I told you in the last Gem that Jesus’ comment in Acts 1:8 appears to be one of the foci around which the Book of Acts is arranged. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” There is clearly a progression in the Book of Acts which follows the order of Jesus statement.
- First: Jerusalem
- Second: Judea and Samaria
- Third: Ends of the Earth – well the extent of the Rome Empire at that time.
The Acts of the Apostles is based on the activities of two Apostles in particular, namely Peter and Paul:
- Peter, the Apostle to the Jews is the focus of Acts 1 to 12
- while Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles is the focus of Acts 13 to 28.
There is yet another pattern in this book to note as we move through the details before us. Take note of the following verses:
So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
Act 6:7
The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
Act 9:31
Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.
Act 12:24
So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.
Act 16:5
So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.
Act 19:20
You will see I have highlighted the repetitive refrain in these verses. There is a pattern to these verses. And it appears that these summary verses are used to close sections in the book of Acts, much like repetitive refrains are used to delineate large sections in the Book of Psalms. If we assume that is going on then we end up with six sections in Acts each determining a particular region or cultural group in focus.
- Jews in Jerusalem (1:1 – 6:7)
- Hellenists and Samaritans (the despised) (6:8 – 9:31)
- Gentiles in Antioch (9:32 – 12:24)
- Asia Minor (12:25 – 16:5)
- Europe 16:6 – 19:20)
- Rome (19:21 – 28:31)
Where each of the verses quoted above closes the section outlined.
David Pawson in his book, Unlocking the Bible, suggests Acts is made up of TWO SECTIONS, THREE SECTIONS or SIX SECTIONS.
If the divisions are based on Peter and Paul as the dominant Apostles then it follows there are TWO sections:
- 1. Chapters 1 – 12
- 2. Chapters 12 – 28
If the divisions are made based on the geographic spread of the Gospel then there are THREE sections:
- 1. Chapters 1 – 7
- 2. Chapters 8 – 10
- 3. Chapters 11 – 28
If the divisions are based on the linguistic refrain of the Word spreading and church growing in numbers then there are SIX sections:
- 1. Jews in Jerusalem (1:1 – 6:7)
- 2. Hellenists and Samaritans (the despised) (6:8 – 9:31)
- 3. Gentiles in Antioch (9:32 – 12:24)
- 4. Asia Minor (12:25 – 16:5)
- 5. Europe 16:6 – 19:20)
- 6. Rome (19:21 – 28:31)
Where each of the verses quoted above closes the section outlined.
Or is it possible there are three patterns working at once here to convey a deeper message to us. I intend to leave this puzzle with you as a problem to keep before you as we progress through the book of Acts. I have inserted a list of the segments or pericopes for the whole of Acts so you have the full summary of what Acts contains and can use that to determine if there are any patterns to the way Luke laid out or structured the Book of Acts. We will look at this in summary at the end. But I will make comment about it as I did when we worked our way through Luke’s gospel from his Lesser Interpolation to the Greater Interpolation and all the shared material (Harmonised Sections) in between. I will do the same with each segment of Luke. Each time we come to the end of one of these sections.
A List of Pericope:
1. The Connection Between the Work of the Apostles and That of Jesus (Act_1:1-11)
2. The Equipment of the Early Disciples for Their Task (Acts 1:12 Through 2:47)
- (a) The disciples obeying Christ’s parting command (Act_1:12 -44)
- (b) The place of Judas filled (Act_1:15-26)
- (c) Miraculous manifestations of the presence of the Holy Spirit (Act_2:1-13)
- (d) Peter’s interpretation of the situation (Acts 2:14-36)
- (e) The immediate effect of the sermon (Act_2:37-41)
- (f) The new spirit in the Christian community (Act_2:42-47)
3. The Development of the Work in Jerusalem (Acts 3:1 Through 8:1a)
- (a) An incident in the work of Peter and John with Peter’s apologetic (Acts 3)
- (b) Opposition of the Sadducees aroused by the preaching of the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 4:1-31)
- (c) An internal difficulty, the problem of poverty (Acts 4:32 through 5:11)
- (d) Great progress of the cause in the city (Act_5:12-16)
- (e) Renewed hostility of the Sadducees and Gamaliel’s retort to the Pharisees (Acts 5:17-42)
- (f) A crisis in church life and the choice of the seven Hellenists (Act_6:1-7)
- (g) Stephen’s spiritual interpretation of Christianity stirs the antagonism of the Pharisees and leads to his violent death (Acts 6:8 through 8:1a)
4. The Compulsory Extension of the Gospel to Judea, Samaria and the Neighboring Regions (Acts 8:1b-40)
- (a) The great persecution, with Saul as leader (Act_8:1-4)
- (b) Philip’s work as a notable example of the work of the scattered disciples (Acts 8:5-40)
5. The Conversion of Saul Changes the Whole Situation for Christianity (Acts 9:1-31)
- (a) Saul’s mission to Damascus (Act_9:1-3)
- (b) Saul stopped in his hostile course and turns Christian himself (Act_9:4-18)
- (c) Saul becomes a powerful exponent of the gospel in Damascus and Jerusalem (Act_9:19-30)
- (d) The church has peace (Act_9:31)
