The Church Age begins at the Day of Pentecost !
An Introduction to the Book of Acts :
Writer: Apostle Luke
In The Acts of the Apostles
Luke continues the account of Christianity begun in the Gospel which bears his name.
In the "former treatise" (The Gospel According to Luke )
Luke tells what Jesus "began both to do and teach";
In the Acts of the Apostles:
Luke tells What Jesus continued to do and teach through His Holy Spirit !
The Holy Spirit was given on the Day of Pentecost .
Date:
The Acts concludes with the account of Paul's earliest ministry in Rome, A.D. 65,
and appears to have been written at or near that time.
Theme:
The book of Acts records the ascension and promised return of the Lord Jesus,
the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,
Peter's use of the keys,
opening the kingdom to the Jews at Pentecost,
and to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius;
the beginning of the Christian church and the conversion and ministry of Paul.
The Holy Spirit fills the scene.
As the presence of the Son, exalting and revealing the Father,
is the great fact of the Gospels,
so the presence of the Spirit, exalting and revealing the Son,
is the great fact of the Acts.
Acts is in two chief parts:
In the first section
Acts 1:1 , 2:1 , 3:1 , 4:1 , 5:1 , 6:1 , 7:1 , 8:1 , 9:1 Through 9:43
Peter is the prominent personage,
Jerusalem is the center,
and the ministry is to Jews.
Already in covenant relations with Jehovah,
the Jews had sinned in rejecting Jesus as the Christ.
The preaching, therefore, was directed to that point,
and repentance (i.e. "a changed mind") was demanded.
The apparent failure of the Old Testament promises concerning the Davidic kingdom was explained
by the promise that the kingdom would be set up at the return of Christ
Act_2:25-31 ;
Act 15:14-16
This ministry to Israel fulfilled
Luke 19:12-14.
In the persecutions of the apostles and finally in the martyrdom of Stephen,
the Jews sent after the king the message,
"We will not have this man to reign over us."
In the second division
(Acts 10:1 - 28:28,29,30,31)
Paul is prominent, a new center is established at Antioch,
and the ministry is chiefly to Gentiles who,as "strangers from the covenants of promise",
had but to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" to be saved.
Chapters 11, 12 , and 15 of this section are transitional,
establishing finally the distinction, doctrinally, between law and grace.
Galatians should be read in this connection.
The events recorded in The Acts cover a period of 32 years.
(Acts 1:1) The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
- (Acts 2:25) For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
(Acts 2:26) Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
(Acts 2:27) Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
(Acts 2:28) Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
(Acts 2:29) Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
(Acts 2:30) Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
- (Acts 15:14) Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
(Acts 15:15) And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
(Acts 15:16) After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
- (Acts 15:14) Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
- (Luke 19:12) He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
- (Luke 19:13) And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
- (Luke 19:14) But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
Ask the Spirit to guide you !
Learn the lessons He teaches you ...
You can even ASK the lord to help you with your unbelief!
Listen to others but confirm what they say with the Word of God.
I know that if you take the time to study His word a blessing crafted just for you will come out of it !
Maranatha
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