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Note: The text used for my commentary is my own paraphrase and must not be considered a “translation” or authorative in any
way. It is, in fact, simply my commentary. A paraphrase is often the only comment necessary
to explain (expound, exposit) a particular passage.
Please read the Introductory Notes to this commentary.
Estimated reading time (up to the outline): 2 minutes, 30 seconds
Estimated reading time (Including the outline): 21 minutes
Introductory Notes and Outline
Author: Lucas, the Beloved Physician
Theme: Establishing HaDerek (The Way)
Date of Writing: approximately 60 CE
Target Audience: Theophilus (Friend of God or God-Lover)[1]
Gospel Message: The Good News of Yeshua, the One-Year Mission
Introductory Notes
The Book of Acts is a continuation of the narrative that Dr. Luke began in his Gospel account, making him the first historian of the early years of the Messianic sect of Judaism known as HaDerek, the Way.[2] For an introduction to the author and the recipient(s) of this letter, read the Introductory Notes on Luke.
Luke’s first letter to Theophilus was written “about everything Yeshua set out to do and teach, until the day He was taken up … so that you might know the full truth about the things you have been taught,” and covered a span of about 30 years. This second letter follows Yeshua’s Emissaries as they carried Yeshua’s teaching throughout the known world, and covers about the following 30 years.
He pays particular attention to Rabbi Sha'ul of Tarsus, with whom Luke traveled for many years, taking care of Sha'ul’s medical needs while he was going through the rigors of extensive travel in taking the Gospel into Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome. (Smith, Chuck. New Testament Study Guide. The Word For Today. Kindle Edition, p. 95.)
This letter has been called “the Acts of the Holy Spirit.” Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) is referred to more than 50 times in this one letter. The letter begins with Luke’s second account of the Ascension of Yeshua and terminates with Rav (a short form of Rabbi) Sha'ul’s residence in Rome as a prisoner.
This letter is of extreme importance because it is the only inspired account of the beginning and spread of HaDerek. A knowledge of this letter is necessary to the proper understanding of some historical references in Rav Sha'ul’s letters. It is the primary text book for the study of missionary principles, the defense of the faith, and the Person and work of Ruach HaKodesh.
See also
“Rav
Sha'ul, the Letter-Writer,” which provides
a biography
of the Apostle based on the chronology of the Book
of Acts.
Outline
[Jerusalem, 28 CE]
I. The Waiting Disciples (ch 1)
A. Introduction: Messiah’s 40-day Resurrection Ministry (1:1-7)
B. The Shliachim Commissioned (1:8-9; Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-18; Lk 24:47-48; Jn 20:21-22)
C. The Promise of Yeshua’s Return (1:10-11)
D. Waiting for Power (1:12-14)
E. Matthias Chosen to Take Y'hudas’s Place (1:15-26)
[Jerusalem, 28 CE]
II. From Shavuot to Rav Sha'ul’s Awakening (ch
2-8)
A. Shavuot (ch 2)
1. Ruach HaKodesh Given (2:1-13)
2. Kefa’s First Message: Yeshua is Lord and Messiah (2:14-40)
a. Explanation: Fulfillment of Joel 2:28-32 (2:14-21)
b. Exposition Yeshua is Risen and Exalted as Lord and Messiah (2:22-37)
