven) (3-6).

7 Great sermon by Stephen (entire chapter).

8 Here is water (36).

9 Into Damascus (8).

Instant life (40).

10 Journey from Joppa (23).

11 Kingdom includes Gentiles (18).

12 Liberated again (17).

13 Men sent out to preach (3-4).

Mark turns back (13).

14 Not gods, but men (15).

15 Old law not binding (23-24).

16 Philippians converted (12).

17 Questions on Mars' Hill (19)

18 Response of the Corinthians (8).

19 School at Ephesus (9).

Spread of God's word from Ephesus to all Asia (10).

Silversmith's strike (24).

20 Troas on the Lord's Day (6-7).

21 Uproar at Jerusalem (30-31).

22 Valiant defense (1-21).

Valuable citizenship (25-29).

23 Waiting to kill Paul (12-15).

24 Xcuse of Felix (25).

25 Yet untried (14).

26 Zealous before Agrippa (2-29).

27 First of journey to Rome (1)

28 Last of Acts, arriving in Rome (16).