^ BookOfBible |
BookOfActs
Acts: | AUTHOR: Luke - A.D. 65 - NEW TESTAMENT - Early Church History |
torreyx@Acts:1 | ACTS - Addressed to a certain Theophilus, about whom nothing is known ( kjv@Acts:1:1 ), the Book of Acts records the early history of the Apostolic Church. Beginning with the Ascension of Jesus to heaven, it traces the growth of Christianity in Palestine and its spread to Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, and eventually to Rome. The leading figure in the first chapters is Peter, who delivered the stirring sermon on the day of Pentecost ( torreyx@Acts:2 ). The greater part of the book, however, is devoted to the experiences of Paul and his companions during their missionary endeavors. The Book of Acts provides a useful background for study of the Pauline Epistles. The introduction ( kjv@Acts:1:1 ) attests to a Lukan authorship. |
Quoted resource: easton 'Acts'
Acts of the Apostles @ the title now given to the fifth and last of the historical books of the New Testament. The author styles it a "treatise" (1:1). It was early called "The Acts," "The Gospel of the Holy Ghost," and "The Gospel of the Resurrection." It contains properly no account of any of the apostles except Peter and Paul. John is noticed only three times; and all that is recorded of James, the son of Zebedee, is his execution by Herod. It is properly therefore not the history of the "Acts of the Apostles," a title which was given to the book at a later date, but of "Acts of Apostles," or more correctly, of "Some Acts of Certain Apostles." As regards its authorship, it was certainly the work of Luke, the "beloved physician" (comp. torreyx@Luke:1:1-4; torreyx@Acts:1:1). This is the uniform tradition of antiquity, although the writer nowhere makes mention of himself by name. The style and idiom of the Gospel of Luke and of the Acts, and the usage of words and phrases common to both, strengthen this opinion. The writer first appears in the narrative in 16:11, and then disappears till Paul's return to Philippi two years afterwards, when he and Paul left that place together (20:6), and the two seem henceforth to have been constant companions to the end. He was certainly with Paul at Rome (28; torreyx@Colossians:4:14). Thus he wrote a great portion of that history from personal observation. For what lay beyond his own experience he had the instruction of Paul. If, as is very probable, 2 Tim. was written during Paul's second imprisonment at Rome, Luke was with him then as his faithful companion to the last ( torreyx@2Timothy:4:11). Of his subsequent history we have no certain information. The design of Luke's Gospel was to give an exhibition of the character and work of Christ as seen in his history till he was taken up from his disciples into heaven; and of the Acts, as its sequel, to give an illustration of the power and working of the gospel when preached among all nations, "beginning at Jerusalem." The opening sentences of the Acts are just an expansion and an explanation of the closing words of the Gospel. In this book we have just a continuation of the history of the church after Christ's ascension. Luke here carries on the history in the same spirit in which he had commenced it. It is only a book of beginnings, a history of the founding of churches, the initial steps in the formation of the Christian society in the different places visited by the apostles. It records a cycle of "representative events." All through the narrative we see the ever-present, all-controlling power of the ever-living Saviour. He worketh all and in all in spreading abroad his truth among men by his Spirit and through the instrumentality of his apostles. The time of the writing of this history may be gathered from the fact that the narrative extends down to the close of the second year of Paul's first imprisonment at Rome. It could not therefore have been written earlier than A.D. 61 or 62, nor later than about the end of A.D. 63. Paul was probably put to death during his second imprisonment, about A.D. 64, or, as some think, 66. The place where the book was written was probably Rome, to which Luke accompanied Paul. The key to the contents of the book is in 1:8, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." After referring to what had been recorded in a "former treatise" of the sayings and doings of Jesus Christ before his ascension, the author proceeds to give an account of the circumstances connected with that event, and then records the leading facts with reference to the spread and triumphs of Christianity over the world during a period of about thirty years. The record begins with Pentecost (A.D. 33) and ends with Paul's first imprisonment (A.D. 63 or 64). The whole contents of the book may be divided into these three parts: (1.) Chaps. 1-12, describing the first twelve years of the Christian church. This section has been entitled "From Jerusalem to Antioch." It contains the history of the planting and extension of the church among the Jews by the ministry of Peter. (2.) Chaps. 13-21, Paul's missionary journeys, giving the history of the extension and planting of the church among the Gentiles. (3.) Chaps. 21-28, Paul at Rome, and the events which led to this. Chaps. 13-28 have been entitled "From Antioch to Rome." In this book it is worthy of note that no mention is made of the writing by Paul of any of his epistles. This may be accounted for by the fact that the writer confined himself to a history of the planting of the church, and not to that of its training or edification. The relation, however, between this history and the epistles of Paul is of such a kind, i.e., brings to light so many undesigned coincidences, as to prove the genuineness and authenticity of both, as is so ably shown by Paley in his _Horae Paulinae_. "No ancient work affords so many tests of veracity; for no other has such numerous points of contact in all directions with contemporary history, politics, and topography, whether Jewish, or Greek, or Roman." Lightfoot. (See PAUL.)
