The authorship and date of the book of acts the book of acts is a historical narrative of the early history of the church. Ephesians, philippians, colossians, i timothy, philemon, titus and ii timothy. This package includes thousands of pages of exegetical analysis. The bereans studied the scriptures every day to verify he was teaching the truth even as the law of moses demanded in deuteronomy 18. Polhill states, the berean jews were a noble example. Seven years after publication of the controversial groundbreaking bestseller the seduction of christianity in 1985, its authors, dave hunt and t. In summary, the bereans have long been seen as a positive example of how a person or community should respond to biblical teaching. James white, director of alpha and omega ministries, is the author of letters to a mormon elder and the king james only controversy. These bereans had a much more positive response to the gospel message than some that paul had encountered. Berean bible society po box 756 germantown, wi 530220756 phone. He has crossed the aegean sea to philippi, where he preached the gospel, was beaten and imprisoned, and founded a church. The author of acts had written a former account of jesus life.
Acts 17 11 now the bereans were of more noble character than the. It is one of the most profound theological works in the new testament. He was an educated man, and we learn in colossians 4. Sopater the berean, son of pyrrhus, accompanied him acts 20. These bereans were noble in heart and posture to receive from god. The book of acts, also called acts of the apostles, does not specifically identify its author.
During the 1970s the number one book on the new york times bestseller list was not a book. It had congregations in scotland, london and bristol, but mainly merged with the congregationalists after barclays death in 1798. Verse 1 demonstrates clearly that the unnamed author of acts is the same person as the unnamed author of the third gospel luke 1. The holy spirit at work in believers what to look for in the margins left margins contain numbers for units, chapters, and lessons. It is full of old testament quotes and allusions concerning christ and israel. A majority of the time, we use this scripture to encourage christians to search the word of god to make sure that what is being taught is true. Some might surmise that the bereans were more nobly disposed than the. The book of acts is the book between the earthly ministry of the son of god, which closed about 33 a. He was a greek and the only gentile christian writer of the new testament. As such, the authorship and date can be established by evidence found in the book itself. And many of them found out for themselves that pauls claims were true and so believed polhill, acts. The berean call was formed under the direction of dave hunt for the purpose of encouraging spiritual discernment among those who regarded themselves not just as evangelicals but as biblical christians.
Unlike the unbelieving thessalonian jews, these hearers were eager to. The result of this noble searching of the scriptures was that many of them the jews believed acts. The ancient bereans have a wonderful biblical reputation. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the jews. In addition, margins contain two learning toolslesson objectives with their respective numbers and interactive questions that focus on key principles. The word translated prince is applied to christ here and in acts 5. As i continue to read the book of acts, i am inclined to conclude that. In ancient times, the bereans were the inhabitants of the city of berea, also known in the bible. The gospel of luke and the book of acts form a single, twovolume work. The bereans were residents of the city of berea in macedonia. Historically, the bereans also called beroeans, barclayans or barclayites were a protestant sect following former scottish presbyterian minister john barclay 17341798.
Sixth, because of the author s involvement with the book of acts, one can deduct from the we passages that the author was a close associate of the apostle paul. Idols in athens introduction of luke jesus taken up into heaven matthias chosen to replace judas the holy spirit comes at pentecost. The bible speaks to us about the bereans in acts 17. The following blog post was originally published on august 12, 2015. For the following reasons, luke is generally considered to be the inspired author of acts.
First, two men were selected who met the necessary prerequisites for an apostle of christ. Just as his gospel opens with a dedication to theophilus, so also does acts. We believe the bible, consisting of both the old and new testament. The necessity of appointment by christ is also emphasized when judas iscariot was replaced. Who were the bereans, who are mentioned in the new testament.
At this time, paul and silas were making their way along different territories preaching the gospel of jesus christ to all men. Our doctrine statement berean fellowship of churches, inc. The name of our church is inspired by the bereans, mentioned in the bible book of acts because of their desire to know jesus christ and. I am convinced that the most dangerous lie is the one that is almost true. The author quite certainly was luke for the following reason. Scholars date the writing of the book of acts from ad 62 to ad in light of three different perspectives. Sopater, likely a gentile christian, continued to assist paul and timothy in ministry long after pauls first visit to berea. The bible says, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of christ. Paul preached in the jewish synagogue in the greek city of berea. He became the author of sin, our adversary and accuser, and the great deceiver of the nations. The book of hebrews is one of the most difficult, debated, misunderstood, letters of the new testament. The tradition from the earliest days of the church has been that luke, a companion of the apostle paul, wrote the books of luke and acts colossians 4. The book of acts ends with paul in house arrest waiting to. Its primary meaning, like that of prince princeps, is one who takes the leadwho is the originator of that to which the title is attached.
Authorship of the book of acts is attributed to luke. Classic commentaries and studies on the book of acts 10. For instance, the author of acts writes that when it was decided that we were to sail to italy, they handed over paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named julius, of. Who are the berean christians and what can we learn from. Founded in edinburgh in 1773, the berean church followed a modified form of calvinism. Paul and silas preached to them during pauls second missionary journey. Berean bible church is a nondenominational christian church. In acts 17, luke contrasts the response of some jews in thessalonica with those in berea. Studying scripture like the bereans olive tree bible. Berean bible church is a nondenominational church located in the beautiful city of oxford, ohio, that began on october 5, 2008 by dr. In his preface to the book of acts, luke wrote, after he jesus through the holy spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen acts 1. We are studying pauls second missionary journey, which is recorded in five chapters in the middle of the book of acts. The noble mindedness of these berean jews is a matter of emphasis. Global universityberean school of the bible ministerial studies program level one certified minister bib 114 christ in the synoptic gospels the 114 introduction to pentecostal doctrine bib 115 acts.
Why are the issues of date and author important to a proper interpretation of acts. Ohair online library articles compiled by douglas lee pastor ohair was, without a doubt, the one person who, more than any other, was used of god to establish among believers what paul, by inspiration calls, the preaching of jesus christ according to the revelation of the mystery. Baur, promotes the view of an early christian faith divided. One that is sometimes cited is acts 17, which deals with an incident that happened when st. The account of paul and silas in this location is recorded in acts 17. If he did, the book is a sequel to the gospel of luke.
The berean fellowship was built upon a solid biblical foundation and has. The bible mentions its name only a few times, but we tend to remember it for the. Why apostles are not for today, part 1 berean research. Since luke is the author of acts, any date between ad 60 and 100 is reasonable as conzelmann points out. To understand the bereans noble character, we have to remember what. Berean bible church is located in virginia beach, virginia, and is an independent bible church with reference to denominational affiliation, and are led through a serious, often versebyverse study of the scriptures by pastor david b. Vocabulary and style are very similar in the two books. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The classic commentaries and studies of the book of acts is a 10volume collection of some of the greatest studies on the acts of the apostles in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including the works of wellknown scholars and commentators such as j. In addition, outside sources such as other books of the bible as well as history recorded by other historians of the time supplement. The ending of acts plays an important role in route of determining the book s date. It reads, the brothers immediately sent paul and silas away by night to berea, and when they arrived they went into the. Luke, the author of acts, specifically notes that nonjews or gentiles came to.
Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. According to the book of acts, chapter 17 verse 11, paul of tarsus and silas preached at berea, and the inhabitants. The authorship and date of the book of acts 628 words. According to church tradition, luke wrote the book of acts.
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