What was the Early Church?
We start our study of the New Testament not with the gospels, the initial books in the canon passed down to us, but rather with the Book of Acts, the sole book of history in the New Testament. As such, Acts sets the historical context during which the New Testament was written and gives us our best glimpse into early Christianity in the 1st century.
Bible Lab 1 – Luke’s Two-Volume Project
The book of Acts is actually the second volume of a two part work, Luke-Acts, of which the gospel of Luke is the first part. Let’s explore a bit about what Luke was attempting to accomplish with these texts.
- Read the introductions to both books: Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1:1-5. What do you learn from these passages about what Luke was trying to do in writing these books?
- What problems might Luke have been trying to address?
- Think about someone who has been profoundly important in your own life. If you were to write an account of what that person did, what would you include and emphasize?
Bible Lab 2 – A First Look at Paul’s Preaching
In Acts 13:16-41 Luke records one of Paul’s early sermons, preached in a synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia (not to be confused with the Antioch on the Mediterranean coast!).
- What aspects of Paul’s sermon suggest that his audience is Jewish?
- What are some ways that Paul attempts to convince his audience that Jesus is the Christ?
- What does Paul claim that Jesus did that Moses and the Law could not do?
- How did the people respond to Paul’s sermon?
- (Optional) If you read on to the end of chapter 13, you’ll find that Paul was invited back the next week to preach again. What happened this time?
Bible Lab 3 – The Jerusalem Council
Luke describes this famous Council in Acts 15:1-21.
- What was the position of the “men who came down from Judea?” (verse 1)
- Why might these people have held this position? What was important to them?
- What was Paul’s position? What was important to him?
- Who does Luke record as arguing for Paul’s position? What might be the reason?
- Which prophet is quoted in verses 16-18? (Hint: use your study Bible!)
- If we held a “Jerusalem Council” today, what might the issues be?
Next up: Session 7 – What are Paul’s Letters?