c. Exhortation: Repent and be Immerssed (2:38-40)
3. Three Thousand Immersed (2:41-47)
[Jerusalem, 28 CE]
B. The Message Confirmed by a Sign (ch 3)
1. A Lame Man is Healed (3:1-11)
2. Kefa’s Second Message: The Covenants will be Fulflled (3:12-26)
[Jerusalem, 28
CE]
C. Persecution Begins (chs 4-8)
1. The First Persecution (4:1-5:16)
2. Kefa Addresses the Sanhedrin (4:5-12)
3. Sanhedrin Prohibits Proclaiming the Gospel (4:13-22)
4. A Renewing of Power (4:23-31)
5. Belivers Share Among Themselves (4:32-37)
[Jerusalem, abt. 28-29 CE]
6. Hananiah and Shappirah Lie to Ruach HaKodesh
(5:1-11)
7. Mighty Miracles at Jerusalem (5:12-16)
8. The Second Persecution (5:17-42)
a. Emissaries Arrested and Threatened (5:17-28)
b. The Emissaries Answer (5:29-32)
c. Gamalial Warns the Sanhedrin (5:33-39)
d. Emissaries Beaten and Again Threatened (5:40-42)
[Jerusalem, Traditional Date: abt. 33 CE]
9. First Shamashim (Helpers) Ordained (6:1-8)
10. Third Persecution (6:9-7:60)
a. Stephanos Arrested (6:9-15)
b. Stephanos Addresses the Sanhedrin (7:1-53)
(1) The Patriarchs Called (7:2-8)
(2) The Patriarchs in Egypt (7:9-16)
(3) Moshe, a Rejected Savior (7:17-38)
(4) Israel’s Rebellion (7:39-43)
(5) The True Tabernacle (7:44-50)
(6) Resisting Ruach HaKodesh (7:51-53)
c. Stephanos Murdered (7:54-60)
11. Fourth Persecution: Sha'ul Zealous for His Religion (8:1-3)
12. HaDerek Scatters, Takes the Gospel into the Diaspora (8:4)
[Samaria, about 34-35 CE]
13. Philip in Samaria [Simon the Sorcerer]
(8:5-25)
14. Philip in Gaza [The Ethiopian Official] (8:26-40)
[Historical Note: Emperor Tiberius dies 15
March 37 CE]
[Damascus, Syria
[MAP]
37 CE]
III. From Sha'ul’s Awakening to the First
Missionary Journey (chs 9-12)
A. Sha'ul’s Awkening (9:1-31)
1. Sha'ul’s Persecution Chartered by the Sanhedrin (9:1-2)
2. Sha'ul Encounters Yeshua (9:3-16)
3. Sha'ul Filled with Ruach HaKodesh (9:17)
4. Sha'ul Immersed (9:18-19)
5. Sha'ul Testifies at Damascus (9:20-22)
6. Sha'ul Escapes from Damascus (9:23-25)
[Sla'ul spends three years in Arabia being taught by Yeshua,
about 38-40 CE]
7. Sha'ul Goes to Arabia, then back to
Damascus (Gal 9:17)
8. Sua'ul Visits Jerusalem Briefly (Gal 9:18-19; Ac 9:26-29)
9. Sha'ul Returns to Tarsus (9:30-31)
B. Kefa’s Ministry in Lydda (9:32-43)
1. Aenes Healed (9:32-35)
2. Dorcas Raised from the Dead (9:36-43)
[Caesarea, 41 CE]
C. The Gospel Taken to the Gentiles (ch 10)
1. Cornelius Sends for Kefa (10:1-8)
2. Kefa’s Vision of a Great Sheet (10:9-20)
3. Kefa Greets Cornelius’ Messengers (10:21-22)
4. Kefa Goes to Casearea (10:23-33)
5. Kefa Addresses Cornelisu’ Household (10:34-43)
6. Gentiles Receive Ruach HaKodesh (10:44-48)
[Jerusalem, 41 CE]
D. Kefa Defends His Ministry to the Gentiles
(11:1-18)
[Antioch, 43 CE]
E. HaDerek Spreads into Asia Minor (11:19-26)
F. Believers in Antioch Send Support to Impoverished Believers in Jerusalem (11:27-30)
[Jerusalem, Spring 44 CE]
G. Fifth Persecution (ch 12)
[Historical Note: Ya'akov, brother of Yeshua, writes his letter to the Diaspora]
1. Kefa Arrested (12:1-4)
2. Kefa Miraculously Released from Prison (12:5-19)
[Caesarea, Spring 44 CE]
3. Herod Blasphemes and Dies (12:20-24)
4. Bar-Nabba, Sha'ul, and Yochanan Mordichai Return to Antioch (12:25)
[45-47 CE]
IV. First Missionary Journey (chs 13 & 14)
A. Bar-Nabba and Sha'ul Set Apart by Ruach HaKodesh (13:1-5)
B. Opposition from HaSatan (13:6-13)
[46 CE]
C. Rav Sha'ul Preaches Yeshua in Pisidian
