Welcome listeners to our sixth talk of this series of New Testament Survey. We come now to the book of Acts, which is the only history book of the New Testament. Luke, the author of the Gospel is also the author of Acts. He gives us a well-researched account of the events from key witnesses and participants, especially Paul which whom he has close ministry association. He is himself a participant in some of the events in Acts. I shall present a summarised account with highlights of key events. It covers from AD30 to AD62.

History in the book of Acts begins with the last moments of Jesus’ earthly time with His disciples. It records His ascension into Heaven to the Father, right before their eyes. So, it starts where Luke’s gospel ended. Jesus commanded them to wait in Jerusalem for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that was promised by the Father. On the Pentecost after His ascension, the Holy Spirit was poured out on all the 120 disciples gathered in the upper room, so that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues which they did not know but was understood by those around then. This was the birthday of the church on earth. Peter spoke the first Spirit-empowered sermon and 3000 were added to the church. From there on, the church grew from strength to strength in spite of persecution and opposition with Peter as the leader.

Chapter 1 to 7 focused on the church in Jerusalem and Judea. Chapter 6 and 7 record the martyrdom of Stephen. Chapter 8 speaks of Philip bringing the Gospel to Samaria. Peter and John were sent to confirm that the new believers received the same Gospel. Chapter 9 records Saul’s conversion by his personal encounter with Christ. He called him to be an Apostle to the Gentiles. Chapter 10 records how Peter was led by the Spirit to preach to Cornelius’ household and they were filled with the Spirit. This was the first Gentile conversion to Christ.

Chapter 11 notes that the Gospel reach Antioch through Barnabas and He brought Saul to join Him to lead this first Gentile church. Chapter 12 notes Peter’s imprisonment and miraculous deliverance. He was then led to preach elsewhere. Chapter 13 to 28 mark a new phase. It tracks the outward expansion of the church into the Roman empire, focusing on them ministry and leadership of Saul, who used his Roman name, Paul. Chapter 13 and 14 notes that Barnabas and Paul were sent out by the Spirit from the church at Antioch on a missionary journey to preach the Gospel and plant churches. They went to Cyprus, Pisidia, Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. This was Paul’s first missionary journey. In Chapter 15, Paul and Barnabas represented the church at Antioch at Jerusalem to meet the Jerusalem leaders to settle the question of whether Gentiles need to adopt the law in order to be saved. The conclusion was that this is not required for salvation lies in responding to Christ through the Gospel. Chapter 16 to 18 records Paul’s second missionary journey. He went with Silas as he has split with Barnabas, concerning bringing Mark with them on this journey. They travelled to Derbe, Lystra, Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia, Troas, Samothracia, Neapolis, Phillippi, Thessalonica, Barea, Athens, and Corinth. At the end of each of these missionary journeys, Paul returned to Antioch.

Chapter 18 to 21 tracks Paul’s third missionary journey to Galatia, Phrygia, Ephesus, Troas, Miletus, Coos, Rhodes, Patara, Phoenicia, Cyprus, Tyre, Ptolemais, Caesarea, but ended in Jerusalem instead of Antioch. Chapter 21 to 26 records Paul’s arrest and imprisonment at Jerusalem where he was held for about two years. During this time, he was sat before the Jewish counsel - the Sanhedrin, Felix and Festus who were Roman governors and to King Agrippa where he shared the testimony of his own salvation and the Gospel. He appealed to Rome to judge his case as a Roman citizen. Chapter 27 to 28 tracks the perilous journey of Paul to Rome under Roman guards. They were shipwrecked, but God saved Paul and those with him so that he can appear before Caesar at Rome. The book closes with Paul in Rome under house arrest but with the freedom to have visitors and to preach the Gospel. Hence, the Gospel has reached the capital of the Roman Empire.

Let us look at the significance of this history. This history is the only and therefore, vitally important New Testament account of what the Holy Spirit did when He was poured out as God had promised. It marks the beginning of the church in history and the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel according to the Great Commission given by Christ to make disciples of all nations. These have never seized but grew and continue from what was recorded in Acts. This history is also vital with historical background to the epistles of the New Testament, especially those written by Paul whose missionary journey accounts for more than half of the book of Acts. So, together with the Gospels, the book of Acts gives the continuity of God’s acts in history, from the Old Testament through the inter-testament period and onwards to today.

In our next talk, we shall present the epistles of Paul.

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