Book of Acts: Overview
Hymn 517: 1,
4, 7, 11, 12, 13,15, 19, 21, 26, 27, 3
Author: St. Luke – the first church
“historian”. It is the second volume of his work for Theophilus (1:1).
Following the methodology of careful investigation, he composes the story that
picks up at the same place where the Gospel of Luke ended up – Ascension.
Timeline: from Ascension of Jesus to Paul’s
first two years in Rome.
Main
characters:
Jesus, Holy
Spirit, Peter, James, Paul, John Mark (gospel writer), Barnabas, Luke, Stephan,
Dorcas, Lydia, Felix, Agrippa etc.
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.
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)
The Book of Acts as the New conquest of Joshua
Joshua |
Action |
Acts |
1 – 2 |
Preparation |
1 |
3 – 5 |
Conquering the city |
2 – 4 |
7 |
Hiding gifts of God |
5 |
9 |
Introduction of a new ministry |
6 |
10 |
Attack on the new ministry |
7 |
10:29-43 |
Conquering the South |
8 |
11 |
Conquering the North |
10 – 11 |
Overall chiastic structure of the Book of Acts (source is here):
1. A. 1:1-11, Ascension of Jesus, [1:3, the Kingdom of
God]
2. B. 1:12-26,
Mathias chosen to replace Judas, [1:18, Punishments against sinners]
3. C. 2:1-13,
The coming of the Holy Spirit, [27:14, Fierce wind]
4. D.
2:14-39, Peter addresses the crowd, [Preaching]
5. E.
2:40-47, Life among the believers, [righteousness of the believers]
6. F.
3:1-4:4, Peter heals a crippled beggar, [3:14, accusation of innocent]
7. G.
4:5-22, Peter and John before the council, [Apology]
8. H. 4:23-31,
The believers pray for boldness, [4:26, Conspiracy]
9. I. 4:32-37,
Believers share their possessions, [4:33, witness to the resurrection]
10. J. 5:1-11,
Ananias and Sapphira, [5:2, donation]
11. K. 5:12-42,
The apostles are persecuted, [5:18, arrest of apostles]
12. L. 6:1-7,
Seven are chosen to serve, [6:3, selection of ministers]
13. M.
6:8-7:60, Stephen’s speech to the council, [7:60, death]
14. N.
8:1-3, Saul persecutes the church, [8:1, the church expands to Israel]
15. O.
8:4-25, Philip preaches in Samaria, [Simon’s conversion, the end of magic]
16. P. 8:26-40, Philip and the
Ethiopian eunuch, [8:29, Instruction of mission]
17. Q. 9:1-22, The conversion of Saul,
[Conversion/Repentance]
18. R. 9:23-31, Saul in Jerusalem,
[9:25, Saul escapes]
19. S. 9:32-43, Peter in Lydda and Joppa, [9:34,
Miracles of apostles]
20. T. 10:1-23, A vision of
Cornelius, [10:3, calling through vision]
21. U. 10:24-48, Peter goes to
the house of Cornelius, [10:45, Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit]
22. V. 11:1-18, Peter’s report
to the church at Jerusalem, [11:4, reports of gentile mission]
23. W. 11:19-24, Barnabas goes
to Antioch, [11:20, mission to the Gentiles]
24. X. 11:25-30, The church in
Antioch, [11:30, Barnabas and Saul are sent]
25. Y. 12:1-24, Peter is
delivered from prison
26. X’. 12:25-13:13, Barnabas
and Saul are commissioned, [13:2, Barnabas and Saul are sent]
27. W’. 13:14-49, Paul and
Barnabas in Antioch and Pisidia, [13:46, mission to the Gentiles]
28. V’. 13:50-14:28, Paul and
Barnabas in Lystra and Derbe, [14:27, reports of gentile mission]
29. U’. 15:1-16:5, Council at
Jerusalem, [15:8, Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit]
30. T’. 16:6-10, Paul’s vision of
the man of Macedonia, [16:9, calling through vision]
31. S’. 16:11-40, Paul and Silas in
Prison, [16:18, Miracles of apostles]
32. R’. 17:1-15, The uproar in
Thessalonica, [17:10, Saul escapes]
33. Q’. 17:16-34, Paul in Athens,
[17:30, Conversion/Repentance]
34. P’. 18:1-23, Paul in Corinth,
[18:9, Instruction of mission]
35. O’. 18:24-19:20, Paul in Ephesus,
[19:19, the end of magic]
36. N’.
19:21-20:2, The riot in Ephesus [19:26, the church expands to Asia]
37. M’.
20:3-14, Paul’s farewell visit to Troas, [20:9, death]
38. L’.
20:15-38, The voyage from Troas to Miletus, [20:28, selection of ministers]
39. K’.
21:1-17, Paul goes to Jerusalem, [21:11, arrest of apostles]
40. J’.
21:18-26, Paul visits James in Jerusalem, [21:24, donation]
41. I’. 22:27-23:10
Paul tells of his conversion, [23:6, witness to the resurrection]
42. H’. 23:11-35,
The plot to kill Paul, [23:12, Conspiracy]
43. G’.
24:1-26, Paul before Felix at Caesarea, [Apology]
44. F’.
24:27-25:12, Paul appeals to the emperor, [25:7, accusation of innocent]
45. E’.
25:13-22, Festus consults king Agrippa, [25:18, righteousness of the believers]
46. D’.
25:23-26:32, Paul defends himself before Agrippa, [Preaching]
47. C’. 27:1-44,
The storm at sea [27:14, Fierce wind]
48. B’.
28:1-15, Paul on the island of Malta, [28:4, Punishments against sinners]
49. A’. 28:16-31, Paul preaches in Rome, [28:31, the
Kingdom of God]
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