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Reading Acts is like watching the effects of an earthquake. The death and resurrection of Jesus is the epicentre. The earthquake happens, and the shock waves expand in ever increasing circles to cover the whole earth, driven along by the Holy Spirit. These expanding circles can be seen in various ways: the witnesses, the geography, the recipients of the message.
Emphasis indicates a consolidation rather than an expansion
| Passage | Witnesses | Geography | Recipients |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction / preparation |
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| 2 | Apostle Peter |
Judea (centre Jerusalem)Jerusalem |
JewsIntro: all Jews |
| 3-5 | Peter and John | Hebraic Jews | |
| 6:1-7 | The Seven | Grecian Jews | |
| 6:8-7:60 | Stephen | ||
| 8 | Philip | Judea Samaria |
Samaritans Unclean proselytes |
| 9:1-31 | (Saul's conversion) | Mediterranean Coast (centre Antioch) |
God-fearing Gentiles |
| 9:32-42 | (Peter) | Lydda and Joppa | (Jews) |
| 10:1-11:18 | Caesarea | God fearers | |
| 11:19-30 | (Saul) | Antioch | Greeks |
| 12 | (Peter) | (Jerusalem) | (Jews) |
| 13-15 | Apostle Paulwith Barnabas |
Phrygia / Galatia – journey 1 |
Gentiles(Jews rejected) |
| 16:1-17:15 | with Silas and Timothy | Macedonia / Achaia / Asia (centre Ephesus) – journeys 2 & 3Macedonia |
|
| 17:16-18:17 | Achaia | ||
| 18:18-19:41 | with Priscilla and Aquila with Apollos |
Ephesus | (John the Baptist's believers) |
| 20-28 | (by himself) | Rome |
Looking to the future – "the ends of the earth" |
NB Can divide up rows in the table below
| Passage | Witnesses | Geography | Recipients | The Holy Spirit | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1:8 The disciples together are
commissioned to be witnesses 1:12-26 Another witness must be chosen to take Judas' place |
Galilee – Jesus' appearance Jerusalem |
1:2 Jesus gave instructions through the
Spirit 1:5 Jesus promises baptism with the Holy Spirit 1:8 They will receive power from the Holy Spirit to be witnesses 1:16 The Holy Spirit spoke through David in the Psalms 1:24-26 God chooses Matthias to continue as witness because Judas betrayed |
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| 2 | Apostle Peter 2:32 Peter claims to be a witness of the resurrection |
Judea (centre Jerusalem) |
Jews Jews from every nation (all directions around Jerusalem) |
Jewish Pentecost 2:4 The Spirit fills them and enables them to speak in other tongues 2:17-18 God had promised to pour out his Spirit on all people in Joel – this is the sign of salvation 2:33 The exalted Christ, at the right hand of the Father, pours out the Spirit 2:38 Those who repent and are baptised will also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit 2:42-47 God does miracles, strengthens and increases the church |
2:13 Some make fun of the tongue
speaking and attribute it to drunknness 2:23 The Jews put Jesus to death with the help of wicked men |
| 3-5 | Peter and John 3:15 Peter claims to be a witness of the resurrection |
3:11 Worshippers in the temple | 3 Miracle with lame man allows Peter to address the onlookers | 3:13 Jews killed the Christ | |
| 4 | 4:13 Peter and John are unschooled,
ordinary men. 4:20 They cannot help speaking about what they have seen and heard 4:33 Apostles continue to testify Barnabas introduced |
Sanhedrin (in opposition to the message) | 4:8 The Holy Spirit fills Peter and
enables him to speak the word of God 4:25 The Holy Spirit spoke through David 4:31 After persecution, all the believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and enabled to speak the word of God boldly |
4:1-4 Priests, captain of the temple
guard, Sadducees put Peter and Jogn in prison 4:5-22 Sanhedrin commands them not to speak in the name of Jesus 4:24-30 Opposition fulfilment of Psalm 2 – the nations against the anointed. 4:27 Jews killed Christ |
|
| 5:1-16 | 5:3, 9 Ananias and Sapphira lie to and
test the Holy Spirit, and are killed by God for it 5:13 Retribution by Holy Spirit ensures that insincere people do not join the church, although many do still join 5:32 The Holy Spirit is a witness together with Peter and the apostles |
5:3, 9 Ananias and Sapphira lie to Holy Spirit and die | |||
