PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE, (Eng.), ND, HND, (Journalism), DIP, BA (Theology), MA, Ph.D
LECTURE NOTE
ON ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
INTRODUCTION: The Acts of
the Apostles is our authority for the foundation and first extension of the
Christian church. It has been referred to as the “Gospel of the Holy Spirit”,
for as in the Gospels the presence of Jesus in the flesh is described, so in
Acts His presence with the church by His Spirit. It links itself with the
Gospels by continuing the work begun in them and the foundation of the church,
as Christ had promised.
WHY ACTS? Acts is the
second volume of Luke’s history of Christianity. Without the book of Acts, many
details of the life of the early church would be missing. Of the first thirty
years we would know only what could be pieced together from the New Testament
Epistles.
From
the book itself we discover that Luke the author was a companion of Paul and an
eyewitness to many of the events about which he writes. This evidence appears
in the so called “we sections” of the text, that is, places where Luke includes
himself in the story by the use of the first person plural pronoun (16:10-17,
20:5-21; 18; 27:1-28:16). Besides Luke’s first experiences, he also had
occasions for personal interviews. Paul was able to tell him of his Gentile
ministry. From leaders at Jerusalem he could gather valuable sources concerning
the Jerusalem church. His contact with Philip in Cyria gave access to data of
Philip’s Samaritan ministry.
Acts
is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke. Last recorded fact about Jesus in the
Gospels.
MATTHEW - RESURRECTION
MARK - ASCENSION Acts
chapter one
LUKE - PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT brings all four
JOHN - PROMISE OF THE SECOND COMING together.
Great
missionary commission, given in the Four Gospels, is reaffirmed in Acts. Acts
furnishes a ladder on which to place the Epistles. Acts is a bridge between the
Gospels and the Epistles. The New Testament without Acts leaves a great yawning
gap. If the book of Acts were gone, there would be nothing to replace it”
ACTS AND THE
GOSPELS:
The Gospels set forth the Son of Man, who came to die for our sins. The Acts
shows the coming of the Son of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Gospels
set forth what Christ began to do. The Acts shows what He continued to do by
the Holy Spirit, through His disciples. The Gospels tell of the crucified and
risen Saviour. The Acts portray Him as the ascended and exalted Lord and
Leader. In the Gospels we hear Christ teachings. In the Acts we see the effect
of His teachings on the Acts of the Apostles.
THE AUTHOR: All
antiquity is unanimous in ascribing Luke as the author of Acts. It is
repeatedly mentioned and quoted by early Christian writers and without a
dissenting voice is mention as the work of Luke. The same thing is clear from
the book itself. It professes to have been written by the same person who wrote
the Gospel of Luke, (I:I). The former treatise, that is, the former book, in
Greek, the former logos. This shows that Acts in itself is not a unit, but a
sequel to Luke. Both were addressed to the same person (Acts1:1; Luke 1:3), and
bears manifest marks of being from the same pen. The summary of that former
treatise, (book) as Acts 1:1,2) gives it, accords exactly with the content of
Luke and resumes the narrative at the point where Luke dropped it. There is no
doubt that Acts and Luke are two volumes of the same work.
DATE OF
WRITING: Written
in about AD 63, Acts covers a period of approximately 30 years. This is the
inspired record of the beginnings of the church. While Genesis records the
origin of the physical universe, Acts records the origin of the spiritual body.
KEY VERSE: 1:8 is the
key to the analysis. The entire book records the fulfillment of that prophecy,
showing how the work began in Jerusalem, then spreading “to all Judea and
Samaria”, and eventually reached “the uttermost parts of the earth”. It opens
with the preaching of the Gospel in Jerusalem, the great ecclesiastical center
of the Jewish nation, and closes with the preaching in Rome, the great centre
of the world’s power.
KEY TO THE
MESSAGE – (I:I)
MESSAGE: How the
work Jesus “began” to do, as recorded in the Gospels, was, and is continued by
Him through the Holy Spirit.
