January 7, 2015 (Wednesday)
This evening at Bethel Baptist Church, Ingleside, we will begin a study of the Book of Acts. Actually, the Book of Acts is the second half of Dr. Luke’s writings. The first half is the Gospel of Luke.
Luke was a Gentile. He was a physician. He was a resident of Antioch of Pisidia, and before the Apostle Paul visited his city, he worshiped with the Jews in their synagogue as a “God-fearer,” one who worshiped with the Jews but was not yet a convert to their faith. When Paul came to his city, he joined with others who believed in Jesus Christ as a result of Paul’s preaching. Along with others, he became part of a new congregation of people who believed in Jesus as their Savior. Later, Paul revisited Luke’s town, and Luke joined his traveling group. Together with others they took the gospel to Philippi, a Roman colony, and to other cities of Macedonia and Greece. No doubt he became Paul’s physician, for Paul had a chronic ailment that he termed his “thorn in the flesh.” His duties were not confined to Paul’s health; he was a full-fledged missionary, sharing the gospel and helping to build churches.
An outline of the Gospel of Luke can be found here. Background materials and an outline of the Book of Acts can be found here. A very brief summary of Acts and additional materials are in my blog about Acts that can be seen here.
The study of Acts begins this evening with Acts 1:1-11 with an introduction and a study of Christ’s resurrection ministry of preparing his followers for the work of spreading the gospel throughout the earth. Luke refers to his gospel as a record of “all that Jesus began to do and to teach,” and the Book of Acts is an account of what Jesus continued to do after His resurrection. In fact, many have suggested that the book which we have named, “The Acts of the Apostles” should be called, “The Acts of the resurrected Christ through His apostles,” or “The Acts of the Holy Spirit through the followers of Jesus.”
Jesus final words to his followers immediately prior to his ascension to be with His Father were, ” 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.” The Book of Acts tells the story of how the witness was given.