| 5:17-42 | 5:32 The Holy Spirit is called a witness | 5:39 Gamaliel realises that this cannot be stopped if it is from God | 5:17-42 The Sanhedrin opposes and
imprisons the apostles 5:41 The apostles rejoice that they are counted worthy of suffering for the sake of the Name |
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| 6:1-7 | The Seven | The Seven given the responsibility for the Grecian Jews | 6:3,5 A criterion for choosing the seven is that they are full of the Holy Spirit | ||
| 6:8-7:60 | Stephen – killed for his witness | Grecian Jews (who oppose the message) | 6:10 The synagogue of the freedmen could
stand up neither against Stephen nor the Spirit by whom
he spoke 7:51 Stephen's charge against the Jews is that they resist the Holy Spirit 7:55 Stephen's vision of glory happens as he is full of the Holy Spirit |
6:8-7:60 Opposition is from the "Synagogue
of the Freedmen" – Grecian Jews 6:12-14 False witnesses 7 The whole speech is about the rejection of God's prophets by the people of Israel 7:54-60 Stephen killed |
|
| 8:1-25 | 8:1 First mention of Saul (in opposition
to message) Those scattered by persecution preach where they go Philip Peter and John |
Judea Samaria |
Samaritans | Samaritan Pentecost 8:6 Phillip does miraculous signs and the crowds pay attention 8:14-17 The Samaritans receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, subsequent to their baptism into the name of Christ 8:18-19 The Spirit is given at the laying on of the apostles' hands; Simon tries to buy this ability |
8:1-3 Saul is part of persecution 8:20 Simon magus tries to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit with money |
| 8:26-40 | Philip | The south road | Unclean proselyte (Ethiopian Eunuch) | 8:29, 39 The Spirit guides Philip to and form the Ethiopian Eunuch | |
| 9:1-31 | Saul's conversion – announced as chosen instrument to bring gospel to Gentiles, accepted by Barnabas and Jerusalem church | Mediterranean Coast (centre Antioch) | Gentiles Saul announced as chosen instrument to bring gospel to Gentiles & Israel |
9:10-16 The Lord tells Ananias to
baptise Saul in a vision 9:17 Saul is filled with the Holy Spirit then baptised 9:31 The Holy Spirit encouraged, grew and strengthened the church in a time of peace |
9:4-5 Saul is actually persecuting Jesus 9:16 The Lord predicts the suffering of Saul 9:23-25 Jews conspire to kill Saul 9:29 Grecian Jews try to kill him |
| 9:32-42 | (Peter) | Lydda and Joppa | (Jews) | 9:42 Many believe in the Lord as Peter does miraculous healings | |
| 10:1-11:18 | 10:39-41 Peter and the apostles are chosen witnesses of Jesus' resurrection | Caesarea | God fearers – household of Cornelius. | 10:9-16 A God-given vision encourages
Peter to go to the "unclean" Gentiles 10:19, 11:12 The Holy Spirit guides Peter to the Gentiles 10:38 God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit Gentile Pentecost 10:44-48 The Holy Spirit comes upon the Gentile believers, enabling them to speak in tongues and praise God, so they are baptised with water 11:15-16 This is seen as a "baptism with the Holy Spirit" 11:18 God granted the Gentiles repentance |
|
| 11:19-30 | Those scattered by the persecution Barnabas encourages church and brings Saul |
Phonecia, Cyprus, Antioch | Greeks | 11:24 Barnabas is full of the Holy
Spirit 11:28 The Holy Spirit works through Agabus in Antioch to predict the famine |
|
| 12 | (Peter, Saul, Barnabas, John Mark) | (Jerusalem) | (Jews) | 12 God miraculously saves Peter and the whole church from Herod | 12 Herod persecutes church to gain
favour with Jews 12:2 Apostle James killed 12:3 Peter arrested and imprisoned |
| 13-14 | Apostle Paul with Barnabas and John Mark 13:31 The witnesses to the resurrection are important part of the argument to the Jews |
Phrygia / Galatia – journey 1 Cyprus Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra |
Gentiles: Sergius Paulus (proconsul),
God-fearers, those appointed for eternal life Jews: some Jews believe 13:46-47 Paul deliberately turns away from the Jews and to the Gentiles |
13:2-4 The Holy Spirit chooses and sends
Barnabas and Saul 13:9 Saul opposes Elymas the sorcerer full of the Holy Spirit 13:52 In Pisidian Antioch the disciples are full of joy and the Holy Spirit 14:3 God confirms Paul's message by signs and wonders |
13:50 Jealous Jews stir up persecution
