Acts Commentary

Stanley M. Horton

• Publisher: Logion Press
• Year: 2001
• ISBN:
  9781607311171
• Topic: Teología y religión
• Subtopic: Comentario bíblico

Distinguished Pentecostal scholar Stanley Horton takes an in-depth look at the story of the Early Church. This powerful book is an excellent foundational study for your church staff, Sunday school class, and an important component of every pastoral library. Horton takes each Scripture to share the overarching truth that the Early Church's story is still being written in the lives of believers like us today. He brings a compelling combination of research and experience to this study of Luke's inspired record. Complete with maps, Scripture index, and subject index.

ACTS OUTLINE

I. The Church Established 1:1–2:47

A.The promise of the Father 1:1–8

1.What Jesus continued to do and teach 1:1

2.Jesus gives final instructions 1:2–3

3.Jesus promises baptism in the Holy Spirit 1:4–5

4.Jesus promises power for witness 1:6–8

B.Jesus ascends to heaven 1:9–11

1.Disciples see Him taken up 1:9

2.Angels promise His return 1:10–11

C.The witness of the apostles 1:12–26

1.Prayer in the Upper Room 1:12–14

2.Matthias chosen as an apostolic witness 1:15–26

D.The Church recognized and empowered 2:1–40

1.The Day of Pentecost 2:1

2.The signs of wind and fire 2:2–3

3.All filled with the Spirit 2:4

4.The crowd amazed and confused 2:5–13

5.Peter manifests the gift of prophecy 2:14–40

a.Joel’s prophecy fulfilled 2:14–21

b.Jesus exalted 2:22–36

c.Peter calls for repentance 2:37–40

E.The Church growing and loving 2:41–47

1.Three thousand added 2:41

2.Continuing as disciples 2:42

3.Apostolic miracles 2:43

4.Fellowship and worship 2:44–46

5.Continued growth 2:47

II. Ministry in Jerusalem 3:1–8:4

A.The lame man healed 3:1–4:31

1.A gift of healing 3:1–10

2.Peter exalts Jesus 3:11–26

a.The Prince of Life 3:11–21

b.A prophet like Moses 3:22–26

3.Peter and John arrested 4:1–4

4.Peter and John brought to trial 4:5–12

5.Peter and John speak boldly 4:13–22

6.Peter and John return to assembled believers 4:23–31

a.Praying for boldness and miracles 4:23–30

b.A fresh filling with the Holy Spirit 4:31

B.Apostles tested and triumphant 4:32–5:42

1.A united, caring Church 4:32–37

2.A purified, growing Church 5:1–16

a.Judgment on Ananias and Sapphira 5:1–10

b.Fear and continued growth 5:11–16

3.The twelve apostles arrested 5:17–26

4.The verdict to kill the apostles 5:27–33

5.Gamaliel’s advice not to kill the apostles 5:34–39

6.The apostles disobey the Sanhedrin’s command 5:40–42

C.Seven chosen to serve 6:1–7

1.A conflict resolved 6:1–6

2.Continued growth in Jerusalem 6:7

D.Stephen martyred 6:8–8:4

1.Stephen’s ministry stirs opposition 6:8–11

2.Stephen brought before the Sanhedrin 6:12–7:1

3.Stephen’s defense 7:2–53

a.Joseph rejected 7:2–16

b.Moses rejected 7:17–37

c.God rejected 7:38–43

d.The temple insufficient 7:44–50

e.The Holy Spirit rejected 7:51–53

4.Stephen stoned 7:54–60

5.Resulting persecution spreads the gospel 8:1–4

III. Ministry in Samaria and Judea 8:5–11:18

A.Philip’s ministry 8:5–40

1.Philip’s preaching and miracles in Samaria 8:5–13

2.Peter and John minister in Samaria 8:14–25

a.Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit 8:14–17

b.Simon offers to buy the gift 8:18–24

