The Lord Plants the Church ®

BSF Introduction Lesson

Notes
Acts and Letters of the Apostles

Focus
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

This Lesson
A. Acts’ People
B. Acts’ Author
C. The Apostles’ Message

Engage
“Why would anyone risk being a Christian?” “What does it mean to ‘follow Christ,’ anyway?” “Who is the Holy
Spirit?” “Can I really trust the Bible?” “How can the lives of people who lived 2,000 years ago help me live today?” As
you journey through the Acts and Letters of the Apostles this year, expect to find answers to these questions. In all your
questions, look to see Jesus – the Bible is His Book, about Him from start to finish. Will you make this your year of
knowing and loving Him more?

Acts’ People
The history of the Church is the story of people
and their personal response to the risen Lord Jesus Other Leaders
Christ. Their stories tell God’s story of loving and Peter and Paul did not lead alone. The book of Acts
restoring people. In Acts, we meet ordinary believers who shows the wide variety of people God used to build the
do extraordinary things in the power of the Holy Spirit. Church. Apostles and converts worked together. Jewish
We see them meet Jesus personally. We glimpse how the believers and people from every part of Rome’s vast
gift of the Holy Spirit changed them. We look in awe as empire and beyond came to love one another. Rich and
Jesus built His church through flawed and sometimes poor; men and women – all learned the reality of being
fearful people. What motivated them to follow Christ one in Christ.1 Those who had followed Jesus from
regardless of the cost? the beginning and those who once rejected Him came
together to praise Him. Among those whom God called
to lead His people were:
Peter and Paul – an Outline of Acts ■ John and his brother James
Acts spotlights the work of two men – Peter, the ■ Jesus’ brother James
apostle to the Jews, and Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. ■ The husband and wife team of Aquila and
Their lives form a simple outline of the book of Acts. Priscilla
Peter’s Acts – Acts 1-12
■ Other Jewish believers, including Barnabas,
■ Growth in Jerusalem – Acts 1-7 Philip and Stephen
■ Growth through Persecution – Acts 8-9 ■ Apollos, Lydia and others from Greek, Roman
■ An Open Door to Non-Jews – Acts 10-11 and African backgrounds
■ God’s Word Flourished – Acts 12
Paul’s Acts – Acts 13-28
■ The Gospel to Asia – Acts 13-14
■ The Church Crisis – Acts 15
■ The Gospel to Greece – Acts 16-20
■ The Gospel to Rome – Acts 21-28