6. The Door Opened to the Gentiles, Both Roman and Greek (Acts 9:32 Through 11:30)
- (a) Peter’s activity in this time of peace (Act_9:32-43)
- (b) The appeal from Cornelius in Caesarea and Peter’s response (Acts 10)
- (c) Peter’s arraignment before the Pharisaic element in the church in Jerusalem (Acts 11:1-18)
- (d) Greeks in Antioch are converted and Barnabas brings Saul to this work (Act_11:19-26)
- (e) The Greek Christians send relief to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem (Act_11:27-30)
7. Persecution from the Civil Government (Acts 12)
- (a) Herod Agrippa I kills James and imprisons Peter (Acts 12:1-19)
- (b) Herod pays the penalty for his crimes (Act_12:20-23)
- (c) Christianity prospers (Act_12:24)
8. The Gentile Propaganda from Antioch Under the Leadership of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13 Through 14)
- (a) The specific call of the Holy Spirit to this work (Act_13:1-3)
- (b) The province of Cyprus and the leadership of Paul (Act_13:4-12)
- (c) The province of Pamphylia and the desertion of John Mark (Act_13:13)
- (d) The province of Galatia (Pisidia and Lycaonia) and the stronghold of the gospel upon the native population (Acts 13:14 through 14:24)
- (e) The return and report to Antioch (Act_14:25-28)
9. The Gentile Campaign Challenged by the Judaizers (Acts 15:1-35)
- (a) They meet Paul and Barnabas at Antioch who decide to appeal to Jerusalem (Act_15:1-3)
- (b) The first public meeting in Jerusalem (Act_15:4)
- (c) The second and more extended discussion with the decision of the conference (Acts 15:6-29)
- (d) The joyful reception (in Antioch) of the victory of Paul and Barnabas (Act_15:30-35)
10. The Second Great Campaign Extending to Europe (Acts 15:36 Through 18:22)
- (a) The breach between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark (Act_15:36-39)
- (b) From Antioch to Troas with the Macedonian Cry (Acts 15:40 through 16:10)
- (c) In Philippi in Macedonia the gospel gains a foothold in Europe, but meets opposition (Acts 16:11-40)
- (d) Paul is driven also from Thessalonica and Berea (compare Philippi), cities of Macedonia also (Act_17:1-15)
- (e) Paul’s experience in Athens (Acts 17:16-34)
- (f) In Corinth Paul spends nearly two years and the cause of Christ wins legal recognition from the Roman governor (Acts 18:1-17)
- (g) The return to Antioch by way of Ephesus, Caesarea and probably Jerusalem (Act_18:18-22)
11. The Third Great Tour, with Ephesus as Headquarters (Acts 18:23 Through 20:3)
- (a) Paul in Galatia and Phrygia again (Act_18:23)
- (b) Apollos in Ephesus before Paul comes (Act_18:24-28)
- (c) Paul’s three years in Ephesus (Acts 19:1 through 20:1a)
- (d) The brief visit to Corinth because of the troubles there (Act_20:1-3)
12. Paul Turns to Jerusalem Again with Plans for Rome (Acts 20:4 Through 21:16)
- (a) His companions (Act_20:4)
- (b) Rejoined by Luke at Philippi (Act_20:5)
- (c) The story of Troas (Act_20:7-12)
- (d) Coasting along Asia (Act_20:13-16)
- (e) with the Ephesian elders at Miletus (Acts 20:17-38)
- (f) From Miletus to Tyre (Act_21:1-6)
- (g) From Tyre to Caesarea (Act_21:7-14)
- (h) From Caesarea to Jerusalem (Act_21:15)
13. The Outcome in Jerusalem (Acts 21:15 Through 23:30)
- (a) Paul’s reception by the brethren (Act_21:15-17)
- (b) Their proposal of a plan by Which Paul could undo the work of the Judaizers concerning him in Jerusalem (Act_21:18-26)
- (c) The uproar in the temple courts raised by the Jews from Asia as Paul Was carrying out the plan to disarm the Judaizers (Act_21:27-30)
- (d) Paul’s rescue by the Roman captain and Paul’s defense to the Jewish mob (Acts 21:31 through 22:23)
- (e) Examination of the chief captain (Act_22:24-29)
- (f) Brought before the Sanhedrin (Acts 22:30 through 23:10)
- (g) Cheered by the Lord Jesus (Act_23:11)
- (h) Paul’s escape from the plot of Jewish conspirators (Acts 23:12-30)
14. Paul A Prisoner in Caesarea (Acts 23:31-26:32)
- (a) The flight to Caesarea and presentation to Felix (Act_23:31-35)
- (b) Paul’s appearance before Felix (Acts 24)
- (c) Paul before Festus (Act_25:1-12)
- (d) Paul, as a matter of curiosity and courtesy, brought before Herod Agrippa II (Acts 25:13 through 26:32)
15. Paul Going to Rome (Acts 27:1 Through 28:15)
- (a) From Caesarea to Myra (Act_27:1-5)
- (b) From Myra to Fair Havens (Act_27:6-8)
- (c) From Fair Havens to Malta (Acts 27:9 through 28:10)
- (d) From Malta to Rome (Act_28:11-15)
16. Paul in Rome At Last (Acts 28:16-31)
- (a) His quarters (Act_28:16)
- (b) His first interview with the Jews (Act_28:17-22)
- (c) His second interview with the Jews (Act_28:23-28)
Of course you don’t have to stick to the pericopes laid out above; you might not agree with them. I might not agree with David Pawson. I haven’t got to sectioning Acts into the segments we will deal with yet. This is all be LIVE as we make our way through Acts. Relax and enjoy it.
To do good Bible study you need to follow the author’s thread or point they are making. Don’t stop too soon.
Ian Vail
(S)he who finds their own Gems comes alive to Bible study. Capture the thrill of digging deeper in God’s Word and you will never be the same.
Ian Vail
Linger long and often in his presence. Meditate on his grace. Ponder his love. Memorize his words. Study His Word.
Max Lucado
My relationship with God is only as deep as my relationship to His Word.
Robb Thompson