This is part of the Crossroads programme offered by the South African Theological Seminary. It is the third lesson in the CR survey of the New Testament, discussing the Book of Acts.

2. Jesus’ Life and Legacy
3. The Book of Acts

3. Lesson Outline
1. The Facts about Acts
2. The Form of Acts
3. The Features of Acts

4. The Facts about Acts

5. Introduction
The Book of Acts
Acts is the second half of
Luke's two-part work.
Luke is the story of
founder of Christianity,
and Acts the story of the
founding of Christianity.
Acts 1:1
The former account I
made, O Theophilus, of
all that Jesus began both
to do and teach …

6. The Facts about Acts
Author
Date
Reader
Portrait
Purpose
Luke the doctor
AD 61
Theophilus
Head of church
Four-fold objective

7. Purposes of Acts
1. Historical As a master historian,
Luke set out to write an
orderly and
authoritative account
of the early church.

8. Purposes of Acts
1. Historical
2. Apologetic
Luke wants to calm
Roman persecution by
showing Chris-tians as
law-biding citizens.

9. Purposes of Acts
1. Historical
2. Apologetic
3. Theological
Luke uses history to
teach doctrine about
Christ, the church and
the Spirit.

10. Purposes of Acts
1. Historical
2. Apologetic
3. Theological
4. Missionary
Jesus carries out his
mission to redeem the
world by the Holy Spirit
working thru the
church.

11. The Form of Acts

12. The Form of Acts
Peter Paul
1:1 13:1 28:31
Acts can be divided according to its two
main characters.

13. The Form of Acts
Jerusalem Ends of Earth
Judea &
Samaria
1:1 7:1 10:1 28:31
Acts can be divided on the basis of its three
mission fields.

14. The Form of Acts
The best way to divide Acts is on the basis
of five summaries Luke includes:Sum.6:7
Sum.9:31
Sum.12:24
Sum.16:5
Sum.19:20

15. The Form of Acts
Sum.6:7
Sum.9:31
Sum.12:24
Sum.16:5
Sum.19:20

16. The Features of Acts

17. The Features of Acts
1. The power of the Holy Spirit

18. The Features of Acts
1. The power of the Holy Spirit
2. The persecution of the church

19. The Features of Acts
1. The power of the Holy Spirit
2. The persecution of the church
3. The prayers of the saints

20. The Features of Acts
1. The power of the Holy Spirit
2. The persecution of the church
3. The prayers of the saints
4. The preaching of the gospel

21. Conclusion

22. Summary
1. The book of Acts continues from the gospel of Luke.
2. Acts has four purposes: historical, apologetic,
theological, and missionary.
3. Acts can be organised by its main characters, its
mission fields, or its summary statements.
4. Acts emphasises the power of the Spirit, as well as
persecution, prayer, and preaching.