{"id":3562,"date":"2021-07-27T19:24:44","date_gmt":"2021-07-28T01:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/?p=3562"},"modified":"2022-11-11T14:52:54","modified_gmt":"2022-11-11T21:52:54","slug":"acts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/acts\/","title":{"rendered":"Gospel of Acts"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
The Gospel of Acts is the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the book of Acts. That is, the Gospel as taught and preached by the Apostles as they went out into the world. Both the Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles were written by Luke who wrote in the introduction, “In my first book O Theophilus (meaning God-seeker), I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.” (Acts 1:1-2) Acts is critical since it starts where the Gospel of Luke left off with the ascension of Christ.\u00a0<\/p>
When extracting the teaching, preaching, and exhortations from the book of Acts, we clearly see the Gospel that the Apostles believed and taught. First an outline of the foundational doctrines is provided. Then we start with a few verses in the last chapter in Luke and get right into the testimony of the Apostles. Let us see what those commissioned by Christ taught the Gospel was all about, as we see the direct testimony of the Apostles who were chosen by Christ. The pertinent verses are in English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
An outline of the core fundamental doctrines attested by Acts is provided below. This is consistent with Hebrews 6:1-8 which outlines foundational teachings of the faith. <\/p>\n
Acts 1:3, Acts 2:22-36, Acts 3:13-15, 18-26, Acts 4:10-12. Acts 4:24-31, Acts 5:30-32, Acts 5:42, Acts 7:56, Acts 9:20-22, Acts 10:36-46, Acts 11:23, Acts 13:23-24, Acts 13:30-35, Acts 13:36-41, Acts 17:3, Acts 17:30-31<\/p>\n
Acts 2:38, Act 3:26, Acts 7:44-53, Acts 11:18, Acts 14:15, Acts 17:24-31, Acts 20:21, Acts 26:18-20<\/p>\n
Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12, Acts 8:14-18, Acts 8:36-39, Acts 9:17-18, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 11:15-18, Acts 17:31-34, Acts 18:8, Acts 19:2-6, Acts 22:16<\/p>\n
Acts 6:6, Acts 8:17-18, Acts 9:12-18, Acts 13:3, Acts 19:6, Acts 28:8<\/p>\n
Acts 1:5, Acts 1:7, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:15-18, Acts 2:33, Acts 2:38-42, Acts 8:14-19, Acts 10:44-47, Acts 19:6 <\/p>\n
In Greek, “good word” is “beautiful utterances” referring to tongues as, “experiencing the beautiful utterances of God”<\/p>\n
Acts 1:3, Acts 1:6-7, Acts 1:11, Acts 4:2, Acts 8:12, Acts 14:22, Acts 19:8, Acts 20:25, Acts 20:32, Acts 23:6, Acts 24:14-21, Acts 26:6-8, Acts 28:23, Acts 28:31<\/p>\n
Acts 2:19-21, Acts 3:21, Acts 10:42, Acts 17:30-31, Acts 24:15<\/p>\n
1<\/sup> Therefore, let us leave the elementary word of Christ, and let us go on to perfection. Why do you again lay another foundation for the repentance from past deeds and for faith in God? 2<\/span> <\/span>And for the doctrine of baptisms and for the laying on of hands and for the resurrection of the dead and for eternal judgment? <\/span>3<\/span> <\/span>If the Lord permits, this we will do. <\/span>4<\/span> <\/span> But this is impossible for those who have once been baptized <\/span>5<\/span> <\/span>and have tasted of the gift from heaven and have received the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, 6<\/span><\/span> <\/span>For, for them to sin again and be renewed again by repentance, they crucify the Son of God a second time and put him to open shame. <\/span>7<\/span> <\/span>For the earth which drinks in the rain that falls abundantly on it, and brings forth herbs useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; <\/span>8<\/span> <\/span>But if it should produce thorns and briers it is rejected and not far from being condemned; and at the end this crop will be burned up. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t 45<\/sup> Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures<\/strong>, 46<\/sup> and said to them, \u201cThus it is written,<\/strong> that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead<\/strong>, 47<\/sup> and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem<\/strong>. 48<\/sup> You are witnesses of these things<\/strong>. 49<\/sup> And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> 1<\/sup> In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2<\/sup> until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen<\/strong>. 3<\/sup> He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God<\/strong>. 4<\/sup> And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, \u201cyou heard from me; 5<\/sup> for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now<\/strong>.\u201d 6<\/sup> So when they had come together, they asked him, \u201cLord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel<\/strong>?\u201d 7<\/sup> He said to them, \u201cIt is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8<\/sup> But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.\u201d 9<\/sup> And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10<\/sup> And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11<\/sup> and said, \u201cMen of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t 1<\/sup> When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2<\/sup> And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3<\/sup> And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4<\/sup> And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance<\/strong>. 5<\/sup> Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6<\/sup> And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7<\/sup> And they were amazed and astonished, saying, \u201cAre not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8<\/sup> And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9<\/sup> Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10<\/sup> Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11<\/sup> both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians\u2014we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.\u201d 12<\/sup> And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, \u201cWhat does this mean?\u201d 13<\/sup> But others mocking said, \u201cThey are filled with new wine.\u201d<\/p> 14<\/sup> But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: \u201cMen of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15<\/sup> For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16<\/sup> But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 22<\/sup> \u201cMen of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth<\/strong>, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst<\/strong>, as you yourselves know\u2014 23<\/sup> this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men<\/strong>. 24<\/sup> God raised him up<\/strong>, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25<\/sup> For David says concerning him, \u201c\u2018I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26<\/sup> therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27<\/sup> For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption<\/strong>. 28<\/sup> You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.\u2019<\/p> 29<\/sup> \u201cBrothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30<\/sup> Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne<\/strong>, 31<\/sup> he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption<\/strong>. 32<\/sup> This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. <\/strong>33<\/sup> Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing<\/strong>. 