and expel Paul from the city. 14:5 A plot between unbelieving Jews and Gentiles to stone Paul and company 14:11-13 The Lystran crowds think that Paul and Barnabas are Greek gods 14:19-20 Paul is stoned almost to death 14:22 Paul says to disciples "we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" |
| 15 | (Jerusalem) | Debate: do the Gentiles have to be circumcised? | 15:8, 12 The giving of the Holy Spirit
is evidence that God had accepted the Gentiles 15:28 The Holy Spirit is at work in the letter from the council of Jerusalem |
15:1 False teaching within the church: circumcision prerequisite to salvation | |
| 16:1-17:15 | with Silas and Timothy | Macedonia / Achaia / Asia (centre
Ephesus) – journeys 2 & 3 Macedonia Thessalonica Berea |
Timothy: Half Greek, half Jew Lydia: worshipper of God Philippian jailer Many Gentiles Only a few Jews in Thessaolica, but many in Berea |
16:6-7 The Spirit prevents them from entering Asia and Bithynia and instead directs them to Macedonia. Against Paul's original intentions to cover old ground, the Holy Spirit wants him to break new ground | 16:19 The crowds have Paul and Silas put
in prison. The real reason: they exorcised a spirit and
stopped a profitable business. The proffered reason: they
are advocating unlawful practices. 17:5 Jealous Jews stir up a mob from the marketplace and drag them before the city officials. The proffered reason: they are defying Caesar's decrees and saying there is another king. 17:13 the Jews go from Thessalonica even to Berea 17:14 Paul stirs up more trouble than anybody else |
| 17:16-18:17 | with Priscilla and Aquila | Achaia Corinth |
A few Athenians The synagogue ruler in Ephesus 18:6 Again, Paul leaves the Jews who oppose him and goes next door into the house of a Gentile |
18:9-10 The Lord encourages Paul in a vision and he stays in Corinth for 1½ years | 18:6 The Jews oppose Paul and become
abusive 18:12 The jealous Jews make a united attack on Paul. The proffered reason: Paul is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law, thus invalidating Christianity under Roman law. The proconsul refuses to listen |
| 18:18-19:41 | with Priscilla and Aquila with Apollos |
Asia (Ephesus) | (John the Baptist's believers) 19:9 Again, Paul leaves the Jews who oppose him and goes into a Gentile lecture hall. 19:10 All the Jews and Greeks in the province of Asia |
19:1-6 The Spirit comes upon those who
had only been baptised with John's baptism 19:11-12 Paul does extraordinary miracles 19:21 Paul's plan to go to Jerusalem is "in the Spirit" |
19:9 Jews in the synagogue publicly
malign the word 19:13-16 Seven sons of Sceva try to invoke the name of Paul and Jesus but fail 19:23-41 Demetrius stirs up the crowd to get rid of Paul. The real reason: he is losing business from idol making. The proffered reason: the goddess Artemis will be discredited. But the assembly is dismissed. |
| 20-28 | 22:15, 26:16 Paul identifies himself as a witness of the risen Lord Jesus | Rome | Looking to the future – "the ends of the earth" | 20:22 Paul is compelled by the Spirit to
go to Jerusalem 20:23 The Holy Spirit warns Paul that prisons and hardship await him 20:28 The Holy Spirit has established the overseers of the Ephesian church 21:4 The disciples urge Paul not to go to Jerusalem through the Spirit 21:11 The Holy Spirit warns Paul of his imprisonment through Agabus 28:25 The Holy Spirit spoke through Isaiah |
See below under "parallels" |
Here Paul makes a journey to Jerusalem in order to suffer. Many of the above themes reach their climax. There are many parallels between Jesus and Paul's suffering:
| Parallel | Luke | Acts |
|---|---|---|
| They both resolutely set out for Jerusalem | 9:51 | 19:21 |
| Predictions of suffering | 9:22 by Jesus | 20:16, 20:22-24, 21:4, 21:10-14 by Paul and the Holy Spirit |
| Predictions of resurrection | 9:22 | 20:7-12 Is Eutychus being raised from the dead a clue about what will happen to Paul as a result of his sufferings? A "resurrection" clue? |
| Teaching followers and preparing them for the "departure" | 9-19 | 20:13-38 To the Ephesian elders. |
| In front of the crowds A crowd gathers Accused of leading a rebellion Seized by the crowd Flogging False accusations The Jews stir up people Mob rule They shout for him to die The secular ruler is not in control |
22:47 – 23:25 22:47 22:52 22:54 22:63 23:2 23:5 23:18 23:20 23:24 |
