New Testament - Acts 1:1-3 - (Introduction) - CC Windward - Pastor Tim

New Testament - Acts 1:1-3 - (Introduction) - Introduction - Calvary Chapel Windward - OAHU, HAWAII - Pastor Tim Newman - From Local Olelo / Oceanic / Time Warner Cable show "A View from Calvary" - Episode #: - Original Air Date: A.D.

PASTOR TIM's NOTES:

Acts 1:1-3
“Introduction to Acts”
1. The PURPOSE and the themes of the book

1) To present history
2) To give a defense
Luke probably wrote while Paul awaited his trial in Rome.

3) To provide a guide and models.
4) To show us the victory of the church despite persecution.

5) To trace for us the shift in the church from being a Jewish sect to becoming Jew and
Gentile in one generation.
6) To provide the details of a pivotal time of transitions.

7) To provide THE model for the church
Rev 2:4, Rev 2:14-16
The church was already being rebuked by Jesus in 90 A.D.
Therefore, the only model that we have for the church is the book of Acts.
2. The PARTICULAR Characteristics of the book
1) One of the PARTICULAR Characteristics is its historical accuracy.
2) One of the PARTICULAR Characteristics is its literary excellence.
3) One of the PARTICULAR characteristics is dramatic description.
4) One of the PARTICULAR characteristics is objective account.

5) One of the PARTICULAR characteristics is that one verse gives us the outline of the
book itself.
Acts 1:8
I. Witness in Jerusalem 1-8:4
II. Witness’s in Judea and Samaria 8:5- 12:25
III. Witness to the ends of the earth 13-28
The date of the writing of Acts is 62 A.D.

3. The PREVIOUS account of Jesus.
Vs. 1-2
3a. Luke is writing to a PERSON.
Luke makes reference to this person in his first letter or account.
Luke 1:1-4
"Theophilus"
The name means ... A lover of god
Notice the difference between the greeting here and in Luke 1:3
Before it’s "Most Excellent Theophilus"
Now it is just "Theophilus"
3b. Luke writes as the PERSONAL companion to Paul.
When writing about Paul’s journeys Luke will change his writing perspective and
move into the first person in chapter 16.
Acts 16:10-12, Acts 28:16
Col 4:10-14
Philemon 23-24
2 Tim 4:9-11
Luke is with Paul till the very end. Church history tells us that Luke is the one who
took care of the burial of the apostle Paul in Rome.
When and where was Luke saved?
The most likely scenario is found in Acts 11

Acts 11:19-21
There is evidence to suggest that Luke is one of the Greeks that gets saved at
this time.
Acts 11:22-26
This starts to sound like an eyewitness account.
4. The PROOF of the resurrection.
Vs. 3
4a. The PROOF includes the reliability of the witnesses.
3b being seen by them
One of these men was of course the apostle John.
1 John 1:1-4
Peter makes this statement concerning this proof.
2 Peter 1:16-18
4b. The PROOF includes the following facts about the resurrection itself.
Vs. 3
“He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs”
The Greek used here for the word proof, mean to prove with absolute certainty.
1. The empty tomb
2. His many appearances.
Luke 24:36-43
3. He continued to do miracles.
4. The dramatic change in the disciples.
We will see this as we continue our study in the book of Acts.
5. The subsequent events of history.