Acts, Luke’s second book, commences at the point where his first left off—the ascension of our Lord (Luke 24:5151And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:51); Acts 1:99And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9))—“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen” (Acts 1:1-21The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: (Acts 1:1‑2)).
A better title for the book would be “The Acts of the Holy Spirit”, for in it we see the practical guidance of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the apostles and the early church. A guidance that is no less real or applicable in this present day.
With the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit come down according to His promise (John 16:77Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)), the church—the assembly of God—is formed. Prior to the day of Pentecost the church did not exist, and after the rapture the church will no longer be found on earth. These are the circumstances that give the church its true character.
Even though Acts covers little more than 30 years, it brings before us an entire outline of the history of the church.
Outline
The book has 5 divisions. Chapter 1 is prefatory to the whole book. While waiting for the Holy Spirit, the disciples are guided by the word of God.
In chapters 2-7, Jerusalem is the center as God lingers in grace towards the nation of Israel (compare Luke 13:6-96He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. (Luke 13:6‑9)).
After the stoning of Stephen—chapters 8-12—the Gospel goes out first in Samaria and then to the Gentiles more generally. Cornelius is brought in, and an assembly is established amongst the Greeks in Antioch. It is there that the disciples are first called Christians. Peter is prominent.
In chapters 13-20 we have the travels and labors of the Apostle Paul. Three journeys are recorded, each beginning in Antioch and all but the last ending there. The first trip took Paul to Cyprus and from thence to Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and finally back to Antioch (13-14:26). On the second trip, the Apostle passed through Asia Minor into Europe (Acts 16) with visits in Macedonia and Achaia (15:36-18:22). The final trip begins in Antioch with the Apostle traveling through various cities of his former visits, and ends in Jerusalem (18:23-21).
From chapter 21 to the end of the book, we have Paul the prisoner carried from Jerusalem to Rome.
The Early Church
Acts gives the only scriptural account of the early church. Throughout, the activity of the Holy Spirit is preeminent. The assemblies are seen as and act as one body—“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling” (Eph. 4:44There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4)).
Conversely, the separation of the early church from that which is Jewish is clearly unfolded. Individually the believer is found in an entirely new position, “he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)). Corporately, the church is quite distinct from Israel, “we have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. ... Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach” (Heb. 13:10, 1310We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. (Hebrews 13:10)
13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)). Far from being mystical statements, their application is practical. In Ephesus we see Paul separating the disciples and meeting with them in a location distinct from the synagogue (Acts 19:99But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. (Acts 19:9)).
Paul’s return and captivity at Jerusalem prefigures what has happened to Paul’s doctrine in Christendom. Finally, Paul’s voyage from the Fair Havens to Melita give us a striking summary of the history of Christendom (Acts 27). Though the boat is shattered into countless pieces, Paul is preserved, and a few (perhaps just Luke and Aristarchus) are found with him (Acts 27:22And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. (Acts 27:2)). Not one principle laid down in this book is made obsolete by present circumstances.
Sadly, there are many today that don’t know the land they are about to enter (Acts 27:3939And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. (Acts 27:39)). The church has entirely forgotten her heavenly calling—that her Head is Christ in glory—and has settled down in this world.