In compliance with copyright restrictions, no portion of these materials may be reproduced or distributed for use outside of BSF class participation without written permission of the publisher.
HEADQUARTERS – SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Copyright © Bible Study Fellowship 2019
 Acts’ Author
Luke’s Identity
Luke’s name appears in neither the Gospel of Luke
nor in its sequel, the book of Acts.2 But the early church
quickly recognized Luke as the books’ author. Biblical
evidence affirms Luke as the author. The author of the
Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts:
■ Traveled and worked with the apostle Paul.3
■ The fine language and style of Luke’s works
point to a well-educated author. Luke’s
vocation as a medical doctor provided him with
an exceptional education.4
■ Was not an apostle.5 Luke did not personally
witness Jesus’ ministry.6
God prepared Luke to write Acts through his skills
as a writer and historian, his firm faith in Christ and
his friendship with the apostle Paul. Though a Greek,
Luke’s close fellowship with Jews enabled him to speak
to all. His eye for detail and scientific mindset made
Luke a careful historian.7 Luke’s faith fills the facts of his
narrative with purpose and passion. He vividly captured
people’s words and emotions but always carefully
recorded historical details.
Paul’s Friend
Acts reveals Luke’s love and respect for the apostle
Paul. Luke was among the first wave of Gentiles to
come to faith in Christ, possibly under Paul’s preaching
in Antioch.8 Eventually, the two worked together and
became close friends.9 The Old Testament Scriptures Paul
loved fill Luke’s writings. The Gospel of Luke reflects
Paul’s views so closely that some call it the “Pauline
Gospel.”
Acts lifts our eyes to see how God used Paul’s
many hardships as a platform for the gospel.10 Acts
displays Paul’s intimate concern for those who came to
faith through his ministry.11 We feel the tension and sense
Luke’s relief each time God preserved Paul’s life. Paul
prized Luke’s faithful help,12 yet Luke never mentioned
his own name. He simply said “we” or “us.”13
Luke’s Mindset
About Jesus Christ and Joy
Luke presents the living Lord Jesus as risen and
powerfully present.14 Constantly aware of the Lord’s
internal and eternal presence, ordinary believers15 were
filled with unshakeable joy. Despite harsh conditions,
2 | AdNotes (06.2019)
Luke’s faith fills the facts of his narrative with
purpose and passion. He vividly captured people’s
words and emotions but always carefully recorded
historical details.
the Church rejoiced in God’s forgiveness in Christ. With
Jesus present, arduous work and persecution ultimately
produced joy.16
About Prayer
Luke recorded specific prayers17 and how God
answered.18 Jesus’ prayer life is a significant theme in
Luke’s Gospel as well.19 Throughout Acts, in every crisis,
God helped and guided His people as they prayed. In
suffering and in safety, believers always responded with
praise. Whenever the Holy Spirit filled God’s people,
they immediately praised God and His great works.
Have you realized an attitude of praise characterizes the
Christian life?
About Generosity and Greed
To show how the gospel changes lives, Luke
contrasted grace-fueled generosity20 with greed.21 The
example of Ananias and Sapphira stands out. This married
couple coveted praise for generosity but lacked generous
hearts. Lying about their selfishness cost them their
lives.22 Selfishness brings spiritual downfall, but joyful
sacrifice grows the Church.23
About Women
Jesus’ high view of women influenced Luke. Luke’s
Gospel highlights God’s work in women’s lives. In Luke,
we hear the Spirit-inspired words of Jesus’ mother, Mary,
and her cousin, Elizabeth.24 We see Jesus protect women25
and uphold a woman’s right to learn.26 In Acts, Luke
records women’s roles in church life.27 Jewish and Gentile
women from all social classes figure in Acts as faithful
teachers and disciples,28 servants and slaves,29 Christian
businesswomen30 and royal skeptics.31
About God’s Sovereignty
Luke saw God work in all things for the good of
His people, to build the Church.32 Disagreements,33
accidents,34 injustice35 and persecution36 turned to praise.
Sin and judgment grew believers’ desire for holiness
and to deepen mutual love.37 Paul’s unjust arrest allowed
the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ – to reach
the highest circles in Jerusalem, Caesarea and Rome.38
Though a prisoner, Paul taught about the Lord Jesus
Christ “with all boldness and without hindrance.”39
www.mybsf.org | Acts and Letters of the Apostles Introduction Lesson
 Church Growth – God’s Word and Spirit
■ “When the day of Pentecost came … all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:1, 4
■ “[Peter said] ‘God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’ When the people
heard this, they were cut to the heart and said … ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” – Acts 2:36-37
■ “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized … in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ ” – Acts 2:38
■ “With many other words he warned them … and about three thousand were added to their number that
day.” – Acts 2:40-41
■ “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship … And the Lord added to their
number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:42, 47
■ “They put [the apostles] in jail … but many who heard the message believed; so the number of men
who believed grew to about five thousand.” – Acts 4:3-4
■ “After they prayed … they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
– Acts 4:31
■ “Day after day … they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the
Messiah.” – Acts 5:42
■ “[We] will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. … So the word of God spread. The
number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly.” – Acts 6:4, 7
■ “Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, [the church] increased in numbers.”
– Acts 9:31
■ “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.”
– Acts 10:44
■ “Because Herod did not give praise to God, … he … died. But the word of God continued to spread
and flourish.” – Acts 12:23-24
■ “They delivered the decisions … for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith
and grew daily in numbers.” – Acts 16:4-5
■ “Many … who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. … In this way the word
of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” – Acts 19:18, 20
■ “For two whole years Paul … proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ –
with all boldness and without hindrance!” – Acts 28:30-31