c.Peter and John preach in Samaria 8:25

3.The Ethiopian eunuch 8:26–40

B.Saul’s conversion 9:1–31

1.Saul threatens the disciples 9:1–2

2.Jesus appears to Saul in blinding light 9:3–9

3.Jesus sends Ananias to Saul 9:10–19

4.Saul preaches in Damascus 9:20–25

5.Barnabas befriends Saul 9:26–31

C.Peter’s ministry in Judea 9:32–11:18

1.Peter ministers in Lydda 9:32–35

2.Peter brought to Joppa 9:36–43

3.Cornelius sends for Peter 10:1–8

4.Peter’s visions 10:9–22

5.Peter meets Cornelius 10:23–33

6.Peter announces good news for Gentiles 10:34–43

7.Gentiles baptized in the Holy Spirit 10:44–48

8.Peter explains to the apostles and the church in Jerusalem 11:1–18

IV. Antioch: a New Center 11:19–18:22

A.The gospel reaches Antioch 11:19–30

1.Gentiles believe in Antioch 11:19–21

2.Barnabas sent to Antioch 11:22–26

3.Agabus prophesies a famine 11:27–30

B.Peter’s Deliverance 12:1–24

1.Herod kills the apostle James 12:1–2

2.Herod arrests Peter 12:3–6

3.An angel rescues Peter 12:7–19

4.Herod’s death 12:20–24

C.Paul’s first missionary journey 12:25–14:28

1.Barnabas and Saul return to Antioch 12:25

2.Sent out by the Spirit and the church 13:1–3

3.Evangelizing in Cyprus 13:4–13

4.Ministering in Pisidian Antioch 13:14–52

a.Preaching effectively 13:14–41

b.Turning to the Gentiles 13:42–49

c.Paul and Barnabas expelled 13:50–52

5.Ministering in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe 14:1–25

a.Preaching, miracles, and opposition 14:1–7

b.A cripple healed 14:8–18

c.Paul stoned 14:19–20

d.Confirming believers 14:21–25

6.Reporting back to Syrian Antioch 14:26–28

D.The Jerusalem Council 15:1–35

1.Believing Pharisees demand circumcision 15:1–5

a.Opposition comes from Judea 15:1

b.Paul and Barnabas sent to Jerusalem 15:2–4

c.Believing Pharisees rise up 15:5

2.The question of circumcision considered 15:6–12

3.James gives a word of wisdom 15:13–21

4.A letter sent 15:22–29

5.The letter causes rejoicing at Antioch 15:30–35

E.Paul’s second missionary journey 15:36–18:22

1.Paul and Barnabas separate 15:36–39

2.Paul chooses Silas 15:40–41

3.Paul takes Timothy with him 16:1–5

4.The Macedonian call 16:6–10

5.Ministry in Philippi 16:11–40

a.An open door 16:11–15

b.A demon cast out 16:16–18

c.Paul and Silas in prison 16:19–26

d.The jailer converted 16:27–34

e.Paul and Silas released 16:35–40

6.Ministry in Thessalonica 17:1–9

7.Noble Bereans 17:10–15

8.Ministry in Athens 17:16–34

a.Encountered by philosophers 17:16–21

b.Message to the council of Mars’ hill 17:22–34

9.Ministry in Corinth 18:1–17

a.Working with Priscilla and Aquila 18:1–4

b.Turning to the Gentiles 18:5–11

c.Brought before Gallio 18:12–17

10. Returning to Antioch 18:18–22

V. Ephesus: a New Center 18:23–20:38

A.Paul’s third missionary journey begins 18:23

B.A better baptism 18:24–19:7

1.Apollos helped by Aquila and Priscilla 18:24–28

2.Twelve disciples at Ephesus 19:1–7

C.Revival and riot in Ephesus 19:8–20:1

1.Two years of teaching 19:8–10

2.Special miracles 19:11–16

3.Many believe 19:17–20

4.Paul’s purpose to visit Rome 19:21–22

5.Silversmiths stir a riot 19:23–20:1

a.Silversmiths’ wrath affects the city 19:23–29

b.Total confusion 19:30–34

c.The crowd quieted 19:35–41

d.Paul leaves for Macedonia 20:1

D.Paul’s third journey concludes 20:2–38