(1)
As the Commander and Instructor of His people – 1:2-9
(2)
As the Great Hope of the Church – 1:10-11.
(3)
As the Guide of His people in Church Matters in times of
perplexity – (1:24, 10:13-16, 16, 16:10, 22:18-21).
(4)
As the Bestower of the Holy Ghost – 11:33
(5)
As the Burden of all sermons and addresses (11:22-36, 3:13-15,
4:10-33, 5:30, 6:14, 8:5, 35, 10:36 etc).
(6)
As the One who adds to the Church (11:47).
(7)
As the only Hope for a perishing world (4:12)
(8)
As the Active Partner in our service (3:16, 36:18:9-10)
(9)
As the Personal Agent in the conversion of Saul (9:3-6).
(10) As the
Encourager of His much tired ones (7:55, 56, 23:11).
PLACE OF
WRITING:
It is probable that the book was written at Rome. In chapter 28:16, Luke mentions
his arrival at Rome with Paul, but does not mention his departure from this
city. Therefore, it is presumed that it was written in Rome. Some have supposed
that it was written at Alexandria in Egypt, but of that, there is no sufficient
evidence.
CONTENTS:
(1)
The Acts of Apostles contains a record of the promised descent and
operations of the Holy Spirit.
(2)
It contains an inspired account of the character of the true
revivals of religion. – Day of Pentecost.
(3)
It may be further remarked, that this book shows that revivals of
religion are to be expected in the church.
(4)
The Acts contains a record of the organization of the church.
(5)
In this book we have many striking and impressive illustrations of
what the Gospel is fitted to produce, to make men self – denying and benevolent
– The apostles forsook all, and the early Christians had things in common
(2:44).
(6)
This book throws important light on the Epistles. It is a connecting link between the Gospels
and other part of the New Testament.
(7)
The book of Acts of the Apostles contains unanswerable evidence of
the truth of the Christian religion. It is a record of the early triumphs of
Christianity.
PURPOSES OF
THE BOOK:
Why did Luke write the book of Acts? What were the church motives which lay
behind his work? Let’s consider the following:
(i)
THE HISTORIC
MOTIVE: Since Acts is a continuation of the narrative begun in the Gospel
of Luke, Luke therefore, gives his readers the history of the first 60 or 65
years of Christianity. About 30 years would be included in each of his two
works. It is the story of the goodnews of salvation, beginning in a manger in
Bethlehem and extending to the very hub of the Empire of Rome, (Phil. 4:22).
The narrative opens with the witness of the shepherds in the fields of Judea
and terminates with the salutations of saints in Caesar’s household.
(ii)
THE
DOCTRINAL MOTIVES: As in his Gospel, so here also, Luke’s chief doctrinal emphasis
is upon the person and work of the Holy Spirit. In fact, the explicit
references to the Spirit in Acts occur with great frequency. The fulfillment of
the promise by Jesus to send the Holy Ghost is clearly seen in the Acts. He was
the motivating power in their witness and work for Christ. He filled them again
and again 2:4:8,31; 6;5;7;55:9:18, 11:24:24; 13. In situations where discipline
(5:3-4), wisdom (6:3), guidance (16:6-7) were required, the Holy Spirit
operated in the believers. By His coming, different groups were united into
that one great company, the church (the Jews (Act 2) the Samaritans (Acts 8),
the Gentiles (Acts 10), and some disciples of John (Acts 19).
(iii)
THE
APOLOGETIC MOTIVE: In one sense, the book of Acts is simply a defence of
Christianity. That believers need to defend (1 Peter. 3:15, Phil. 1:18) and
contend for the faith is clear (Jude 3) Luke shows that in the first
generation, the Church was never the object of official persecution at the
hands of the Roman government. The Jews
(iv)
Often persecuted the Church; but the Romans, never. Paul’s appeals
to Caesar for a fair trial are remarkable. In each of the contacts between the
Apostles and officials of the Roman government, they were either accepted or
ignored, but never persecuted.
