INTRODUCTION: Acts in general, and Acts chapter 2 in particular, has been called the "Hub of the Bible." It is certainly central to our understanding of the New Testament.

BODY
I. THE BOOK OF ACTS IS A LINK BETWEEN THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND THE EPISTLES.
 

A. The writer connects it to the Gospels.

1. Luke 1:1_4 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, "2" just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, "3" it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, "4" that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. 

2. Acts 1:1_3 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, "2" until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, "3" to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

3. Luke ends his gospel with Jesus preparing to go back to Heaven and begins Acts with Jesus ascending into Heaven. (Luke 24:59; Acts 1:9)

4. Luke's gospel ends with the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49) and in Acts it shows the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1).

B. The end of Acts links with the epistles.

1. It charts the early growth of the church and tells us about the beginning of the churches of Philippi, Corinth, Thessalonica, and Rome.

2. It ends with Paul facing a trial in Rome for his life. The epistles show Paul released and wanting to go back to Rome to minister to the church there.

C. Acts is essential to the understanding of the rest of the New Testament.

1. It gives the beginning of the church, and a history of the church as it began to reach out to the Roman world.

2. It tells us what we need to do to be saved.

A. The beginning of the church.

1. Acts chapter 2

2. Acts 2:47- "praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

B. The bringing in of the Gentiles.

1. Acts 10:28, 34-35 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.... Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

2. Acts 11:17_18 "If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?" "18" When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."

C. Christians wearing the name Christian

1. Isaiah 62:2 - "The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name."

2. Acts 11:22- "Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch."

D. The first martyr for Christ.

1. Acts 7:54_60 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. "55" But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, "56" and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" "57" Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; "58" and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. "59" And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." "60" Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

(Four examples - there are more in Acts)

A. On the day of Pentecost.

1. Acts 2:36_38 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." "37" Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" "38" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

B. The Samaritans

1. Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

C. The Ethiopian treasurer

1. Acts 8:35_39 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. "36" Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" "37" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." "38" So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. "39" Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

D. Saul of Tarsus (His conversion is recorded on one occasion and recounted twice later in Acts)

1. Acts 9:6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

2. Acts 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' 

STUDIES OF BASICS:
Intoduction
Existence of God
Creation of Mankind
Epistles- Christ's Messages to the Church
Book of Acts
The Inspiration of The Bible
The Inspiration of The Bible (Part 2)
The Life & Mission of Christ
The New Testament
The Book of Revelation -- Victory