In acts, the gospel expands not through human strength, but through weakness, opposition, and persecution. This is the first instance of opposition and persecution in the book of acts. Acts 3 ends somewhat abruptly, for we are not yet given any indication of the impact of peters message in the temple precincts. Acts chapters 14 notes grace notes lissa eggleston. And, as we study through the book of acts, we are seeing the early church facing just. As modern readers, then, we should approach the book of acts as another channel to lukes view of salvation history. The book of acts is an eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the church. A chapter by chapter bible study of the book of acts 2 acts the beautiful, amazing, powerful, weak, dysfunctional church table of contents scripture passage page 1. This is the first instance of opposition and persecution in the book of. Opposition arose, however, from members of the synagogue of the freedmen as it was calledjews of cyrene and. Studies in the book of acts previous page next page. In later chapters of acts, the writer uses the firstperson plural narrative.
Our story starts off where the gospel of luke left offjesus is back now that hes resurrected, jesus decides to hang out and chat with his disciples whom luke calls apostles for forty days. We read about imprisonments, beatings, stonings and plots to kill the apostles. Acts 6, new international version niv the bible app. The offering sent by barnabas and saul to the jerusalem elders. We learn that opposition can work to strengthen and guide the church.
Chapterbychapter bible studies acts kathleendalton. Timeline of the book of acts from the bible generation word. Acts of the apostles niv audio bible non dramatized. In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the hellenistic jews among them complained against the hebraic jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. Their hostile attitude persisted throughout the book of acts. The blue letter bible ministry and the blb institute hold to the historical, conservative christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of scripture. Acts 812 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
Limited objectivity is especially apparent in ancient histories. We shall pick up our study in acts, the fifth chapter, beginning with verse 12. Youre already logged in with your bible gateway account. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts. Starting your free trial of bible gateway plus is easy. Accordingly, we can assume that acts reflects the concerns of its author. Sadducees were the ones who were involved in much of the opposition and persecution of paul. The next step is to enter your payment information. Demonic forces, worldly powers and authorities, governmental opposition, language and cultural barriers, intense suffering and bloody persecution, unjust imprisonment, unbelief, internal disunity, and even shipwrecks and snakes all threaten to slow down the gospels advance. Increasing opposition against the early christians and. Rejection of the gospel and persecution of its messengers, however, worked to accelerate the churchs growth. Up to this point, the book of acts recounts the churchs growth among jews in. A little later they arrested peter and other apostles and took counsel to kill them 5. Acts 4 begins with a strong and sudden reaction, especially from those who were sadducees.