Foundations (Year Two)

“Encountering the New Testament”

Session #3. Encountering ACTS

The NT Writings

Letters of Paul:Galatians (48/49 CE)1 & 2 Thessalonians (51-

52)1 & 2 Corinthians (53-57)Romans (56-57)Prison letters (61-62):

(Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon & Philippians)

Pastoral letters (64-66): (1, 2 Timothy & Titus)

Written earlier:Letter of James

(40’s/50’s)

Written later:Letters of Peter (64-66)Mark (68-70 )Matthew (70-80)Luke-Acts (70-80)Hebrews (50’s/60’s?)Letter of Jude (50’s ?)Writings of John:

Gospel, Letters & Revelation (90-96)

“The spreading flame”

- the message of the book of ACTS

The author

Luke, the historian

Luke, the theologian

Luke, the evangelist

Luke, the missionary

The book

Compiled over many months (even years)

Written in Greek (for primarily Greek speaking world)

Possibly written (compiled) from Rome

Later designated, simply “ACTS”

A second volume (LUKE-ACTS)

Luke’s purpose – a reminder

“In my former book… I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven” (Acts 1:1-2)

(see Luke 1:1-4)

Luke - ActsHow the good news

started“all that Jesus

began..”Establishment of

salvationRedemptiveLocal, limited & brief

Coming of salvation to Jews

Record of Jesus as Christ/ Messiah

How the good news spread

“all that Jesus continued..”

Proclamation of salvation

EvangelisticUniversal, without

boundaries & prolongedSpread of salvation to

GentilesPreaching of Jesus as

Lord

The Theology of ACTS

God’s continuing purpose in history (2:23; 3:18; 4:28)

A new message & a new mandate (5:20)

The emergence of the Church as the people of God (Matthew 16:18)

The centrality of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 8:39)

ACTS – an outline

Introduction & background(a) Coming of Spirit/ beginning of Church…Glimpses into God’s new society (Peter & John)(b) Opposition: Stephen the deacon

Persecution: Philip the evangelist Expectation: Peter the apostle

(c) Conversion & ministry of Saul/ Paul the apostle

First missionary journey(Church Council at Jerusalem)

Second missionary journeyThird missionary journey.

Latter days of Paul

1

2-5

6-8

9-12

9

13-14

15

15-18

18-21

21-28

ACTS 1

Waiting & Expectation

Waiting for the promise

More about Jesus:

Proof that he’s alive (v.3a)Teaching about his kingdom (v.3b)Waiting for his power (vv.4-5)Hearing his commission (vv.7-8)Seeing him as Lord (vv.9-11)

Turning to him in prayer (vv. 12-26)

Proof that he’s alive

“After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.” (cf. 1 Cor. 15:3-8)

“witnesses of his resurrection” (1:22; 4:2, 33; 17:18; 24:21)

Teaching about his kingdom

“He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”

(cf. Daniel 2:44; Isaiah 2:1-5; Ezekiel 7:24ff.- Matt.3:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:18-19)

“The now & the not yet”

Waiting for his power

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”… and you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.

(cf. Luke 24:49; Jn. 14:15-27; 15:26-27; 16:5-16)

Hearing his commission

It is not for you to know …

But you will receive power…

And you will be my witnesses…

JerusalemJudea/ Samaria

Ends of the earth

Alternative structure to the book

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses…

In Jerusalem… (2:1-4, 33)

In all Judea & Samaria… (8:14-17)

To the ends of the earth.” Saul (9:17-18)Cornelius (10:44-47)Ephesians (19:1-7)

Seeing him as Lord

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.“

“Jesus Christ is LORD” (2:33-36; 4:18-20, 26; 5:29-31; 7:56; 9:5; Eph. 1:11, 20-23; Col. 1;15-20; Phil. 2:9-11)

Turning to him in prayer

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

They proposed two men: Joseph…and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Matthias – the right or wrong choice?

ACTS 2

The coming of the Spirit (1:1-13)

The content of the Christian

message (1:14-41)

The formation of Christian

community (1:42-47)

The coming of the Spirit

A significant day (when?)

The physical phenomena (what?)

The spiritual phenomena (what?)

The company of hearers (why?)

A significant day!

Death of Christ(1 Cor. 5:7 “Christ our

Passover”)

Resurrection of Christ/ Coming of the Spirit (1 Cor. 15:20-23; Rom.8:23)

Life between the now & the not yet (saved & being saved) Phil. 3:20-21; Heb. 11:8-16

Passover (1st month 14thday)

Unleavened bread (15th)

Firstfruits Weeks (50 days after

firstfruits of harvest)

Trumpets (7th month) Day of Atonement (10th) Tabernacles (15th)

““When When the day of Pentecost the day of Pentecost came, they came, they were all together in one place.”were all together in one place.”

The Promise?

