NUTS AND BOLTS:
With the “who”, “what”, “where”, and “when” out of the way, let's look at some important historical features.
• The Law of Moses.
A Physical kingdom – A Physical Law
As the children of Israel completed the years of wandering and prepared to enter the land that God had promised them, they were commanded by Moses to obey all that God had given them (Israel, only!). All the statutes, precepts, commandments, judgments given them by God to become a special people unto Him (a theocracy, as the laws of God not only established acceptable worship, it provided a secular law as well). They were developed and kept by God, not because they were better than anyone else, but because the promises of God concerning His Anointed One were to be brought about through them (Genesis 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 18:15-19; 2 Samuel 7:12-17; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Jeremiah 31:31-34); this is why when God's anger was aroused against them, He would not destroy them (Isaiah 48:9-11). These were the final words of Moses before he would die on Mt. Nebo (Deuteronomy 26:16-19; 27:1-10; 29:1-29; 30:11-20).
As God would work through His prophets from Moses to Malachi, He would give them glimpses of true hope in sharing facts concerning the coming King and His kingdom. God would leave His people with a final sign of the coming of this kingdom; His messenger who would come to prepare the way (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; 4:5).
John the Baptist would be that messenger (Matthew 3:1-6; 11:10-14; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 1:13-17; 3:1-6; John 1:6-8; 19-28; 29-34; 3:22-36). John was approximately six months older than Jesus (Luke 1:36), and began His ministry about that length of time before the Lord would begin His (at thirty years of age – Luke 3:23). Both John and Jesus would be born under the Law of Moses (Galatians 4:4). They would begin to prepare the people of God (Israel, to whom the promises were made) for the coming of the kingdom (Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:14-15).
Jesus would be testified of, by John, as He whom God had promised. Jesus demonstrated that He was approved of God by signs and wonders (John 3:2; Acts 2:22). He would fulfill all that was spoken of Him as the promised Messiah in the Law, the prophets, and the Psalms (Luke 24:44). With all that was necessary for Him to accomplish in the flesh (His sacrifice for the sins of man – Hebrews 10:5-10; His blood shed in order to bring about a new covenant, which would include the abrogation of the Old Covenant – Hebrews 9:11-28; His resurrection from the dead to demonstrate that He was the Son of God with power – Romans 1:1-5; and His ascension to heaven to take His throne – Acts 2:33-36), His kingdom was now ready to be established.
• The Gospel of Christ
A Spiritual Kingdom – A Spiritual Law
Jesus told His disciples that some of them would “not taste death till they see the kingdom come with power” (Mark 9:1). Before He would ascend into heaven, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem “until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8).
What was this kingdom of power to bring to mankind that it had never seen before?
- A King who would rule in peace, judgment, and justice forever – Isaiah 9:6-7.
- A King who could sympathize with His people – Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16.
- A King who could make all men sons of God by adoption – Romans 8:15-17.
- A King that has healing in His wings as a Savior (a participle – an adjective, as relating to what He has done, verses a title) and a King – Malachi 4:2; Luke 2:30; Acts 3:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
- A King that has become sin for us (as in bearing our sins), so that we could become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21), by buying us back from sin with His blood (Hebrews 9:26-28; 10:10), thus creating a blood bought citizenship (Acts 20:28).
- A King that will not be succeeded by any other, and whose kingdom is eternal – 1 Corinthians 15:24.
- A King that has all authority; executive, legislative, and judicial – Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 1:2-3; Revelation 19:16.
- A kingdom where entrance is taught before entrance is provided – Isaiah 54:13; Jeremiah 31:34; Micah 4:2; Mark 16:15; John 6:45.
- A kingdom of men and women who have repented of a life of serving themselves and this world – Acts 2:38; 17:30-31.
- A kingdom whose citizens must be true disciples of the King! Not just students, but practitioners of His teaching and examples – Romans 6:3-6; 17-18; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 2:5; Hebrews 5:8-9.
