Exam #2 : Acts Flashcards
- How is Acts related to Luke?
It’s a sequel to Luke’s Gospel
Who wrote Acts? How do we know?
Luke, we know because he writes several sections of Acts in first person
What do we know about the author of Acts?
Luke is a physician, Gentile, missionary companion of Paul, good writer, and a historian.
- When was Acts written?
early 60’s AD
What evidence do we have for that approximate date?
Acts ends with Paul preaching “unhindered” in Rome, not persecuted.
Nero’s terrible persecution in Rome began in 64 A.D.
Therefore, Luke ends Acts before 64 A.D.
The events in the book cover about three decades, from the 30’s to the 60’s A.D.
- What are the three major sections of Acts ?
The Church Begins in Jerusalem (Acts 1:1 to 6:7).
The Church Expands through Judea and Samaria (Acts 6:7 to 9:31).
The Church Expands through the World (Acts 9:32 to 28:31).
What verse in Acts serves as an outline for the book?
Acts 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
What other structural markers indicate the divisions in the book?
Seven summary statements through the book end each section of the book.
(Acts 2:42-47; 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:30-31).
- What is the purpose of Acts?
To explain the beginning and expansion of the church from Jerusalem to Rome.
How does God’s sovereignty play a role in the purpose of the book?
Luke is showing that his sovereignty is causing the spread of the church. Nothing can stop it.
- What two important sub-purposes for Acts did the professor identify?
- Luke seeks to prove Paul’s volatility as an apostle.
- Luke also wishes to demonstrate that Christianity is not a political threat to Rome. The church is law-abiding. When trouble comes, it is started by the Jews or by Gentiles who have ulterior motives.
- What is the Greek term for “church,” and what does it mean literally?
Church: from ekklesia, meaning “gathering” or “assembly.” Theologically it depicts the group that is now Christians, trusting in Jesus for eternal life.
- What are the two senses in which the church is described in the NT: universal and local?
- The universal church: the one group of all Christians for all time.
- Local churches: the thousands of groups of Christians meeting
- How does Acts 1 relate to Luke 24?
Overlaps with Jesus’ final words before his ascension.
- What are the apostles expecting in Acts 1, when they ask Jesus if He will now restore the Kingdom to Israel? How does Jesus respond?
They expect that Jesus will NOW establish David’s throne over Israel and rule. (Acts 1:6)
Jesus responds: No, the kingdom will spread to the world through your work (Acts 1:6-8). We are still waiting 2000 years later.