Introduction to Acts - Part 1

Overview

The book of Acts records the acts of God through the early church during the first three decades of its existence! The book itself is a pivotal piece in God's great redemptive plan.

Why is the book of Acts pivotal?

I'm glad you asked that question.

The Old Testament introduces God to humanity and describes how He establishes His covenants with Israel which is all accomplished in anticipation of Jesus Christ. The Gospels or the first four books of the New Testament tell us the story of the God-man, Jesus Christ who came to fulfill all of the Old Testament covenants and promises. He also came to establish the long awaited new covenant between God and humanity. Jeremiah 31:31-34 provides the best description of this new covenant.

“The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. ³² This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.

³³ “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. ³⁴ And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

Acts preserves a historical account of the launch of this new covenant community and its unstoppable growth, despite plenty of opposition, during the first three decades after Jesus' death and resurrection. It is pivotal in that we see the new covenant put into effect, the Holy Spirit will now indwell God's people empowering them to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Where does Acts fit in the Biblical Story Line?

Next in Acts: The Gospel Unleashed - Introduction to Acts Part 2