How a small sect became a global movement.

In one generation Acts traces, spirit powered witness from

Jerusalem to Rome through ordinary people who couldn't be stopped.

This is Seek Go Create.

You're listening to read the New Testament in 90 days, 27 books in order in context.

We're walking through the New Testament, the way it was written, so you can

hear it the way the first churches.

Did make sure before we get going here, we've got a lot of

information in this episode.

Make sure you get the reading plan K two M Foundation slash 1890.

I'm gonna try to move quickly here Today's stop is Acts.

We just finished up Luke, and now we stay with Luke, his second part.

Same author, same audience, same project.

Luke and Acts is one story in two volumes.

What Jesus began to do in the gospel.

Luke, he continues to do through his followers here in Acts.

Alright, let's talk about some key facts here.

first of all, the altar was Luke.

Of course.

This is the sequel to his gospel.

I'm excited.

In the reading plan, we're able to put the two back to back.

I think many times we read them separately.

And, the years fell when they were written where it was close enough.

There's a batch of things going on right now.

So we put AX together.

We're right around AD 62.

And the audience, interestingly enough, is.

An individual Theophilus.

That's who it says that was, that it was written to.

We don't know exactly who he was, but Luke calls him most excellent.

A word called Este.

The same title used for Roman officials like Felix and Festus.

That suggests he may have been a magistrate or an official, possibly

one connected to Paul's case.

We'll mention something in just a moment.

The setting 32 years post resurrection.

The story spans from 80 30 about the time of the cross and resurrection

all the way up to present.

So current 80 62, which it sort of ends abruptly, but that also is gonna back up.

Something I'm gonna say in just a moment.

The temple is still standing in Jerusalem and it's still eight

years away from that being.

Destroyed.

Here's some historical context.

In Rome, we're gonna see multiple emperors across the narrative.

Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero.

All throughout the, the history I guess of, of acts, Paul ends under house

arrest in Rome and Nero is on the throne.

At that time, so when it was released, it would've been Nero, Jerusalem.

The temple is intact throughout the story of Acts.

We do get some major items like Stephen is martyred, James is

executed, believers are scattered.

the church, this is what's beautiful about Acts.

We see the church go from about 120 people in an upper room to communities

that are scattered across the Roman Empire, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria,

Antioch, Galatia, Macedonia, Ukiah, Rome.

They're everywhere.

And that is what I love about acts.

We just see the spread of this body of people during this time, the tension.

We really see it here.

We've discussed it in other areas, but there's opposition from the Sanhedrin, the

synagogues, pagan mobs, yet persecution, scatters, and spreads the gospel.

Why now Luke writes, as Paul Awaits trial, the story ends open because

it's not over all right, and here's something that I wanna bring up.

Is this a legal brief?

Some scholars see Luke and acts as a two volume defense for Paul.

Notice how Roman officials consistently find Jesus and Paul.

Innocent throughout both volumes.

If Theophilus is connected to Paul's case, Luke is giving him everything he

needs to understand who these Christians are and why they're no threat to Rome.

I wanna be upfront.

this is.

Serious when I say this, there is no hard evidence for who Theophilus

was or why Luke wrote, but as I've been reading it more and more, I've

been operating under the assumption that it has a legal document.

Aspect to it for a defense of Paul.

And let me just say, if you wanna read it in that perspective, I don't

think it's gonna mess it up for you.

In fact, I think it's really gonna cause it to pop for you.

It really, really does make some sense in that area.

So don't take my word for it.

I'm not making a doctrine out of it, or saying that's what you need to do.

I'm just giving you something that I've speculated on and

I think it has some merit.

I've been reading it as that, and once you see it, I can tell you

what, it's a hard pattern to unsee.

Here's what you're going to encounter.

Acts is movement and momentum.

The spirit drives the mission forward, and also there's this just,

it doesn't have to be said, but that power of the resurrection, that thing

that separates this movement apart

Everything else is really the gasoline that keeps that engine going.

And so we hear discussions about the, the resurrection.

You hear things like Paul and others talking about, sharing the gospel.

And we have to understand that what that means is they were sharing

the good news of the gospel, which is the resurrection of Christ.

So anyway, powerful stuff.

Here's what you'll hear about Pentecost and the early signs.

The spirit comes like fire and wind.

Peter preaches 3000, believe healings and prison breaks follow Stevens

martyrdom and the scattering the.

First Christian martyr eyes.

Saul guards the coats while they do it in the, mid to early thirties.

Persecution scatters believers, and wherever they go, they preach.

The persecutor becomes an apostle Saul of Tarsus meets the risen Christ.

I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

Luke later calls him Paul.

As the mission shifts to gentile territory, the Gentile door

opens Peter's vision, Cornelius's household, the Jerusalem Council.

Paul's Journeys, three missionary journeys, planting

churches across the empire.

And then there's what many of us consider to be an unfinished ending.

Paul in Rome preaching with all boldness and without hindrance.

And then Roman officials declare innocence.

Galileo dismisses charges.

Festus and Agrippa agree.

Paul has done nothing deserving death.

Luke is building a case.

Jesus warnings fulfilled in real time.

Stephen was martyred right around 80 30.

We mentioned that earlier.

James be headed around 80 44.

The famine under Claudius 80 46 to 48 in Luke's gospel.

Jesus warned it would happen within this generation in Acts, Luke

shows Theophilus it's happening.

No verdict, no conclusion because this story isn't quite over.

Let's look again at this Theophilus lens, the audience.

That's what we're attempting to do in this reading.

The New Testament context is put ourselves as best we can

in the seat of the audience.

As you read, put yourself in Theophilus place.

Luke has given you two volumes of evidence.

Eyewitnesses, miracles, transformed lives, unstoppable expansion.

Now you have to decide, did it happen?

Who is this?

Jesus, and who is this?

Paul?

A dangerous criminal or faithful witness to a risen king.

Now let's read acts over the next six sessions.

You'll be able to read the story of the early church.

Try to read it again, try to group it together if you can.

But You've got six sessions that you can read that in.

What comes up next?

Oh, another great one, Hebrews.

the warning to not turn back Jesus is better than everything.

You might go back to.

Make sure you remember to go to K two M Foundation slash NT 90 and once again,

keep sharing this with a friend who might want to read scripture with context.

Now, before you read, let's set the scene.

It is AD 62.

You are Theophilus.

A scroll has arrived.

The second one from Luke the first told you who Jesus was.

This one tells you what happened next.

You unroll it.

32 years of history from an upper room in Jerusalem to communities

across the empire, persecution, prison breaks, famines, martyrs, and

through it all, unstoppable expansion.

And now Paul, the man whose trial may cross your desk awaits verdict in Rome.

Luke has given you everything you need.

The witnesses, the evidence, the pattern.

Now you read the case and you decide.