Antioch (13:14-43)
D. Unbelieving Jews Reject the Gospel; Rav Sha'ul Turns to the Gentiles (13:44-52)
[Asia Minor, 46 CE]
E. Acceptance and Opposition in Iconium (14:17)
F. The Work in Derbe and Lysra (14:8-25)
1. A Lame Man Healed (14:8-10)
2. Bar-Nabba and Sha'ul Mistaken for Gods (14:11-18)
3. Rav Sha'ul Stoned, Left for Dead at Lystra (14:19-20)
4. Zachenim Appointed in Every Messianic Community (14:21-25)
[47 CE]
5. Return to Antioch (14:26-28)
[Jerusalem, 50 CE]
V. The Jerusalem Council (15:1-35)
A. The Question: Can Gentiles Be Saved Without Formal Conversion (15:1)
B. Rav Sha'ul and Bar-Nabba Take the Question to the Messianic Beit Din (15:2-5)
C. Kefa’s Testimony Before the Beit Din (15:6-11)
D. Bar-Nabba’s and Rav Sha'ul’ Testimony Before the Beit Din (15:12)
E. Ya'akov Announces the Decision (15:13-29)
1. The Outcalling of Gentiles Agrees with the Tanakh (15:13-18)
2. Gentiles Not Bound by Takanot, But Need to Learn Torah (15:19-22)
3. Beit Din Writes the Decision (15:23-27)
4. Summary of the Decision (15:28-29)
[Syrian Antioch, abt. 50 CE]
F. Y'hudah and Silas go to Antioch with Sha'ul
and Bar-Nabba (15:30-35)
[Historical Note: Sha'ul’s letter to Galatia written, 50 CE]
[Historical Note: Mordichai (Mark) writes his Gospel Account,
50 CE]
[50-54
CE]
VI. Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22)
A. Rav Sha'ul and Silas Depart; Bar-Nabba and Mordichai Go to Cyprus (15:36-41)
[Derbe, abt. 51 CE]
B. Timothy Circumcised and Joins the Mission
(16:1-5)
C. Ruach HaKodesh Leads them to Troas; Luke Joins Them There (16:6-10)
D. Rav Sha'ul Goes to Philippi in Macedonia (16:11-13)
E. Lydia Immersed (16:14-15)
F. A Demon Driven Out; Sha'ul and Silas Beaten (16:16-24)
G. Prison Doors Opened (16:25-29)
H. Philippian Jailer Comes to Faith (16:30-34)
I. Sha'ul and Silas Released (16:35-40)
[abt. 51 CE]
J. Messianic Community Established in
Thessalonica (17:1-4)
K. Unbelieving Jews Riot in Thessalonica (17:5-9)
[abt. 51 CE]
L. Rav Sha'ul and Silas at Berea (17:10-15)
[abt. 52 CE]
M. Rav Sha'ul Alone in Athens (17:16-21)
N. Rav Sha'ul’s Mars Hill Address (17:22-34)
O. Messianic Community Established at Corinth (18:1-11)
[Historical Note: Sha'ul‘s First Letter to Thessalonica Written, 52 CE]
P. Gallio’s Indifference (18:12-17)
[Historical Note: Sha'ul‘s Second Letter to Thessalonica Written, 53 CE]
Q. Rav Sha'ul Takes a Nazirite Vow, Goes to Syria, Ephesus, and Caesarea; Returns to Antioch (18:18-22)
[Ephesus 54 CE — Sha'ul’s Second Missionary Journey Concludes]
[54-58 CE]
VII. Third Missionary Journey (18:23-21:14)
A. Into Galatia and Phyrgia (18:23)
[54 CE]
B. Apollos Teaching at Ephesus and Corinth (18:24-28)
C. Rav Sha'ul at Ephesus with Yochannan the Immerser’s Disciples (19:1-7)
[54-57 CE]
D. Rav Sha'ul in Ephesus for Nearly Three
Years (19:8-41; see Ac 20:31)
1. Teaching in the School of Tyrannus (19:8-10)
2. Miracles Performed at Ephesus (19:11-22)
3. Riots at Epheses (19:23-41)
[Historical Note: Sha'ul's First Letter to Corinth written from Ephesus, 57 CE]
[Fall 57 to 58 CE]
E. Into Macedonia and Greece (20:1-5)
[Historical Note: Sha'ul’s Second
Letter to Corinth written from Macedonia, 57 CE]
[Historical Note: Shaul’s letter to Rome written from Corinth, 57-58 CE]
[Spring, 58 CE]
F. A Week in Troas (20:6-12)
G. From Troas to Milletus (20:13-16)
H. Sha'ul’s Tearful Farewell the Ephesian Elders (20:17-38)
