The Acts of the Apostles Vocabulary Flashcards

Introduction to the Acts of the Apostles

• General Definition: The Acts of the Apostles is a book that describes the works or actions of the apostles of Jesus following his ascension to heaven. It traces the history of the Christian church from its foundation to its spread across the world.

• Authorship and Writing Evidence: Evidence suggests the author of Acts also wrote the Gospel according to Luke.

  • Former Account: The author mentions a “former account” of the life of Jesus ($1:1,2$), referring to either Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.
  • Addressing Theophilus: Both Luke and Acts are addressed to “Theophilus,” which translates to “lover of God.” This indicates the books share the same author and audience.
  • The Ascension Bridge: The Gospel of Luke concludes with Jesus’ ascension after a $40$-day stay, while Acts begins with that same $40$-day period and the subsequent ascension.
  • Universal Salvation Theme: Both books emphasize salvation for everyone, including Gentiles. In both, Jesus delivers the Great Commission to be his witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. In Acts, this specifically includes Samaria, a region Jews typically viewed as unworthy of salvation.
  • The “We” Passages: Certain passages are written in the first person, such as Acts $16:10$: “…immediately, we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the Gospel to them.” These passages suggest the author was an eyewitness and participant in the journeys.

• Reasons for and Purpose of Writing:

  • Fulfillment of the Great Commission (Religious): To show the apostles spreading the Gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the world through events like Pentecost and Paul’s missionary journeys.
  • Victory in Persecution (Religious): To demonstrate Christianity’s triumph despite difficulties. Examples include Peter and John being imprisoned and Stephen being killed while the church continued to grow, strengthening believers' perseverance.
  • Examples of Conversion (Religious): To provide models of those who converted to Christ and those who did not, teaching the requirements for conversion.
  • Emergence of a Separate Religion (Historical): To document how Christianity became a religion independent from Judaism, specifically starting at Pentecost in Acts $2$.
  • Life History of Apostles (Historical): To record the lives of the apostles after Jesus left them.
  • Breaking Hostility (Apologetic): To prove that salvation was for everyone and to reduce hatred between Jews, Gentiles, and the marginalized.
  • Political Legitimacy (Apologetic): To show that Christianity was not a threat to the Roman Empire but a legal religion.

The Forty Days and the Ascension

• The Period of Forty Days: Jesus stayed for $40$ days after his resurrection to provide evidence of his life to a multitude of witnesses.

• Symbolism of the Number Forty:

  • Trial and Testing: Parallel to Jesus fasting for $40$ days in the wilderness.
  • Waiting (Probation): Representing the time the apostles waited for the promise of the Holy Spirit.
  • New Generation: Signifying the start of a generation without Jesus’ physical presence.

• Post-Resurrection Teachings (Acts $1:4-8$):

  • The Promise of the Holy Spirit: Jesus instructed the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. He contrasted John’s water baptism with the upcoming spiritual baptism.
  • The Second Coming: Jesus clarified that the “times and seasons” for restoring the kingdom to Israel are set by God and are not for humans to know.
  • The Great Commission: The command to be witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth after receiving power.

• Significance of the Stay and Appearances:

  • It provided tangible evidence of the resurrection, giving disciples hope to follow his teachings faithfully.
  • It fulfilled Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah’s rise and appearance.
  • It allowed Jesus to give the Great Commission and the promise of the Holy Spirit.

• Lessons for Christians:

  • Patience: Following the example of the early disciples waiting in Jerusalem for God’s timing regarding the second coming.
  • Obedience: Fulfilling the responsibility to be witnesses for God.
  • Seeking Power: Recognizing that Christian work cannot be done without the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • Orderliness: Understanding that mission work begins locally before spreading internationally.

• The Event of the Ascension: On Mount Olivet, a cloud lifted Jesus up while the disciples watched. Two men in white clothing appeared, telling them Jesus would return in the same manner. The disciples then returned to the Upper Room in Jerusalem.

• Importance of the Ascension:

  • Fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah regarding the Mount of Olives splitting.
  • Evidence that Jesus continues to live in heaven, keeping the faith alive.
  • Provides hope for eternal life and unity with Christ after death.
  • Demonstrates God’s power over death, removing the fear of dying for believers.
  • Motivates Christians to model their behavior after Christ to ensure their own ascension.
  • Reminds believers that they do not belong permanently to the present world.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

• Comfort: Acts as a comforter in the physical absence of Jesus.
• Power and Courage: Grants the strength necessary to carry out the Great Commission.
• Guidance and Direction: Assists in decision-making and the interpretation/application of the Bible.
• Spiritual Gifts: Provides specific abilities such as speaking in tongues (for cross-cultural witness), healing, preaching, and prophesying.
• Protection: Guards believers during times of trouble and persecution.

