CHAPTER 7

THE NEW TESTAMENT

BOOK OF HISTORY-ACTS

The book of Acts covers a period of about thirty years, from A.D. 30 to A.D. 63(Eerdman's Handbook To The Bible). The book of Acts is a continuation of the book of Luke. As mentioned in the last section dealing with the Gospels, Luke, known as the beloved physician(Colossians 4:14), wrote both the books of Luke and Acts [also known as The Acts of the Apostles]. This book begins with the risen Jesus, and goes on to tell the early history of the Lord's Church, which spreads throughout the world(Colossians 1:23). Luke is the only non-Jewish writer of the New Testament(Halley's Bible Handbook). Scholars believe that Luke had lived in the city of Antioch, and was converted when the church started there(Butler's Lives Of The Saints). The book was written about A.D. 63. Historians agree to the date and of both the historic and geographical accuracy of the book(International Standard Bible Encyclopedia), but deny any miracles mentioned, such as the healing of the lame man(Acts 3:1-11). Scholars say that the miracles mentioned in the Bible are "so far removed from present human experiences" that they deny all of them, calling them myths(Who Could Believe Such A Story?). Historians know that the book of Luke was written before Paul's death in A.D. 67, because Luke writes of him still being alive at the end of the book(Acts 28:30,31). A coin found in Cyprus confirms what historians now know that Luke was right in that Sergius Paulus(Acts 13:7) was a Proconsul instead of a Propraetor, a view that critics once used against the Bible, in arguing that it was inaccurate(The Divine Demonstration: A Textbook Of Christian Evidence). Historians also know that the Roman Emperor Nero did not start persecuting Christians in Rome until around A.D. 64 (Compton's Encyclopedia). Christians still had Roman officials being somewhat fair in the treating of their cases, especially the apostle Paul, who was a Roman citizen(Acts 16:37; 22:25-29), entitling him to special status(Early Gentile Christianity And It's Hellenistic Background). Suetonius in his Lives Of The Caesars[A.D. 121] tells of the Roman Emperor Claudius expelling the Jews(Acts 18:2) from Rome for the mistreatment of the Christians(The Lion Encyclopedia Of The Bible). Historians have compared portions of the book of Acts, and based upon documented evidence, have dated these events(Halley's Bible Handbook):

1) Formation of the Church(Acts 2)- A.D. 30

2) Stoning of Stephen(Acts 7,8)- A.D. 31

3) Conversion of Paul(Acts 9)-A.D. 32

4) Paul's first Christian visit to Jerusalem(Acts 9)-A.D. 34

5) Conversion of Cornelius(Acts 10)-A.D. 35

6) Gentiles at Antioch(Acts 11)-A.D. 35-44

7) Paul's second visit to Jerusalem(Acts 11:27-30)-A.D. 44

8) Death of Herod Agrippa I(Acts 12:23)-A.D. 44

9) Paul's First Missionary Journey(Acts 13,14)-A.D. 45-48

10) The Conference at Jerusalem(Acts 15)-A.D. 49

11) Paul's Second Missionary Journey(Acts 16-18)-A.D. 50-53

12) Gallio rules Christianity legal(Acts 18:13-17)-A.D. 52

13) Paul's Third Missionary Journey(Acts 19,20)-A.D. 54-57

14) Macedonia,Summer & Fall(First Corinthians 16:5-8)-A.D. 57

15) In Corinth 3 months in Winter(Acts 20:2-3)-A.D. 57-8

16) Left Philippi in April(Acts 20:6)-A.D. 58

17) Entered Jerusalem in June(Acts 20:16)-A.D. 58

18) Paul held by Claudius Lysias(Acts 21-23)-A.D. 58

19) Paul in Caeserea(Acts 24-26)-Summer A.D.58-Fall A.D. 60

20) Voyage to Rome(Acts 27-28)-Winter A.D. 60-61

21) Paul in Rome for two years(Acts 28:30)-A.D. 61-63

Historical evidence and also tradition show that Paul was acquitted between A.D. 63-64(Halley's Bible Handbook). It is not known historically if Paul went to Spain like he wanted to(Romans 15:24,28), but tradition says he did(Foxe's Book Of Martyrs). It is known that Paul was in Asia Minor between A.D. 65-67 to write the Epistles of First and Second Timothy and Titus(Paul The Traveler And The Roman Citizen). Paul mentions having been in Crete and also Nicopolis(Titus 1:5; 3:12). Paul was then re-arrested and taken back to Rome where he was beheaded around A.D. 67(Eerdman's Handbook To The Bible).

