Bill Acton :: Introduction

Introduction to Acts

1. The Title
   1. The acts of the risen Christ
   2. By the Spirit of Christ
   3. Through the apostles and other believers
2. The Author: Luke
   1. A physician and historian – Col 4:14
   2. A companion of Paul – 2Ti 4:11; Phm 24
   3. Act 1:1; 16:10-17; 20:5-38; 21:1-18
3. Historical Coverage from 33-64 A.D.
4. Its Place in the New Testament
   1. It is the bridge
   2. The New Testament
      1. The Gospels: revealing the person of Christ (biographical)
      2. The Acts: record of the preaching of Christ (historical)
      3. The Epistles: instructing the people of Christ (practical)
      4. Revelation: displaying the glory of Christ (prophetical)
5. The Importance of the Book
   1. Doctrinally
      1. Concerning Christ
         1. His Lordship
            1. Resurrection
            2. Ascension
            3. Head of the Church
      2. Concerning the Holy Spirit
         1. He is the Spirit of Jesus Christ
         2. He does the work of Christ
         3. He is predominate over the human in the Church
         4. He indwells believers
      3. Concerning the Church
         1. The beginning of the Church
         2. The growth of the Church
            1. Numerically
            2. Geographically
            3. Culturally
            4. Racially
            5. Religiously
            6. Jew and Gentile
         3. The message of the Church
            1. Forgiveness of sins
            2. The resurrection of Christ
         4. The preservation of the Church
         5. The life of the Church
            1. The teaching
            2. The fellowship
            3. The sharing
            4. The witnessing
            5. The danger
   2. Practically
      1. Enables us to see how God can accomplish His purpose in spite of opposition
      2. Enables us to see how God can use the least and weakest of all humans for His purpose
      3. Enables us to see the devotion of those who respond to the grace of God
6. Summary and Application
   1. The book of Acts is the continuation of the Gospels about the “Acts” of the risen Lord Jesus Christ
   2. The resurrection is the pivot around which all New Testament theology proceeds
   3. The witness is not centered on an attempt to systematically prove the resurrection
   4. The most convincing evidence is that of changed lives through contact with the risen Christ
   5. Acts is the record of those who lived by what they were convinced was true
   6. The resurrection dominated their life
   7. What dominates our life?