...Introduction The Book of Acts is a literary masterpiece filled with stories of miracles, faith, chronicles of the growth of Christianity, Holy Spirit encounters, and stories of supernatural conversions. It is one of the main books of the Bible studied to learn about the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s ability to use anything and anyone for His purpose. The “call” of Saul was one of the most significant events not only in the Book of Acts, but throughout the Bible. Christians in the Twenty-First Century owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the Apostle Paul for his courage and obedience in answering the “call” of God. The spontaneous response to this call has a direct impact on Christians, Jews and non-Jews all over the world. The reason Saul’s call was so important was because it was a fulfillment of Jesus’s Great Commission. Saul’s pedigree as well as his character made him the least likely candidate to become one of the greatest Apostles to the Gentiles. This paper will examine who Paul of Tarsus was, the importance of his call, whether or not he was converted, and the impact his decision to answer God’s call has on Christianity today. Saul of Tarsus Prior to his calling by God, Saul of Tarsus was highly qualified to perform his duties as a Pharisee. By all accounts, he was a faithful, committed, and zealous Jewish Pharisee who felt justified in persecuting Christians because of his duty of protecting the law. In Philippians, Saul describes his pedigree and perceived...
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...Context(Submit in Parts 2-3) | Major Points(Submit in Part 3) | Major Sections(Submit in Part 3) | Theme(Submit in Part 3) | 1:1–5 Introduction | | | | 1:1–28:31 | 1:6–11 The Ascension | | | | | 1:12–14 The Upper Room | | | | | 1:15–26 Peter Speech | | | | | 2:1–4The day of Pentecost | | | | | 2:5–13 The Crowd were bewildered | | | | | 2:14–21 Peter’s Sermon | | | | | 2:22–28 Men of Isreal listen to words | | | | | 2:29–36 David says of him | | | | | 2:37–42 The Ingathering | | | | | 2:43–4Signs and wonders taking place | | | | | 3:1–10 Healing the lame | | | | | 3:11–16 Peter’s Second Sermon | | | | | 3:17–26 God Acknowledge | | | | | 4:1–4 John and Peter Arrested | | | | | 4:5–12 The priest inquire the power | | | | | 4:13–22 Threats and Release | | | | | 4:23–31 The Holy Spirit filled the room | | | | | 4:32–35 Sharing among Believers | | | | | 4:36–37 Money laid at the apostles feet | | | | | 5:1-6 Fate of Ananias and Sapphrra | | | | | 5:7-11 Peter ask questions | | | | | 5:12–16 Men and women added to the multitude | | | | | 5:17–21a Peter’s release and imprisonment | | | | | 5:21b–26 Peter and Paul’s Teaching | | | | | 5:27–32 The High Priest Question | | | | | 5:33–39 Gamaliel’s Counsel | | | | | 5:40–42They took his advice | | | | | 6:1–6 Choosing of the Seven | | | | | 6:7 The word of God spreading |...
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...going on and on. Jesus last known words have been said to warm the hearts of many people; you will be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and unto the farthest part of the earth. The Book of Acts was written by one of the twelve apostles and it is the teaching of men and women who took their religion seriously and began to open up the news of a risen Savior to the world. Each part of the book looks on a particular group, how people live, and a difficult time in the expansion of the gospel message. The first thing that Peter had to do, since he was appointed the leader of the apostles, was to elect someone else that is worthy even to teach the word of God to the people since Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus while he was yet on earth. So therefore Peter chose Matthias to be the twelfth apostle of God. While in Jerusalem, Peter delivers a sermon giving explanation of the miracle that was being performed at that time. The end of the Acts in Rome foretold that eventual mishap would come about in the church and city. Acts is the reading of the church’s ways of turning away from Jerusalem and towards the truth. Acts is filled with situations and problems, but there were certain connections that all the Apostles are the church’s move to fix, that was driven by Paul. It was in that that moment of fixing the problems of the...
