The second half, however, follows the missionary journeys of one remarkable person, paul. So when luke records the conversion of paul, he doesnt record everything jesus said to paul you read pauls own testimony, he expands on it. An approximate date given to the acts of paul is 160 ce. Andy patton the first half of acts tells the story of the early years of the christian movement from the point of view of a variety of characters. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Also favoring an early date is the lack of allusions to the neronic persecution, to the martyrdom of james the lords brother, again in the 60s, and to the destruction of jerusalem in ad 70. Paul the apostle commonly known as saint paul and also known by his hebrew name saul of. Like luke, acts is addressed to the unknown reader theophilus, and in the introduction to acts, it is made clear that it is a continuation of luke. Acts 2 new international version niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost. Luke and acts the gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles are both parts of the same story with one following directly after the other.
The book of acts sunday school lesson series january 2, 2011 by kelly henderson take your students on a journey through the book of acts where they will learn lessons from the early church after jesus ascended to heaven and believers received the gift of the holy spirit. He spends a lot of time preaching to romans from his cell. Actually starts in verse 15, i am jesus, who you are persecuting. Luke wrote the book of acts and the gospel of luke and he dedicated his work to a man named theophilus as mentioned in the summary of the book of luke. Of the 27 books in the new testament, are attributed to paul, and approximately half of another, acts of the apostles, deals with pauls life. It includes, among others, an episode reminiscent of the greek fable of androcles and the lion, in which paul escapes from the wild. In acts 23 we have mention of pauls father who was a pharisee v 6, his. Approximately half of the book of acts deals with pauls life and works. Historians believe that the author of acts did not have access to any of paul s letters. The book of acts was penned by the apostle paul and teaches many concepts.
It is because the book of acts is a continuing story. Most notable is the incongruity between pauls gospel message in acts and the. The acts of the apostles and the letters of paul contain both congruent and inconsistent accounts of paul s mission and message, which leads scholars of christian origins to inquire about the difference between story and history, or between fact and fiction. Acts 1 new international version niv jesus taken up into heaven. Hugh schonfield pointed out that the book reflects the efforts of the church to convince the romans of its harmlessness and its distinction from the jews whose hostility is stressed h.
Luke was a companion of paul on his missionary journeys, and in many parts of the book of acts it says we did this or that acts 16. The conversion of paul the book of acts amazing facts. As paul was concluding his third missionary campaign, he, along with eight traveling companions, came to troas on the western coast of provincial asia acts 20. The book of acts is the record of that commission beingcarried out. This is the last we hear about paul in the book of acts. This is the only book from the new testament that chronicles the history of. Three times in the book of acts sauls conversion is reported. Sometimes a person gives the condensed version of the story. This film depicts the birth of the early church through the eyes of luke, the author of the gospel of luke. People from many nations were beside themselves with wonder at hearing gods amazing acts in their own languages. Seated in a window was a young man named eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as paul talked on and on. The account of pauls conversion in acts is relatively brief.
Perhaps he is recording what you and i do for christ in the power of the holy spirit. Paul, still called saul at this point, has taken an active part in the persecution of the christian movement after the. Activities for kids from the early church in the book of acts. The christmas story, easter, bethlehem, birth of jesus christ, the life of. Tertullian found it heretical because it encouraged women to preach and baptize. The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. Departs with barnabas to derbe, preaching the gospel acts 14. Probably written about ad 160180, the acts of paul is an account of the apostle paul s travels and teachings. It is worth noting that in this history of the early christian church, luke mentioned neither pauls death ad 6468 nor the persecution of christians that broke out. When the holy spirit overpowered the upper room with the sound like a roaring windstorm, history changed forever. The apostle paul has been the subject of movies, books, and too many. Relatively undeveloped theology and controversy over the status of.
Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. Salvation is by faith in jesus christ through grace and cannot be earned by human works. He recounts the story of jesus death and resurrection. Luke the author of the book of acts notes that the going was slow and difficult which was probably an understatement so they pulled into the town of cnidus.
Acts of the apostles book of acts bible movie visual bible we have a growing library of hd bible films. Timeline of the apostle paul includes the year, the life of paul, the books written, and. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier date is also. Kjv the book of acts is the historical link between the.
He lives by himself and is guarded by only a single guard. In chapter nine of acts, luke tells us the famous story of paul s conversion. It breaks off with paul in his own hired house in rome. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. Lydias story shows god works through people by opening their hearts to help them believe the good news. Paul begins this passage by reminding his readers of the man he used to be. The book of acts is lukes history of christianity after jesus death. Updated posters for paul in acts i have been updating all my posters that i use teaching paul when we study the book of acts. Acts of the apostles, the second part of the work that begins with the gospel according to luke, is the story of the early church after jesuss martyrdom. Luke wrote acts, therefore, when paul had been in rome for two years about ad 63. The two parts, or books, were written by luke as a narrative that is an orderly account of the story of jesus and his first followers. Acts of paul, one of the earliest of a series of pseudepigraphal noncanonical new testament writings known collectively as the apocryphal acts.
The acts of the apostles and the letters of paul contain both congruent and inconsistent accounts of pauls mission and message, which leads scholars of christian origins to inquire about the difference between story and history, or between fact and fiction. Here they waited for seven days, finally meeting with the saints of that city on sunday. Although approximately half of acts deals with paul s life and works, the book of acts does not refer to paul writing letters. The book of acts is a key part of gods plan to reach the whole world. Acts, 15 of the 27 books of the new testament are written by or about paul. Within its pages are found the establishment of the church, the conversion of one of christianitys most ruthless converts, the conversion of the first gentile to the gospel and pauls sermon to the grecians from mars hill. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible. Cnidus was a town on the southwest corner of asia minor with the island of rhodes to the south and the island of cos to the west. As paul spoke on and on, a young man named eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Acts closes with paul under house arrest in rome, stopping short of crucial events. The acts of paul is one of the major works and earliest pseudepigraphal series from the new testament apocrypha also known as apocryphal acts. In chapter nine of acts, luke tells us the famous story of pauls conversion.
Its not uncommon to hear the story of how the pharisee known as saul was. In acts, saul paul is the key figure in the evangelization of the gentiles. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. But reading the book of acts, one finds that paul used many methods to share the gospel with people. Book of acts is an animated childrens bible compilation of stories based on the stories of acts of the apostles. The book of acts, which continues the narrative that luke began in his gospel, is especially important because it was the first written history of the christian church. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of the apostles through the work of the holy spirit. Acts concerns the very vital period in christian history between the resurrection of jesus and the death of the apostle paul, the time when christian ideas and beliefs were. The key personalities of acts are peter, paul, john, james, stephen, barnabas, timothy, lydia, silas, and apollos.
Apostle pauls timeline study resources blue letter bible. In acts 22, paul formerly saul gives his personal testimony to his fellowisraelites and in chapter 26, he. One piece of evidence suggesting this is that acts never directly quotes from the pauline epistles. Jesus and peter might start out the story, but its paul who takes center stage. These include scriptures for each that state they were.
It is interested in him insofar as he is part of the story of the spread of the gospel. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Christians have often assumed that evangelism means verbally sharing the entire saving gospel message with a person. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries.