Syllabus – Acts
Instructor: Russ Earl
PURPOSE:
An in-depth study of the book including:
The spread of the Gospel
Conversion accounts
The council at Jerusalem
TEXTBOOKS:
King James Version and/or American Standard Version
Bob Winton commentary on Acts - (Free - Required)
Max Patterson Commentary on Acts - (Strongly Recommended)
J.W. McGarvey's Original Commentary on Acts (Free - Suggested)
ACCENTUATING ACTS by Tom Holland (Free - Suggested)
For info about book orders please visit our book orders page.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Read the material to be covered according to the schedule ahead of time.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You will be required to keep a notebook for each class period
There will be exams throughout the semester after each chapter
SCHEDULE:
Classes meet each Saturday for 18 weeks, 36 sessions, beginning the first Saturday in August through the third Saturday in December.
Part One: The Church Begins in Jerusalem
1 Acts 1:1–11 Introduction to Acts, the forty days, the Great Commission, and Christ’s ascension
2 Acts 1:12–26 The disciples in Jerusalem and the selection of Matthias
3 Acts 2:1–21 The apostles receive the Holy Spirit on Pentecost
4 Acts 2:22–41 Peter’s sermon and the establishment of the church
5 Acts 2:42–47 The worship, fellowship, growth, and daily life of the early church
6 Acts 3:1–26 The healing of the lame man and Peter’s sermon at the temple
7 Acts 4:1–22 Peter and John arrested and brought before the Jewish council
8 Acts 4:23–37 The church prays for boldness and demonstrates generosity
9 Acts 5:1–16 Ananias and Sapphira and the continuing signs of the apostles
10 Acts 5:17–42 The apostles imprisoned, delivered, threatened, and beaten
11 Acts 6:1–15 The appointment of the seven and the arrest of Stephen
12 Acts 7:1–29 Stephen’s defense: Abraham, Joseph, and the early life of Moses
13 Acts 7:30–60 Stephen’s defense continued and his death as the first Christian martyr
Part Two: The Gospel Spreads Through Judea and Samaria
14 Acts 8:1–25 Persecution scatters the church; Philip preaches in Samaria; Simon the sorcerer
15 Acts 8:26–40 Philip teaches and baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch
16 Acts 9:1–31 The conversion of Saul and the beginning of his preaching
17 Acts 9:32–43 Peter heals Aeneas and raises Dorcas from the dead
18 Acts 10:1–23 Cornelius receives instructions, and Peter receives the vision
19 Acts 10:24–48 Peter preaches to Cornelius and the first Gentile household obeys the gospel
20 Acts 11:1–30 Peter explains the conversion of the Gentiles; the church at Antioch grows
21 Acts 12:1–25 James is killed, Peter is delivered from prison, and Herod dies
Part Three: Paul’s First Missionary Journey
22 Acts 13:1–25 Barnabas and Saul are sent from Antioch; Cyprus and Antioch of Pisidia
23 Acts 13:26–52 Paul’s sermon completed; Jewish rejection and Gentile reception
24 Acts 14:1–28 Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Paul’s stoning, and the return to Antioch
25 Acts 15:1–35 The Jerusalem meeting and the controversy over circumcision
26 Acts 15:36–41 Paul and Barnabas separate and prepare for further missionary work
Part Four: Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
27 Acts 16:1–15 Timothy joins Paul; the Macedonian call; Lydia’s conversion
28 Acts 16:16–40 Paul and Silas imprisoned; the conversion of the Philippian jailer
29 Acts 17:1–15 Paul preaches in Thessalonica and Berea
30 Acts 17:16–34 Paul’s sermon at Athens
31 Acts 18:1–22 Paul in Corinth, opposition from the Jews, and the conclusion of the second journey
Part Five: Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
32 Acts 18:23–19:20 Apollos, the disciples at Ephesus, and the triumph of the gospel over magic
33 Acts 19:21–41 The riot in Ephesus and the opposition of Demetrius
34 Acts 20:1–38 Paul’s travels, Eutychus, and Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders
Part Six: Paul’s Arrest and Journey to Rome
35 Acts 21:1–26:32 Paul’s return to Jerusalem, arrest, defenses, trials, and appeal to Caesar
36 Acts 27:1–28:31 The voyage, shipwreck, Malta, arrival in Rome, and the gospel preached without hindrance
Instructor: Russ Earl
PURPOSE:
An in-depth study of the book including:
The spread of the Gospel
Conversion accounts
The council at Jerusalem
TEXTBOOKS:
King James Version and/or American Standard Version
Bob Winton commentary on Acts - (Free - Required)
Max Patterson Commentary on Acts - (Strongly Recommended)
J.W. McGarvey's Original Commentary on Acts (Free - Suggested)
ACCENTUATING ACTS by Tom Holland (Free - Suggested)
For info about book orders please visit our book orders page.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Read the material to be covered according to the schedule ahead of time.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You will be required to keep a notebook for each class period
There will be exams throughout the semester after each chapter
SCHEDULE:
Classes meet each Saturday for 18 weeks, 36 sessions, beginning the first Saturday in August through the third Saturday in December.
