NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 3
1959
T HE
BOO K
Acts
O F
ad
30/33~64
THE BOOK OF ACTS has
a central role in the NT: It connects Jesus with the
emerging Christian community, and the Gospels with the rest of the NT. It
frames the proclamation of the Christian message in both Jewish and Gentile
settings and underscores the key roles of Peter and Paul in the spread of the
Good News throughout the Mediterranean. It is the story of a dynamic message
with an outreach to all.
THE PENTATEUCH
ISRAEL’S HISTORY
POETRY & WISDOM
PROPHETS OF ISRAEL
GOSPELS & ACTS
LETTERS OF PAUL
OTHER LETTERS
Setting
Luke wrote at a time when the Good News about Jesus Christ was
spreading from Jerusalem throughout the Mediterranean world. Luke
was probably a Gentile (non-Jew), and his material on Christian origins keeps the needs and outlook of the wider world in mind.
Luke began his presentation of the message of Christ with an account
of Jesus’ life (the Gospel of Luke). In the book of Acts, Luke describes
how the Christian faith was carried across the Mediterranean world.
It was important for Luke to show that God’s love and mercy
reaches out to all people—“God shows no favoritism,” as Peter told
Cornelius (10:34). Christ is the only Savior (4:12), so all people can
believe in him for salvation and new life (16:31). Despite the tendency of Jewish Christians to keep God’s grace to themselves, the
church came to the united conclusion that Gentiles are fully included
in God’s promises (see 15:131). The message of the forgiveness of
sins is for all nations.
Summary
The apostles and other people of God were filled with the Spirit and
empowered to carry out the Great Commission (Matt 28:1820).
Acts highlights the ministries of Peter (Acts 1:1–12:25) and Paul
(13:1–28:31).
