Ward gasque, the historical value of the book of acts. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier date is also possible. Historical reliability of the acts of the apostles wikipedia. Acts ends abruptly with paul imprisoned in rome, waiting to bring his appeal before caesar. The amazing history of the early church by jet witherspoon toole author isbn. It is hard for us to imagine how much they changed the future course of human and eternal history. The abrupt ending of acts allows for an early date around the time of the events, but could. Kenneth chin a vision to bring revival and transformation to and through the youths in malaysia and then to the rest of the world. Snapshot of the early church reformed bible studies. Jesus had shown himself alive by many proofs for 40 days.
Oct 20, 2000 the book of acts is simply a continuation of one of the gospel accounts. The book of acts tells us of some of the acts of some of the apostles, but more so it tells us history. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. The author of lukeacts noted that there were many accounts in circulation at the time of his writing, saying that these were eyewitness testimonies. The book of acts clearly focuses on the beginnings of the church, and two people the apostle peter, and the one who actually possessed the courage to go to the farthest parts of the known world with the gospel of jesus christ, his name was paul the apostle.
Approximately how many years of church history does the book. It is a record of a movement which, in the end, completely, absolutely, totally, forever, changed the world. The reason which i have stated in the earlier sessions of this course is that more than half a century now of trying to rightly divide the word of god, for those. Its relatively short and actionpacked, so its easy to miss that it covers more than 30 years of church history. Introduction to the new testament history of the early church the book of acts in this session we are using as our basis the book, introduction to the new testament, by louis berkhof. Each world has more than 20 groups with 5 puzzles each.
The book of acts is indeed a history of the earliest church. Acts facts the spread of christianity the six parts of. The book of acts tells of the spread of christianity and the adventures of the first christians. It is worth noting that in this history of the early christian church, luke. Oct 01, 2004 we can walk where the apostle paul walked, see what he saw, and become increasingly at home in his world. The background of acts third millennium ministries. The book of acts covers about 30 years of church history. The acts of the apostles, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the apostles, many times you must use cross references to the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john as well as some other epistles in the new testament to get the full picture of what was. Codycross is an addictive game developed by fanatee. The early church in jerusalem may not be the perfect pattern for all that we do as a church today, but it is an excellent example of a church that is marked by love love for god and love for others.
As such, it provides us with a valuable account of how the church was able to grow and spread out from jerusalem into the rest of the roman empire. Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and to the rest of the surrounding world. The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. Acts 29 is a diverse, global family of church planting churches that adheres to calvinist theology. If you go to acts chapter 1 verse 1 and read the introduction to this book. It tells of cities and dates and people that were affected by the gospel. Two early sources that mention the origins of christianity are the antiquities of the jews by the romanjewish historian josephus, and the church history of eusebius. It contains no account of any of the apostles except peter and paul. The phenomena presented by the acts of the apostles becomes perfectly.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. The book of acts ends just as it begins, emphasizing the apostles role as those who expanded gods kingdom on earth, through their proclamation. The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. Acts shows what the early church believed and practiced united church of god skip to main content. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and the surrounding world. North american christians seem to have one of two responses to the book of acts. In his first manuscript he covered the life of jesus. A list of sermons in the book of acts leadership resources. The expansion of the church reformed bible studies. Are you looking for neverending fun in this exciting logicbrain app. Approximately how many years of church history are covered by.
After peters great sermon on pentecost sunday, 3,000 persons were baptized into the church acts 2. The former account i made, o theophilus, of all that jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after he through the holy spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen. Acts was read as a reliable history of the early church well into the postreformation era, but by the 17th century biblical scholars began to notice. The significance of acts as a historical account of christian origins cannot be overestimated. His conclusion concerning acts is indicative of the tone of the book as a whole. Acts has been called a transitional book because it serves as a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. A history of the early church gene taylor2an outline of the book i. In great detail, we see what parts of the early church are instructive for us in the church age. Acts shows what the early church believed and practiced united. Aug 12, 2011 the book of acts was written to provide a history of the early church. Luke wrote to theophilus what happened during the 30 years that followed the crucifixion and resurrection of jesus. Kuiper has long been the textbook of choice for many secondary schools and bible institutes, having sold well over 150,000 copies since first published more than a half century ago. Acts is the only biblical book that chronicles the history of the church immediately after jesuss ascension. Mar 01, 2018 the book of acts gives us a wonderful account of the inception and growth of the early church.
Provided in this video is a short summary of the history of the church found in acts. The earliest date for the book of acts is the two year imprisonment which is recorded in acts 28. If we fail to learn about what real christianity is from the book of acts, we will just keep on playing church, pleasing men, and displeasing god. The book of acts is a key historical record of what the early church believed and practiced. Details in this sacred document are checkable, and they pass the test of historicity with flying colors. Luke and acts together make up about 28% of our new testament. Jesus himself performed many miracles of healing, and christians down the ages have seen this as a. Some regard acts as a book of church planting history, while others consider it a description of the possibilities of church life. What todays church needs to learn from the book of acts. First, we will compare acts with the gospel of luke. Ludlowthe book of acts was written by luke after his gospel as the second.
