HISTORY OF THE EARLY CHURCH FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS

Lesson 1 - THE EVENTS BEFORE THE DAY OF PENTECOST

(Acts 1)
I. Characteristics of the book of Acts
a. Written by LUKE to THEOPHILUS (Acts 1:1) See also Luke 1:1
b. The book of Acts is the BACKGROUND for the rest of the New Testament
c. It places an emphasis on the work of PETER and PAUL
(1) Peter in chapters 1-11
(2) Paul in chapters 11-28
d. It could be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit is emphasized in
many parts of the book. For example, see Acts 13:1-3
e. The book of Acts contains the HISTORY OF SALVATION It contains many
examples of HOW PEOPLE BECAME CHRISTIANS
f. Luke was present during some of Pauls work (See Acts 16:11, 13, 16, 17 etc.)
g. Acts shows the CHURCH expanding throughout the world (Acts 1:8)
(1) In JERUSALEM (Acts 1-7)
(2) In the provinces of JUDEA and SAMARIA (Acts 8-12)
(3) All over the then known WORLD (Acts 13-28)
II. Events Following the Resurrection of Jesus
a. Jesus appeared to the APOSTLES over a period of 40 days (Acts 1:1-4)
b. He spoke to them about the KINGDOM!
c. The Bible says He appeared to MANY WITNESSES more than 500 at one time!
(I Corinthians 15:1-8)
d. See the beautiful appearance of Jesus to TWO MEN on the way to EMMAUS
(Luke 24:13-35)
e. He gave the APOSTLES the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20;
Mark 16:14-16; Luke 24:46-49)
f. Then, He ASCENDED as they watched (See Luke 24:50-53)
III. The Events Recorded by Luke in Acts 1 BEFORE THE DAY OF PENTECOST
a. Jesus appeared to the APOSTLES over a period of 40 days
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

(Acts 1:1-4)

He gave instructions to the APOSTLES (Acts 1:2)

He gave many convincing PROOFS that He was alive (Acts 1:3)
He spoke to them about the KINGDOM
(Acts 1:3)
He told them NOT to leave JERUSALEM, but to wait for the PROMISE OF
GOD (Acts 1:4)

b. The PROMISE of the HOLY SPIRIT to the APOSTLES

(Acts 1:5)

PLEASE NOTE THE CONTEXT OF THIS PROMISE:

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

He gave instructions to the apostles (Acts 1:2)

He showed himself to these men (Acts 1:3)
He appeared to them over a period of forty days (Acts 1:3)
While He was eating with them, He told them to stay in the City of Jerusalem
(Acts 1:4)
(5) He told them that THEY would be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5)
c. The WORK Jesus gave the APOSTLES to be His WITNESSES everywhere
(Acts 1:6-8)
(1) Witnesses in Jerusalem
(2) Witnesses in Judea and Samaria
(3) Witnesses all over the world
d. The ASCENSION of Jesus

(Acts 1:9-11)

(1) As the Apostles were watching

(2) He will RETURN in the SAME WAY as He went into heaven
e. The Constant PRAYER of the APOSTLES and others

(Acts 1:12-14)

(1) See the NAMES of the APOSTLES

(2) Others were there including the MOTHER of Jesus and His BROTHERS
f. The Selection of MATTHIAS to replace JUDAS

(Acts 1:15-26)

(1) Judas Iscariot, who was a part of the ministry, had killed himself
(2) The QUALIFICATIONS of the one who would replace JUDAS
(Acts 1:21, 22)

(Acts 1:18)

--- One who had accompanied them

--- From the time of the baptism of John the Baptist
--- Until the time of the Ascension of Jesus
--- This person would be a WITNESS of Jesus Resurrection
(3) MATTHIAS was chosen and was ADDED TO THE ELEVEN APOSTLES
(Acts 1:26)