A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

Ses s i on 5: The Ac t s of the Apos t l es : The Propagat i on of Chr i s t

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6. The core of the Kerygma : the life and work of Jesus, with particular emphasis on his conflicts, suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead .

B. Speeches and sermons in Acts

1. One-fifth of the book is devoted to sermons about the Lord Jesus ( local conditions reflect how the one true Gospel concerning God’s grace in Jesus of Nazareth gets delivered , e.g., Mars Hill [Acts 17] versus Stephen’s address to the Sanhedrin [Acts 7]).

2. A basic pattern with considerable variety in the speeches, but all focusing on God’s new and completed work in the person of Jesus of Nazareth

3. The primary interest theologically: the activity of the Holy Spirit, given to the Church in order that she might through the apostles bear witness of the salvation of God now made available through faith in Jesus of Nazareth

C. Critical elements in the propagation of Christ in the book of Acts

1. The chosen apostles of Jesus, those eyewitnesses of his humility and glory, have been charged with the solemn obligation to be witnesses of Jesus, and supply the tradition and truth for the believing community.

a. They are a witness to his resurrection, Acts 1.21-22 – So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [22] beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us – one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.