One-Ministry

The Book of Acts: Part One

Lesson 47

  

The Book:

• Luke, the writer of the third Gospel is also the author of the “Acts of the Apostles.” We know because the ascension of our Lord was the closing scene in Luke (Luke 24:49-51), and it is the opening words of Luke in Acts (1:10-11). Luke opens both Books in similar ways, addressing them to Theophilus.

 

• “The Acts of the Apostles” has been called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” All the twelve disciples are named in the first chapter, and they are collectively referred to some twenty-three times in the Book of Acts, however, the detailed account of only two are given in the Books of Acts-Peter and Paul.

 

The Central Message:

Acts 1:8

“Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto Me, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

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The Structure of the Book:

• The Book of Acts divides itself into two parts:

• Part one- chapters 1 through 12.

• Part two-chapters 13 through 28

• Part One

  • Jerusalem- the center

  • Peter- Main Character

  • Gospel- To Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria

  • Peter Imprisoned

• Part Two

  • Antioch- the center

  • Paul-Main Character

  • Gospel- to “uttermost part,” Rome

  • Paul Imprisoned

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Chapter One: The Resurrection and Ascension of Christ

• Act chapter one, talks of the “day of Pentecost.”

• Pentecost means fifty.

• Acts 1:3- Seen forty days after the resurrection and then waited ten days on the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father.

• Acts 1:4-5- Jesus tells the disciples to wait on that promise.

 

Chapter Two: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

• 1-3-The Spirit Descended-fell on them.

• 4- The Spirit filled them.

• 41-47-The Spirit worked through them.

• Peter’s first sermon-14-47

• 3,000 people were added to the Church.

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Chapter Three: Peter’s Ministry

• Healing of the lame man.

• Peter rebukes them for denying Christ and killing Him.

• V.19- Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

 

Chapter Four: Five Thousand Saved- The First Persecution

• V.1-4  Peter Jailed

• V.4- five thousand added to the Church.

• V.31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken when they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

 

Chapter Five: The Test and Victories of the Early Church

• Test V.1-11-Ananias and Sapphira- Kept back part of an offering and lied to the Holy Ghost.

• Victory V. 12-Many signs and wonders were done by the hand of the apostles.

• Test V.17-28- High priest  and Sadducees were filled with indignation, cast the apostles in prison.

• Victory V.19-26- The Angel of the Lord freed them from prison by night and told them to go preach in the temple in the morning.

• Test-V.27-28-They were brought before the temple high priest and the council, to stop speaking the name of Jesus.

• Victory V.29-32- Peter answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

• Test-V.33-40- The counsel was cut in their heart, then Gamaliel gave counsel to take heed on what they should do (v. 35), if they be of men do not worry, but if they be of God, you cannot fight God.

• Victory-V. 41-42- They praised God for the suffering and shame they endured. They continued to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

 

Chapter Six: Stephen Martyred-A Deacon who spoke with Power

• Birth of the Deacons V.1-7- Stephen being one of the seven selected.

• Stephen Charged with Blasphemy V.8-15

 

Chapter  Seven: Stephen Martyred-A Deacon who spoke with Power

• Stephens speech before the counsel-V.1-50

• Stephen accuses his Accusers-V.51-53

• The stoning of Stephen-V.54-58

• A young man by the name of Saul was there, he would later become Paul the great apostle.

• Stephen prayed:

  • Lord, receive my spirit.

  • Lay not this sin to their charge.

 

Chapter Eight: The Persecution and the Preaching of the Church

• Saul persecution of the church-V.1-3- Saul made havoc in the church.

• Philip preaches in Samria-V.4-8- many believed and were healed.

• Simon’s attempted purchase to buy the spirit V.9-25.

• The Ethiopian Eunuch’s Baptism-V.26-40

 

Chapter Nine: The Conversion of Saul-Paul

• Saul breathing out threats against the believers-V.1-2

• Saul conversion on the road to Damascus-V.3-9

• Saul’s conversation with Jesus-V.4-6

• God speak to Ananias to go pray for Saul-V.10-18.

• Saul in Damascus-V.19-25

• Saul in Jerusalem-V.26-31

• Aeneas healed by Peter’s prayer-V.32-35

• Dorcas raised from death-V.36-43

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Chapter Ten: The Gospel to the Gentiles

• Cornelius Vision-V.1-8

• Peter’s Vision-V.9-22

• Peter Visits Cornelius-V.23-33

• Peter preaches salvation to Cornelius-V.34-43

• Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit-V.44-48

 

Chapter Eleven: Antioch becomes Center of Gentile Church

• Jewish Believers challenge Peter-V.1-18

• Barnabas Sent to Antioch-V.19-24

• Barnabus seeks out Saul in Tarsus-V.25-26

• Relief for Judaea-V.27-30

 

Chapter Twelve: Persecution Again-but the Word Multiplied

• James the brother of John executed-V.1-2

• The Church prayed for Peter while being jailed-V.3-6

• The Angel of the Lord freed Peter from jail-V.7-19

• God smites Herod-V.20-24

• The Word of God multipied-V.24-25

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