1.Macedonia and Greece revisited 20:2–5

2.Eutychus raised from the dead at Troas 20:6–12

3.Sailing by Ephesus 20:13–16

4.Farewell to the Ephesian elders 20:17–38

a.Paul’s faithful service 20:17–21

b.Willing to die 20:22–24

c.Challenging by example 20:25–35

d.A sad farewell 20:36–38

VI. The Road to Rome 21:1–28:31

A.Paul goes to Jerusalem 21:1–26

1.Prophecy at Tyre 21:1–6

2.Prophecy at Caesarea 21:7–14

3.Welcomed at Jerusalem 21:15–19

4.Encouraging Jewish believers 21:20–26

B.Paul’s arrest 21:27–23:35

1.Asian Jews cause a riot 21:27–30

2.Paul rescued by the Romans 21:31–40

3.A witness for Christ 22:1–21

4.Saved from scourging 22:22–29

5.Facing the Sanhedrin 22:30–23:10

6.Encouraged by the Lord 23:11

7.A Jewish plot discovered 23:12–22

8.Paul taken to Caesarea 23:23–35

C.Paul’s appeal to Caesar 24:1–26:32

1.Paul accused by the Jews 24:1–27

a.Tertullus presents their case 24:1–9

b.Paul answers 24:10–21

c.Felix postpones making a decision 24:22–27

2.Trial before Festus 25:1–8

3.Festus agrees to send Paul to Caesar 25:9–12

4.Festus presents Paul’s cause to Agrippa 25:13–22

5.Paul before Agrippa 25:23–26:32

a.Festus presents his case 25:23–27

b.Paul answers 26:1–23

(1)Paul the Pharisee 26:1–11

(2)Paul converted and commissioned 26:12–18

(3)Paul’s faithful witness 26:19–23

c.Festus and Agrippa reject the gospel 26:24–29

d.Agrippa recognizes Paul’s innocence 26:30–32

D.Paul’s voyage to Rome 27:1–28:15

1.Contrary winds 27:1–8

2.Caught in a storm 27:9–20

3.Paul’s vision and courage 27:21–37

4.The shipwreck 27:38–44

5.Miracles at Malta 28:1–10

6.From Malta to Rome 28:11–15

E.Paul a prisoner, yet free 28:16–31

1.Paul under house arrest 28:16

2.Paul meets Rome’s Jewish leaders 28:17–22

3.Paul preaches to Jews in Rome 28:23–29

4.Two years of opportunity 28:30–31

I. THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED 1:1–2:47

A. The Promise Of The Father 1:1–8

1. WHAT JESUS CONTINUED TO DO AND TEACH 1:1

¹In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach

The “former book” is Luke’s Gospel.¹ Did Luke plan a third volume? Some say the word “former” and the abrupt ending of the Book of Acts call for this. Luke may have planned one. However, his ministry may have been cut short by martyrdom, as Gregory of Nazianzen states; at least, Luke stayed with Paul when he was imprisoned for the second time and others deserted him to save themselves (2 Tim. 4:11). But the word “former” (or “first,” NASB) need not imply another volume. The content of Luke’s Gospel and the content of the Book of Acts complement each other perfectly. Luke’s Gospel gives the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Acts shows the outworking of the gospel in the first generation of the Church. This work of the Holy Spirit was never intended to come to a conclusion in this age.

Theophilus (“friend of God,” “dear to God”) was the first recipient of this book, as he was of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible tells us practically nothing about him, so he has been the subject of much speculation. Was he a lawyer who was to handle Paul’s case in Rome? This is unlikely. Paul rose to his own defense in all previous trials. Was he a Greek nobleman converted under Luke’s ministry?² Was he a philosopher searching for the tru...