The book of Acts

Annual Family Retreat May 2010

Introduction to The book of

Acts

Why was it written??

Why was it written?

• To give an accurate account of the birth and the growth of the Christian church.

• Before Jesus Ascended to heaven he commanded his disciples to make followers of all nations Luke 24:46-49,

• من 46 ويقوم يتألم المسيح ان ينبغي كان وهكذا مكتوب هو هكذا لهم وقال . الثالث اليوم في الخطايا 47االموات ومغفرة بالتوبة باسمه يكرز وان

. اورشليم من مبتدأ االمم . 48لجميع لذلك شهود ارسل 49وانتم انا وها . االعالي من قوة تلبسوا ان الى اورشليم مدينة في فاقيموا ابي موعد اليكم

• The book of acts describes how did it happen

Why was it written?

• To show the fulfillment of Jesus’ words that was said in Matt. 16:18, John 16:7 describing the birth of the church and the descent and works of The Holy Spirit

• هذه 18 وعلى بطرس انت ايضا لك اقول واناتقوى لن الجحيم وابواب كنيستي ابني الصخرة.عليها

• ان 7 لكم خير انه الحق لكم اقول لكنييأتيكم. ال انطلق لم ان النه انطلق

اليكم. ارسله ذهبت ان ولكن .المعزي

Who is the auther??

Who is the author

• St. Luke (a gentile physician): was a faithful travelling companion to St. Paul (Col 4:14, 2nd Timothy 4:11)

• How did we know?• The Tradition (was mentioned by St. Irenaeus

180 AD)• The book Acts and the gospel of St. Luke were

both directed to the same person (Theophilus)

Date written??

What time??

• Between 60-64 AD

The Key Verse(s)??

Acts’ Key Verse(s)

• Acts 1:8• عليكم 8 القدس الروح حل متى قوة ستنالون لكنكم

اليهودية كل وفي اورشليم في شهودا لي وتكونوناالرض اقصى والى والسامرة

• Acts 2:46-47• بنفس 46 الهيكل في يواظبون يوم كل وكانوا

كانوا. البيوت في الخبز يكسرون هم واذ واحدةقلب وبساطة بابتهاج الطعام مسبحين 47يتناولون

. كل الرب وكان الشعب جميع لدى نعمة ولهم اللهيخلصون الذين الكنيسة الى يضم يوم

Acts’ Key Verse(s)

• Acts 9:31• جميع 31 في الكنائس واماوالسامرة والجليل اليهوديةتبنى وكانت سالم لها فكانوبتعزية الرب خوف في وتسير

تتكاثر كانت القدس الروح

Other names to The book of

Acts??

Other names of the book

• The book of Acts of The Holy Spirit,

• Why??

Other names of the book

• (Chapter 2: 1-4) • 1-Started with the descent of The Holy

Spirit• (4:23-31) & (13: 48-52)• 2-The disciples continued to be filled

with the Holy spirit throughout the book of Acts

Other names of the book

• (15: 28) • 3-The Holy Spirit guided their decision

when they met• (2:4) (11: 27-29) • 4-The Holy Spirit Supported the

disciples with talents

Other names of the book

• (8:29- 39), (10:17-21), (16:6-7) • 5-Directed them in their movements to

witness to Jesus• ( 3:6-8),(20:7-12),(19:11-12),(5:12-16),(9:36-

41) • 6-Gave them the power to perform miracles• (13: 2-4)• 7-Chooses disciples for work and sends them

Any other names to The Book of Acts??

Other names

• The Acts of St. Peter and St. Paul,

•Why??

The of St. Peter and Acts St. Paul

• (1:1-12:25)• St. Peter’s ministry: Establishment and

Expansion of the church• (13:1-28:31)• St. Paul’s ministry: 1st,2nd, 3rd

missionary journeys of St. Paul

Purpose of the book(what

does it mean to me)??

What does it mean to me?

• Our spiritual fathers (The apostles) we empowered by the Holy Spirit to be God’s witnesses throughout the whole world. That same power is available to us to be witnesses to Jesus Christ in all of the earth

4Key Words??

4 Key Words

• The Holy Spirit: repeated 54 times• God: repeated 40 times• Jesus: repeated 37 times• Prayer (or Praying) 35 times

Quiz onThe Book of Acts??

Quiz

• The author?• Date written?• Other names for the book?• Key Verse(s)?• Key Words?