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...Concordia Journal 22, no. 2 (Ap 1996): 186–188. Kern, Philip H. “Paul's Conversion and Luke's Portrayal of Character in Acts 8–10.” Tyndale Bulletin 54, no. 2 (2003): 63–80. Leary, T. J. “Paul's Improper Name.” New Testament Studies 38, no. 3 (Jl 1992): 467–469.[1] McDonough, Sean M. “Small Change: Saul to Paul, Again.” Journal of Biblical Literature 125, no. 2 (Sum 2006): 390–391. Meyer, Wendel W. “The Conversion of St. Paul.” Anglican Theological Review 85, no. 1 (Winter 2003): 13–17. Ralston, Timothy J. “The Theological Significance of Paul’s Conversion.” Bibliotheca Sacra 147, no. 586 (Ap–Je 1990): 198–215. Rordorf, Willy. Translated by Peter W. Dunn. “Paul’s Conversion in the Canonical Acts and in the Acts of Paul.” Semeia 80 (1997): 137–144. Witherup, Ronald D. “Functional Redundancy in the Acts of the Apostles: A Case Study.” Journal for the Study of the New Testament 48 (D 1992): 67-86. * Book with a single author or editor Author’s Last Name, Author’s First Name. Title of Book: Subtitle of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher’s Name, Date of Publication. * Book with multiple authors Author #1’s Last Name, Author #1’s First name, and Author #2’s First and Last Names. Title of Book: Subtitle of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher’s Name, Date of Publication. * Journal Article in Print Author’s Last Name,...
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...topics below and respond in the Unit 3: Group Discussion 2 - Christians and Culture forum. a) Why we can’t change the world (?) Considering all you have read this week, thoughtfully interact with Crouch’s proposition in chapter 12, “Why we can’t change the world.” What is Crouch’s position? Do you agree or disagree with his position? Given what you have read so far, would Schmidt disagree with Crouch about the influence of Christianity in culture? Support your argument with the texts and Biblical resources, as well as examples. Be sure to define your terms. -OR- b) Daniel and Paul For this forum, read Daniel 1 and Acts 17:16-33. Select either the Daniel or Acts reading and identify the specific behaviors/actions that Daniel or the Apostle Paul exhibited or took to effectively engage the culture, respectively. For this forum,...
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...at the same time serving my country and the Air Force, one of the finest military organizations in the world. In my own unique experience, I visited a country that I thought I would never dream to visit if not for my career in the US military. The temporary assignment to Incirlik base in Turkey, the bus ride, the visit to the birthplace of Saint Paul the Apostle and a Muslim tour guide to the city of Tarsus, was one of the most memorable trips in my life. Temporary duty to Turkey I love to travel, and visited many different countries, but this particular trip a temporary duty to Incirlik air base in Turkey, without my family was a very unique experience for me. This trip was so memorable that I constantly think about it and share this experience to my friends and family every time I have the opportunity. What is so unique about this trip is that, as an American and a Christian, I am visiting a Muslim country that has a long history of Christianity. Numerous Christian Apostles and Saints were born in Turkey, but in this particular trip, I was interested in visiting the city of Tarsus, birthplace of Saint Paul the Apostle. Tarsus is a historic city in south-central Turkey, 20 km inland from the Mediterranean Sea and has a long history of commerce and is still a commercial center today. The bus ride We arrived on a Friday, and immediately our superiors gave us a weekend off. I invited a buddy of mine to come along with me since we are advised not to travel alone in a...
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...a response to their recent criticism of the actions he was leading in Birmingham at the time. The letter was written in April of 1963, a time when segregation was essentially at a peak in the south. Birmingham, in particular, is described by King as “probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States” (King 7). King goes on to inform the clergymen of the reality of the situation where he is and how waiting isn’t an option anymore. In the letter, King uses a variety of rhetorical strategies to accomplish the task of appealing to the readers from a logical standpoint. King first establishes his credibility to answer the clergymen by naming his personal title and comparing himself to such a higher historical authority as the apostle Paul. King uses repetition of his personal experiences in Birmingham to describe the situation from an emotional standpoint. By stating his credibility and giving his personal experiences, King gives the readers no choice but to listen to what his reasoning is behind his actions taken in Birmingham. He does so by describing how he has dealt with the situation in Birmingham appropriately using the four basic steps of any nonviolent campaign, and defining what those are. By coordinating the rhetorical strategies of quoting authorities, personal experience, and the use of definition, Martin Luther King Jr. accomplishes the task of informing his “fellow clergymen” of the situation in Birmingham, how he has dealt with it appropriately using the...
