For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own conversion experience with those in acts. It is not an ivory tower work, but is not for that reason less than. Peter also highlights the importance and the power of the holy spirit in acts 2. Peter wagner, phd, holds graduate degrees in theology, missiology, and religion from fuller theological seminary, princeton theological seminary. Ancient historians described athens as a very intellectually curious and very religious place. Ajith fernando gives us a masterful commentary that discusses the importance of acts and its benefits for us. I cannot think of any single biblical commentary that deserves more praise or more serious attention than the book of acts. This is surely the easiest genre to interpret, and the reason i believe a simple, literal reading of the textin its historical and literary contextis sufficient to interpret it correctly. After one nasty runin, peter and the apostles rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name 5. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. The number of the names, or persons, together that is, who were together in the upper room. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them.
The book of acts is the account of the working of a sovereign god through his spirit, by means of men, and in spite of them, to accomplish that of which men would never have conceived and in ways. This passage provides us with an example of how misled a sincerely wrong person can be. To go to corneliuss house and stay there, peter must leave behind the scriptural commands of god that require separation of foods and persons into the categories of. Besides linking the gospel narratives on the one hand and the apostolic letters on the. The prophet whom moses foresaw was the same person as christ. Martens december 28, 2015 this is the twentyninth entry in the bible junkies online commentary on the acts of the apostles. This section includes particular ministry of peter, the reception of cornelius, the gentile, into the church by peter, the extension of the church to antioch, and peters imprisonment and release, and his leaving jerusalem for another place. Thus peter identifies jesus following his exaltation as lord, the. Paul, despite his zeal, did not know the true god even though. This unity begins with believers of different races e. Acts 12 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Pauls respect for others often wins a hearing for him and even turns enemies into friends, notwithstanding the boldness of his words. These verses record peters sermon in jerusalem on the day of pentecost following our lords ascension.
For many basic details verse by verse, it still is of good value and often will help on word meaning and. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of acts. Now cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. This is evident in the christological focus in peters inaugural sermon acts 2. The reason why peter did this may be seen in the notes on matthew 16. Best acts commentaries updated for 2020 best bible.
Herod agrippa i was also the nephew of herod antipas, who had a role in the trial of. Skinner, peterthe chief apostle, in go ye into all the world. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Acts stands as one of the most important books in the new testament. Acts or lukeacts is intended as a work of edification, meaning the empirical. Acts 1 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. Peter and john were both commissioned by jesus and recognized by the early christians as apostles special ambassadors of jesus.
He denied they had any power to perform miracles, or any great holiness requiring god to do miracles at their bidding. The book of acts ends with paul proclaiming the kingdom of god and teaching about the lord jesus christ with all boldness and without hindrance acts 28. Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples probably being under a peculiar divine influence on this occasion. Top 5 commentaries on the book of acts ligonier ministries.
Peter wagner gives us all a new acts for new timesone of crucial value and of almost unique significance in biblical literature. Peter did this by touching on the prophets in the old testament and showing that their prophesies were coming to fruition in the current age. The gathering crowd must have gazed with awe at peter and john, as if they gave the two apostles credit for the miracle, for when peter began to speak, he deflected all praise from themselves. The initial question regards the identity of theophilus, the one for whom the book is written. We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early apostles and preachers 3. Peter is preaching to a jewish audience on the day of pentecost. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth. No its not pretty, but peter is actually super psyched about the chance to follow in jesuss footsteps. Acts 3 commentary peter petts commentary on the bible. Peter equated this event as a fulfillment of jesus prediction of being baptized with the spirit acts 11. The second key element is the roles of peter and paul, the first representing the. He at this time ruled over all his fathers dominions. Acts 3 tells us of a specific example, one of the many. In his speech, peter shows us the significance of the expression in the name or by the name of jesus.
Acts of the apostles, the second part of the work that begins with the gospel. Please take all courses in order as listed on our home page the computer will ask. There is a sustained focus on unity in the book of acts. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Herod the kinggrandson of herod the great, and son of aristobulus.
Acts does much of the same when it says, tongue in cheek, that the athenians would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new 17. Acts with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. A good study bible we recommend the following features. If you have not done all the lessons of previous courses, please.
