Acts Bible Study Lesson 1 Background and Survey

Background and Survey

Video Overview of Acts

Bible Project Acts Overview Video 1

 Bible Project Acts Overview Video 2

Author

Who was the author of the Book of Acts?

Luke or Lucus, his name means light-giving.

 

 

How did Luke become a Christian?

He was led to the Lord by Paul. Though we don’t know exactly when or the details of his conversion.

 

What was Luke’s nationality and occupation?

Luke was a Gentile (one outside of Jewish nation) he was Greek physician.

 

When did Luke join Paul on the mission field?

Acts 16:6-10 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Date of Writing

When was the book of Acts written?

At the same time as the book of Luke around AD 61 during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome.

 

Rulers During the Times of Acts

 

Subjects

What is the book of Acts about?

It is a record of the early history of the first church especially the actions of Peter and Paul.

Purpose

What does the first verses of Luke tell us about the reason Luke wrote both Acts and the Gospel?

He wrote to a new believer named Theophilus in order to instruct him about Christ and the church.

Key Verse

What is the key verse of Acts?

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

Outline of Acts

I. Peter and ministry primarily to Jews  (1:1-9:43)

A. Introduction  (1:1-2)

B. The resurrection-ministry of Christ  (1:3-11)

C. The ten days' waiting for the Spirit  (1:12-26)

D. The Day of Pentecost  (2:1-41)

E. The Church baptized & empowered (2:42-47)

F. The first miracle: the lame man healed  (3:1-11)

G. Peter's second sermon. (3:12-26)

H. The first persecution  (4:1-22)

I. The Church filled with the Spirit  (4:23-37)

K. The death of Ananias and Sapphira  and it’s effect (5:1-16)

M. The second persecution  (5:17-42)

N. The first deacons  (6:1-7)

O. The third persecution: Stephen (6:8-7:60)

P. The fourth persecution: Saul chief persecutor  (8:1-3)

Q. The first missionaries  (8:4)

R. The ministry of Philip  (8:5-40)

S. The conversion and preaching of Saul  (9:1-31)

W. The healing of Aeneas  (9:32-35)

X. Tabitha raised from the dead  (9:36-43)

II. Paul and ministry primarily to Gentiles  (10:1-28:31)

A. The gospel given to Gentiles  (10:1-11:18)

B. The church at Antioch: the new name  (11:19-30)

D. The fifth persecution  (12:1-19)

E. Death of Herod  (12:20-25)

F. Paul and Barnabas called by the Holy Spirit  (13:1-2)

G. Paul's first missionary journey  (13:3-14:28)

H. Council at Jerusalem: the question of circumcision  (15:1-35)

I. Paul's second missionary journey  (15:36-19:41)

J. Paul's last visit to Jerusalem  (20:1-23:22)

L. Paul’s arrest, trial and appeal to Caesar (23:23-28:16)

N. Paul in Rome  (28:17-31)

Acts Survey Chart