ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
EASTER SEASON

April 13, 2021

3843

Acts of the Apostles — A Complete, Structured Overview

What Acts Is About

Acts is the story of the early Church, beginning with Jesus’ Ascension and continuing through the explosive spread of Christianity across the Roman world. It is the second volume of a two‑part work by Luke, companion of St. Paul.

Acts shows:

The coming of the Holy Spirit
The birth of the Church in Jerusalem
The mission to the Gentiles
The apostolic leadership of Peter and Paul
The Church’s growth “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8)

Authorship, Date, and Purpose

Author: Traditionally Luke, the physician and companion of Paul.
Date: Likely AD 60–90 (scholars vary).
Audience: Addressed to Theophilus, likely a high‑ranking believer or symbolic “lover of God.”
Purpose:
To provide a history of the early Church
To show the work of the Holy Spirit
To demonstrate the continuity between Jesus’ ministry and the Church’s mission

Major Themes

Holy Spirit empowerment
Apostolic preaching
Miracles and signs
Persecution and perseverance
Inclusion of Gentiles
Unity and conflict within the early Church
Missionary expansion

Acts in 10 Key Moments

Structure of Acts (Simple Outline)

1. Church in Jerusalem (Acts 1–7)

Pentecost
Early community life
First persecutions
Martyrdom of Stephen

2. Church in Judea & Samaria (Acts 8–12)

Philip’s mission
Conversion of Saul
Peter’s vision and Gentile inclusion

3. Mission to the Gentiles (Acts 13–28)

Paul’s three missionary journeys
Council of Jerusalem
Arrest, trials, and journey to Rome

Why Acts Matters

Acts is the bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles. It explains:

How the Church moved from Jerusalem to the Gentile world
How the apostles understood and preached Jesus
How early Christian communities formed
How the Holy Spirit guided the Church’s growth

It is the foundational narrative for Christian mission, evangelization, and ecclesial identity.

General Overview

Author: Traditionally attributed to Luke the Evangelist
Date written: Around AD 80–90
Language: Greek
Position in Bible: Fifth book of the New Testament
Purpose: To record the early history of the Christian Church after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension

Key Themes

The Holy Spirit at work
- Pentecost (Acts 2) marks the coming of the Holy Spirit
- Empowers apostles to preach boldly and perform miracles
Spread of the Gospel
- From Jerusalem → Judea & Samaria → ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)
- Early missionary journeys of Paul, Peter, and other apostles
Formation of the Church
- Community life, prayer, sharing of goods (Acts 2:42–47)
- Early Church struggles with persecution, internal disputes, and theological questions
Inclusion of Gentiles
- Key turning point: Cornelius, the Roman centurion, receives the Holy Spirit (Acts 10)
- Shows the Gospel is for all, not just Jews
Miracles and divine guidance
- Healing the sick, raising the dead, delivering from prison
- Shows God’s active presence in the early Church

Major Sections

Acts 1–7: Early Church in Jerusalem, Pentecost, Stephen’s martyrdom
Acts 8–12: Spread to Judea and Samaria, Peter’s ministry
Acts 13–28: Paul’s missionary journeys, trials, and journey to Rome

Important Figures

Peter: Leader of the Jerusalem Church, preaches to Jews
Paul (Saul of Tarsus): Apostle to the Gentiles, main missionary
Stephen: First Christian martyr
Philip, Barnabas, Silas: Early missionaries
Ananias & Cornelius: Key figures in Gentile conversion

Key Verses

Acts 1:8: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses…”
Acts 2:42–47: Life of the early Church in community
Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else…”

“What do you mean He is gone ? “

Resurrection (1999) | Full Movie | Robert Jobe, Mark Steele, Ray Lewandowski

Lord God, you loved this world so much that you gave your one and only Son, that we might be called your children too. Lord, help us to live in the gladness and grace of Easter Sunday, every day. Let us have hearts of thankfulness for your sacrifice. Let us have eyes that look upon your grace and rejoice in our salvation. Help us to walk in that mighty grace and tell your good news to the world. All for your glory do we pray, Lord, Amen.Oh God, Who this day by Your only-begotten Son vanquishing death, has unlocked for us the gate of eternity, help us to attain the desires to which You have led us by Your inspirations. We ask this through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Oh God, as we renew our Baptismal vows, help us to be made worthy of Eternal Life, that we may always seek to do Your will in our hearts and minds, that we may show others Your saving grace and Your love. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. Oh God, who makes the faithful to be of one mind and will, grant that we, Your people; may love what you command and desire what You promise so that, amid the changing things of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joys are to be found. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.