INTRODUC TION

• The title “The Acts of the Apostles” is very ancient. The title is a bit misleading, however, because the book contains only a few of the acts of some of the apostles, primarily Peter and Paul. The book is more a story of the extension of the church from Jerusalem to Rome than it is a complete history of the apostles’ acts.

• Whereas Jesus is the chief character in the Gospels, the Holy Spirit working through the apostles is the chief character in Acts. Dr. Thomas L. Constable

DATE AND THE AUTHOR

• The date of the composition was probably in the early sixties: A.D. 60-63. In view of his emphases, Luke probably would have mentioned several important events had they occurred by the time he wrote. These include persecution of Christians by Nero that began in A.D. 64, Paul’s death in A.D. 68

DATE AND THE AUTHOR

• and the destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70. We do know for sure where Luke wrote Acts. Perhaps he composed it over a period of years, drawing on various sources, and then put it into its final form in Rome where Paul was in confinement for two years ( 28:30-31; 60-62 A.D.).

AU THORSHIP

• Both internal and external evidence confirms that the author of The ACTS of Apostle was Luke who was physician by profession ( Col. 4:14) and also wrote the Gospel of Luke. He was Paul’s travel companion ( 2 Tim. 4:11). He was gentile.

SCOPE

• The events recorded in Acts cover a period of about 30 years: beginning with the ascension of Lord Jesus in A.D. 33, and extending to Paul’s two-year Roman house arrest ending about A.D. 62. Thus, it gives us about 30 years of church history.

THEOLOGICAL PURPOSE

• Acts has theological, historical, apologetic and instructive purpose. Theologically, he showed how the plan and purpose of God working out through history. In particular, he showed how Jesus Christ was faithfully and irresistibly building His Church ( Matt. 16:18).

HISTORICAL PURPOSE

• Historically, He intended to provide an inspired record of selected events that show the spread of the gospel and the church. They branched out from Jerusalem, the center of Judaism where the church began, to Rome. Acts gives us the 30 years of church history.

APOLOGETIC PURPOSE

•Luke had an apologetic purpose in writing. He frequently pointed out the relationship of the church to the Roman state by referring to Roman officials, not one of whom opposed Christianity because of its doctrine and practices.

APOLOGETIC PURPOSE

• This would have made Acts a powerful defensive tool for the early Christians to survive in hostile environment.

INSTRUCTIVE PURPOSE

• The book of Acts gives us the basic principles being applied to specific situations in the context of problem and persecutions. It also gives us the principles of Church growth and management.

KEY VERSE, CHAPTER AND PEOPLE IN ACTS.

•Key verse: 1:8

• Key chapter: 2

• Key people: God the Holy Spirit, apostle Peter and Paul

• Key places: Jerusalem, Antioch and Rome

MAIN FEATURES OF THE ACTS.

Ascension of Jesus Christ. Chapter 1
Coming of the Holy Spirit. Chapter 2
Birth of the Church. Chapter 2
Growth of the Church in Jerusalem and Judea. Chapter 2- 7
Church in Samaria and Syria. 8-10

MAIN FEATURES OF THE ACTS.

Persecution of the Church. 7-8
Conversion of Paul. 9
Spread of the Church to the gentile world through Paul’s missionary journeys from Antioch. 11-28

CONCLUSION

• The Acts of apostle is very important book in the bible. This book teaches us that Jesus Christ is faithful God. He build his church and sent the Holy Spirit according to his promises. It also teaches us that persecution can not stop the progress of the church in this world. It encourage us to be his witness in this world and He will empower us with Holy Spirit.

CONCLUSION
• The book gives us the principles of church growth.

• In the modern world, when the church is going through difficult time, this book gives us comfort that the church will continue to grow.