Book of Acts
Title: The Acts of the Apostles – second
book by Luke
Date of
writing: before 70 AD.
Date of
Narrative: from
Ascension to arrival of Paul to Rome (around 60-62 AD).
Structure: Based on the 1:8 there can be set a
geographical structure of Acts
Jerusalem: ch. 1 – 7
“Judea”: 8 – 15 (coming back to Jerusalem)
“Samaria”: 16 – 22:29 (coming back to Jerusalem)
Ends of the
earth: 22:30 – 28 (toward Rome)
Main
themes: The reign of
Ascended Christ reaching the ends of the earth:
·
Who
is the real rule – question to Sanhedrin, and the rulers.
·
The
leadership of the church, Peter and Paul.
·
Fellowship
of Jews and Gentiles.
Main
Characters:
Jesus, Holy
Spirit, Peter, James, Paul, John Mark (gospel writer), Barnabas, Luke, Stephan,
Dorcas, Lydia
Reflection
in other parts of the Bible:
The first
part of the Book is closely associated with the Temple (2:46), therefore it is
important to know Ex. 25 – 31, 1 Kg. 6 – 8, Ezr. 1 – 6.
Samaritans are
the people who were brought to the Israel territories by Assyrians (2 Kings
17). People from other lands intermingled with the “leftovers” of the
Israelites. Therefore, they can and should be consider as ‘cousins’ to the
people of God.
Relationship
with the gentiles is based on Lev. 17-19 (Holiness Code). The difference
between the Older Testament institutions and the decision of the Jerusalem
council is the absence of the “second class” membership in the Church.
The
missionary journeys of Paul set up a historical background for the letters of
Paul, Pater, John, and the Revelation (note that the churches in Revelation are
the churches that Paul worked very closely with).
Lutheran
teaching:
The teaching
on the children baptism is based on Acts 2:38-39. Both Augsburg Confession
(IX:2) and its Apology (IX:53), and both part of Formula of Concord – Epitome
(XII:8) and Solid Declaration (XII:13).
One of the
passages that supports the hallmark of the Lutheran teaching on justification
by grace through faith is Acts 10:43. Over and over Melanchthon repeats in in
the Apology of Augsburg Confession – IV(II):83; V(III):152/273; XIIa(V):65;
XX:79.
Lutheran
hymnody:
LSB 493 – A
Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing – Ascension
LSB 900 –
Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love uses two verses of Acts 4:12 and 10:43.
Relevancy
of the Book:
Though the
Book of Acts does not present a model that the modern church should copy, the
pattern for the leadership, ministry, and outreach will always be important for
the development of the church: current and in the future.
Also, apart
from general pattern, there are many lessons a believer can learn for oneself:
how God works through His Word and Sacraments and encourages us to bear witness
to death and resurrection of Christ and salvation in the name of Jesus. One of
the formation passages can be found in 2:42 where Christ-centered ministry is
presented in four main aspects of a life of a Christian: Studying of the Word,
fellowship of the believers, regular partaking of the sacraments, and vigorous
prayerful life.
Memory
verses:
4:11-12 This
Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the
corner-stone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name
under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
28:17 After
three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had
gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our
people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from
Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans”.
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