The Reconstitution of the Twelve

• The Appointment of Matthias (Acts $1:15-26$):

  • Context: Gathered in the Upper Room in Jerusalem with $120$ disciples.
  • Reason: To replace Judas Iscariot after his suicide.
  • Requirements: The candidate must have accompanied the group from the baptism of John to the ascension of Jesus.
  • Process: Two men were suggested: Joseph Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias. After praying, the disciples cast lots; the lot fell on Matthias.

• Significance of the Appointment:

  • Ensured the mission was complete and perfect by restoring the number of apostles to $12$.
  • Fulfilled the book of Psalms: ‖His office let another take.’
  • Demonstrated the power of prayer in decision-making.
  • Showed that God’s grace allows anyone, even the unknown, to be chosen for his work.

• Symbolism of the Number Twelve:

  • Represents the $12$ tribes of Israel, showing Jesus’ intent to rebuild the kingdom.
  • Symbolizes complete governance, perfection, and authority.
  • Creates a bridge between the Old Testament (Old Israel) and the New Testament (New Israel).

Pentecost and the Birth of the Christian Church

• Background of Pentecost: A Jewish festival celebrating the delivery of laws to Moses and the offering of first fruits. Jews from around the world gathered in Jerusalem for this event.

• The Pentecost Experience (Acts $2:1-13$):

  • Occurred approximately $50$ days after the ascension.
  • A sound like a mighty wind came from heaven.
  • Tongues like fire appeared and rested on the disciples.
  • Disciples began speaking in languages understandable to the international crowd.
  • Spectators were amazed, though some mocked them, claiming they were drunk.

• Importance in Church History:

  • God fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of Joel ($2:28$) regarding the pouring out of the Spirit.
  • It is the formal “birthday” of Christianity.
  • Gave disciples the courage to preach the resurrection to both Jews and Gentiles.

• Symbolism at Pentecost:

  • Wind: The power of the Holy Spirit that enables great wonders.
  • Fire: Purification and cleansing, preparing the disciples for God's work.
  • Tongues: Unity and the ability to communicate the Gospel to all nations.

Peter’s First Sermon and Character

• The Sermon (Acts $2:14-41$):

  • Refutation: Peter argued they weren't drunk because it was only the “third hour” ($9:00\,am$), an hour typically reserved for prayer.
  • Prophetic Fulfillment: He cited Joel’s prophecy about the Spirit and David’s prophecy about the resurrection.
  • Testimony: He declared Jesus as the Christ, performing miracles, being killed by the Jews, and raised by God.
  • Call to Action: He called for repentance and baptism in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

• Character Lessons:

  • Wisdom: Using culturally relevant historical figures (Joel, David) to reach the Jewish audience.
  • Boldness: Accusing the Jews of their role in Jesus’ death without fear.
  • Knowledge: Deep understanding of the scriptures.

• Significance: The sermon was the first platform for being witnesses to the life of Jesus, connected the Church to Old Testament foundations, and resulted in the growth of the disciples from $120$ to approximately $3000$ members.

The Healing of the Lame Man (Acts $3:1-10$)

• The Account: Peter and John entered the temple at the Beautiful Gate during the ninth hour of prayer. A man lame from birth asked for alms. Peter stated, “silver and gold have I none,” and commanded the man to walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The man was instantly healed, leaped, and entered the temple praising God.

• Significance and Symbolism:

  • Commission: Acts as a witness to the power of Jesus’ name.
  • Compassion: Shows God reaching out to the marginalized (lameness was often viewed as a curse).
  • Disability: Stands for the bondage of sin that prevents entering God’s presence.
  • Silver/Gold: Represents worldly desires versus the restoration found in Christ.
  • The Jump/Leap: Represents the joy found in God's kingdom.

• Peter’s Second Sermon (Acts $3:11-26$):

  • Delivered at Solomon’s Portico.
  • Peter clarified the healing came from the God of Abraham through Jesus, not his own piety.
  • He reminded the crowd of their rejection of Jesus before Pilate and called for repentance.
  • Resulted in the church growing to about $5000$ men.

