Acts tells the story of the first Christians, continuing Luke's emphasis on salvation and kingdom. |
Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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." 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." Continue Reading › |
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Today's topic is "The first Christians." Until you begin studying the Bible more in depth, it probably isn't something you think too much about. If you do, you likely imagine the disciples going out and talking to crowds of people. Which they did, of course. But, consider that many of the first Christians were also the same individuals who cried out for Jesus' crucifixion. Reading the Africa Bible Commentary on Acts 2:37-41, you'll find that they were devastated. "Peter instructs them to repent of their actions and to demonstrate their submission to the lordship of Jesus by being baptized in his name." "If they followed Peter's instructions, the people would also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Joel, God had promise this gift not only to the people of Israel and their children but also to all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call (2:39). This gift is clearly extended to people outside the Jewish nation." Continue your studies of Acts 2:37-41 in the Africa Bible Commentary Plus with Bible Gateway Plus. |
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When Was Acts Written? The earliest date Acts could have been written would be within a few years of the last recorded event in Acts, which takes place probably in AD 62. The latest date Acts could have been written would have been immediately prior to the first references to the book from other literature. Irenaeus contains some indisputable citations, as does Justin Martyr. They were writing around AD 160, which makes that the latest possible date. In this article, New Testament scholar Darrell Bock evaluates the evidence and argues for an early date in the 60s. Who Wrote the Book of Acts? By writing Acts, Luke helped pave the way for Christianity to continue spreading beyond the Jews and throughout the known world. Is Acts Descriptive or Prescriptive? Does Acts describe or prescribe such diverse practices as baptism, church polity, frequency of observing the Lord's Supper, method of choosing deacons, and selling and sharing possessions? Is Luke merely telling us what the early church did, or is he telling us what the modern church should do? |
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What are the key themes of Acts? In this short lecture, New Testament scholar Gene L. Green explains: |
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