The spread of christianity the six parts of the book of acts. The importance of the book of acts is seen in the words of acts 1. As we approach the book of acts, we must always keep in mind that luke wrote out of his background in the old testament and first century beliefs about the kingdom of god in christ. Introduction to the new testament history of the early church. Kenneth founded the asian youth ambassadors aya, a nonprofit youth organisation, in. Todays passage from the book of acts describes the expansion of the firstcentury church, but the steady growth it portrays applies also to what happened in the second century and beyond. To view it that way assumes that what we read in acts was an account of the pure church before history and change messed it up. If we are ever to understand new testament christianity we must have knowledge of the beginning and growth of the church. Mission of the church is spread the gospel to the whole nations and makes disciples. As such it answers the question many firstcentury observers would have. In acts 6, the newfound church had exploded into existence and discovered their first problem. The book of acts gives a unique glimpse into the life and practice of the early church. A standard survey of the history of the christian church from a.
The letters or epistles after acts tells us of the supreme care and guidance that god has for his people then, now, and in the future. This is apologetics at its bestshowing the readers that the christian faith is firmly rooted in the facts of history. This book offers a survey of ideas, rituals, and experiences of healing in christian history. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. I started in the first camp and eventually arrived at the second. If you read at an average pace, the book of acts can be read in a little over two hours. History of the early church the book of acts the beginning. Luke compiled his gospel about jesus christ as the first volume of a twopart work. Actsyour guide to church planting history churchplants. Acts covers the first 3035 years of church history. It tells of the founding of the church, the spread of.
It is the historical link that joins the life of christ with the growth of the christian church. Thanks to the modern tools of archaeology, researchers have found. A number of other christian organizations also use the phrase acts 29 in their respective names. The book of acts is the second book written for theophilus by luke, and takes up the story where lukes gospel account finished luke 1.
Lukeacts is a twopart historical account traditionally ascribed to luke, who was believed to be a follower of paul. The first few times i read acts, all the new city and province names just blurred together in my. Acts shows what the early church believed and practiced. For information regarding wayne jacksons book, the acts of the apostlesfrom jerusalem to rome, phone the office of courier publications toll free 18888182463. But in acts, several major characters loopdeloop their way around the roman empire. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier date is also. The book of acts the church of christ in zion, illinois. The perspective of british scholarship, theologische zeitschrift 28 1972, 177196. Distinguishing marks of the early church preach the word.
Besides evangelism and benevolence, the matter of edification was addressed and accomplished in the acts of the apostles. To prove this point, let us take a quick look at church growth in the book of acts, with a special view to the church in jerusalem. Instead, acts points to what god does in this world, both back then and today. When the churches rested from sauls persecution, they were edified acts 9.
Acts are obedience of the disciples to great commission of jesus. While leading figures such as peter and paul and their ministries dominate the narrative, there is a substantial amount of evidence that many more people than the apostles were involved in spreading the gospel. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. In only three decades, a small group of frightened believers in jerusalem transformed. The book of acts is gods divine book on the subject of church history. To be able to do these things god sent his holy spirit to empower the believers in mission. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. It derives its name from the book of acts in the new testament, which has 28 chapters, making acts 29 the next chapter in the history of the church.
The latest date for the book of acts is in the second century writings of the church fathers. Some study and preaching in the book of acts will go a long way towards helping brethren resolve their problems concerning benevolence. In the early days, it was called the acts, the gospel of the holy ghost, and the gospel of the resurrection. This is the title now given to the biblical book about early church history. Five chapters deal with each of the five cultural strands then existing. Here are some further thoughts on several characteristics dr. Acts is a marvelous example of the flawless accuracy of the bible. Now in this companion volume, ludemann takes the same historicalcritical approach. As people went forth to preach christ, converts were won throughout the roman empire. Church growth in the book of acts a church of christ can and will grow spiritually and numerically when it is faithful to the word of god. Most bible narratives take place in one corner of the near east. Pastors and church leaders especially need to revisit the book, immerse themselves in it, and not leave until it produces some radical changes in their thinking and practice. Acts intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Acts tells us how the christian movement came into beginning.
Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. Josephus and lukeacts are thought to be approximately contemporaneous, around ad 90, and eusebius wrote some two and a quarter centuries later. Immediately, luke gives us a portrait of these earliest christians. Second, we will examine early church history and its witness concerning lukes authorship. The book of acts is not just a series of really neat, inspiring stories. Although many books have been published on the acts of the apostles. Explanation it was written in rome by luke the evangelist around the years 63 to 70 ad and it is one of the easiest books to read in the bible. It is to assume that to become a better church we should simply do what the ancients christians did because they had it all correct. Armed only with simple obedience, the grace of god and the support of his wife, sandra, pr. The book of acts was written to provide a history of the early church.