Last week we went through a simple outline of the book of Matthew – the Gospel to the Jews, showing Jesus as Messiah. All the gospel accounts of the Life of Christ are transitional in that they transition from Old Testament to New Testament, through the life of Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection as the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Hebrews 9 gives us a clearer understanding concerning Christ as the Testator. The New Testament began with the death of the Testator.
Today, we quickly went through the Book of Acts, that transitions the church age from Jew to Gentile. It begins in Jerusalem with the apostles and transitions to a focus on Antioch and reaching the Gentile world. We saw the transition occur through three great questions:
1. The Jews at the feast of Pentecost, hearing Peter’s message asked “What shall we do?” in Acts 2:37
Peter responded with the same message of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:1-2, 11. Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2. The apostle to the Gentiles was saved in Acts 9, and asked the question of a humble, obedient servant in Acts 9:6: And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Paul began his new life in Christ, understanding that the Lord had a plan for his life — take the gospel to the world.
3. The final question in Acts revealing that the focus of this book of the history of the first century church is found in Acts 16:30-31: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
The Philippian jailor brought salvation in the Dispensation of Grace to full light. Acts begins with “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins,” to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Chapters 1-7 is fully focused on the church at Jerusalem and reaching the Jews. Stephen was stoned to death in chapter 7, closing the door of opportunity for the nation of Israel to repent. The first opportunity was the message of John the Baptist, but he was beheaded in Matthew 14, and the second opportunity was the message of Jesus Christ, but they crucified him.
In chapter 8, the Ethiopian Eunuch believes and is baptized.
In chapter 9, the apostle to the Gentiles is saved and separated to the gospel.
In chapter 10, Cornelius and his band of Gentiles are saved through Peter’s message.
From chapter 11 to the end of Acts, the focus is reaching the Gentile world and the main church operation comes out of Antioch, where believers were first called Christians.
Acts 11:26