Outline of Acts

Chapters 1-7

 

I.                   Introduction to the beginning of the church

A.   The Lord prepares the disciples (1:1-11)

1.     The reaffirmation of the promise (1:1-5)

a.      Forty days resurrection period

b.     The last commission

2.     The re-orientation to the program (1:6-8)

a.      Times and seasons

b.     Promise of spiritual equipment for a worldwide campaign

3.     The ascension and predicted return (1:9-11)

a.      The ascension of Christ

b.     Promise of the Lord’s return

B.   The Lord re-establishes 12 apostles (1:12-26)

1.     The apostles and others gather in Jerusalem (1:12-14)

a.      Disciples in the upper room

b.     One accord

2.     The motion of Peter to choose another apostle (1:15-26)

a.      Judas’ apostatizing fulfilled scripture (1:15-20)

(1)  Judas Iscariot

(2)  The field of blood

(3)  Psalms 69:25

b.     The criteria for an apostolic replacement (1:21-22)

(1)  The appointment of Matthias as Apostle

(2)  Witness His Resurrection

c.     The method of choosing (1:23-26)

(1)  Appointed two

(2)  They prayed

(3)  Gave forth their lots

II.                The Church in Jerusalem (2-8:3)

A.   The church is born (2:1-11)

1.     Pentecost

a.      The coming of the Holy Spirit (2:1-4a)

(1)  Mighty rushing wind

(2)  Cloven tongues

(3)  Filled with the Holy Spirit

b.     The sign: Tongues (2:4b-11)

(1)  Speak in tongues

(2)  The gift of tongues awakens astonishment

(3)  Heard in their own tongue

c.     The reaction: Mixed (2:12-13)

(1)  All amazed

(2)  All in doubt

(3)  Some mockers

2.     Peter’s explanation in a sermon (2:14-36)

a.      Pentecost: The fulfillment of Joel 2 (2:14-21)

(1)  Last days –pour out My Spirit

(2)  Son and daughters prophesy

(3)  Wonders in heaven

(4)  Old men dream dreams

(5)  Signs in the earth below

(6)  Salvation still by asking

b.     Pentecost: Based upon Christ’s work (2:22-36)

(1)  Jesus, approved of God

(2)  Crucified and slain

(3)  Raised up

(4)  Hell has no power

(5)  2 Sam 7:12

(6)  Christ will sit on David’s throne

(7)  Spirit promised

(8)  Lordship of Jesus proven

(9)  Be it known – You crucified Him

3.     The reaction to Peter’s sermon (2:37-41)

a.      People cut to the heart (2:37-40)

(1)  What shall we do?

(2)  Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus

(3)  Remission of sins

(4)  Receive the Holy Spirit

(5)  Promise to you and your children

(6)  Save yourselves from this evil generation

b.     3000 saved (2:41)

(1)  Received the Word

(2)  Were baptized

(3)  Saved

B.   Summary of the young church (2:42-47)

1.     Unity among the people (2:42-46)

(1)  Steadfast in the apostle’s doctrine

(2)  Fellowship

(3)  Breaking of bread

(4)  In prayer

(5)  Fear on every soul

(6)  Many wonders and signs

(7)  All things common

(8)  Continued daily in one accord

2.     Praise to God from the people (2:47)

(1)  Praising God

(2)  Souls added daily

C.   The church ministering in Jerusalem (3:1-8:3)

1.     A sign to Israel: A lame man healed (3:1-11)

a.      Peter and John in the temple

b.     At hour of prayer – ninth hour

c.     Man lame from birth

d.     Gate of temple called Beautiful

e.      Begged for aims

f.       Silver and gold have I none

g.     In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk

h.     Witnessed by all the people

i.        Wonder and amazement

j.        Solomon’s porch

2.     A warning to Israel: Peter’s sermon (3:12-26)

a.      Why do you marvel?

b.     God glorified His Son, Jesus

c.     You were responsible for His death

d.     Desired a murderer instead

e.      Did it through ignorance

f.       Repent and be converter

g.     Unto you Jesus was given first

3.     The reaction: Persecution (4:1-37)

a.      The animosity of the religious leaders (4:1-22)

(1)  Grieved to the heart – in anger

(2)  Arrested them

(3)  Put them in chains

(4)  5000 men saved

(5)  Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, many others

(6)  Let the questioning begin

(7)  Power and salvation belong to Jesus

(8)  Unlearned and ignorant men

(9)  Boldness because of Jesus

(10)                     Conference among Jewish leaders

(11)                     Forbidden to teach in Jesus’ name

(12)                     Steadfastness of Peter and John

(13)                     Released

(14)                     God got the glory

b.     The prayer for boldness (4:23-31)

(1)  Place shaken

(2)  All filled with the Holy Spirit

(3)  Spoke Word of God with boldness

c.     The continuing unity of the church (4:32-37)

(1)  One heart and one soul

(2)  All things common

(3)  Great power for witnessing

D.   Struggle from within and without

1.     The deceit of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11)

a.      Sold a possession

b.     Keep back a part of the money

c.     Lied to Peter

d.     Rebuked and Ananias struck dead

e.      Great fear developed

f.       Three hours later – Sapphira lied also

g.     She too died

h.     Fear of God

2.     The Sanhedrin and the apostles (5:12-42)

a.      The apostles’ respected by the people (2:12-16)

(1)  Many signs and wonders

(2)  Men and women added to the Church

(3)  Sick and demon possessed healed

b.     The jealousy of the leaders (5:17-42)

(1)  Filled with indignation

(2)  Put apostles in prison

(3)  Angel of Lord released them

(4)  Sanhedrin assembled

(5)  Apostles brought before Sanhedrin

(6)  Peter address the Sanhedrin – they wanted to kill him

(7)  Gamaliel’s advice

(8)  Let them alone – if from God you can’t stop it – if not it will go away

(9)  Apostles beaten and sent on their way

(10)                     Commanded not to preach Jesus

(11)                     Apostles fill with joy

(12)                     Preached and taught anyway

3.     The first racial tension in the church (6:1-7)

a.      The problem (6:1)

(1)  Grecians against the Hebrews

(2)  Widows being neglected

b.     The solution (6:2-6)

(1)  Church assembled to discuss matter

(2)  Seven Church officials chosen

(3)  Prayed over and hands lain on them

c.     The result (6:7)

(1)  Word of God increased

(2)  Number of disciples in Jerusalem multiplied

(3)  Many of priest obedient to the faith

E.    The climax of the persecution in Jerusalem: Stephen killed (6:8-8:3)

1.     Stephen brought before a council (6:8-15)

a.      Full of faith and bold

b.     Winning the argument

c.     Arrested and false witnesses testified

d.     Glory of the Lord shown through him

2.     Stephen’s sermon (7:1-53)

a.      Stephen’s defense before the Sanhedrin

b.     The call of Abraham

c.     Recounts the history of Israel

d.     Later history of Israel

e.      Rebukes the unbelief of the Jews 

3.     Stephen’s death (7:54-60)

a.      Jews so mad – wanted to kill him

b.     Stephen saw Jesus in heaven

c.     Stoned him

d.     Saul consented to his death