Part One: The Church Begins in Jerusalem
1 Acts 1:1–11 Introduction to Acts, the forty days, the Great Commission, and Christ’s ascension
2 Acts 1:12–26 The disciples in Jerusalem and the selection of Matthias
3 Acts 2:1–21 The apostles receive the Holy Spirit on Pentecost
4 Acts 2:22–41 Peter’s sermon and the establishment of the church
5 Acts 2:42–47 The worship, fellowship, growth, and daily life of the early church
6 Acts 3:1–26 The healing of the lame man and Peter’s sermon at the temple
7 Acts 4:1–22 Peter and John arrested and brought before the Jewish council
8 Acts 4:23–37 The church prays for boldness and demonstrates generosity
9 Acts 5:1–16 Ananias and Sapphira and the continuing signs of the apostles
10 Acts 5:17–42 The apostles imprisoned, delivered, threatened, and beaten
11 Acts 6:1–15 The appointment of the seven and the arrest of Stephen
12 Acts 7:1–29 Stephen’s defense: Abraham, Joseph, and the early life of Moses
13 Acts 7:30–60 Stephen’s defense continued and his death as the first Christian martyr
Part Two: The Gospel Spreads Through Judea and Samaria
14 Acts 8:1–25 Persecution scatters the church; Philip preaches in Samaria; Simon the sorcerer
15 Acts 8:26–40 Philip teaches and baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch
16 Acts 9:1–31 The conversion of Saul and the beginning of his preaching
17 Acts 9:32–43 Peter heals Aeneas and raises Dorcas from the dead
18 Acts 10:1–23 Cornelius receives instructions, and Peter receives the vision
19 Acts 10:24–48 Peter preaches to Cornelius and the first Gentile household obeys the gospel
20 Acts 11:1–30 Peter explains the conversion of the Gentiles; the church at Antioch grows
21 Acts 12:1–25 James is killed, Peter is delivered from prison, and Herod dies
Part Three: Paul’s First Missionary Journey
22 Acts 13:1–25 Barnabas and Saul are sent from Antioch; Cyprus and Antioch of Pisidia
23 Acts 13:26–52 Paul’s sermon completed; Jewish rejection and Gentile reception
24 Acts 14:1–28 Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Paul’s stoning, and the return to Antioch
25 Acts 15:1–35 The Jerusalem meeting and the controversy over circumcision
26 Acts 15:36–41 Paul and Barnabas separate and prepare for further missionary work
Part Four: Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
27 Acts 16:1–15 Timothy joins Paul; the Macedonian call; Lydia’s conversion
28 Acts 16:16–40 Paul and Silas imprisoned; the conversion of the Philippian jailer
29 Acts 17:1–15 Paul preaches in Thessalonica and Berea
30 Acts 17:16–34 Paul’s sermon at Athens
31 Acts 18:1–22 Paul in Corinth, opposition from the Jews, and the conclusion of the second journey
Part Five: Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
32 Acts 18:23–19:20 Apollos, the disciples at Ephesus, and the triumph of the gospel over magic
33 Acts 19:21–41 The riot in Ephesus and the opposition of Demetrius
34 Acts 20:1–38 Paul’s travels, Eutychus, and Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders
Part Six: Paul’s Arrest and Journey to Rome
35 Acts 21:1–26:32 Paul’s return to Jerusalem, arrest, defenses, trials, and appeal to Caesar
36 Acts 27:1–28:31 The voyage, shipwreck, Malta, arrival in Rome, and the gospel preached without hindrance