torreyx@Acts:1:1-11 | Jesus's Ascension |
torreyx@Acts:1:12-26 | Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas |
torreyx@Acts:2:1-41 | Pentecost |
torreyx@Acts:2:42-47 | Believers' Fellowship |
torreyx@Acts:3 | Peter Heals the Beggar |
torreyx@Acts:4:1-31 | Peter & John at the Sanhedrin |
torreyx@Acts:4:32-5:11 | Ananias and Sapphira |
torreyx@Acts:5:12-42 | Gamaliel Speaks for the Apostles |
torreyx@Acts:6:1-7 | Choosing the 7 |
torreyx@Acts:6:8-15 | Stephen Seized |
torreyx@Acts:7:1-53 | Stephen's Discourse |
torreyx@Acts:7:54-8:1 | Stephen Martyred |
torreyx@Acts:8:2-25 | Conversions of Samarians |
torreyx@Acts:8:26-40 | Philip and the Ethiopians |
torreyx@Acts:9:1-25 | Saul's Conversion |
torreyx@Acts:9:26-31 | Saul 1st Meets Believers in Jersalem |
torreyx@Acts:9:32-35 | Peter Heals Aeneas in Lydda |
torreyx@Acts:9:36-43 | Peter Raises Dorcas in Joppa |
torreyx@Acts:10:1-11:18 | Peter Meets Cornelius |
torreyx@Acts:11:19-30 | Church at Antioch (Syria) |
torreyx@Acts:12:1-19 | Peter's Escape from Prison |
torreyx@Acts:12:19-23 | Herod's Death |
torreyx@Acts:12:24-13:3 | Saul & Barnabas Start Trip |
torreyx@Acts:13:4-12 | Cyprus |
torreyx@Acts:13:13-52 | Pisidian Antioch |
torreyx@Acts:14:1-7 | Iconium |
torreyx@Acts:14:8-21 | Lystra & Derbe |
torreyx@Acts:14:21-28 | Return to Antioch |
torreyx@Acts:15:1-35 | Council at Jersalem |
torreyx@Acts:15:36-16:10 | Paul & Silas in Asia |
torreyx@Acts:16:11-40 | Philippi |
torreyx@Acts:17:1-9 | Thessalonica |
torreyx@Acts:17:10-14 | Berea |
torreyx@Acts:17:15-34 | Athens |
torreyx@Acts:18:1-18 | Corinth |
torreyx@Acts:18:18-22 | Paul Returns to Antioch |
torreyx@Acts:18:23 | Paul Travels to Galatia & Phrygia |
torreyx@Acts:18:24-28 | Apollos in Ephesus |
torreyx@Acts:19 | Paul in Ephesus |
torreyx@Acts:20:1-16 | Paul in Macedonia & Greece |
torreyx@Acts:20:17-38 | Paul in Miletus |
torreyx@Acts:21:1-14 | Paul to Caesarea |
torreyx@Acts:21:15-26 | Arrival in Jersalem |
torreyx@Acts:21:27-22:29 | Paul's Arrest |
torreyx@Acts:22:30-23:11 | Paul Before the Sanhedrin |
torreyx@Acts:23:12-35 | Paul's Transfer to Caesarea |
torreyx@Acts:24 | Paul Before Felix |
torreyx@Acts:25:1-12 | Paul Before Festus |
torreyx@Acts:25:13-26:32 | Paul Before Agrippa |
torreyx@Acts:27:1-8 | Paul Sails to Rome |
torreyx@Acts:27:9-28:10 | Shipwreck |
torreyx@Acts:28:11-31 | Paul in Rome |
torreyx@Acts:20:28 | redemption of souls |
torreyx@Acts:7:55-56 | heaven various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:23:3 | anger instances |
torreyx@Acts:7:54-58 | anger instances |
torreyx@Acts:1:8 | testimony confession |
torreyx@Acts:1:22 | testimony confession |
torreyx@Acts:26:17-18 | sanctification |
torreyx@Acts:7:58 | abetting |
torreyx@Acts:2:36 | jesus lord |
torreyx@Acts:2:25 | jesus lord |
torreyx@Acts:4:24 | creator general scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:7:50 | creator general scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:14:15 | creator general scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:17:24-26 | creator general scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:3:14 | jesus christ divinity of |
torreyx@Acts:3:14 | jesus christ divinity of |
torreyx@Acts:10:36 | jesus christ divinity of |
torreyx@Acts:20:28 | jesus christ divinity of |
torreyx@Acts:17:24-26 | creator of man |
torreyx@Acts:17:28-29 | creator of man |
torreyx@Acts:4:1-2 | resurrection |
torreyx@Acts:17:18 | resurrection |
torreyx@Acts:17:32 | resurrection |
torreyx@Acts:23:6 | resurrection |
torreyx@Acts:23:8 | resurrection |
torreyx@Acts:24:14-15 | resurrection |
torreyx@Acts:26:6-8 | resurrection |
torreyx@Acts:2:26-31 | resurrection |
torreyx@Acts:2:41-47 | church |
torreyx@Acts:12:21-23 | happiness of wicked |
torreyx@Acts:1:8 | responsiblity |
torreyx@Acts:17:30-31 | responsibility and accountability |