The First Persecution (Acts $4:1-31$)

• Arrest: The Sadducees, priests, and temple captains were angry about the preaching of the resurrection and arrested Peter and John.

• The Trial: They were questioned by Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander about their authority.

• Defense: Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, quoted the Psalm about the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone and declared Jesus as the only name for salvation.

• Outcome: The Sanhedrin, noting the disciples' lack of formal education but great boldness, released them with a warning to stop preaching. The disciples returned to their friends and prayed until the place was shaken by the Holy Spirit.

• Lessons: Christians should depend on scripture to overcome opposition, pray for one another, and witness without fear.

The Common Life and Internal Struggles

• Characteristics of the Early Church:

  • Fellowship: Breaking bread together to remember Jesus.
  • Sharing: Selling possessions and distributing proceeds according to need (e.g., Barnabas selling his field).
  • Prayer and Preaching: Staying dedicated to spiritual communication and evangelism.

• Ananias and Sapphira (Acts $5:1-11$):

  • A couple sold property but kept back part of the money while pretending to give it all.
  • Peter, guided by the Holy Spirit, confronted Ananias for lying to God. Ananias fell dead.
  • $3$ hours later, Sapphira lied about the price and also fell dead.
  • Lessons: Warns against hypocrisy, teaches that Satan is the source of lies, and demonstrates that lying to God results in severe punishment. Great fear fell upon the church.

The Second Persecution and Internal Organization

• The Second Arrest (Acts $5:17-42$):

  • Jewish leaders imprisoned the apostles out of jealousy.
  • An angel opened the prison doors at night and told them to continue preaching in the temple.
  • Gamaliel’s Counsel: A Pharisee named Gamaliel advised the council to leave the men alone. He cited the failures of rebels like Theudas and Judas, arguing that if the mission was from man, it would fail; if from God, it could not be stopped.

• Appointment of the First Deacons (Acts $6:1-7$):

  • The Problem: Hellenistic Jewish Christians complained that their widows were being neglected in food distribution compared to the Hebrew widows.
  • Solution: Seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom, were appointed to handle the distribution.
  • The Seven: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus.
  • Deacon Qualifications: Must be filled with the Holy Spirit, possess good reputations, and have the wisdom to make fair decisions.

Stephen: The First Martyr (Acts $6:8 - 7:60$)

• The Arrest: Synagogue rulers accused Stephen of blasphemy against Moses and God, and threatening the temple and laws.
• The Defense: Stephen recounted Jewish history from Abraham through Moses and Solomon. He noted that the Jews consistently rejected God’s messengers (Joseph, Moses) and built idols (the golden calf). Finally, he accused them of being “stiff-necked” and murdering Jesus.
• Martyrdom: The council was enraged. Stephen looked up, saw the Son of Man at the right hand of God, and was dragged out and stoned. He prayed for their forgiveness as he died. Saul approved of the execution.
• Significance: Stephen was the first martyr; his death triggered a great persecution that scattered believers into Judea and Samaria, thus unintentionally spreading the Gospel.

Philip’s Ministry in Samaria and to the Eunuch

• Simon the Magician (Acts $8:4-25$):

  • Philip preached and did miracles in Samaria. Simon, a sorcerer, believed and was baptized.
  • When Peter and John came to lay hands for the Holy Spirit, Simon tried to buy the power with money.
  • Peter rebuked him: “may your money perish with you.” Simon eventually asked for prayer.
  • Lessons: Salvation/the Holy Spirit cannot be bought or used for personal gain.

• The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts $8:26-40$):

  • An angel told Philip to go to the Gaza road. He met the treasurer for the Queen of Ethiopia reading Isaiah.
  • Philip explained the passage referred to Jesus. The eunuch requested baptism upon seeing water.
  • Significance: Shows salvation is not restricted by race and fulfills the spread of the Word to Africa.

The Conversion of Saul (Acts $9:1-30$)

• The Encounter: Saul was struck by a flash of light on the road to Damascus. Jesus asked, “Why are you persecuting me?” Saul was blinded for $3$ days and did not eat or drink.
• Restoration: Ananias was sent by God to pray for Saul despite his fears. Scales fell from Saul’s eyes; he was baptized and began preaching Jesus as the Son of God.
• Escape: Jews plotted to kill him in Damascus, but he escaped and went to Jerusalem. Barnabas introduced him to the skeptical apostles before he returned to Tarsus.

