❤️. Acts 13:1: And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. Of course, if people didn’t agree, there could have been further discussion until a satisfactory conclusion was reached. Bible, prayer, generosity, fellowship and evangelism should characterize our Christian communities. Acts 2:41-47 describes the church’s first love, and thus it describes the deeds that one who has lost his first love must once again do. Mature ministers supported those “younger” in their spiritual walk. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. The result of this was a strengthening of the local churches and growth among the believers. Jared W. Ludlow The book of Acts was written by Luke after his Gospel as the second part of a great two-volume work on Jesus Christ and the early Christians. The book of Acts is a record of the growth of the early church, started by Jesus’s disciples and then expanded by the Apostle Paul. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. In the midst of terrible persecution and … Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear [respect] of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Acts 2:44-47: The next five verses describe how God worked with Paul, Silas, and Timothy. They had not ventured out as Jesus had commanded in Acts 1:8. TheBookofActs. This is especially necessary when reading the book of Acts because it portrays the early church rather than the Old Testament people of God. Persecution and Expansion 5. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. You see, faithful Jews were to be devoted to Moses’ teaching. Galatians 1:18 says that Paul “went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.” Here was Paul, a “younger” minister, seeking the help of Peter, a mature and experienced energized minister, who lived in Jerusalem. The inclination is going to be much stronger to pattern ourselves after what we see in Acts. Now they saw that they could support the need of another local fellowship, just as that local Jerusalem fellowship had helped them. Imagine how the local ministers mentioned in Acts 13:1, as well as the local believers, would have rejoiced at this news. This is recorded in Acts 2:1-6 What an amazing testimony to the power of God. No Class 3. Paul, Barnabas & the Council of Jerusalem 7. Ananias / ˌænəˈnaɪ.əs / and his wife Sapphira / səˈfaɪrə / were, according to the Acts of the Apostles chapter 5, members of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. Peter’s mind was enlightened by Holy Spirit so he had a clear understanding of the Scriptures (Luke 24:45). Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”. Especially their worship, leadership, sharing, perseverance, and involvement in the Great Commission. Acts 11:22: Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. Acts 15 picks up with a problem in the local Jerusalem church that was affecting other local churches. This is an example of an energized minister going where he was needed. Its members were evangelistic-minded and caring. Acts 15:31,32: This included Peter, Barnabas and Paul, and James. God, the Holy Spirit, worked in Peter and John to go where they needed to go in order to carry out His will. They gave themselves full-time to praying and ministering God’s Word to others. What was Philip to do? Christians Were Characterized by Uncommon Joy. He brought financial support provided by the freewill giving of local believers in Macedonia and Achaia (Romans 15:25-28). You see this again and again throughout Acts, as the Christians pray for the apostles, for each other and for the spread of the gospel. This book is recommended to serious students of the Word, both ministers and laymen. This word literally means to “call out” and refers to called-out born-again believers twenty times in Acts. And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. Shows how the free communication between and among ministers and churches helped the local churches meet the challenges of their day. But who would be the local leadership for this large group of new believers? Acts 14:27: According to Philippians 4:10-19, the believers in Philippi gave their offerings directly to Paul to support his ministering elsewhere. Then pleased it [seemed proper to] the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren. Acts 2:45 even says that they sold their belongings in order to care for those who didn’t have enough! But what is the pattern for church leadership that the Bible shows among first-century believers in the Book of Acts? His conversion to Christianity is recorded in Acts 9. This was even despite the persecution and alienation they faced for following such a radical faith! This is an example of a genuinely energized minister of God who supported the local fellowships as God worked in him to do so. Written by Luke, the book of Acts has a prominent missionary theme because it details the rapid growth of the early church and the first missionary efforts. You mentioned where they gave of their abundance. Acts 16:5: As the Apostle Paul, he was one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament. The clearness of how the church and its leaders need to live, to communicate, to show forth God’s love and light is breathtaking. Paul and Barnabas were effective local ministers who for a whole year set an example and taught much people there. The same is true today. Introduction To the Book of Acts 2. God’s Word gives a clear example to the church today. By devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, the early church understood that they were under a new authority—King Jesus, the new and better prophet than Moses. The Gospel According to Luke concludes where Acts begins, namely, with Christ’s Ascension into heaven. He went to the disciples in Jerusalem and was introduced to the local leadership there (the apostles) by Barnabas. They then went to “Perga in Pamphylia” and later “came to Antioch in Pisidia.”, They were sent from the local church in Antioch of Syria and were now helping to set up local churches in these other cities, including the “other” Antioch. There is one final use of the Greek word ekklēsia in the Book of Acts. It would be particularly helpful to new converts trying to grasp the New Testament pattern for the Church that is the Book of Acts. Still, there is a little more going on in Acts 2:42 then first meets the eye. This still refers to the local church at Jerusalem. In Acts 3 and 4, Peter and John along with the other apostles acted as local leaders to meet the challenges that arose in these new churches. That is why ministers need to be trained in our churches today: so that they can help the local believers where they need to be supported. Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. The apostles manifested God’s power on Pentecost by speaking in tongues, and they taught others how to be born again and to manifest that power as well. Do they characterize your church? The word translated “church” comes from two Greek words that together mean “called out from the world for God.”     and against his anointed one.’, Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. Certain of the church at Jerusalem were under attack. The early church was devoted to the apostles’ teaching. Sailing from there some time later, Paul continued on his journey. This kind of remarkable generosity should be evident in our churches. One prominent feature seen in Acts is the operation of energized ministries that are directed by God. Finally, they returned to Syria, stopping at the new local churches along their way home. 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