Saturday 28 October 2017

The Book of Acts: Small Group Study Review

The Acts of the Apostles; Study Guide Summary


Through small group study at my local church (Life Church), we've recently concluded the study on "The Acts of the Apostles" using Acts (N.T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides).

ACTS by N. T. Wright


Introduction 

The Acts of the Apostles is an exceptional piece, hence its an important book of the New Testament. It alone offers an intensive view of early church life and history.The book focuses on the acts of two apostles, Peter and Paul. And it also provides the continuation “of everything Jesus began both to do and teach” (1:1).

It provides the acts Jesus achieved after His ascension, through the Holy Spirit, in establishing the church. Saint Luke obviously follows the Great Commission in expanding this theme, showing the commencement in Jerusalem, the outreach to Judea and Samaria, and also the spreading to the faraway city of Rome (1:8).

And Luke's Story

The name of the book of Acts originates from the Greek word praxis, a term often used in early Christian literature to refer to the good accomplishments of the apostles or alternative remarkable believers. This name correctly demonstrates the contents of the book, which is actually a compilation of the lives of key apostles (specifically Peter and Paul) in the years right after Christ’s ascension into heaven.

Luke’s recognition as the author of this work was unquestioned all through history. It indicates an obvious advancement from the gospel according to Luke, picking up precisely where that book ended. A historical prologue to Luke’s gospel suggests that Luke was first a follower of the apostles after which became close with Paul.
This really is the way the book of Acts unfolds, starting with Peter and finishing with Paul. Luke even started to speak in the first person plural in the latter part of Acts, while he traveled the Roman Empire alongside Paul (Acts 16:10).


The Importance of the Book of Acts?

The book of Acts is considered the only biblical book that chronicles the background of the church soon after Jesus’s ascension. Consequently, it gives us with a useful record of ways the church was able to expand and spread out from Jerusalem throughout the entire Roman Empire.
Within thirty years, a small number of frightened Christ-followers in Jerusalem became an empire-wide phenomenon of people who had devoted their lives to Jesus Christ, ending on a high note with Paul on the verge of making the gospel towards the greatest government official on the land-the Emperor of Rome.

Breaking It Down

Acts could be beautifully broken into two segments, the starting dealing mostly with the ministry of Peter in Jerusalem and Samaria (Acts 1-12) while the Ending following Paul on his missionary journeys across the Roman Empire (Acts 13-28). Acts is important for chronicling the spread out of the gospel, besides geographically but also ethnically and culturally.

It points out the switch from bringing the gospel to the entire Jewish audience-with Peter speaking to a few people in the Upper Room-to the gospel going among the Gentiles, mostly under the ministry of the apostle Paul. The switch is best illustrated by Peter’s vision where he heard a voice telling him, “What God has cleansed, will no longer consider unholy” (10:15).

This led Peter to then share the gospel with so many Gentiles. The lesson? God wants His message of hope and salvation to increase to all people-“in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and also to the remotest part of the earth” (1:8).

Applying The Book

What chances for sharing the gospel are you able to take advantage of in the occasions are available? This question should ring through your mind while you study through the entire book of Acts. In practically every chapter, apostles, for instance, Peter and Paul powerfully present the gospel to persons and groups of people.

The apostles shown in Acts stood out with evangelistic energy, showing an eye-catching transition from the often misguided disciples of the Gospels. Clearly, the apostles’ faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus produced an obvious change in their hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Many times, our individual lives usually do not reflect that kind of change. We battle with fears over how others will deal with our faith or with breaking away from our own routine considerable enough to invest in the life of another person else who needs the gospel.

Allow Acts to inspire you to walk more closely with God so that you will make Christ’s name known with all the boldness and the enthusiasm of the apostles.

Lastly, Luke wrote to demonstrate to the Roman world that Christianity is not a subversive political movement. In comparison to some of the Jews of Judea, Christians had not been wanting to overthrow Rome. However they spoke of a different King and rejected the emperor as “lord,” they submitted to political authority.

Nevertheless, the apostles were often imprisoned, they were constantly exonerated. In some cases God Himself intervened; in other cases the governmental authority did, But every time they were vindicated.

Holy Bible

Big thanks to Emerald study group members; Bro Ong, Sis Crystal, Bro Richard, Sis Joanana, Elder Denny, Sis Iris, Bro Kevin & Sis Siet-Choi

3 comments:

  1. Praise God. Tq bro Jameson for your sharing and input :)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Blessing, Its an honor & privilege. All glory and praise to God Almighty. Remain Blessed

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