Acts: You will be My witnesses

A. Beginning in Jerusalem, ch. 1-7

Mainly Jewish, with focus on Peter’s ministry

• The ascension of Christ, 1:1-11
• The appointment of Matthias, 1:12-26
• The Day of Pentecost, 2
• The lame man healed, 3-4
• Growth and persecution of the church, 5
• Stephen, 6-7

B. In all Judea and Samaria, ch. 8-12

Transitional, with focus on Peter and Philip’s ministry

• Philip, 8
• Saul’s conversion, 9:1-30
• Peter and Dorcas, 9:31-43
• Peter and Cornelius, 10-11
• Peter and Herod, 12

C. To the ends of the earth, ch. 13-28

Mainly Gentile, focus on Paul’s ministry

• Paul the missionary, 13:1-21:14
  • First missionary journey, 13-14
  • Council in Jerusalem, 15
  • Second missionary journey, 16:1-18:22
  • Third missionary journey, 18:23-21:14
• Paul the prisoner, 21:15-28:31
  • Arrest in Jerusalem, 21:15-36
  • Defense before the Jews, 21:37-23:10
  • Sent to Caesarea, 23:11-35
  • Defense before Felix, 24
  • Defense before Festus, 25-26
  • The voyage to Rome, 27-28

Purpose of Acts

• Historical: to show the historical accuracy of the founding of the Church.
• Christological: Christ is building His church through the Spirit He poured out.
• Eschatological: This same Jesus will so come and establish His kingdom.
• Pneumatological: Fulfilment of the Lord’s promise to baptize in the Holy Spirit.
• Missiological: “You shall be My witnesses… to the ends of the earth”
• Apologetical: Defense of the faith before Jews, Gentiles, and kings.

Chronology of Paul’s Life

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