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LESSON 2 • Luke - Acts
“That You Might Believe and Have Life In His Name” (John 20:31)
Preparation for New Testament Survey, February 12, 2006
Luke - Acts
INTRODUCTION
A good beginning place for this study is to do research on this man, Luke, the writer of these two important works. Two important things that influenced his writing are: (1) he was a physician; and (2) he was a companion of the Apostle Paul (Col. 4:14, 2 Tim. 4:11; Philemon 24). Most scholars agree that Luke was the only Gentile whose writings are included in the Bible.
Luke makes clear his reason for writing (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1). He wants his readers to have a well-written and orderly account, properly researched through eyewitnesses of Jesus’ teachings and actions and the emergence of the early church. Writing the first historical narrative of the Christian church was no easy task.
Though 95 different persons are mentioned in the book of Acts, only a few are singled out for special attention. The first three sections are dominated by Peter, and the last three sections by Paul. The only other persons in Acts who are at all individualized are Stephen, Philip, Barnabas, and James, the brother of Jesus.
There are a couple of important considerations in reading Luke- Acts:
* The guidance of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Jesus, as well as in the witness of His early followers, is a pervasive theme in Luke-Acts.
* It is obvious that Luke wished to report that some of the earliest Christians were forced to defend themselves before the established political order. Therefore, several arrest and trial scenes are reported.
About one fifth of the book of Acts is made up of the reports of speeches and sermons of early Christian leaders. They are literary masterpieces and deserve careful attention.
MONDAY
Throughout Luke’s writings, Jesus is portrayed as God’s Anointed Son whose coming was foretold by all the prophets. (Jn. 2:11-13, 29-32, 3:22; 9:35; 22:70; Acts 3:24; 13:40; 15:15; 28:25-27).
Luke’s construction of chapters 1 & 2 seems intended to show the almost parallel missions of John the Baptist and Jesus.
Luke’s inclusion of a story from Jesus’ boyhood served as a transition to the narrative of His ministry (2:41-52)
In the first eight chapters, we catch a glimpse of the people of God gathering around Jesus. He calls disciples who are fishermen (5:1-11) and tax collectors (5:27) who leave all to follow Him (18:28-30). From among them, He chooses twelve who are called “apostles” (6:13), a term Luke used frequently. Another group of close followers were some women who are mentioned in 8:1-3.
That the twelve apostles would take over the leadership of Israel is suggested in the Lukan parable of the minas (19:11-27) and the parable of the tenants (20:9-18). At the last supper, Jesus explicitly bestows authority on the twelve to judge the twelve tribes of Israel (22:30) which is fulfilled in the exercise of their leadership in the infancy of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-5:11).
The theme of reversal is frequently developed in Luke’s writings and leads toward a climatic theme that salvation promised to and realized in Israel has also been sent to the Gentiles.
Related to this is the idea that the movement of Luke’s gospel is “toward” Jerusalem. The movement of Acts is “away” from Jerusalem. Why is this change important (1 Thes. 2:14, 15; Gal. 1:17-2-1; Rom. 15:19, 26-28)?
TUESDAY
Chapters 15-19 have been called “the gospel of the outcast.” In this section there is a great concentration of teaching, chiefly in the form of parables, the purpose of which is to demonstrate God’s care for those whom men despise and condemn. Included in a closing thought from his time with Zacchaeus is this summary statement: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (19:10).
Read Luke’s passion narrative (Luke 22-24). Note a couple of interesting details which are unique to Luke’s account:
* He attributes Judas’ betrayal to Satan entering his heart (22:3);
* More strongly than the others, he links Jesus’ institution of the Lord Supper to their celebrating the Passover Feast (22:7-38);
* He expands the Last Supper to include a discourse on leadership (22:24-38);
* He includes a separate hearing from Herod (23:6-12);
* Some would conclude that Luke’s record of the crucifixion scene is richer and more detailed;
* Luke records the final words of Jesus on the cross to include words of forgiveness (23:34); and a promise (23:43).
* Differing from Mark’s record of the words of centurion who was there at the cross, Luke records these words from the centurion, “Surely this was a righteous man.” (23:47).
* Luke alone records the details of a truly marvelous resurrection appearance on the Emmaus Road (24:13-35).
Did you remember that in Luke’s gospel, he gives a brief account of Jesus’ ascension (24:50-53)?
