At least in cilicia, gods instrument was probably saul before he went to antioch. It alone presents an extensive picture of early church life and history. This last quarter of acts, parallel to the passion narrative of luke s gospel, provides a realistic and necessary balance to luke s report, to this point, of the church s triumphant. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of the document. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. It became an important focus of pauls ministry as an apostle c. Clearly, the author ofthe book of luke is also the one who penned the book of acts. Paul, still called saul at this point, has taken an active part in. Acts mentions pauls ministry in ephesus and also briefly narrates pauls journey past crete in the latter part of the book. Jerusalem christians commentary on the book of acts, 4056. But stephen reminded the jews that god was bigger than any temple. Most notable is the incongruity between pauls gospel message in acts and the message we see in his letters, especially romans and galatians. Doughty southside christian church january 2014 introduction.
The pattern set here parallels the opening chapters of both luke and acts, the witness of john, the coming of the spirit luke 3. Luke described pauls ministry in six different cities, beginning and ending at antioch. Paul s ministry as an apostle is validated in acts by a comparison with the apostle peter. Charts 152 to 153 the book of acts provides an excellent outline of many parts of paul s ministry. Jan 19, 2018 acts mentions pauls ministry in ephesus and also briefly narrates pauls journey past crete in the latter part of the book. Thirteen of the twentyseven books in the new testament have traditionally been attributed to paul. Although exact dating can be ventured for only some of the events in pauls life, a fairly reliable sequence of events and even the approximate dating of. 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. The gospel and limits to vocation and engagement acts 19. The lexham geographic commentary on acts through revelation is a worthy sequel to the awardwinning lexham geographic commentary on the gospels. It begins in jerusalem just after jesus resurrection, recounts how the gospel reached what are syria, lebanon, cyprus, turkey, greece, and malta today, and closes with the apostle pauls two year ministry in rome. A commentary on the acts of the apostles by pastor galen l.
Lukes account of pauls ministry in the book of acts supplies us with the above reports of the opposition which paul faced, and of the suffering which both jews and gentiles imposed upon him. The second volume covers acts chapters 28, a watershed moment in the early church, mohler writes. Luke devoted about three chapters to pauls ministry in caesarea primarily to reemphasize the legality of christianity as various roman officials scrutinized it and to repeat major themes in pauls. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. We do not recommend loose translations or oneman translations. It begins in jerusalem just after jesus resurrection, recounts how the gospel reached what are syria, lebanon, cyprus, turkey, greece, and malta today, and closes with the apostle paul s two year ministry in rome. It is his divine will that young people come to faith in jesus christ and find salvation through the gospel and the work of the holy spirit to bring them. Mar 23, 2015 this video explains the transitional book that is the book of acts, and how it starts with jews to jews, and slowly changes to gentiles, as the jewish nation as a whole rejects jesus christ, and. A chronological study of pauls ministry xenos christian. This work, originally out in 1857, has proved helpful to many, though it is now far out of date as to literature commenting on acts. Watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
Pauls apostolic ministry in acts forget the channel. In this new commentary for the belief series, awardwinning author and theologian willie james jennings explores the relevance of the book of acts for the struggles of today. Luke devoted about three chapters to pauls ministry in caesarea primarily to reemphasize the legality of christianity as various roman officials scrutinized it and to repeat major themes in pauls addresses. The author distinguishes himself from pauls other companions in acts by naming them. This principle underlies pauls entire apostolic ministry, playing itself out in such areas as the tension between jew and gentile mission, practical mission strategies, pauls preaching, his understanding of suffering and his final destination. Strongs exhaustive concordance of the bible, numbered to the hebrew, chaldee, and greek, and english, coded to the strongs concordance numbers. Luke uses it, of what we should call the several books or portions of his histories. As a second volume to luke s gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. 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. Now the second volume, acts, will detail jesus continuing work through his apostles that he had chosen and the work of the holy spirit who.
Oct 04, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of acts sunday school lesson series by kelly henderson take your students on a journey through the book of acts where they will learn lessons from the early church after jesus ascended to heaven and believers received the gift of the holy spirit. We saw this pattern in pauls preaching throughout the book of acts. It traces the first decades in the history of the church after the resurrection of christ, focusing in particular on the work of peter and paul. Imagine what it would be like if the book of acts wasnt in the bible. In chapter nine of acts, luke tells us the famous story of pauls conversion.
Can you please explain pauls ministry during the book of acts by shawn brasseaux. Chapter 1 luke, who wrote the book of acts, begins chapter one by referring to his former book, namely the third gospel luke. He went to the jew first and then, when the jews rejected the gospel, paul went to the gentiles. This commentary is based upon my personal devotional notes and reflections on the book of acts. Since acts ends with paul awaiting trial before caesar, some have wondered if lukeacts are not defense briefs on pauls behalf to give a roman official background on pauls case. The apostle spends at least eighteen months there acts 18. Pauls corporate evangelism in the book of acts 191. Mar 22, 2019 he will remain in the city 18 months, pauls longest place of ministry since his commission from antioch in acts. Corinth is a key center for pauls missionary activity in the book of acts. Acts can be neatly divided into two sections, the first dealing primarily with the ministry of peter in jerusalem and samaria acts 112 and the second following paul on his missionary journeys throughout the roman empire acts 28. At the beginning of paul s second missionary journey, he and silas went through syria and cilicia, confirming the churches acts 15. The we passages show the author was a companion of paul s acts 16. The we passages show the author was a companion of pauls acts 16.
