Playlist: Acts (Bible study series)

John W. Ritenbaugh

listen:

Acts (Part One)

Acts as a Trial Document

The book of Acts could have been an exculpatory trial document designed to vindicate Paul and the early church, showing that Christianity was not a threat.

Acts (Part Two)

The Miracle of Pentecost: Peter's Sermon

Our historical and theological roots are advanced in a polished, chronological narrative (Acts), perhaps designed as a trial document authored by Luke.

Acts (Part Three)

Acts 2; Speaking In Tongues

Adherents to the Pentecostal movement try to mimic some of the superficial surface manifestations of Acts 2 rather than follow the teaching given on that day.

Acts (Part Four)

Acts 2:22-47 Christ's Messiahship / Giving of Holy Spirit

Peter, using the details of fulfilled prophecy, establishes the Messiahship of Jesus Christ and convicts the crowd of their culpability in His death.

Acts (Part Five)

Acts 3-4:4 Apostles' Witness Brings Conflict With Established Authority

The witness of the apostles, particularly miraculous healings performed in the name of Jesus Christ, brought them into conflict with the Jewish leaders.

Acts (Part Six)

Acts 4-5:11 Peter and John's Boldness and Courage

The early church had confidence in God's sovereignty, realizing that no human authority could thwart God's power. This conviction gave them strength.

Acts (Part Seven)

Acts 5 & 6 Confrontation with the Sanhedrin and Stephen's Testimony

Luke records the confrontation of the apostles and the Sanhedrin. Amazingly, the apostles found an ally in Gamaliel, a Pharisee and grandson of Hillel.

Acts (Part Eight)

Acts 7:1-50 Rejection of the Deliverer Leads to Idolatry

Stephen points out that historically, God has dealt with His people without land or temple, but instead through deliverers, initially rejected by their own.

Acts (Part Nine)

Acts 7-8 Martyrdom of Stephen; Peter's Encounter with Simon Magus

Stephen's martyrdom and his compassion on his persecutors, followed by the reaction against his brutal murder, resulted in a rapid spreading of the Gospel.

Acts (Part Ten)

Acts 9 Paul's Dramatic Conversion

The martyrdom of Stephen had the paradoxical effect of spreading the Gospel into Gentile venues, enabling individuals like Cornelius to be added to Christ.

Acts (Part Eleven)

Acts 10; 11:1-18 Conversion of Cornelius

The conversion of Cornelius is nearly as pivotal as the original Pentecost because the Gentiles are given the same portal of salvation offered to Israel.

Acts (Part Twelve)

Acts 11-13 Relationship Between Prayer and God's Response

Paul and Barnabas developed the church in the cosmopolitan city of Antioch, the location from where the term 'Christian' originated.

Acts (Part Thirteen)

Acts 13: The Work of Paul and Barnabas in Cyprus

In Acts 13, the false prophet Elymas is cursed with blindness, providing the witness prompting the Proconsul Sergius Paulus to become converted.

Acts (Part Fourteen)

Acts 14: Paul and Barnabas at Lystra; the Council of Jerusalem

The people of Lystra and Derbe mistake Paul for Hermes and Barnabas for Zeus. When Paul convinces the crowds that he and Barnabas are not gods, they are rejected.

Acts (Part Fifteen)

Acts 15 The Council of Jerusalem: Circumcision and Gentiles

Acts 15 focuses upon the Council of Jerusalem, discussing the controversial subject of circumcision and its relationship to salvation.

Acts (Part Sixteen)

Acts 15:19-29 Sensitivity to Conscience and Scruples

We must always conduct ourselves with the long-term spiritual interests of others in mind, being sensitive to the conscience and scruples of others.

Acts (Part Seventeen)

Acts 15-16 The Imprisonment and Release of Paul and Silas

Paul, by circumcising Timothy, demonstrates a reluctance to flaunt his religious liberty, preferring instead to exercise cautious conservative expediency.

Acts (Part Eighteen)

On Paul's second evangelistic campaign, he preaches in southern Turkey and western Greece. He tries to go north but is prevented.

Acts (Part Nineteen)

Acts 18: Priscilla and Aquila, Gallio's Decision, Arrival of Apollos

Paul encountered persecution but also saw his work bear fruit. He was driven from the synagogue, but paradoxically won over its leader, Crispus.

Acts (Part Twenty)

Acts 19: Diana (Artemis) Worship; Riot at Ephesus

Paul's success at promoting the Way started to undermine the prosperity of vendors promoting the worship of Diana, leading to a riotous assembly in her temple.

Acts (Part Twenty-One)

Acts 20 Paul's Final Admonitory Instructions to the Ephesian Elders

The phrase 'first day of the week' is used 8 times in scripture, but none does away with the Sabbath nor establishes Sunday as the 'Lords Day.'

Acts (Part Twenty-Two)

Acts 21 Parallels Between Paul's and Christ's Last Journey to Jerusalem

Paul's insistence that a relationship with God could not be established by keeping the law did not lead to the conclusion that the law had been done away.

Acts (Part Twenty-Three)

Acts 22 - 23:10 Paul's Incredible Skill at Extricating Himself from Trouble

Paul established his identity and credentials as a Jew in order to build a foundation from which to provide a logical defense of his 'apostasy'.

Acts (Part Twenty-Four)

Acts 24 Paul Uses Trials as Opportunities to Witness

As Paul is miraculously rescued and taken to Caesarea, he uses every trial as an opportunity to bear witness to Christ, preaching the Gospel.

Acts (Part Twenty-Five)

Acts 25-26 Paul's Appeal to Festus and His Testimony to King Agrippa

Had Paul not appealed to Caesar, Agrippa (moved by Paul's testimony and convinced of his innocence) would have set him free. But God had other plans.

Acts (Part Twenty-Six)

Paul is brought before King Agrippa to make his defense. Paul gives his testimony and preaches the gospel. Agrippa is impressed but Paul appeals to Caesar.

Acts (Part Twenty-Seven)

Agrippa was knowledgeable about Jewish customs, so Festus brought him in to hear Paul's case, which lincluded his conversion and ministry.