34<\/sup> For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, \u201c\u2018The Lord said to my Lord, \u201cSit at my right hand, 35<\/sup> until I make your enemies your footstool.\u201d\u2019 36<\/sup> Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> \u00a037<\/sup> Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, \u201cBrothers, what shall we do?\u201d 38<\/sup> And Peter said to them, \u201cRepent 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<\/strong>. 39<\/sup> For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself<\/strong>.\u201d 40<\/sup> And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, \u201cSave yourselves from this crooked generation<\/strong>.\u201d 41<\/sup> So those who received his word were baptized, <\/strong>and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42<\/sup> And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching<\/strong> and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43<\/sup> And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t 13<\/sup> The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus<\/strong>, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14<\/sup> But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you<\/strong>, 15<\/sup> and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses<\/strong>.\u00a016<\/sup> And his name\u2014by faith in his name\u2014has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.<\/p> 17<\/sup> \u201cAnd now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18<\/sup> But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled<\/strong>. 19<\/sup> Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out<\/strong>, 20<\/sup> that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus<\/strong>, 21<\/sup> whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago<\/strong>. 22<\/sup> Moses said, \u2018The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23<\/sup> And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.\u2019 24<\/sup> And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days<\/strong>. 25<\/sup> You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, \u200b\u2018And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.\u2019 26<\/sup> God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> \u200b1<\/sup> And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2<\/sup> greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead<\/strong>.<\/p> 8<\/sup> Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, \u201cRulers of the people and elders, 9<\/sup> if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10<\/sup> let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth<\/strong>, whom you crucified<\/strong>, whom God raised from the dead<\/strong>\u2014by him this man is standing before you well. 11<\/sup> This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone<\/strong>. 12<\/sup> 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<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> 24<\/sup> … they lifted their voices together to God and said, \u201cSovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them<\/strong>, 25<\/sup> who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, \u201c\u2018Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26<\/sup> The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed<\/strong>\u2019\u2014 27<\/sup> for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel<\/strong>, 28<\/sup> to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place<\/strong>. 29<\/sup> And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30<\/sup> while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus<\/strong>.\u201d 31<\/sup> And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.<\/p> 12<\/sup> Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles<\/strong>. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13<\/sup> None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14<\/sup> And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15<\/sup> so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16<\/sup> The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.<\/p> 29<\/sup> But Peter and the apostles answered, \u201cWe must obey God rather than men. 30<\/sup> The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree<\/strong>. 31<\/sup> God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins<\/strong>. 32<\/sup> And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> 40<\/sup> and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41<\/sup> Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42<\/sup> And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus<\/strong>.<\/p> And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, \u201cIt is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3<\/sup> Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom<\/strong>, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4<\/sup> But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word<\/strong>.\u201d 5<\/sup> And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6<\/sup> These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them<\/strong>. 7<\/sup> And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t 2<\/sup> And Stephen said: \u201cBrothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3<\/sup> and said to him, \u2018Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.\u2019 4<\/sup> Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. 5<\/sup> Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. 6<\/sup> And God spoke to this effect\u2014that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. 7<\/sup> \u2018But I will judge the nation that they serve,\u2019 said God, \u2018and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.\u2019 8<\/sup> And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.<\/p>\n 9<\/sup> \u201cAnd the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10<\/sup> and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11<\/sup> Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 12<\/sup> But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13<\/sup> And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. Part 1, Prelude to the Ministry<\/h2>
Luke 24:45-49, Instructions from Christ<\/h3>
Acts 1:1-11, Introduction to Acts<\/h3>
Part 2, The day of Pentecost\u00a0<\/h2>
Acts 2:1-13, Outpouring of the Holy Spirit<\/h3>
Acts 2:14-21, Peter quotes the prophet Joel<\/h3>
17<\/sup> \u201c\u2018And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh<\/strong>, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18<\/sup> even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy<\/strong>. 19<\/sup> And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke<\/strong>; 20<\/sup> the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day<\/strong>. 21<\/sup> And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.<\/strong>\u2019<\/p>Acts 2:22-28, Peter preaches the resurrection<\/h3>
Acts 2:29-36, Peter preaches, “God has made him (Jesus) both Lord and Christ”<\/h3>
Acts 2:37-43, The Apostles Doctrine<\/h3>
Part 3, Peter preaches to the Jews<\/h2>
Acts 3:13-26, Peter preaches in Solomon’s portico<\/h3>
Acts 4:1-2, Sadducees annoyed\u00a0<\/h3>
Acts 4:8-12, Peter\u00a0 before the council<\/h3>
Acts 4:24-31, Believers prayer<\/h3>
Acts 5:12-16, Apostolic Ministry<\/h3>
Acts 5:29-32, Apostles arrested<\/h3>
Acts 5:40-42, Facing persecution<\/h3>
Acts 6:2-7, Selection of assistants<\/h3>
Part 4, Stephen’s Speech<\/h2>\n
Acts 7:2-8, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob<\/h3>\n
Acts 7:9-16, Joseph<\/h3>\n