I. From Miletus to Tyre (21:1-3)
J. Seven Days in Tyre (21:4-6)
K. On to Ptolemais and Caesarea; Ruach HaKodesh Warns Sha'ul (21:7-14)
VIII. From Jerusalem to Rome (21:15-28:16)
A. Sha'ul Goes to Jerusalem (21:15-17)
B. At Jerusalem Sha'ul Completes His Nazirite Vow (21:17-26)
C. Sha'ul Siezed by a Mob in the Temple Complex (21:27-30)
D. Sha'ul Rescued and Bound by Roman Soldiers (21:31-40)
E. Sha'ul’s Defense Before the Mob (22:1-21)
1. He Recounts His Awakening (22:1-16)
2. He Recounts His Commission to the Gentiles (22:17-21)
F. The Mob Interrupts His Defense (22:21-22)
G. The Romans Seek to Interrogate Him by Scourging (23:24)
H. He Asserts His Rights as a Roman Citizen (22:25-29)
I. Sha'ul Brought Before the Sanhedrin (22:30-23:5)
J. He Appeals to the Pharisees (23:6-10)
K. Yeshua Comforts Sha'ul (23:11)
L. The Conspiracy to Kill Sha'ul (23:12-22)
M.Sha'ul Removed by Night to Caesarea (23:23-35)
[abt. 58 CE]
N. Sha'ul Before Governor Felix (24:1-26)
1. His Accusers Come to Caesarea (24:1)
2. The Accusation (24:2-9)
3. His Defense (24:10-23)
4. Felix Adjourns, Hopes for a Bribe (24:24-26)
[abt. 58-60 CE]
O. Two Years at Caesarea Waiting for a Trial (24:27)
P. Sha'ul Before Festus, the New Governor (25:1-26:32)
1. The Jewish Leaders Present their Charges (25:1-9)
2. Sha'ul Appeals His Case to Caesar (25:10-12)
3. Festus Discusses the Case with King Agrippa (25:13-22)
4. Agrippa Prepares to Hear the Case (25:23-27)
5. Sha'ul’s Defense Before Agrippa (26:1-23)
6. Festus’ and Grippa’s Reaction (26:24-32)
[abt. 60 CE]
P. The Perilous Journey to Rome (27:1-28:16)
1. Sha'ul Sent to Rome (27:1-13)
2. The Storm (27:14-20)
3. Sha'ul Saves the Crew (27:21-38)
4. The Crew Escapes the Sinking Ship (27:39-44)
5. Shipwrecked on Malta (28:1-6)
6. Father of Publius Healed (28:7-10)
7. Sha'ul Arrives in Rome (28:11-16)
[abt. 61-63 CE]
IX. Dr. Luke’s Account Ends in Rome (28:17-31)
A. Sha'ul Witnesses to the Jews in Rome (28:17-24)
B. Some Jews Believe, Others Reject (28:24)
C. Sha'ul Turns to the Gentiles in Rome (28:25-29)
C. Two Years in Rome Under House Arrest (28:30-31)
1. The name Theophilus (Θεόφιλος) means “friend of God” or “lover of God” — hence, “God-lover.” During the Second Temple period (and later), non-Jewish people (Gentiles) who participated fully in the religious and social life of Israel, yet short of formal “conversion” to Judaism, were called “God-fearers.” In my humble opinion, it is possible that Dr. Luke wrote his two letters not to a specific individual, but rather to the non-Jewish members of HaDerek, the friends he had met during his travels with Rav Sha'ul, addressing them as “God-lover.” See additional notes on the introduction to Luke’s Gospel. [BACK]
2. Although Gentile Christianity holds that “the Church” began with the book of Acts, I hold that the Church — and Christianity in general — was in fact founded by Emperor Constantine, the actual first “Pope,” between 311 and 325. See “Where Did the Word ‘Church’ Come From?” The events of the Book of Acts, therefore, do not reflect the origins of the Christian Church or of Christianity. They do, however, describe the origins of the Messianic sect of Judaism that called themselves HaDerek, The Way. [BACK]
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ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN,
SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!
