Introduction to Acts

Introduction to Acts

Before beginning chapter 1 of the book of Acts, I thought it would be good to
have some background to help us better understand what the first century
church went through.
The following information is from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Handbook, by
Lawrence O. Richards:

The author is Luke, the physician and historian who wrote the third gospel.

During this time, the common and national language spoken was Greek.

For most of the three decades covered by Acts, Christianity was viewed as
a sect of Judaism, an officially recognized religion.

Several different emperors ruled during these years between A.D.33 and
A.D. 68: Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. Of course, the King is
Caesar.

Tiberius ruled from A.D. 14-A.D.37. His main contribution to the gospel story
is seen in the impact of the fall of anti-Jewish Sejanus, the guard commander
who plotted against him, in A.D. 31. That fall and relationship of Pontius Pilate,
Roman governor of Judea, to Sejanus is important to help us understand the
motivation of the man who ordered Jesus' execution.

Caligula followed Tiberius briefly, from A.D.37-41. While his mad and violent
 rule terrorized the Roman nobility, it had little impact on the story told in Acts.

Claudius ruled Rome from A.D. 41-54. He was hostile to all foreign cults and
attempted to reestablish the old Roman religion. He expelled the Jewish
population from Rome when riots broke out. This included Aquila and Priscilla.

Nero ruled wisely for the first five of his fourteen years, A.D. 54-68.
However, he caused the great fire which destroyed Rome and the Christian
community was accused. Tradition says Peter and Paul were executed during
this first official reign of terror.

Luke develops two themes, the forming of the church, and the work of the
Holy Spirit.

Luke is not teaching doctrine, as the Epistles do, instead, he is telling a story.

Acts is the story of the early church told through the ministry of two men:
Peter and Paul.

First, Peter dominates chapters 1-11, then Paul is the dominant figure in
chapters 12-28.

An outline of Acts and the chapters is as follows:
       I. The Jerusalem Church, Acts 1:6-6:7
      II. Expansion in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, Acts 6:8-9:31
     III. Inclusion of First Gentiles, Acts 9:32-12:24
     IV. Period of Gentile Evangelism, Acts12:25-16:5
      V. Establishment of the Gentile Church, Acts 16:6-19:20
     VI. Paul's Imprisonment, Acts 19:21-28:31

I will be using this same book as a reference and resource throughout the
study of the book of Acts, so you may want to keep a copy of this close.

Please continue to join me as we study these wonderful early Christians
and their strong faith, for which several died. They are an inspiration to us.
Jesus even pops in a few times, especially when Saul, later called Paul, is
converted from killing Christians to becoming one himself.
See you in chapter 1 on our next Country Road Faith walk.