Luke 24:49“I (Jesus) am going to send you what my

Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Acts 1:4On one occasion, while he was eating with

them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.”

The Fulfillment!

Acts 2:32-33, 38-39 (Peter)

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear……Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Galatians 3:14 (Paul) He redeemed us in order that the blessing given

to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13And you also were included in Christ when you

heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.

Physical phenomena

“they heard…a sound like a violent wind”

“they saw…what seemed to be tongues of fire”

God’s powerful presence. (Gen. 1:2; Ezekiel 37)

God’s purifying presence. (Ex. 13:21-22)

The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit

Spiritual phenomena

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit”

“(All of them) began to speak in other tongues”

…to control & empower our lives

…to release our lips (in worship & witness)

The company of hearers

Baptism & fullness

For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (1:5)

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.(2:4)

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be (being) filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18)

InitiationInitiation ongoingongoing filling filling (control)(control)

The content of the Christian message

1. PROMISE

2. FULFILMENT

• He came• He lived• He died• He is alive• He is Lord

3. RESPONSE

The kerygm

a

“They offered a gift – they looked for a response”

OFFER:

1. A new life (through the Holy Spirit)2. A new status (forgiven & accepted)

RESPONSE:

1. Repent – 3:19; 17:302. (Believe &) be baptized – 2:38;

20:213. Demonstration - 26:20

Formation of the Christian community

“People of God” (Gen. 12; 1 Pet. 2:9-10)

“They devoted themselves to…”

1. (the) Apostles Teaching2. (the) Fellowship3. (the) Breaking of bread – Worship4. (the) Prayers

A Missional Community

Foundation (Teaching/ Sharing/ Worship/ Prayer)

Evangelism with power

“in word”

Social justice with compassion

“in deed”

The focus of a community church, which is missional

Gathered as the people of GodEmpowered by the Spirit of GodEquipped with the message of God

Sent to be the people of God……in the community & the world

ACTS 3

A community of word & power

The ongoing ministry of Jesus through his followers

(“The ACTS of the APOSTLES”)

ACTS 1:1-2 “In my former book… I wrote about all that Jesus

began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven…”

JOHN 14:12-14 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me

will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

Structure

Three major blocks:

An early miracle …opposition commences(3:1-4:31)

Summary paragraph #1. (4:32-38)

A major warning …“Ananias & Sapphira”(5:1-11)

Summary paragraph #2 (5:12-16)

An ensuing conflict …persecution by Jewish (5:17-42) religious hierarchy

What precisely did Jesus do?

A reminder:

“Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him.” (Acts 2:22)

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to announce good news to the poor.

He has sent me to

proclaim to the prisoners - freedom

and to the blind - recovery of sight

to release the oppressed – into freedom,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor”

Isaiah 61/ Luke 4

The ministry of Jesus (Lk. 4:40-44)

Word

Teaching

Revelation by the Spirit

Parable

Deed

Healing & deliverance

Actions of the Spirit

Miracle

What is a miracle?

A “mighty work” ( dunamis )

A “sign” ( semeion )

A “wonder” ( teras )

miracle

(faith in) GOD

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power (dunamis), and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” (Peter in Acts 10:38)

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.” (John in 1 John 3:8)

So what’s really happening?

The kingdom of God is coming in (among you)

Healing

The kingdom of darkness is being cast (thrown) out

Deliverance/ exorcism

Or, to put it another way

The message:

The kingdom of God has come:

God has entered history,in the person and work of

Jesus Christ,& is continuing to do so

through the Holy Spirit,For the redemption/

trans- formation of this world.

The evidence:

Healing, deliverance… salvation, reconciliation, forming of Christian community, transformation of society.

Christians - Power to heal?

“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.”

(Summary by Peter, Acts 2:43)

Remember their experience with Jesus

"When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out (two by two) to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick...So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere."

Luke 9:1-6 (cf. Mark 6, Matthew 10)

A specific example (Acts 3)

The location & setting

The (actual) miracle

The reactions

Reactions…

Faithful preaching of the message

Opposition from religious hierarchy

Great stimulation to prayer

Christians living in the fear of God

Compassionate generousity and miraculous ministry “in the name of Jesus”

The “name” of Jesus

Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.“ (3:6)

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. (3:16)

They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?“ (4:7)

It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

This is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.'

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved.“ (4:10-12)

The “name” of Jesus

Further reactions to “the name”

But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." Then they called them in again and com-manded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.(4:17-18)

Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.“ (4:30)

"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.“ (5:28)

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. (5:40-41)

Opposition & persecution (Chs. 4-5)

Reasons for opposition

Content of their message

Power in their lives

Stigma of their allegiance

Reaction to opposition

Faithful witness

Fear of God… rather than men

Inner joy/ outward growth

The forgotten people of ACTS

Stephen, the deacon (chs. 6-7)Philip, the evangelist & his 4 prophetic daughters (ch.

