The Acts of the Apostles (The Book of Acts)
by Judy Jeschke
The book of Acts is Luke’s telling of the birth and expansion of the Christian Church. Luke begins by retelling his story of Jesus’ ascension into heaven with some unique details compared to the end of his Gospel including some angelic messengers. This expansion story is not told in a comprehensive manner. It focuses primarily on Peter and Paul, leaving the other apostles in the background. It deals with a “westward expansion” along the northern shores of the Mediterranean, an particularly Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and Macedonia (Greece). We learn almost nothing about the expansion into Africa in the south and India to the east, where there are considerable traditions.
The book naturally falls into two halves: The Acts of Peter (Acts 1:6-12:25) and The Acts of Paul (Acts 13:1-28:31).
Seven main features of The Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles:
1) This book is clearly demonstrating the Person and work of the Holy Spirit through the church. The two “major moves” are birthing the church in Jerusalem and opening the way for Gentiles to be included in the church.
2) The narrative of Luke’s writing is focused on the miraculous expansion of the church.
3) We learn how crucial the Council in Jerusalem was as a turning point in the history of the Christian faith (Acts 15). It is a huge shift to include non-Jews in the church.
4) The many speeches/sermons clearly show us the message of the early church.
5) Luke’s theme of Jesus as the universal savior of humankind continues in Acts.
6) Luke’s view is not a story of an institution of organization. It is an organic fellowship with many Christian personalities.
7) Luke records the shift from a Jerusalem (Jewish) centered church to an outward focus on “ends of the Earth”.
The Main point of Acts is: The love of God for the world is now made flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit in the people of God, the Church.
Key Verse: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8)