Purpose

To record the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome.

Author

Luke, the beloved physician and Paul's traveling companion, who also wrote the Gospel of Luke. As an eyewitness to many events and careful historian, Luke provides the authoritative account of the early church.

Historical Context

Written: 62-64 AD. The continuation of Luke's Gospel, showing how Jesus' work continued through His disciples.

Significance

The only record of early church history, showing how Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire.

Key Themes

Holy Spirit, Church Growth, Missions, Persecution, God's Sovereignty

Interesting Facts

• Acts is volume 2 of Luke's two-part work (Luke-Acts makes up 27% of the New Testament)
• The Holy Spirit is mentioned 57 times - more than any other book
• Records the conversion of 3,000 people in one day (Pentecost)

Prophecies

• Jesus' promise that the gospel would spread to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) Fulfilled: Ongoing fulfillment as the gospel spreads worldwide (2000 years later)

Acts Chapter 4 continues the narrative of the early church following the miraculous healing of a lame man by Peter and John. As the apostles preached the gospel, they faced immediate opposition from the religious authorities of Jerusalem, particularly the priests and the Sadducees, who were alarmed by the proclamation of Jesus' resurrection. This chapter opens with the arrest of Peter and John as they were speaking to the people, signaling the growing tensions between the nascent Christian movement and the established Jewish leadership. Despite their incarceration overnight, the apostles' message resonated with many, leading to an increase in believers, with the number of men reaching about five thousand. The next day, Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, where they were questioned about the miraculous healing they performed. Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, boldly proclaimed that the healing was done in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom the council had crucified but God raised from the dead. In a pivotal moment, Peter emphasizes the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus, declaring that there is no other name under heaven by which humanity can be saved. The astonishment of the council members at the boldness of Peter and John, particularly given their lack of formal education, highlighted the transformative impact of being with Jesus. As the council convened to deliberate their next steps, they acknowledged the undeniable miracle performed through the apostles but sought to suppress the spread of this message by commanding Peter and John not to speak in Jesus' name. The apostles, however, resolutely responded that they must obey God rather than human authorities, affirming their commitment to proclaiming what they had witnessed. The chapter concludes with the release of the apostles, who returned to the other believers, sharing their experiences and prompting a powerful prayer for boldness in continuing their mission to spread the gospel.