8; 21:9)Simon, the sorcerer (ch. 8)Peter, the apostle (chs. 9b.-12)Barnabas, the encourager aka Joseph (4:36/ chs. 9,11)Gamaliel, the Pharisee (5:34; 22:3)Ananias, the witness (9:10ff.)Dorcas & Lydia, the female disciples (9:36ff.)Cornelius, the centurion (10:1ff.)James, the bishop (15:13-21)Apollos, the teacher (18:24-28)Priscilla & Aquila, the pastors (18:2, 26)Mark, Timothy, Silas & Luke, the co-workers

The preaching & ministry of

Philip

(the evangelist)

The earliest preaching & ministry

of Peter (the apostle)

Conversion

(& early journeys of

Saul)

Paul: The missionary

Paul’s three (post-conversion) convictions:

1. His whole previous way of life lay under the rebuke of God (Phil. 3:4-11)

2. The Jesus whom he had been persecuting was the Son of God, truly alive and in ultimate control (1 Cor. 15; Col. 1:15-20)

3. He (Paul) had been called to take this message to the world (Gal. 1:1, 13-17)

The early ministry of Barnabas & Saul

Antioch: The missionary church

They were a…

1. Worshipping church

2. Waiting church

3. Willing church (Ch. 13:1-3)(Ch. 13:1-3)

The first missionary journeyPaul & Barnabas GALATIA 46-48 CE

The first missionary journey

Stage #1 (13:4-12) Opposition(cf. chs. 4, 8, 19)

Stage #2 (13:13-52) The message: Jesus

Stage #3 (14:1-21) The strategy: Cities & synagogues

Stage #4 (14:21-28) The consolidation:Discipleship, leadership & prayer

Paul writes to the Galatian churches?

Church Council at Jerusalem 49 CE

“Resolving conflicts in the church”

Lessons from Acts 15:1-35

The difficulty (vv.1-5)

A disagreement…or something more?

Is doctrine important?

Primary & secondary doctrines?

What’s going on in Galatia? (cf. Gal. 1:7)

Heresy = any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established

doctrine

The discussion (vv. 6-21)

Setting the scene (vv.1-5)

The testimony of PeterThe testimony of Paul (& Barnabas)

The verdict of JamesThe consent of the (whole) church

The decision (vv. 22-35)

The letter

The couriers

The requests (not absolutes!)

What’s this got to do with us?

1. Diversity in non-essentials unity in essentials

2. Knowing where & when to draw the line

3. Acknowledge dependence on larger Church

4. Celebrate what God is doing even in the midst of difficulties

Don’t let the fundamentals become incidental - or the incidentals will be come fundamental!

The second missionary journeyPaul & Silas EUROPE 49-

52 CE

The second missionary journey

Conflict between Paul & BarnabasBarnabas & Mark go to Cyprus/ Paul & Silas to Asia

Timothy joins the mission team“The man of Macedonia” - Go West young man!Philippians conversions: Lydia, Slave girl & JailorThessalonica (The persecutors)Berea (The disciples)Athens (The philosophers)Corinth (18 months of fruitful ministry)Ephesus - Antioch

Paul writes his first two letters“To the Thessalonians” (from Corinth)

The third missionary journeyPaul GREECE & ASIA 53-58 CE

The third missionary journey

Asia MinorEphesus (three levels of spiritual warfare)

…but three years of fruitful ministryMacedonia – Greece (3 months) - MacedoniaMiracle at Troas (Eutychus)Farewell to the Ephesian eldersTyre – Caesarea – JerusalemReport to James & the bishops

“When they heard this, they praised God”

Paul writes “To the Corinthians” 56-57 CE

Letter #1 From the CorinthiansLetter #2 1 Corinthians (56)Letter #3 A severe letter Letter #4 2 Corinthians (57)

Paul writes “To the Romans” 57-58 CE

The latter days of Paul:The journey to Rome 58-61 CE

The latter days of Paul, 58-61 CE

Arrested in Jerusalem (21:27-22:29)Paul’s defense before the Roman authorities

Paul before the Sanhedrin (22:30-23:11)The plot (of “the forty”) to kill Paul (23:12-22)

Paul’s imprisonment at Caesarea (2 years)Trial before Felix, the Governor (24:1-27)Trial before Festus, the Governor (25:1-22)Trial before King Agrippa (25:23-26:32)

Journey to Rome (storm – shipwreck - Malta)Paul under house-arrest in Rome (2 years)

Paul’s “Prison letters”(…under house arrest 61-63 CE)

Paul is released for further ministry & writes his “Pastoral letters” 64-66

CE

Timothy (Ephesus) Titus (Crete)

Paul’s final words (2 Timothy)

Paul is martyred (beheaded) under Nero, 67 CE