Peter’s Miracles at Lydda and Joppa

• Healing of Aeneas: At Lydda, Peter healed a man bedridden for $8$ years by saying, “Jesus Christ heals you.”
• Raising of Tabitha (Dorcas): At Joppa, a charitable woman named Tabitha died. Peter arrived, sent everyone out, prayed, and told her to arise. She sat up, leading many to believe.
• Significance: Showed God’s compassion and power over death; Peter stayed with Simon a tanner (a marginalized profession), showing the Gospel is for everyone.

The Conversion of Cornelius (Acts $10:1-48$)

• Cornelius’ Vision: At Caesarea, a Roman centurion was told by an angel that his prayers/alms were noted and to send for Peter.
• Peter’s Vision: At the house of Simon the tanner at the “sixth hour,” Peter saw a sheet with “unclean” animals. A voice said, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” This happened $3$ times.
• The Meeting: Peter realized the vision meant he should not discriminate against Gentiles. While he preached to Cornelius’ household, the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles, and they spoke in tongues.
• Significance: This was the “Generic Pentecost,” proving Gentiles were worthy of salvation and the Holy Spirit without becoming Jews first.

The First Missionary Journey (Acts $13-14$)

• Missionaries: Paul and Barnabas (and initially John Mark).
• Cyprus: At Paphos, they encountered Bar-Jesus (Elymas), a magician trying to stop the proconsul Sergius Paulus from believing. Paul struck the magician with temporary blindness; the proconsul believed.
• Pisidia Antioch: Paul preached the history of Israel to prove Jesus was the Messiah. Many believed, but jealous Jews eventually drove them out. They shook the dust off their feet.
• Lystra: Paul healed a man crippled from birth. The crowd tried to worship them as Greek gods (Barnabas as Zeus, Paul as Hermes). Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes in protest. Later, Jews from Antioch stoned Paul and left him for dead, but he miraculously survived.
• Strategy: Starting in synagogues to reach Jews first, then turning to Gentiles when rejected.

The Jerusalem Council (Acts $15:1-35$)

• The Conflict: Some Jewish converts claimed salvation required circumcision according to the Law of Moses.
• The Debate: Peter argued that God makes no difference between hearts and that salvation is by grace through faith.
• The Resolution: James proposed they should not trouble Gentiles but requested they abstain from:
  1. Pollutions of idols.
  2. Unchastity (sexual immorality).
  3. Eating strangled animals.
  4. Consuming blood.
• Outcome: A letter was sent to Antioch via Silas and Judas Barsabbas, bringing peace and equality.

The Second Missionary Journey (Acts $15:36 - 18:22$)

• Separation: Paul and Barnabas disagreed over John Mark. Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus; Paul took Silas.
• The Macedonian Call: In Troas, Paul had a vision of a man begging for help in Macedonia. They immediately sailed for Philippi.
• Philippi:
  • Lydia: A seller of purple goods; she and her household were the first European converts.
  • Slave Girl: Paul cast out a spirit of divination from a girl. Her owners had them beaten and jailed.
  • Earthquake: At midnight, Paul and Silas were singing/praying when an earthquake opened the doors. The jailer and his family were converted.
• Athens: Paul preached at the Areopagus against idolatry, using an “Unknown God” altar to explain the true Creator.
• Corinth: Paul joined Aquila and Priscilla (tentmakers). He spent $1.5$ years there. Gallio, the proconsul, eventually dismissed charges against him, viewing it as a religious dispute.

The Third Missionary Journey and Final Warnings

• Apollos: An eloquent Jew who only knew John’s baptism was further instructed by Aquila and Priscilla.
• Sons of Sceva: Seven sons of a Jewish priest tried to cast out demons using Jesus’ name without faith. The demon attacked them, leading many in Ephesus to burn their magic books ($50000$ pieces of silver value).
• Riot at Ephesus: Demetrius the silversmith incited a riot because Paul’s preaching against idols threatened the trade of Artemis shrines.
• Eutychus: At Troas, Paul preached until midnight; Eutychus fell from a $3^{rd}$-storey window and died. Paul embraced him and raised him back to life.
• Miletus Speech: Paul warned the Ephesian elders of “wolves” (false prophets) and recounted his self-reliance and commitment.
• Agabus’ Prophecy: In Caesarea, the prophet Agabus bound his own hands with Paul’s girdle, predicting Paul would be imprisoned in Jerusalem. Paul declared he was ready to die for Jesus.