torreyx@Acts:5:19-20 | angels ministers |
torreyx@Acts:10:3-6 | angels ministers |
torreyx@Acts:12:7-10 | angels ministers |
torreyx@Acts:7:49 | heaven dwelling of god |
torreyx@Acts:1:9 | jesus christ ascension of |
torreyx@Acts:3:21 | jesus christ ascension of |
torreyx@Acts:1:8 | change world |
torreyx@Acts:2:30 | jesus christ incarnation of |
torreyx@Acts:3:22 | jesus christ incarnation of |
torreyx@Acts:13:23 | jesus christ incarnation of |
torreyx@Acts:13:33 | jesus christ incarnation of |
torreyx@Acts:13:46 | jesus christ rejected |
torreyx@Acts:18:5-6 | jesus christ rejected |
torreyx@Acts:22:18 | jesus christ rejected |
torreyx@Acts:28:24-25 | jesus christ rejected |
torreyx@Acts:28:27 | jesus christ rejected |
torreyx@Acts:1:14 | fellowship more scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:2:44-47 | fellowship more scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:17:4 | fellowship more scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:20:35 | fellowship more scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:15:17 | adoption |
torreyx@Acts:7:21 | adoption |
torreyx@Acts:4:29-30 | grace of god general |
torreyx@Acts:26:22 | grace of god general |
torreyx@Acts:2:38 | regeneration |
torreyx@Acts:2:47 | regeneration |
torreyx@Acts:3:26 | regeneration |
torreyx@Acts:8:14-17 | regeneration |
torreyx@Acts:11:17 | regeneration |
torreyx@Acts:11:21 | regeneration |
torreyx@Acts:15:9 | regeneration |
torreyx@Acts:16:14 | regeneration |
torreyx@Acts:19:1-6 | regeneration |
torreyx@Acts:26:18 | regeneration |
torreyx@Acts:6:11 | accusation |
torreyx@Acts:6:13 | accusation |
torreyx@Acts:17:7 | accusation |
torreyx@Acts:21:28 | accusation |
torreyx@Acts:24:5-6 | accusation |
torreyx@Acts:24:13 | accusation |
torreyx@Acts:25:2 | accusation |
torreyx@Acts:25:7 | accusation |
torreyx@Acts:16:20-21 | accusation |
torreyx@Acts:2:38-41 | baptism |
torreyx@Acts:8:14-17 | baptism |
torreyx@Acts:10:44-48 | baptism |
torreyx@Acts:19:1-6 | baptism |
torreyx@Acts:22:16 | baptism |
torreyx@Acts:1:10-11 | angels appearances of |
torreyx@Acts:5:19 | angels appearances of |
torreyx@Acts:8:26 | angels appearances of |
torreyx@Acts:10:3 | angels appearances of |
torreyx@Acts:10:30-32 | angels appearances of |
torreyx@Acts:12:7-11 | angels appearances of |
torreyx@Acts:27:23 | angels appearances of |
torreyx@Acts:4:33 | grace of god |
torreyx@Acts:13:39 | justification |
torreyx@Acts:11:23 | perseverance |
torreyx@Acts:13:43 | perseverance |
torreyx@Acts:14:21-22 | perseverance |
torreyx@Acts:3:19 | mercy of god |
torreyx@Acts:26:18 | mercy of god |
torreyx@Acts:7:53 | angels general scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:8:26 | angels general scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:1:4-8 | holy spirit |
torreyx@Acts:2:4 | holy spirit |
torreyx@Acts:2:38 | holy spirit |
torreyx@Acts:4:31 | holy spirit |
torreyx@Acts:8:14-17 | holy spirit |
torreyx@Acts:10:44-48 | holy spirit |
torreyx@Acts:19:1-6 | holy spirit |
torreyx@Acts:5:30-31 | jesus christ design of death |
torreyx@Acts:20:28 | jesus christ design of death |
torreyx@Acts:26:23 | jesus christ design of death |
torreyx@Acts:2:33-34 | jesus christ exaltation of |
torreyx@Acts:3:20-21 | jesus christ exaltation of |
torreyx@Acts:5:31 | jesus christ exaltation of |
torreyx@Acts:7:55-56 | jesus christ exaltation of |
torreyx@Acts:12:5 | consolation in affliction |
torreyx@Acts:23:11 | consolation in affliction |
torreyx@Acts:20:32 | inheritance |
torreyx@Acts:26:18 | inheritance |
torreyx@Acts:15:20 | adultery and fornication |
torreyx@Acts:15:29 | adultery and fornication |
torreyx@Acts:15:20 | adultery and fornication |
torreyx@Acts:18:12 | conspiracy |
torreyx@Acts:23:12-15 | conspiracy |
torreyx@Acts:1:11 | christ return |
torreyx@Acts:7:53 | angels functions of |
