REACHING OUT
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen ...” (Acts 1:1, 2, NKJV). The Book of Acts is the sequel to the story of Christ. In fact, it’s the sequel of sequels – the greatest sequel ever written. In his book, The Acts of the Apostles, William Barclay wrote, “... Acts is the most important book in the New Testament” – a bridge between the Gospels and Epistles. Except for a few facts found in Paul’s writings, it’s the only inspired New Testament book offering church history. The Book of Luke is the longest book in the New Testament; Matthew the second; and Acts the third. While Paul wrote more books, Luke wrote more content. 30% of the New Testament is found in Luke and Acts.
It might be helpful to think of Acts as describing the building of a railway for God – a Gospel railroad extending from the city of Jerusalem via the various provinces of the Roman Empire, to the great metropolis of Rome itself. The towns and cities occupied for Jesus Christ are like train stations along this Gospel railroad.
Section I: A Plan
Powerful Purpose
Starting Stations
Cardinal Characters
Section II: A Persecutor
Satanic Strategy (1)
Satanic Strategy (2)
Satanic Strategy (3)
Section III: A Precedent
A Model Metropolis
Secrets of Success (1)
Secrets of Success (2)
Secrets of Success (3)
Secrets of Success (4)
Section IV: A Pacemaker
The Trailblazer
Hazards and Heartaches
Paul, A Pacemaker (1)
Paul, A Pacemaker (2)
Paul, A Pacemaker (3)
Section V: A Propagation
Cyprus and Pisidian Antioch
Iconium, Lystra and Derbe
Section VI: Suggestions from Missionaries
General Suggestions
Specific Suggestions
Section VII
Detailed Outline of Acts