21:27 - 22:29 21:28 21:38 21:30 22:24 21:28 21:28 22:22 22:22 22:29 |
| Trials The Sanhedrin The Roman governor The king |
22:47 – 23:25 22:66-71 23:1-7 Pilate 23:8-12 Herod |
22:30 – 26:32 22:30-23:11 24 Felix, 25:1-12 Festus 25:13-26:32 Agrippa |
| Both Jesus and Paul are in complete control of their situation and are achieving their goal | 23:43, 24:46-47 Jesus' goal in suffering: to die for the forgiveness of sins |
27-28 Paul's goal in suffering: to get to Rome so that the gospel might go to the world |
| Passage | Preacher | Location | Recipients | Creation | Sin | Death of Jesus | Resur-rection (esp. of Jesus) | Witnesses to resurrection | Lordship of Jesus | Holy Spirit | Fulfillment of OT | Salvation | All nations | The future | Call for Response | Result of response |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2:14-40 | Peter | Jerusalem | Jews from all nations | Jews killed Christ | b/c of God's purpose b/c of people's sin |
Shows that he is descendant of David, Messiah | Y | Both Lord and Christ | Jesus now pouring Spirit out Spirit promised to penitent |
Joel | From this corrupt generation | Repent Be baptised |
Forgiveness | |||
| 3:12-26 | Peter | Jerusalem temple | Temple worshippers | Jews killed Christ | b/c Jews killed him (in ignorance) b/c prophets said Christ would suffer |
Glorified by God God raised him from the dead |
Y | Jesus is the Christ – with God in heaven | Prophets predicted suffering of Christ Moses predicted coming of a prophet All prophets have foretold this |
Lame man healed through faith in Jesus Christ will return from heaven to restore everything |
Christ will return from heaven to restore everything – times of refreshing | Repent Turn to God |
Sins wiped out Times of refreshing Sending of the Christ |
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| 4:2 | Apostles | Jerusalem | Jews | "In Jesus the resurrection of the dead" | "In Jesus the resurrection of the dead" | "In Jesus the resurrection of the dead" | "In Jesus the resurrection of the dead" | |||||||||
| 4:8-12 | Peter | Jerusalem | Sanhedrin | Jews killed Christ Rejected the "capstone" |
Jews crucified | God raised from dead | "Jesus Christ of Nazareth" Stone has become the capstone |
Psalm 118 – Jesus is the rejected stone become the capstone | Lame man healed in Christ's name Salvation only found in name of Jesus |
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| 5:29-32 | Sanhedrin | Jews killed Christ | Jews killed | God raised from dead | Y Holy Spirit is witness also |
Jesus exalted to right hand of God as Prince | Witness of resurrection Given to those who obey Jesus |
Jesus exalted to right hand of God as saviour | Jesus to give repentance to Israel Obedience |
Jesus to give forgiveness of sins to
Israel Holy Spirit given |
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| 7 | Stephen | Jerusalem | Synagogue of Freedmen | Rejecting prophets. Killed Christ | Betrayed and murdered by Jews | Jesus standing at right hand of God | People always resist the Holy Spirit | Holy Spirit always resisted by Israel | ||||||||
| 8:35 | Phillip | Southern Judah | Ethiopian Eunuch | Jesus died for sin of people | Predicted in Isaiah – for the sin of the peopl | Jesus fulfills Isaiah | Baptism | |||||||||
| 9:19-22 | Saul | Damascus | Jews | Jesus is Son of God, Christ | ||||||||||||
| 10:34-48 | Peter | Caesarea | Household of Cornelius | Jews killed Jesus | God raised him from the dead | God caused Jesus to be seen Apostles are special witnesses |
Jesus Christ is Lord of all Jesus appointed as judge |
God anointed Jesus with Holy Spirit and power | Jesus healed those under power of devil Peace through Jesus |
God accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right | Jesus appointed as judge of living and dead | Believe in Jesus | Forgiveness of sins | |||
| 13:16-41 | Paul | Pisidian Antioch synagogue | Jews and god-fearing Gentiles | Forgiveness of sins and justification is proclaimed through Jesus | Done by Jews Fulfillment of prophets |
God raised him Proves he is the son of David |
Those who had travelled with him | Jesus greater than John the Baptist | Brief OT history: Jesus is son of David, promised saviour Jesus' death fulfils prophets Jesus' resurrection fulfils Psalms |