- A kingdom where the laws of the kingdom are written on the hearts of the citizens admitted – 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 8:8-13; 2 John 9.
- A kingdom where every single citizen is equal and vital to the success of its growth in love – 1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 4:16.
- A kingdom where everything its citizens could need for productivity, life, and godliness has been provided – Romans 1:16; Ephesians 6:13-18; Colossians 3:12-17; 2 Peter 1:1-11.
- A kingdom with a heavenly organization that glorifies only its King. Its headquarters is in heaven where its King sets on His throne (Acts 2:33-36; Colossians 1:18), with local shepherds to govern according to the established doctrine of the King in each congregation – Acts 14:23; 20:28-32; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4.
- A kingdom whose citizens are in the world but not of the world – Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:1; 4:4-6; 17.
- A kingdom where the citizens come from every walk of life; Jew, Gentile, slave, free, male, and female – Galatians 3:28.
- A kingdom whose citizens have been given true access to the Father by its King; a relationship in fellowship by the continued remission of sins– Ephesians 2:18; 1 John 1:5-2:2.
- A citizenship that has been begotten to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ our King, a love that surpasses all understanding, and protects us to victory over the world – Ephesians 3:17-19; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 5:1-5.
It is this glorious King and kingdom that we will see born and developed within the confines of the book of Acts. It is this glorious King and kingdom that is spoken of in the doctrinal books to follow Acts (Romans thru Revelation), which describe the laws of the kingdom and the blessings of citizenship.
[The failure to understand this particular fact has been the sponsor and progenitor of many false doctrines and false plans of salvation!]
It is in the book of Acts that one comes to learn the methods of entrance into the kingdom, who can come in (Acts 2:41; 16:32 – those who are capable of comprehension of the word of the Lord, which omits babies!), and what is expected of those who come in. The true value of the Gospel (good news) of Christ to the world is delivered and demonstrated by those who believe and obey!
It is this same message that holds the same value to the world today. Follow this study carefully to see what God has delivered to the world for salvation through Jesus Christ His Son and our Savior.
Keys to the Book of Acts by Chapter –
1. Introduction – Choosing of Matthias.
2. Coming of Power – 1st Gospel Sermon.
3. Healing the Lame Man – 2nd Gospel Sermon.
4. First Arrest.
5. First Church Discipline – 2 nd Arrest.
6. First Church Problem – Stephen Accused.
7. Stephen's Defense and Death.
8. Spread of the Gospel and the Church.
9. Conversion of Saul.
10. First Uncircumcised Gentile Convert.
11. Peter's Explanation – First Called Christians.
12. Death of the Apostle James and Herod.
13. First Journey of Paul.
14. First Journey of Paul Continued.
15. First Doctrinal Problem.
16. Second Journey of Paul.
17. Second Journey of Paul Continued.
18. Second Journey of Paul Continued.
19. Third Journey of Paul.
20. Third Journey of Paul Continued.
21. Paul's Arrest at Jerusalem.
22. Paul's Defense before the Jews.
23. Paul's Defense before the Sanhedrin.
24. Paul's Defense before Felix.
25. Paul's Defense before Festus.
26. Paul's Defense before Herod Agrippa.
27. Paul's Voyage to Rome.
28. Paul's Arrival to Rome.
How to Use the Keys –
Familiarization with the history of Acts truly helps the disciple of Christ with the history of the New Testament. It can assist in placing events of scripture in proper perspective. Since many of the letters of the New Testament would be written during the history of these events, it also places a true grasp on the events, locations, and origin of the churches mentioned in these other letters.
If you can memorize this list and familiarize yourself with the events of these chapters, it will greatly assist you in your study of all the New Testament.
Try to memorize five a week. Have family members quiz you and help.
In addition to helping you with your study of other books, when we cover the material in each chapter, having memorized the keys will help you remember and place the specific events recorded.
Have fun!