Faith & Reason Nexus

TIME WRITTEN: Completed before Paul’s trial in 62 A.D.
POSITION IN THE BIBLE: 44th Book in the Bible

CHAPTERS: 28
VERSES: 1,007
WORDS: 24,250

5th Book in the New Testament

• It is the only historical book in the New Testament
• Followed by 22 books

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT ACTS:

• Acts records Jesus’ last words before His ascension in Acts 1:8: “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” This outlines the book’s structure:
• Acts 1:1-8:4: Focuses on Jerusalem
• Acts 8:5-12:25: Covers Judea and Samaria
• Acts 13-28: Describes the spread to the ends of the earth
• Acts serves as a historical bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles, illustrating the impact of Jesus’ death:
• It details the means of forgiveness through baptism (immersion)
• It shows how obedient believers were added to the church
• The Book of Acts:
• Starts in 30 A.D. following Christ’s death
• Ends around 62 A.D. after Paul’s two-year imprisonment in Rome
• Chronicles the first 30 to 35 years of the church’s history
• Is unique for asking “What must I do to be saved?” and providing the answer
• Acts includes ten cases of conversion:
• About 3,000 on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37-41)
• The Samaritans (Acts 8:12)
• Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:13)
• The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)
• Saul (Paul) (Acts 9:3-18)
• Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:34-48)
• Lydia and her household (Acts 16:11-15)
• The Philippian Jailor and his family (Acts 16:25-34)
• The Corinthians (Acts 18:8)
• The 12 men at Ephesus (Acts 18:8)
• Peter is the central figure in the first 12 chapters, while Paul takes prominence in the remaining 16 chapters.
• Acts details Paul’s three missionary journeys:
• 1st Journey: Acts 13:1-14:28 – 2 years, approximately 1,235 miles
• 2nd Journey: Acts 15:36-18:23 – 3 years, over 2,703 miles
• 3rd Journey: Acts 18:23-21:16 – 4 years, about 2,515 miles

History is “His-Story.”