(1)
Paul and Barnabas before Sergius Paulus, the proconsul at Cyrus;
he “believed” (Acts 13).
(2)
Paul and Silas in Philippi (Acts 16). The Roman Jailer was saved,
and the magistrates of this Roman colony apologized for the unjust treatment
accorded the missionaries because of the false charges of the Jews.
(3)
Paul before Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, he “cared for none of
these things (i.e. problems of Jewish law, Acts 18). Gallio was
indifferent.
(4)
Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19). This Asiachs (vs 31) were friends of
Paul: the town clerk restored order, thereby rescuing the missionaries from
possible violence.
(5)
Paul safeguarded by Claudius Lysias, the Roman captain of the
Castle Antonic in Jerusalem (Acts 21:22).
(6)
Paul before Felix in Caesarea; he considered Paul innocent of the
charges against him by the Jews (Acts 25).
When persecution against the Apostles and the
church does appear in Acts, it is at the hands of the Jews – either the
Sanhedrin or group such as those who follow Paul in his journeys. Chapters
4,5,7,8,16,17,18 and the Silversmiths of Ephesus,(Acts 19).
(vi) THE
BIOGRAPHICAL MOTIVE: Of the many interesting and important persons who
appear in Acts, Peter and Paul are those to whom Luke gives a place of
prominence. His record is concentrated largely upon their activities, Peter
occupies the major portion of chapters 1-12, Paul of chapters 13-28.
SPECIAL
FEATURES OF PECULIARITIES:
(1)
Prominence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(2)
Prominence of the Holy Spirit.
(3)
The power of the church
(4)
Prominence of the church, visible and invisible
(5)
Prominence of places – begins in Jerusalem, ends in Rome.
(6)
Prominence of persons – Dr. Luke mentions 110 persons by name.
(7)
Prominence of resurrection, the center of Gospel Preaching.
(8)
Prominence of Peter in the first section, and Paul in the last
section. (there is a strange omissions of the other Apostles) Acts is a guide
book to missions.
RELATIONSHIP
OF ACTS TO THE EPISTLES:
(1)
Background for Galatians – Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe Act
13:14 – 14:25.
(2)
Background for Philippians – Philippi (Act 16:11-40).
(3)
Background for I and II Corinthians – Corinth (Acts 18:1-16).
(4)
Background for I and II Thessalonians (Act 17:1-9).
(5)
Background for Ephesians – Ephesus Act 19:1-41; 20:17-38 and also
I
and II Timothy.
OUTLINES OF ACTS OF APOSTLES
(i)
Introduction; The
Apostolic Commission given 1:1-11.
(ii)
The Gospels in Jerusalem: ORIGINS: 12:8-3
a. The Ministry
of Peter 1:12-5; 42.
b. The Ministry
of Stephen 6:1-8; 3.
(iii)
The Gospel n Samaria and Judea:
TRANSITION
8:4-11:8
(a)
The Ministry of Philip 8:4-40
(b)
The Ministry of Saul Began 9:1-31
(c)
The Ministry of Peter Concluded 9:32-11:18.
(iv)
The Gospel in the uttermost part EXTENTION 11:19-21, 14.
(a)
The Ministry of Barnabas 11:19-12:25.
(b)
The Ministry of Paul the Apostle 13:1-21:14.
(1)
The first missionary Journey 13:1-14:28
(2)
The Jerusalem Council 15:1-35.
(3)
The Second Missionary Journey 15:36-18:22.
(4)
The Third Missionary Journey – 18:23-21:14.
(v)
The Gospel in Caesarea and Rome Imprisonment 21:15-28:29.
(a)
Paul Taken Prisoner in Jerusalem 21:15-23:10
(b)
Paul As a Prisoner in Caesarea 23:11-26:32.
(c)
Paul as a Prisoner in Rome 27:1-28:29.
(vi)
CONCLUSION: Apostolic
Commission Fulfilled 28:30, 31.
STATISTICS, Acts has
28 Chapters 1,007 verses and 24, 250 words.
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