WEBVTT

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Introduction to the Acts of the Apostles
Here we have the book in the New Testament

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that tells us what happened to Jesus'
followers after he returned to heaven.

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It is called the Acts of the Apostles
because of the actions the apostles took,

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and it has also been called the Acts of
the Holy Spirit because it teaches about

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the coming and work of God's Spirit after
Jesus' resurrection.

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The book is often simply referred to as
Acts.

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Starting with the time of the resurrection
of Jesus, the book of Acts goes on to tell

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the story of the remarkable next thirty
years of the early Church's ministry in

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the first century world.

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After Jesus returned to heaven,
he sent the Holy Spirit, who came and

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ignited a flame of faith that would spread
to the world, continuing to burn steadily

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in the hearts of his people today.

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Acts records how the Holy Spirit came and
formed Jesus' followers into a new

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organism called the Church.

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Empowered by the Spirit, a small number of
disciples carried the flame of faith

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across the Roman Empire.

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They preached, taught, healed,
and demonstrated Christ's love in

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synagogues, homes, markets, and
courtrooms, and on streets, hills,

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ships, and roads.

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Wherever God sent them, people's lives and
the course of history changed.

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The Apostle Peter takes the lead in the
first half of Acts, which includes the

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crucial events that extended the gospel to
the Gentiles.

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The second half of the book features the
Apostle Paul and his missionary travels.

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Paul wrote many letters to the new
churches formed during this period of

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growth, which are preserved for us in the
New Testament.

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Most believe that around A.D.

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63, Luke, the writer of the Gospel of
Luke, also wrote Acts as a sequel to

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continue documenting the important events
and issues during this transitional period

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between Christ's departure and the
establishment of the faith.

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In fact, the initial verses of Acts refer
back to the introduction in Luke's Gospel

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account.

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As you listen, keep in mind the last words
of Jesus to his disciples that Luke quotes

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in Acts 1, verse 8, which serve in effect
as an outline of the book of Acts.

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Ye shall receive power, after that the
Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall

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be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea, and in Samaria,

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and unto the uttermost part of the earth.