Gerd theissen, the social setting of pauline christianity. Lexham geographic commentary on acts through revelation. Most can be obtained from a good religious bookstore. In the first 30 years of the missionary endeavor, recorded for us in the book of acts, we see a missionary labor force funded by other christians, great generosity as well as financial negligence from ministry supporters, and the humbling task of fund development as part of the missionary job description.
He will remain in the city 18 months, pauls longest place of ministry since his commission from antioch in acts. Following his limited time at athens, paul went to nearby corinth. The temple in this book called acts was the third temple. Top 5 commentaries on the book of acts ligonier ministries. At one time the gospel of luke and the book of acts were joined together as one book with two volumes. Central to all in d are the signs and wonders which confirm pauls ministry to be of god and to be continuing what happened at pentecost. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. The acts of the apostles is a unique and therefore crucial book of the new testament. A good study bible we recommend the following features. Yet the situation in which pauls apostolic delegates timothy and titus find themselves when they receive pauls letters most likely points to a time after the ending of acts.
In the first century, tents may have been made from cloth woven from goat hair, known as cilicium, a name some connect with pauls home region, cilicia acts 21. Acts is a fastmoving historical account of the first three decades of the church. You pick up your bible and see the ministry of jesus ending in the gospel of john. Although exact dating can be ventured for only some of the events in paul s life, a fairly reliable sequence of events and even the approximate dating of those events is found in chart 152. Joseph a alexander acts commentary 1857, 1866 over pages. The commentary on each chapter below was taken from the book entitled the acts of the apostles and afterward, by stuart allen, published by the berean publishing trust. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. The author quite certainly was luke for the following reason. This commentary on acts 18 treats pauls ministry in corinth, where the proconsul gallio shielded him from his jewish enemies. The account of pauls corinthian ministry in the book of acts acts 18.
It is intended to help you better understand some of the background and issues in lukes second volume. In the first 30 years of the missionary endeavor, recorded for us in the book of acts, we see a missionary labor force funded by other christians, great generosity as well as financial negligence from ministry supporters, and the humbling task of fund development as. Pauls ministry as an apostle is validated in acts by a comparison with the apostle peter. In acts, jesus sends the holy spirit to empower his disciples as they carry. Charts 152 to 153 the book of acts provides an excellent outline of many parts of pauls ministry. When we reach the end of the book of acts we see, as it were, the final act of rejection by the jews, and the times of the gentiles officially begins. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy. Neither region was touched by pauls first missionary journey. Geography is a central concern in acts, but the full significance of its geographical context is easily overlooked without a familiarity with the places, the types.
Strong s exhaustive concordance of the bible, numbered to the hebrew, chaldee, and greek, and english, coded to the strong s concordance numbers. If silas was still there, he may have decided to become peters assistant, perhaps even his traveling companion. See introduction as to the title thus given to the book. From the moment the military tribune handcuffs paul in the court of the gentiles, the apostle conducts his ministry as a prisoner awaiting final trial and verdict. With bible gateway plus, you gain instant access to a digital bible study library. At the beginning of pauls second missionary journey, he and silas went through syria and cilicia, confirming the churches acts 15. Stephen said some words from the book by the prophet isaiah isaiah 66. Ministryto helps you tell kids about jesus by providing ageappropriate bible study material and sunday school curriculum all 100% free online we believe that god is the loving father of all kids. May 05, 2017 in this new commentary for the belief series, awardwinning author and theologian willie james jennings explores the relevance of the book of acts for the struggles of today. This last quarter of acts, parallel to the passion narrative of lukes gospel, provides a realistic and necessary balance to lukes report, to this point, of the churchs triumphant.
Acts of the apostles online commentary america magazine. The following are the five that i have found to be the most helpful. Over fifty entries by a range of scholars offer valuable insight into the geographical, social, and historical context of the book of acts, the new testament letters, and revelation. During the book of acts, why did the apostle paul heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils, water baptize, offer sacrifices in jerusalems temple, physically circumcise timothy, and place his hands on people to impart the holy ghost to them.
Acts is significant for chronicling the spread of the gospel, not only geographically but also culturally. Murphyoconnor, the corinth that saint paul saw ba 47 1984 14759. While some see acts as the story of the founding of the christian church, jennings argues that it is so much more, depicting revolutionlife in the disrupting presence. At least in cilicia, god s instrument was probably saul before he went to antioch. But there is a great deal of suffering and opposition which is not recorded by luke in acts.
The first volume, the gospel of luke, shows as luke says, all that jesus began to do and teach. For many basic details verse by verse, it still is of good value and often. There are a number of good commentaries on the book of acts. Therefore the actual figure that we are dealing with could very easily be closer to years. The lexham geographic commentary on acts through revelation delivers fresh insight by drawing attention to the geographical setting for the spread of christianity in the first century ad. An economic center of greece, also known for its immorality b. Counting back approximately years we would arrive at late 33 a. The gospel of luke and the book of acts form a single, twovolume work. Pauls emphasis on justification by faith is completely absent from his speeches and sermons in acts, where he seems more aligned with peters mission to the jews compare acts 2 and acts. About the year 56, the apostle paul was able to write, so that from jerusalem, and round about unto illyricum, i have fully preached the gospel of christ rom. This video explains the transitional book that is the book of acts, and how it starts with jews to jews, and slowly changes to gentiles, as the jewish nation as a whole rejects jesus christ, and. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. Neither region was touched by paul s first missionary journey.