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...The Bible's "Love Chapter" Printer-friendly version article by Good News Editor One Bible chapter—1 Corinthians 13—is aptly known as the love chapter since it gives us a beautiful description of what godly love is like! The rest of this letter from the apostle Paul shows that some Corinthian church members sought certain spiritual gifts with a wrong motive—to gain superior status. In 1 Corinthians:12:31 (NIV), Paul said, "And now I will show you the most excellent way"—the right motive and approach for exercising all spiritual gifts—the way of love. In 1 Corinthians:13:1-3, Paul mentions several impressive gifts. No matter which gift we have, if we are lacking love, then in God's sight we are nothing! Without love, the gift is tarnished, the results are ineffectual and God is displeased. Verse 3 shows that even self-sacrificing, charitable works can be done with motives other than true love. Verses 4 through 7 tell us some of the characteristics of true love: Love is not selfish or self-centered. It is kind, humble, forgiving, courteous, not easily angered, respectful, trusting, positive and hopeful. It also gives us spiritual resilience and patience so that it willingly "endures all things" to obey and serve God. Envy and competition create division, as was the case in the Corinthian church. Love is the great unifier. Verse 11 points out that emotional and spiritual maturity is best summed up by love. We may tend to rank faith and hope alongside love...
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...Paul the Apostle (Greek: Παῦλος Paulos; c. 5 – c. 67), original name Saul of Tarsus (Greek: Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς Saulos Tarseus), was an apostle (though not one of the Twelve Apostles) who taught the gospel of Christ to the first-century world. He is generally considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age. In the mid-30s to the mid-50s, he founded several churches in Asia Minor and Europe. Paul used his status as both a Jew and aRoman citizen to advantage in his ministry to both Jewish and Roman audiences. Fourteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament have traditionally been attributed to Paul, and approximately half of the Acts of the Apostlesdeals with Paul's life and works. Seven of the epistles are undisputed by scholars as being authentic, with varying degrees of argument about the remainder. The Pauline authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews, already doubted in the 2nd and 3rd centuries but almost unquestioningly accepted from the 5th to the 16th centuries, is now almost universally rejected by scholars. The other six are believed by some scholars to have come from followers writing in his name, using material from Paul's surviving letters and letters written by him that no longer survive. Other scholars argue that the idea of a pseudonymous author for the disputed epistles raises many problems. Today, his epistles continue to be vital roots of the theology, worship, and pastoral life in the Roman and Protestant traditions of the West, as well...
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...view that the Book of Acts was written by someone historically close to the events narrated, such as Luke was. Lukan authorship of the Book of Acts explains the extensive linguistic agreement between the it and the Gospel of Luke and the details that Luke includes about the church in Antioch, the city from which he hailed. Several secondary sources confirm the Lukan authorship of the Book of Acts. The Muratorian canon states "Moreover the Acts of the Apostles are included in one book. For 'most excellent Theophilus' Luke compiled the individual events that took place in his presence.” The Anti-Marcionite Prologue identifies Luke as the author of a second volume, Acts: "And afterwards the same Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles." Origen identifies the author of Acts as Luke, the same who wrote the gospel: "Others that it was Luke, he who wrote the gospel and the Acts" (H.E. 6.25.14). Clement of Alexandria accepts Lukan authorship of Acts, as indicated by the following statement: "As Luke in the Acts of the Apostles relates that Paul said, 'Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious'" (Strom. 5.12). Similarly, Eusebius indicates that the view of Clement of Alexandria was that Luke wrote the Book of Acts. Jerome states that Luke wrote both a gospel and the Book of Acts: "He also wrote another...
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...According to the Tyndale Commentary, “The Holy Spirit is the third person of the God Head. The Holy Spirit is also, the way men receive power and help which bring us into fellowship with God”. John 15:26, tells us that when the comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which comes from the Father, he shall testify of me. Jesus implies, that he has many things to tell them but they cannot bear them until the comforter (Helper)... Comes which will guide you into all truth, he will speak and show you things. The comforter will glorify Jesus and the Father. Jesus was letting the disciples know that the Holy Spirit has his personal characteristics’, which are a mind, a will and emotions. John. 16:12-16. Acts 1:2-9. The disciples saw Jesus for 40 days after the resurrection…. Jesus ate with the disciples : According to Longnecker, This was known as the Breading of Bread which is the passion of Christ. Acts 2:42-47. Acts 1:14, 24 6:1-10 10:4-9. Referring to, Christ as the Church, while giving them special instruction to wait in Jerusalem until they receive promised from the Father. . The Holy Spirit was imparted into the believers before Jesus ascended. Acts. 1:4-5. The Promise: was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. Matt.10:20. Bruce, explains ,“The Holy Spirit , promised by the risen Savior, comes to the disciples on the day of Pentecost.. Seven weeks after The Easter Festival.” Acts 2:1-5: the First Fruit Festival (Wheat Harvest)...
