Introduction to Acts

The Church: Origin and Purpose  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  41:36
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Who wrote the book of Acts?

Internal Evidence
No direct claim to authorship
The “We” statements of the author
(16:10–17; 20:5–21:18; 27:1–28:16)
External Evidence
Muratorian Canon
The witness of the rest of the New Testament
Early church Fathers
Attached to the Gospel of Luke

What, Where, When, and Why of the book of Acts

A historical and orderly account
departure of Jesus
Two Key Leaders
Peter
Paul
Great Detail
Clarity in historical references
Luke was there (see “we” statements)
A Defense and defining of the church
Paul headed to Rome to stand before the emperor
Written to Theophilus - (Most Excellent)
A continuation of the Gospel of Luke
a. John 14:12 -- 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
John 14:12 ESV
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
b. John 14:15–17 (ESV) -- 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:15–17 ESV
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Who is Luke?

Colossians 4:14 (ESV)
Colossians 4:14 ESV
Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
Philemon 24 (ESV)
Philemon 24 ESV
and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
The “We” passages
Acts 16:10 (ESV)
Acts 16:10 ESV
And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 20:5–6 (ESV)
Acts 20:5–6 ESV
These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
Acts 27:1 (ESV)
Acts 27:1 ESV
And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius.
Paul Sails for Rome
27 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius.

Conclusion

The book of Acts is an essential bridge between the Gospels and the Teaching of the New Testament. It gives context to the writings of the Apostles and cements in history the reality of God’s Sovereign hand in the establishment and perpetuation of His church.
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