Lesson One: Acts — Background

Key Verse

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

— Acts 1:8

Section Chapters Focus Jerusalem 1:1

Lesson Questions

Read the book of Acts in its entirety before answering these questions. Use your Bible as your primary source.

1. To whom was Acts written? What other book was addressed to this person? Which book was written first?

2. Is the book of Acts mainly a book of poetry, prophecy, or history?

3. Who wrote the book of Acts? Why is it believed that he wrote Acts?

4. What occupation did the author follow?

5. What is meant by the "we" passages in Acts?

6. Was Luke an eyewitness of some of the events in the book of Acts?

7. What man is the main character in the first twelve chapters of Acts? Who is the main character in chapters 13 - 28?

8. With what does Acts begin? With what does Acts end?

9. When was Acts written? Where?

10. At, or near, what city were Jesus and the apostles in the first part of Acts? In what political province were they? Who was governor of the province?

11. If Acts is a book of history, of what is it the history?

12. Are "all" the events in Acts in chronological order?

13. The contents of Acts overlaps the contents of which book of the life of Christ?

14. The period of years covered by Acts. AD____ to AD_____.

15. What other information about the book of Acts can you find that would be good for us to know?

16. Get or make a map of Palestine to be used in studying Acts chapters 1-12. We will fill in the map as we go. You will also need a map of the area bordering the Mediterranean Sea for the later half of Acts.

17. Keep your outline of the book of Acts to use, and even modify, as we study. A chronology of the events in the book of Acts will be useful also.

Supplementary Materials

Historical Context Understanding the historical setting of Acts helps illuminate the text: Political Setting: The events of Acts occur under Roman rule. Judea was a Roman province governed by prefects (later procurators). Pontius Pilate served from AD 26-36, followed by others including Felix and Festus who appear later in Acts. Religious Setting: Judaism in the first century included various groups: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots. The temple in Jerusalem remained the center of Jewish worship until its destruction in AD 70. The "Fullness of Time": God's providential timing (Gal. 4:4) included Roman roads for travel, Greek as a common language, Roman peace (Pax Romana), and Jewish synagogues throughout the empire — all facilitating the spread of the gospel.

Timeline: Acts Chapters 1-7

Date	Event	Scripture Reference
AD 30	Christ's Ascension	Acts 1:9-11
AD 30	Pentecost — Church	Acts 2:1-47 Established
AD 30-33	Church Growth in	Acts 2:42 – 6:7 Jerusalem
AD 33-34	Stephen's Martyrdom	Acts 7:54-60
AD 34	Scattering from Jerusalem	Acts 8:1-4

Key Cross-References for Acts 1-7

These Old Testament passages are quoted or referenced in Acts 1-7:

OT Passage	Acts Reference	Subject
Joel 2:28-32	Acts 2:16-21	Outpouring of the Spirit
Psalm 16:8-11	Acts 2:25-28	Resurrection of Christ
Psalm 110:1	Acts 2:34-35	Christ at God's Right Hand
Psalm 118:22	Acts 4:11	Christ the Cornerstone
Deut. 18:15-19	Acts 3:22-23; 7:37	Prophet Like Moses
Isaiah 53:7-8	Acts 8:32-33	The Suffering Servant

A Study of the Book of Acts

Map: Palestine in the Time of the Apostles Use this map to trace the events of Acts 1-7. All major events in this section occur in and around Jerusalem.

As you study Acts 1-7, note that the apostles remained in Jerusalem until the persecution following Stephen's death scattered the church throughout Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1).