WEDNESDAY
Luke goes to great pains to show that what Jesus did in his physical body in the Gospel of Luke, Acts reveals He continues to do in His spiritual body, the church. Acts is more than the apostles and the early church doing what Jesus did; it is the story of Jesus still at work among them.
After Jesus commissions His disciples as witnesses, He ascends and disappears from their sight. Do you think they viewed Jesus as abandoning them?
Why was it so important to have twelve apostles? Have you ever noticed that after the selection of Matthias by casting lots, it seems the disciples had their prayers for guidance answered by the indwelling Spirit? No more casting lots.
Why was Pentecost such a formative day for the church? As exciting as the wind, fire, and speaking in tongues were, the sermon at Pentecost marked the climax. What is the power of the message of Jesus being Lord and Christ?
With such a great promise of salvation, no wonder about three thousand responded on that day and were baptized and were “added to their number that day” (from 1:15, we learn there were already 120 believers in the church).
At the Festival of Pentecost there were in Jerusalem Jews of many nations. In fact the list of countries of their origin (2:9-11) corresponds almost exactly with what was considered by ancient geographers to be the sum total of all known nations. This is important because the real work of world evangelism happened as the newly made converts at Pentecost returned to their own countries as evangelists of the gospel.
Luke also emphasizes the suitability of the new faith for all races of men by including accounts of the conversion of three persons of different nationalities: a Negro from Ethiopia (8:26-40), a Jew from Tarsus (9:1-19; 22:4-16; 26:9-18), and a Gentile from Rome (10:1-48).
THURSDAY
The first opposition to Christianity came from the Sadducees, the party to which most of the nobility belonged. The occasion was the healing of a lame man by the Apostle Peter at the temple gate (3:11-4:31).
The apostles were later imprisoned a second time (5:17-32) and when brought before the Sanhedrin, the apostles made their bold declaration, “We must obey God rather than men. The Jesus whom you killed has been raised up by God as Leader and Savior, and we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit.”
Though this infuriated most on the Sanhedrin, it was Gamaliel, a leader of the Pharisees who insisted on a policy of moderation. This stood until Stephen made a clear distinction between Judaism and Christianity and claimed Christianity to be superior.
The power of the gospel changed the lives of the early disciples. It even changed their spending habits and because of their common life in Christ, believers shared their possessions (4:32). The obligation to provide for the poor by the sharing of resources became a permanent principle in the church (Rom. 15:16, 25-27; 1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8:1-15; 9:1-5; Phil. 4:18).
One of the heroic figures in the life of the early church was the Apostle Paul. Most of Paul’s youth was spent not in Tarsus but in Jerusalem, where he received religious instruction from Gamaliel (22:3). Paul first appears on the scene in association with the persecution of the early church.
Note the similarities between Stephen and Jesus. Following the death of Stephen and the great persecution against believers, notice how the Lord turns defeat into victory.
At a most critical time, notice who takes charge and confronts Saul on the Damascus Road. What power Jesus has! The power to end persecution, not by destroying the opposition, but by converting the chief opponent.
FRIDAY
Luke obviously regarded the conversion of Paul to be one of the most important events in the history of early Christianity, for he includes three separate accounts of it in Acts.
Recognizing God’s favor and grace upon his life, Paul was transformed from a persecutor to a mighty apostle of Jesus Christ.
The more the church spread to the Gentile world, the looser became its ties with Judaism. Those who were converts from Judaism watched this develop with great regret and made a valiant attempt to bind Jewish customs on the Gentile converts. So disturbing to the peace of the church was this dispute that Paul and Barnabas were appointed with others to go to Jerusalem in order to confer with the leaders of the Jerusalem church (15:1-29; Gal. 2:1-10).
As you read through all the missionary journeys of Paul and his companions, you get the sense that the spread of the gospel was unstoppable. Even when Paul was on trial for his life, his confidence and trust in the Lord is staggering. It is like he realizes Jesus is standing with him before these kings and rulers.
Paul does not defend himself against the specific charges laid against him by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. Instead, he defends his entire life and ministry (25:1-26:32). When it was all said and done, the key point of his defense turned the heads of the rulers – they did not want to hear that only the resurrected Christ offers light and life to all people.
If Acts is a continuation of the gospel story, then what has Jesus done in this book? It is no wonder the theme of the last verse of Acts is Paul “preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ (28:31).
To what does this story call us today?
© 2006, Pleasant Valley Church of Christ
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