Peter summarizes the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of jesus. Peter had seen jesus when jesus held the hand of jairuss daughter luke 8. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. The book of acts also describes the work of the two apostles peter and paul. This meant that he cured the man by christs power and authority. The recipient of the book, theophilus, is the same person addressed in the first volume, the gospel of luke see introduction to luke. Peter is the human main character in the first 12 chapters, paul in the second part from chapter. This commentary on acts 3 treats peters sermon at the temple after he healed the beggar by the gate. This passage in which peter and john heal a lame man is the first scene in the book of acts after the story of pentecost in chapter 2. We do not recommend loose translations or oneman translations. So the second recorded event of speaking in tongues in the book of acts served as a sign to jewish believers that believing gentiles, having been granted the gift of the spirit, had equal access into salvation and gods. Acts in the abingdon new testament commentaries, mikeal c. Dec 28, 2015 peter s miracles in lydda and joppa john w. Luke told us how the church was formed by the gift of the holy spirit and baptism and gathered around the apostles teaching and now moves on to narrate examples of the apostles ministry in jerusalem.
An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of acts. The apostle peter forever settled this question when he declared here in acts 2. The davidic throne was a type of the eternal throne and authority of jesus christ. The geographical centre of the first part is jerusalem, of the second antioch, where the first great assembly of converted heathens was formed. One of the earliest of the apocryphal acts of the apostles, the acts of peter reports a miracle contest between simon magus and the apostle peter in rome. This work, originally out in 1857, has proved helpful to many, though it is now far out of date as to literature commenting on acts. This is a customary expression in the scriptures when one begins to do a thing, luke 15. There has been much debate as to the purpose of acts.
In those days while they were waiting for the promise of the spirit. The importance of the book of acts liberty university. But not just a scholar and teacher in mission training schools, he began as a missionary, and then also has been involved in shaping missions and the church, reforming them to biblical contours. Barrett, a critical and exegetical commentary on the acts of the apostles, the international critical commentary on the holy scriptures of the old and new testaments, ed. As peter was coming in, cornelius met him and fell. Now peter and john were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. In this book, the principles of the exchanged life. This commentary has been through advanced checking. Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of acts e. However, the spirit is highly significant as an agent of god reaching out. The main issues revolve around whether he is a man perhaps a greek official for whom lukeacts is an apologetic for the gospel or a kind of generic. What is the significance of pauls use of jesus as the son of god. The account has important sociological as well as theological implications for the study of christian origins. Wherever the established believer is driven, he carries the knowledge of the.
In his speech, peter shows us the significance of the expression in the name or by the. He served as a field missionary in bolivia for 16 years and he taught on the faculty of the school of intercultural studies at fuller seminary for 30 years. Therefore, when a church begins to dwindle, lose its power, and turn dull and drab in its witness, it needs desperately to get back into the spirit, expectation, knowledge and teaching of the book of acts. Now he c proclaims jesus as the exalted lord and giver of the spirit v. Acts 12 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. The acts of the apostles pillar new testament commentary by david g. Apr 10, 2016 this passage in which peter and john heal a lame man is the first scene in the book of acts after the story of pentecost in chapter 2. It records the promise and delivery of the holy spirit, and the effect of that supernatural power on the spread of the gospel.
The significance of tongues in the house of cornelius. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. Literary elements the genre of acts is historical narrative. Acts is the book that reveals the power of the church. The last time we left peter was in the gospel of luke. The location is the temple, with a jewish audience.
The term was first used by christ when he told peter, upon this rock i will build my church matt. And the lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. The healing of the paralytic at the gate beautiful. In the book of acts, the first use of the term church appears in acts 2. Rolf jacobson, karoline lewis, david lose, and matt skinner,for a conversation around preaching the lectionary texts for easter 6. Most can be obtained from a good religious bookstore. Thus, when preaching in solomons porch, peter enlightened the jews as to the true significance of moses prophecy. The word lord, placed absolutely, denotes in the new testament almost universally the son.
But paul remembered him as the one who brokered a compromise in acts 15, and peter as sometimes amiable with paul and sometimes not galatians 2, so for paul peter was less paulfriendly than james and john, as their heated letterexchanges make clear page references redacted, was easily the most antagonistic toward paul, and hence was. Paley has remarked the accuracy of the historian here. However, peter and hickey show the importance of the old testament even in the new government. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. The churchs progress to the council of jerusalem according to the book of acts1 j. The readers study of acts in the book of acts will bring new intimacy with the spirit and new joy in doing his will. And a certain man lame from his mothers womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the. Why does luke not record pauls three year excursion to arabia. It records the actions of the church and serves as a textbook example for the church today. She must also have been distinguished for faith and courage to allow such a meeting in the face of persecution. It is not improbable, besides, that peter was the most aged of the apostles. Now peter and john went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy. Although the book of acts begins the transition from peter to paul, acts 9.
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