The Apostles’ Message

Acts tells the astonishing story of how the early
Church grew in the 30 years after Jesus returned to
heaven. When Acts begins, a core group of about 120
gathered to pray.40 Ten days later, at Pentecost, the Holy
Spirit filled believers. As Jesus had promised, His people
received power to witness.41 In one day, 3,000 in Jerusalem
came to faith.42 That number soon grew to 5,000.43
Luke’s Gospel records “all that Jesus began to do and
to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven.”44 Luke
planned Acts as a second volume about Jesus’ works. Acts
describes what Jesus continued to do and to teach after
He returned to heaven. The apostles’ acts and teachings
reveal Jesus working through His Spirit to build the church.45
We could also call the book of Acts “the Acts of the
Holy Spirit.” Until the Holy Spirit came to live within them,
the disciples had no power to meet the world’s challenge.
Acts shows Jesus living in and working through His
people by His Spirit.46 As the Holy Spirit controlled and
empowered believers, they took the gospel to the world.
By the Spirit’s power, the church spread:47
■ First in Jerusalem and Israel48
■ To Samaria and nearby Gentile areas with some
knowledge of Judaism49
■ Then to the “ends of the earth,” even to Rome,
the most powerful city of the ancient world50

Acts and Letters of the Apostles Introduction Lesson | www.mybsf.org AdNotes (06.2019) | 3
 In every city where the gospel spread, the apostles
established churches – not buildings, but communities
who loved Jesus and gathered to worship Him. When
growth brought problems, the apostles wrote the churches
with God’s wisdom to help them grow. We will study
some of their letters this year. They answer essential
questions such as:
■ Why do I still sin? and How can I change?
■ What can I do when I disagree with other
believers?
■ How can I love people who reject Christ?
■ What is my responsibility to my neighbors, my
employer or employees?
■ What does a Christian marriage look like?
■ How can I grieve and have hope for the future?
■ Why do Christians ignore some of the Old
Testament regulations? Does that mean I’m free
to choose what I want to obey?
Above all, the letters hold up Jesus Christ as
the believer’s treasure. Wave upon wave, His gospel
continues to flow outward to the world. God will not
stop until some from every tribe, language, people and
nation freely worship Him and His Son forever.51

Take to Heart
What can you expect from your study of the Acts Jesus relied on His own strength. He saturated Himself
Hold Fast

and Letters of the Apostles? See what a life filled with
the Holy Spirit looks like. God designed the Spirit-
filled life as the Christian life. Only through the Holy
Spirit can believers live joyful, fruitful lives for
God’s glory. This precious privilege belongs to all
Christians. God also commands every believer to be
filled with the Spirit.52
Believers need the Spirit’s power to love and
follow Jesus faithfully. In His humanity, not even
in Scripture, prayed, served, suffered and triumphed
– all fully in the Holy Spirit’s power.53 In Acts and
today, Christians follow our Savior’s pattern. Spirit-
filled people study God’s Word and pray. We receive
power to share the gospel. Lives miraculously change.
Opposition results. Yet as we suffer with Christ, He
grows us and His church.54

Nothing can replace the Holy Spirit never leaves those whom despite Paul’s imprisonment,
Apply It

Spirit’s life within you. Without
Him, the Bible remains at best
a rule book. Obedience seems a
burden. You have no power to live
for or enjoy Christ. As you study
the dynamic lives of the early
Christians, examine yourself. Have
you ever definitely received God’s
forgiveness by trusting that Christ
took your punishment for your
sins when He died on the cross?
Have you truly received the person
of the Holy Spirit by faith in
Christ? If so, then the Holy Spirit
lives within you.
Do you long for His Spirit
to work more fully through
you or your church? The Holy
He indwells, but sin grieves Him.
We need Him to fill us constantly.
Jesus encourages us, “How much
more will your Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who
ask him!”55 As you study Acts,
pray to know and love Jesus more
deeply. Each week, allow God’s
Word to challenge and transform
you.56 Will you commit to follow
what He shows you? Live in the
adventure of the Spirit!
Acts ends with Paul in Rome,
imprisoned for two years. Yet
throughout Acts we learn the
gospel is unstoppable because
it is the work of God. The book
concludes with the statement that,
he continued to share the good
news about Jesus Christ “with all
boldness and without hindrance!”57
You can chain up the gospel
messenger, but not the gospel
message. Do you want to learn
to live like Paul? Ask God to grip
your heart with the truth that He
is fully in control and fully good.
When trials come, remain in God’s
Word and with God’s people. Ask
Jesus to draw you close to Him and
turn you outwards to others. How
might your “prison” be part of
God’s plan to make Jesus known
and loved to the ends of the earth?

