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The Book of Acts

Acts of The Apostles

Acts of Jesus & the Holy Spirit

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Author

  • St. Luke
  • 2nd volume to the Gospel
  • A travelling co-worker with St. Paul
  • Well educated
  • Painter and Physician
  • Very detail oriented
  • Greek

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When & Where

  • Sometime in the early A.D. 60’s
    • Before the martyrdom of St. Paul 68 A.D.
    • Did not deal with important events that happened in the late A.D. 60’s and the early A.D. 70’s
  • Most probably written in Rome
  • Covers the period of around 32 years, between 33 A.D. and 64 A.D.

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Theme

  • St. Luke tells the story of the church’s beginning and expansion, covering about 32 years from the Lord Jesus’s ascension to St. Paul’s imprisonment

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Theme Verse

  • “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” Acts 1:8

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Prominent Figures

  • St. Peter:
  • His Ministries (12 chapters)
  • has now become a fiery speaker converting 3,000 and fearless in preaching the Gospel

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  • St. Paul:
  • His Evangelism (18 Chapters)
  • His Journeys

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Prominent Figures (cont.)

  • St. Stephen:
  • Among the 7 original deacons
  • Ordained a deacon to help organize and serve (Acts 6). He was the First martyr�
  • St. Barnabas:
  • Brought St. Paul to the Apostles

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  • St. James:
  • Leader of the Jerusalem Council

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  • St. Silas, St. Luke, St. Timothy, St. Mark :
  • Traveling companions of St. Paul

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Purpose of the Book

  • Stress the factuality of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead.

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  • Intends to tell the story of how the Church was assembled and grew as a result of Divine activity.

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  • To show that it is the same God of Israel who forms, guides and empowers the Church.

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Characteristics of the Book

  • In the book of Acts, Divine activity is attributed to the Holy Spirit
  • 42 times ”Holy Spirit”
  • In the book of Acts we see the Will of the Holy Spirit to preach to the gentiles.
  • We also see the Jewish nation hardened its heart to God.
  • We also see the first ever Church Council attended to resolve a dispute whether the gentiles had to be circumcised or not.

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How does it end?��

  • It doesn’t
  • Saint Luke, doesn’t end with “Amen” like he does in his Gospel.

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Main Sections

  • Chapter 1 :
  • Replacing Judas; ELECTION of Matthias

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  • Chapter 2 :
  • The Holy Spirit & the Tongues of Fire
  • St. Peter’s Sermon and the Baptism of the 3000

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  • Chapter 3 & 4 :
  • The Lame Beggar
  • First time St. Peter & St. John in Jail

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Main Sections (cont.)

  • Chapter 5 :
  • Ananias & Sapphira

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  • Chapter 6 & 7 :
  • The 7 deacons
  • The Sermon and Martyrdom of St. Stephen

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  • Chapter 8 :
  • Simon & The Sorcerer
  • St. Philip & The Ethiopian eunuch

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Main Sections (cont.)

  • Chapter 9 :
  • Saul’s conversion

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  • Chapter 10 & 11 :
  • St. Peter and Cornelius

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  • Chapter 12 :
  • Martyrdom of St. James

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Main Sections (cont.)

  • Chapter 13 & 14 :
  • St. Paul’s First Missionary Journeys

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  • Chapter 15 :
  • Council of Jerusalem

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Main Sections (cont.)

  • Chapter 16, 17 & 18:
  • St. Paul’s Second Missionary Journeys

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Main Sections (cont.)

  • Chapter 19 & 20:
  • St. Paul’s Third Missionary Journeys

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Main Sections (cont.)

  • Chapter 21 to 28:
  • St. Paul on his way to Rome as a prisoner

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St. Paul’s Missionary Trips