The Book of Acts

Authors Note: You may have noticed that this blog has taken a distinctive move from inspirational devotionals to more of an instructional format. This is by specific design because I’ve felt led by the Spirit to move to more of a teaching style and so that is what I have done. I hope you all stay with me as we investigate various aspects of our belief system together. I’m learning new things each and every day. Let’s learn together. RLKeller

 

The Book of Acts

Introduction

 

The Key Verse is:  Acts 1:8 NLT “...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere...in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and the ends of the earth.”

 

In this study we will discuss Peter’s ministry, Paul’s ministry, the key themes, and key places talked about in the Book of Acts. 

 

Who wrote Acts? Scholars agree, based on the identical writing style, that Luke, the physician, was the author of Acts and that it should be considered a sequel to Luke’s gospel account. 

 

Why was it written? Luke wrote Acts as a bridge from Christ’s life to the beginnings of the church. It is meant to be an accurate accounting of the birth and growth of the Christian church.

 

When was it written? Researchers believe it would have been written sometime between AD (or Anno Domingo, in the year of our Lord) 63 and 70. 

 

As a side note:  Many believers today feel the world’s effort to erase Christianity from the face of this earth is the reason they have quietly brought to the forefront BCE / CE to replace the previously common BC & AD. BC and AD means Before Christ and In the Year of our Lord, respectively. BCE and CE remove Christ altogether, having BCE mean ‘Before the Common Era’ and CE mean ‘The Common Era’. Both are still used, with the academic and scientific communities adhering to the latter, while the former is still used in the literature/journalistic communities.  “BCE & CE have a shorter history than BC and AD, although they still date from at least the early 1700s. They have been in frequent use by Jewish academics for more than 100 years but became more widespread in the later part of the 20th century, replacing BC/AD in a number of fields, notably science and academia.” [1]

 

Why is Acts 1:8 considered the key verse in the entire Book. I feel it is because God knew the newly appointed Apostles couldn’t embark on the mission they were given without divine assistance. The falling of the Spirit upon the Apostles in the Upper Room was the turning point for them personally and helped launch the church in their area. During the course of Acts we see all the other regions the Apostles went to preach the gospel. Peter and Paul were the preeminent missionaries of the group and so are following almost exclusively throughout the Book of Acts. Acts 1:8 is key because it is the springboard for the entire Christian belief system as it was only them that the serious work of spreading the gospel could begin.

 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible, Book of Acts Introduction.

[1] https://www.antidote.info/en/blog/reports/bc-and-ad-bce-and-ce-whats-difference.