torreyx@Acts:1:11 | angels functions of |
torreyx@Acts:8:26 | angels functions of |
torreyx@Acts:23:9 | angels functions of |
torreyx@Acts:17:24 | omnipresence |
torreyx@Acts:17:27-28 | omnipresence |
torreyx@Acts:5:29 | obediance |
torreyx@Acts:5:19 | angels celestial spirits |
torreyx@Acts:7:30 | angels celestial spirits |
torreyx@Acts:7:35 | angels celestial spirits |
torreyx@Acts:8:26 | angels celestial spirits |
torreyx@Acts:12:7 | angels celestial spirits |
torreyx@Acts:12:23 | angels celestial spirits |
torreyx@Acts:12:23 | angels execute judgments |
torreyx@Acts:27:23-24 | angels execute judgments |
torreyx@Acts:15:8-9 | purity of heart |
torreyx@Acts:1:11 | advent second-coming |
torreyx@Acts:3:20-21 | advent second-coming |
torreyx@Acts:16:31 | family |
torreyx@Acts:2:28 | joy general scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:8:8 | joy general scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:8:39 | joy general scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:13:52 | joy general scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:16:25 | joy general scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:16:34 | joy general scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:26:22-23 | jesus christ death of |
torreyx@Acts:4:32 | unity of the righteous |
torreyx@Acts:16:32 | the unsaved |
torreyx@Acts:1:2 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:1:5 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:1:8 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:1:16 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:2:2-4 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:2:33 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:2:38 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:4:8 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:4:31 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:5:3-4 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:5:9 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:5:32 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:6:5 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:7:51 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:8:15-19 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:9:31 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:10:19-20 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:10:44-47 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:11:15-16 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:11:24 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:13:2 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:13:4 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:13:9 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:13:52 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:15:8 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:15:28 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:16:6-7 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:19:2-6 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:20:28 | holy spirit various scriptures |
torreyx@Acts:5:16 | demons |
torreyx@Acts:16:16-18 | demons |
torreyx@Acts:19:12 | demons |
torreyx@Acts:8:7 | demons |
torreyx@Acts:19:13-16 | demons |
torreyx@Acts:19:15 | demons |
torreyx@Acts:2:1 | christian fellowship |
torreyx@Acts:2:42 | christian fellowship |
torreyx@Acts:2:46-47 | christian fellowship |
^ BookOfBible |
- Further Resources:
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index:BIBLEMAPS Acts - Map links to Acts
McGeeActs - Vernon Mc Gee commentary outlines on Acts
search-bdiscuss:RecentComments@Acts - Bible discussions on Acts
sn[ChapterStudyNew@Acts] - Chapter Studies on Acts
index:BIBLECHARACTERNAMES Acts - Character names found in Acts
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