4 | AdNotes (06.2019) www.mybsf.org | Acts and Letters of the Apostles Introduction Lesson
Acts and Letters of the Apostles Introduction Lesson | www.mybsf.org AdNotes (06.2019) | 5
 Check out these footnoted references for further study of God’s Word in this week’s lesson.
Go Deeper 1: In Christ: Galatians 3:26-28
2: Acts’ author: Luke 1:1-4;
Acts 1:1
3: Paul’s coworker: Acts 16:10-17;
27:1-28:16; Colossians 4:14; 2
Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24
4: Dr. Luke: Colossians 4:14
5: Not apostle: Luke 1:2
6: Apostle’s qualifications: Acts
1:21-22
7: Historian: Luke 1:1-4; Acts
20:13, 36-38; 27:5-28:11
8: Antioch: Acts 11:26
9: Paul’s friend: Colossians 4:14
10: Paul’s hardships: Acts 9:23-25;
14:19-20; 21:27-35; 28:5-6
11: Paul’s concern: Acts 20:37
12: Luke’s faithfulness: 2 Timothy
4:11
13: “We” passages: Acts 16:10-17;
20:5-15; 21:1-8; 27:1-28:16
14: Risen Lord: Acts 1:1-11; 2:24,
32-36; 3:6; 4:10-12; 5:42;
7:55-60; 9:1-18; 10:13-15, 39-42;
18:9-11; 20:24; 21:13-14; 23:11;
26:22-29
All Scripture quotations, in this publication are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ® NIV ®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
6 | AdNotes (06.2019)
15: Christ in believers: Colossians
1:27
16: Joy: Acts 5:41; 8:8, 39; 11:23;
13:48, 52; 15:3, 31; 16:34
17: Prayers: Acts 1:24-25; 4:24-26;
7:59-60
18: God answered: Acts 1:14-25;
2:42; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4-6;
7:59-60; 8:15-17; 12:5-11;
16:25-29
19: Jesus’ prayer life: Luke 3:21;
5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 28; 11:1; 22:32,
41, 44; 23:34, 46
20: Generosity: Acts 2:44-45;
4:32-37
21: Greed: Acts 6:1; 8:20; 16:19;
19:24-27
22: Ananias and Sapphira: Acts
4:36-5:10
23: Sacrifice: Acts 2:42-47;
4:32-37; 19:19-20
24: Mary and Elizabeth: Luke
1:38, 42-55
25: Protect: Luke 7:11-17, 36-50;
9:40-48; 13:10-16
26: Learn: Luke 10:38-39
www.mybsf.org | Acts and Letters of the Apostles Introduction Lesson
27: Early church women: Acts 42: 3,000: Acts 2:41
1:14; 8:3, 12; 12:12-15; 13:50; 43: 5,000: Acts 4:4
16:13; 17:4; 18:2, 18, 26; 44: Gospel of Luke: Acts 1:1-2
21:5, 9; 22:4 45: Build church: Matthew 16:18
28: Teachers and disciples: Acts 46: Holy Spirit: John 7:38-39;
9:36; 18:19-28 14:16-18; 16:7-15
29: Servants: Acts 12:13; 16:16-19 47: Power to witness: Acts 1:8
30: Lydia: Acts 16:14-15 48: Jerusalem: Acts 1:1-8:1
31: Royalty: Acts 24:24; 25:23 49: Samaria: Acts 8:1-12:23
32: For good: Genesis 50:20; 50: The world: Acts 12:24-28:31
Romans 8:28 51: Every tribe: Revelation 5:9; 7:9
33: Disagreements: Acts 15:1-15, 52: Spirit-filled: Ephesians 5:18
22-23, 30-32, 36-41 53: Jesus’ life: Luke 3:21-22; 4:1,
34: Accidents: Acts 20:9-12; 14, 18; 10:21; Acts 10:38
27:13-44; 28:3-6 54: We grow: John 12:24; Romans
35: Injustice: Acts 5:17-20; 5:3-5
12:2-3, 23-24; 16:19-29 55: Ask: Luke 11:13
36: Persecution: Acts 5:40-42; 56: Transform: Romans 12:1-2
7:54-8:8; 9:1-16 57: Prison boldness: Acts 28:31;
37: Sin: Acts 5:4-5, 11-14 Philippians 1:12-13
38: Gospel reach: Acts 22:30-23:10;
23:35-26:32; 28:16; Philippians
1:12-13
39: Bold: Acts 28:31
40: Gathered: Acts 1:15
41: Jesus’ witnesses: Acts 1:5, 8