The church of Jesus, the Christ(Romans 16:16) is stressed in Acts, as well in as the Epistles(The Eternal Kingdom, A History Of The Church Of Christ). Christ is the Head(Ephesians 5:23). Christ died for it, and promised to build it(Matthew 16:18). It was called the Body of Christ(Colossians 2:17), the Kingdom of God(Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:31; Acts 6:3; 8:12; 19:8; First Corinthians 4:20; Second Thessalonians 1:5), the Kingdom of Christ(Ephesians 5:5), the Kingdom of Heaven(Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 5:3,10,19,20; 10:7; 18:3; 16:19), and other names(Early Gentile Christianity And It's Hellenistic Background). The mission was and still is to spread the Word of God(Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16; Luke 24:53; John 21:24,25; Acts 2:17-47; 3:6-26; 4:25-35; 5:11-42; 7:56; 8:4,5). They taught that to be a christian one had to hear the Word of God(Matthew 11:15; 13:9,43; 15:10; Mark 4:9,20,23; 7:16; Luke 8:8; 14:35; Acts 2:33; 10:33; Romans 10:14), believe(John 8:24; Acts 8:37; Romans 1:16), repent[turn away from evil](Luke 13:3-5; Acts 2:38), confess in Jesus publicly(Matthew 10;32; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9,10),and be baptized[immersed] for the remission[forgiveness] of sins(Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; First Peter 5:8), following Christ's righteous example(Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22), and as He has commanded(Matthew 4:17; 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 12:8). While the Radical/Liberal theologians[religious scholars] argue "Teach the man, not the plan"(A New Essence Of Christianity), and state that things are different now, that the writers were not as knowledgeable as today's "experts"(The Bible, The Church And The Reason), the apostles and preachers such as Philip taught both Christ and His "plan"(Acts 2:14-40, 3:12-26, 4:8-12,19,20; 7, 8:12,13,30-40; Philippians 1:17). The church worshiped on the first day of the week(Where Did All The Different Churches Come From?), also known as Sunday(Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:24). They praised God in song(Acts 2:46,47; 16:25; Romans 15:9; First Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; James 5:13). They prayed to God, through His son(Acts 2:42; 3:1; 6:4-7; 9:11,40; 12:5,12; 13:3; 16:13,16,25; 28:8,15; First Corinthians 14:14,15; First Thessalonians 1:2; 5:17; James 5:13-18), partook of the Lord's Supper(Acts 2:42; First Corinthians 11:23-34), and enjoyed each other's company in Christian fellowship(Acts 2:42). They continuously studied the scriptures["the writings"(The Illustrated Dictionary And Concordance Of The Bible)](Acts 17:11; Second Timothy 3:15-17), the "schoolmaster" or teacher(Galatians 3:24), also known as the Word of God(John 1:1-3,14). The Church's local government was set up so that each congregation was to be led by Elders(Acts 14:23; 15:2,4,22; 20:17), and served by Deacons(First Timothy 3:8-13), Preachers and Teachers(Second Timothy 2:24-26; 4:2-4), and the congregation as a whole as "workers together" (Romans 16:22; Second Corinthians 6:1), and also "fellow laborers"(Second Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 4:3; First Thessalonians 3:2; Philemon 1,24; Third John 8). All was not perfect, for they were told to "Beware of false workers"(Second Corinthians 11:13; Philippians 3:2). Historians, such as Pliny the Younger, mention these above stated activities of the church(The Case For Historic Christianity). Documents dated from the First and Second centuries give specific details of the early christian's methods of worship(The Lion Encyclopedia Of The Bible).

A Brief Description of the Book of Acts is as follows:

(Acts 1:1-5)- The 40 days of Jesus after his Resurrection. Jesus tells the Apostles to wait in Jerusalem.

(Acts 1:6-11)-Christ's Ascension.

(Acts 1:12-14)-The upper room, the Apostles, Jesus' earthly family, and devout women in prayer, wait for the comforter and the Kingdom.

(Acts 1:15-26)-Judas' successor/Selection.

(Acts 2:1-13) Pentecost, the festival of first fruits, signaling the beginning of harvest, celebrated 50 days after the Passover. The Jews fasted until the midmorning sacrifices. The Holy Spirit comes to the Apostles.

(Acts 2:14-36) Peter's Sermon.

(Acts 2:37-47) the Beginning of the Church.

(Acts 3:6-16) The lame man is healed and Peter's second sermon.

(Acts 4:1-31) Peter and John in prison.

(Acts 4:4,32-35) The church STILL grows.

(Acts 4:36,37) Barnabas sells his land.

(Acts 5:1-11) The death of Ananais and Sapphira.

(Acts 5:12-42) The second imprisonment of the Apostles.

(Acts 6:1-7) The appointment of seven men to serve those in need.

(Acts 6:8-15) Stephen, one of the seven, is arrested.

(Acts 7) Stephen's martyrdom.

(Acts 7:58-8:1) Saul starts his persecution of the Church.

(Acts 8:1-4) The Church is scattered throughout the land.

(Acts 8:4-13) The Gospel extended to the Samaritans

(Acts 8:14-25 Peter and John with Simon the Sorcerer

(Acts 8:26-40) Philip with the Ethiopian Eunuch.

(Acts 9:1-30) The conversion of Saul/Paul.

(Acts 9:31-43) Peter in Joppa.

