This is the continuation of Luke’s Gospel and presents the risen Christ working through His apostles who had been empowered by the Holy Spirit. The origin of the Church, the Body of Christ, and its expansion “unto the uttermost part of the earth” is the theme of this first church history.
Acts is the record of the radically changed “acts” or “actions” of the followers of Jesus Christ after the resurrection. Acts opens with the out-flowing of the Holy Spirit and describes the missionary efforts of the early followers of Jesus as they spread the message of the gospel to Judea and Samaria. Acts also records the actions of the apostle Paul as he and other courageous believers continued to spread the good news of Jesus to the Jews and Gentiles of the Roman Empire.
ACTS
Who: Luke (The Physician)
What: History of Early Church
Where: Caesarea and Rome
When: ad 60-AD 62
Why: To record how the Holy Spirit acted through believers to spread the Word of God.
Outline (Chapter)
Jerusalem (1-8)
Judea and Samaria (8-12)
Paul’s Journeys (13-20)
Paul Taken to Rome (21 -28)
Key Verse:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8)