NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 4
1960
Bla
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ck Sea
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PONTU
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A C H Corinth
A I A Athens
Syracuse
Sparta
MALTA
Phoenix?
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Cyrene
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RHODES
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Iconium
Antioch
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A S I Colosse Lystra
CILICIA
Derbe Tarsus
Ephesus
Antioch
Perga
Miletus
Seleucia
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Myra
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Salamis
Patara
CYPRUS
Paphos
Sidon
Tyre
Ptolemais
Caesarea
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Lasea
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Jerusalem
Alexandria
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Damascus
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Rhegium
YSIA
MThyatira
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Nicopolis
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Mitylene
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300 Mi
Roman Empire about AD 50
400 Km
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KEY PLACES IN ACTS (ad 39~ad 62)
The Roman empire spanned the entire Mediterranean world, from Syria to Spain and from Egypt to Macedonia.
Following the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:147), Acts tells the story of how the Good News of salvation through Jesus went
out throughout the entire Roman world, from Jerusalem to Rome, through the activities of the apostles and their
associates.
Antioch of Pisidia Acts 13:14; 14:19, 21
Ephesus Acts 18:1921, 2427; 19:141; 20:1, 1617
Antioch of Syria Acts 11:1930; 13:1; 14:26–15:2;
Jerusalem Acts 1:4–8:1; 9:2630; 11:218; 12:125;
15:2235; 18:2223
15:329; 21:15–23:11
Athens Acts 17:15–18:1
Philippi Acts 16:1240; 20:6
Caesarea Acts 8:40; 10:1, 24; 21:8; 23:23, 3133; 25:16
Rome Acts 18:2; 19:21; 23:11; 25:25; 28:1416, 30
Corinth Acts 18:1–19:1
Thessalonica Acts 17:113
Derbe, Lystra Acts 14:623; 16:12
Acts follows a geographical outline based on 1:8. The Christian message
and community of believers spread in Jerusalem (1:1–8:3), in Palestine
and Syria (8:4–12:25), and in the Gentile world throughout the Roman
empire (13:1–28:31). The closing word in the Greek text of Acts (ako-luto-s,
“unhindered,” 28:31) speaks of the unhindered spread of the gospel to Jews
(3:1–5:42), Samaritans (6:1–8:40), “God-fearers” (8:2640; 9:32–11:18),
and Gentiles (11:1930; 13:1–28:31).
Meaning and Message
Acts shows that the Christian faith truly fulfills God’s promises in the
Hebrew Scriptures (2:1636; 4:1112; 10:4243; 13:1641; 17:3031; see Luke
24:2527, 4447). Christ brought salvation (Acts 8:35; 10:36; 16:17, 3031).
Prayer advances God’s Kingdom (1:1215; 2:14; 4:2431; 12:5) while the
Holy Spirit energizes and equips God’s people to carry out their mission
(1:8; 4:8, 31; 6:3, 5, 10; 7:55; 11:24; 13:9, 52).
Acts shows the importance of the individuals that God has chosen to
carry his message and testify about Christ. At the beginning the apostles