(Acts 10) The conversion of Cornelius, the first gentile.

(Acts 11:1-18) The Apostles approve the conversion of the gentiles, since God wished it so.

(Acts 11:19-26) The Antioch Church.

(Acts 11:27-30) Money is sent for the relief of those dwelling in Judea, during the reign of Claudius[A.D. 41-54](Acts 11:28).

(Acts 12) James is killed, and Herod Agrippa I imprisons Peter. God's angel helps Peter escape, and Herod dies(Acts 12:23).

(Acts 13,14) Paul's First Missionary Journey, went to such cities as Iconium, Lystra, and Antioch(Acts 14:21).

(Acts 15:1-35) The Jerusalem Council meets, discussing gentile Christians and deciding whether or not they should follow the Jewish Mosiacal Law.

(Acts 15:36-18:22) Paul's Second Missionary Journey, converting Lydia(Acts 16:14,15), and the Philippian Jailor(Acts 16:30-34), also preaching at Mars Hill in Athens(Acts 17:16-34). Paul's case before Gallio[A.D. 52]{brother to the famous philosopher Seneca, Nero's tutor} was dismissed, granting Christianity Legal status as a religion, just as Judaism was up to that time(Acts 18:13-17).

(Acts 18:23-20:38) Paul's Third Missionary Journey, in Ephesus(Acts 19:1-18), met with the church and preached until midnight, and then raising Eutychus from the dead at Troas(Acts 20:9-12).

(Acts 21:1-16) Paul's journey to Jerusalem. It is thought because of his letter to the Corinthians that he was bringing funds there to help the impoverished Christians(Acts 24:17; 1 Corinthians 1:11; 8:2-4).

(Acts 21:38-22:1-24) Paul's defense and account of his conversion from killing Christians to being an Apostle of Jesus.

(Acts 22:25-23:30) Paul taken to Caeserea, because a plot had been discovered to kill him.

(Acts 23:31-26:32) Paul in Caeserea, under house arrest in Herod's Judgement Hall(Acts 23:35), appears before the Roman officials (1)Felix[A.D.51-59](Acts 24:1-27), (2)Festus[A.D. 59-62](Acts 25:1-12), and (3)Herod Agrippa II(Acts 25:13-26:32).

(1)Felix was a slave, but through influential friends was promoted by Emperor Claudius to Governor in A.D. 51. Felix hired Simon the Sorcerer to seduce Drusilla {daughter of Herod Agrippa I}, from her husband King Aziz of Emesa, wedded since she was fourteen. Felix was between twenty and thirty when Paul was brought to Caeserea(Jewish Antiquities-Josephus). Felix might have been killed as punishment but his brother Pallas was an influential friend of Emperor Nero. Felix was therefore banished to Gaul[France] to escape execution, due to the Jews' accusations of his gross mismanagement(International Standard Bible Encyclopedia).

(2)Portius Festus replaced Felix as Governor in A.D. 59. He was considered a better administrator than Felix, and remained in office until his death, where he was succeeded by Albinus(Oxford Companion To The Bible), in A.D. 62.

(3)Herod Agrippa II was seventeen when he became King. He was the son of Herod Agrippa I(Acts 12:1)[died A.D. 44, eaten by worms(Acts 12:23)], the great-grandson of Herod the Great(Matthew 2:1) [who ruled from 37-4 B.C. and the son of Antipar, a Roman Noble], and was the great-nephew to Herod Antipas(Matthew 14:3-12; Mark 6:17-29), who had John beheaded through Herodias<the wife of his own brother, Philip[died A.D. 53] the Tetrarch> who plotted with her daughter(Matt. 14:8)[Salome as stated by Josephus(Jesus: A Life)], {Antipas[4 B.C.- A.D.39,deposed by Caligula]} had also met Jesus(Luke 23:6-16). Herod Agrippa II also was related to Archelaus(Matthew 2:21), who ruled briefly until A.D. 6. Herod Agrippa II had ruled with his sister(Acts 25:23), Bernice{who was the mistress of both Emperors Titus and Vespassian}(Eerdman's Handbook To The Bible). When Paul preached to Felix, Festus, Herod and Bernice, Paul appealed to Nero[A.D. 54-70](Acts 25:12).

(Acts 27:1-28:15) Paul's Journey to Rome, mostly by ship, and including being shipwrecked on Malta(Acts 27:39-44).

(Acts 28:16-31) Paul is preaching while in Rome, waiting to see the Emperor Nero. Paul had his own house(Acts 28:30), and was allowed to go about the Palace and even converted some of Caesar's household(Phil.4:22).

Questions

1. Who wrote the book of Acts?

2. When was the book written?

3. Do historians agree with the events mentioned in Acts?

4. When did Jesus' Church begin?

5. When did Jesus promise to build his church?

6. Who is the Head of the Church?

7. What is the Church's mission?

8. Name some acts of worship that the Church practiced.

9. How is each congregation organized?

10. Why should we study the book of Acts?