Jesus is saviour Salvation is for us. Forgiveness of sins proclaimed through Jesus Justification where law is impotent |
Preached to both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles | If you scoff you will perish | Believe Do not scoff |
Forgiveness, justification where law of Moses is impotent | ||
| 14:15-17 | Paul | Lystra | Crowds who think Paul is a god | The Living God made heaven, earth, sea, creatures | Pagan idolatry In the past, God overlooked sin |
God gave some testimony in the past – e.g. rain, food, etc | In the past, God overlooked gentile idolatry, but now they should turn to him | Turn to living God | ||||||||
| 16:31 | Paul | Philippi | Jailer | Contingent on belief | Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ | You will be saved | ||||||||||
| 17:2-4 | Paul | Thessalonica | Jews in synagogue | Scriptures show that christ had to suffer | Scriptures show that christ had to suffer | Jesus is the Christ | Paul reasons and explains from the Scriptures | |||||||||
| 17:18 | Paul | Athens | Philosophers | "The good news about Jesus and the resurrection" | "The good news about Jesus and the resurrection" | "The good news about Jesus and the resurrection" | ||||||||||
| 17:22-31 | Paul | Athens | Philosophers | God made the world Lord of heaven and earth Sustains all men |
God is not an idol or statue. This is ignorance (God overlooked in the past) | Proof that Jesus is the eschatological judge | Resurrection is proof that Jesus is the eschatological judge | God set up nations so that men would seek for him | God set up nations so that men would seek for him, but he is not far from us. All people commanded to repent | A day is set when God will judge the world by the man he has appointed | Repent | Implied: escape from judgment to come | ||||
| 19:4 | Paul | Ephesus | Believers in John the Baptist | Jesus was the one who came after John | Believe in the one coming after John – Jesus |
| Passage | Preacher | Location | Recipients | Creation | All nations | Sin | Resurrection of Jesus | Witnesses to resurrection | Lordship of Jesus | Salvation | The future | Call for Response | Result of response | Holy Spirit | Death of Jesus | Fulfillment of OT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
One-sentence summaries |
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| 4:2 | Apostles | Jerusalem | Jews | X |
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| 16:31 | Paul | Philippi | Jailer | X |
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| 17:18 | Paul | Athens | Philosophers | X |
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| 19:4 | Paul | Ephesus | Believers in John the Baptist | X |
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To Jews |
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| 2:14-40 | Peter | Jerusalem | Jews from all nations | X |
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| 3:12-26 | Peter | Jerusalem temple | Temple worshippers | X |
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| 4:8-12 | Peter | Jerusalem | Sanhedrin | X |
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| 5:29-32 | Sanhedrin | X |
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| 7 | Stephen | Jerusalem | Synagogue of Freedmen | X |
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| 9:19-22 | Saul | Damascus | Jews | X |
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| 17:2-4 | Paul | Thessalonica | Jews in synagogue | X |
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To God-fearing Gentiles |
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| 8:35 | Phillip | Southern Judah | Ethiopian Eunuch | X |
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| 10:34-48 | Peter | Caesarea | Household of Cornelius | X |
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| 13:16-41 | Paul | Pisidian Antioch synagogue | Jews and god-fearing Gentiles | X |
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To pagan Gentiles |
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| 14:15-17 | Paul | Lystra | Crowds who think Paul is a god | X |
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| 17:22-31 | Paul | Athens | Philosophers | X |
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Believe in the Lord Jesus for salvation because his resurrection means our resurrection.