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...Liberty University Speaking in Tongues: an evaluation of the corporate use of tongues through the book of acts A research paper submitted to Dr. paul brewster In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements For BIBL364 Liberty University Online By Michael Douglas Lynchburg, Virginia August 16th, 2013 Table of Contents Introduction2 The Meaning of Speaking in Tongues in the Church Today--------------------------------------2 The Use of Tongues in Acts3 The Precedent and Purpose of Tongues as Established in Acts----------------------------6 Conclusion7 Bibliography-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 Introduction The debate over tongues is one that will not be settled in one session of writing or discussion; men will be having their say on the subject until the day we meet Christ face to face in heaven. In the modern sense, this spiritual phenomenon is closely associated with the Pentecostal movement which originated in the Azusa St. Revival of 1906 and has caused a severe split in the church. This division has been caused, primarily, by an incorrect interpretation of the gift of tongues in the New Testament through the exclusion of studying the gift through the Biblical precedent of the gift established by Luke in the book of Acts. In order to properly interpret and comprehend the references...
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...JOURNAL ARTICLE CRITIQUE of Reicke, Bo Ivar. 1959. "Risen Lord and his Church : the theology of Acts." Interpretation 13, no. 2: 157-169. ATLASerials, Religion Collection, EBSCOhost (accessed September 14, 2013). THEO 510 LUO (fall 2013) Survey of Christian Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary David M. Lowe (ID# L01477914) September 19, 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction..................................................................................................................2 II. Brief Summary.............................................................................................................2 III. Critical Interaction with Author’s Work..................................................................4 IV. Conclusion....................................................................................................................5 Bibliography........................................................................................................................6 Introduction In the Book of Acts author Luke purposes to provide an account of the origin and development of the church under the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts lays an original and graphic historical picture of the early church from its beginnings with the accension of Jesus to it’s end with Paul’s detention in...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY THE GIFT OF TONGUES DISPLAYED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR DOUGLAS PETERSON IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BIBL364 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ONLINE BY SEAN HIGGINS LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA DECEMBER 5, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 2 PENTECOST 2 THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS 5 TONGUES AT EPHESIAN BAPTISM 7 CONCLUSION 9 BIBLIOGRAPHY 10 Introduction The gift of Tongues has been becoming more and more popular over the past 10 years. Christians appear to have differing views on the matter. Some think it is a sign of the HOLY SPIRIT, other think it is a manifestation of demonic forces. There are Bible verses to support both of these opinions, so the issues can become rather confusing. This paper is meant to show exactly everything that the Book of Acts mentions on the subject of tongues. This paper doesn’t refer to any other parts in the Bible regarding tongues. There are three different incidences in the Book of Acts that refers to speaking in tongues. First in Acts 2:4, 6-11 at the day of Pentecost, then in Acts 10:46 at the conversion of Cornelius, and finally in Acts 19:6 at the baptism of the 12 men in Ephesus. I am going to look solely at these events in order to study exactly what the Book of Acts says about tongues. Pentecost The experience of the Spirit on Pentecost is a fulfillment of the prophecy of John the Baptist concerning the one who would...
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...(Johnson 1992, 14). The book focuses on the day of Pentecost and how one can be empowered by being a witness for Jesus Christ. Specifically, Acts tells the reader that the purpose of the book is to write “about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven” (Acts 1:1-2); this, according to Bock (2007, 51) is a reminder from his gospel and is used as a reaffirmation. Acts is the record of the apostles being Christ’s witness in Jerusalem, Judea, and the rest of the surrounding area. Hengen (1979, 71) implies that Acts is to be read as a gospel for edification purposes, it is also a gospel that specifically shows the reader how the Holy Spirit works. Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The book gives the reader insight into how the Holy Spirit works to guide, teach, empower, and serve as a person’s overall counselor. The Book of Acts records the great works of Peter, John and Paul and makes one look at the importance of adhering to the word of God and what can occur when one has come to know who Christ is. As well as giving references to the Holy Spirit continuously, the book of Acts also intends to instruct by offering examples of people who rejected the teachings of Christ. The reader is shown what evils can occur because of...
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