July 15, 2020, Psalms 125, The book of Acts
Psalms 125
Those who trust in the Lord are like
Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but
endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
The scepter of the wicked will not
remain
over the land allotted to the
righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.
Lord, do good to those who are good,
to those who are upright in heart.
But those who turn to crooked ways
the Lord will banish with the evildoers.
Peace be to Israel.
We have come to the end of the journey in Revelation.
Beautiful Imagery.
THE BOOK OF ACTS
(ACTIONS)
The Writer is Luke. Scholars have not been proven it to be Luke, but based upon the writing style many agree that Luke the physician is the writer.
Luke the writer....
- He uses a large vocabulary. The book is filled with historical details that only someone who had a knowledge of the geographical area.
- He is known as Luke the physical
- He also uses similar writing styles in the gospel according to Luke.
- He uses speech style writing which adds a dramatic tone to his writing
- The book is called vivid and fast moving.
- Key people in this book is Peter and Paul
- Luke accompanied the Apostles during different mission trips.
- He records the problems and conflict between the Jews and Gentiles, the persecution of the church by some Jewish elements, and the trials held by the Jews and Romans
ACTS
NIV study bible list the purpose of the book.
- To demonstrate the unstoppable progress of the gospel
- To present a history
- To give a defense (defending the acts of Christians to both the Jews and Gentiles.
Defense: how did the early church deal with pagan and Roman government, and the Hellenistic society.
LANGUAGE USED
- effective use of speeches
- evangelistic style speeches
- or some call it God-fearing speeches
HISTORICAL DETAIL
- Luke provides good and bad things that took place
- he covers 30 years across the land of Jerusalem to Rome
The chapters of Acts
- Jesus taken up into Heaven/
- The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost/Peter Addresses the Crowd/The Fellowship of the Believers
- Peter Heals a Lame Beggar/Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
- Peter and John before the Sanhedrin/The Believers Pray/The Believers Share their Possessions
- Ananias and Sapphira/The Apostles Heal Many/The Apostles Persecuted
- The Choosing of the Seven/Stephen Seized
- Stephen's Speech to the Sanhedrin/The Stoning of Stephen
- The Church Persecuted and Scattered/Philip in Samaria/Simon the Sorcerer/Philip and the Ethiopian
- Saul's Conversion/Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem/Aeneas and Dorcas
- Cornelius Calls for Peter/Peter's Vision/Peter at Cornelius's House
- Peter explains his Actions/The Church in Antioch
- Peter's Miraculous Escape From Prison/Herod's Death
- Barnabas and Saul sent off/On Cyprus/In Pisidian Antioch
- In Iconium/In Lystra and Derbe/The Return to Antioch in Syria
- The Council at Jerusalem/The council's letter to Gentile believers/Disagreement between Paul and Barnabas
- Timothy Joins Paul and Silas/Paul's vision of the man of Macedonia/Paul and Silas in Prison
- In Thessalonica/In Berea/In Athens
- In Corinth/Priscilla, Aquila/Apollos
- Paul in Ephesus/The Riot in Ephesus
- Through Macedonia and Greece/Eutychus Raised from the dead at Troas/Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
- On to Jerusalem/Paul's Arrival at Jerusalem/Paul Arrested/
- Paul Speaks to the Crowd/Paul the Roman Citizen/Paul Before the Sanhedrin
- The Plot to Kill Paul/Paul Transferred to Caesarea
- Paul's Trial Before Felix
- Paul's Trial Before Festus/Festus Consults King Agrippa/Paul Before Agrippa
- King Agrippa continued.
- Paul Sails for Rome/The Storm/The Shipwreck
- Paul Ashore on Malta
- Paul's Arrival at Rome/Paul Preaches at Rome under Guard
Things used to stop the gospel.
The use of Jail
The use of confinement
There is persecution happening
But they continue to persuade others/or appeal to the people.
The title Apostle means
authority of ---Jesus Christ they were given this authority by God.
What is their authority?
Acts..(actions)
- to build a foundation to the church
- Mk 6:30 says the apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
- Acts 14:4 The people of the city was divided some sided with the Jews some with the Apostles.
- Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God--the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his Resurrection from the dead. Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we received grace and apostleship (authority) to call the Gentiles to obedience that comes from faith for his name's sake. And you also are among the Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
- Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead-and all the brothers and sisters who are with me. (a calling from God, they did not have normal lives but they lives seem to be about the church, and making sure that it was running properly)
The disciples move from learners to Apostles. In the gospels they were asking questions, showing confusion at what the Lord spoke, but here in the book of Acts these are changed men. They have a new strength.
Things to look for--what is their actions--how do they handle persecution--how do they deal with government--how do they respond to people for or against them--what is their authority?
Most of the Apostles dedicated a lot of time to God.
In summary an Apostle is a teacher--they lay foundations. What is our foundation. Jesus Christ-- and demonstrating their authority through actions.
Have a great day!
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