Luke the Historian: The Book of Acts

by Bob Utley

Publisher:

Bible Lessons International

, 1998

Overview

Acts forms an indispensable link between the accounts of Jesus' life (Gospels), their preaching in Acts (Kerygma) and their interpretations and applications in the New Testament letters. The early church developed and circulated two collections of NT writings: (1) the Gospels (four) and (2) the Apostle (Paul's letters). However, with the rise of the Christological heresies of the second century, the value of Acts became obvious. Acts reveals the content and purpose of Apostolic preaching (the Kerygma), as well as the amazing results of the gopel message.

Contents

Top Highlights

“‘Jerusalem … Judea … Samaria … the remotest part of the earth’ This is a geographical outline of Acts: Jerusalem, chapters 1–7; Judea and Samaria, chapters 8–12; ends of the earth (i.e. Rome), chapters 13–28. This outline may denote the author’s literary structure and purpose. Christianity is not a sect of Judaism, but a worldwide movement of the one true God fulfilling His OT promises to restore rebellious mankind to fellowship with Himself (cf. Gen. 12:3; Exod. 19:5; Isa. 2:2–4; 56:7; Luke 19:46).” (Page 13)

“It was not that they kept part of the money, but that they lied to make themselves look spiritual. Notice that even a kind, generous act, which is done with a bad motive, is a sin. Notice that the Holy Spirit mentioned in v. 3 here is called God.” (Page 78)

“The third principle is to read the Bible in different translations in order to grasp the widest possible range of meaning (semantic field) that biblical words or phrases may have.” (Page iv)

“Sin begins in the thought life. The rabbis say that the mind is like a plowed garden ready for seed. What we allow in through our eyes and ears takes root. If we dwell on it, these thoughts become actions. This is why the NT asserts that we should ‘gird up the loins of our minds’ (cf. 1 Pet. 1:13) or ‘renew your mind’ (cf. Rom 12:2; Eph. 4:23).” (Page 115)

“But the gospel revolutionized and extended the OT concepts. The world-wide mandate (cf. Matt. 28:18–20; Acts 1:8) told believers to go into all the world, not wait for the world to come to them. Jerusalem of the NT is a metaphor for heaven (cf. Rev. 21:2), not a city in Palestine.” (Page 13)

Product Details

• Title: Luke the Historian: The Book of Acts
• Author: Bob Utley
• Publisher: Bible Lessons International
• Publication Date: 2003
• Pages: 309

About Bob Utley

Bob Utley is a dynamic and inspirational Bible teacher. He feels that the Lord has given him a gift of relating to all types of people, especially those who have been turned off by "religiosity." Bob was born in 1947 in Houston, Texas. He is married to the former Peggy Rutta and they have three children and three grandchildren. He has earned degrees from East Texas Baptist College, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and has done post-graduate work at Baylor University, Wycliffe Bible Translators' Summer Institute of Linguistics, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has pastored several churches in Texas. Currently Bob conducts revivals and Bible conferences both in the United States and abroad.