The Acts of the Apostles Week 1—An Overview I. Luke/Acts—companion books A. Who was Luke? 1) Where did he get his information? B. Who was Theophilus? C. Why is Acts so important? 1) The only book of “history” in the New Testament 2) Where it fits in Salvation History 3) The “Gospel” of the Holy Spirit or the “Gospel” of the Church II. Acts A. Basic Structure - 1:8 - take the gospel to: 1) Jerusalem - chapters 2-7 2) Judea - chapters 8-12 3) uttermost parts of the earth (Rome) - chapters 13-28 B. Theological contributions 1) Why Second Coming is delayed 2) Ground mission to Gentiles in Jesus and the apostles 3) Elaborate doctrine of the Holy Spirit 4) Ground Christianity in O.T. 5) Church is "New Israel" C. Special Language 1) Jesus is Lord (Adoni - Yahweh - God) 2) Holy Spirit 3) Salvation D. Personalities: 1) Peter 2) Stephen 3) Phillip 4) Paul E. Purpose: 1) To show founding fathers as human 2) To show missions strategy 3) To show function of the Church III. New Testament Historical background A. 400 year intertestamental period 1) 539 Babylonian Empire defeated by Persians 2) 449 Nehemiah oversees rebuilding of Wall of Jerusalem. Books of the Law once again read to the people (under Nehemiah). Four important developments during the Persian rule: a) 200 years of peace in Palestine and relative autonomy - Israel become a nation again. b) Davidic lineage rule drops out of importance - replaced by rule of Zadokic High Priest rule (Zadok was Solomon's high Priest). c) Concern for the Law becomes primary in absence of any Prophets. d) Samaritan schism occurs.
The Acts of the Apostles Fall 2020 Rev. Kevin C. Rudolph
3) 334-331 Alexander the Great defeats Persian Empire - including Palestine. Tries to turn whole world Greek—Hellenization 4) 323 Alexander the Great dies. 5) 323 Alexander's empire is divided amongst his four generals. Ptolemy I founded the Ptolemaic dynasty this year with its capitol in Egypt. Controlled Judaea until 198 BC. 6) 198 Seleucid Empire (another general of Alexander's founded this empire in 312 BC, with its capital in Antioch) takes control of Judaea. 7) 190 Seleucid Empire defeated by Rome, forced to pay indemnity (protection). 8) 175 Jason, brother of High Priest Onias III, buys the position of High Priest from Antiochus IV, King of the Seleucid Empire - Anitochus IV was a zealous Hellenizer. 9) 171 Menelaus buys High Priest position from Antiochus IV and ends the line of true (Zadokite) High Priests. 10) 168 Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) tried to take Egypt - stopped by Roman intervention; same time Jews try to get rid of Menelaus - Antiochus stops them. 11) 167 Antiochus treats revolt as rebellion, destroys Jerusalem's walls, abolishes temple constitution, tries to Hellenize Jerusalem, sets up idol worship in the temple - "abomination of desolation" - orders death to any who continue to practice Jewish faith. 12) 167-164 Abomination of Desolation 13) 167-164 Mattathias, a priest from Hasmonaean family and his five sons (Judas Maccabaeus the most famous) fight and win guerilla warfare with Royal armies - Antiochus rescinds ban on Jewish religion, returns temple 164 BC. 14) 167-164 The Hasidim ("pious ones") were group which fought with Maccabbees - they were against Hellenization. The Pharisees, Saducees and Essenes all trace their roots to the Hasidim. 15) 164-142 Maccabees continue fight for 20 years, win back independence under Simon, last son of Mattathias. 16) 142 Simon of Hasmonaen family elected High Priest. 17) 134-104 Simon's son Hyrcanus takes over. 18) 103-76 Hyrcanus' son Jannaeus takes over as High Priest. Extended Judea almost to size of old united monarchy of David and Solomon. 19) 76-67 Salome Alexandra (wife of Jannaeus) is civil ruler. Her reign was time of great peace. Her oldest son Hyrcanus II was High Priest. 20) 67-63 Civil war between Hyrcanus II (unambitious man, controlled by a clever Idumaean counselor Antipater), and Aristobulus II, youngest son of Salome. Both appeal to Rome for assistance. Roman General Pompey comes in and takes over for Rome in 63 BC 21) 64 Pompey puts end to Seleucid Empire. 22) 63 Pompey defiles the Temple by going into the Holy of Holies. 23) 48 Julius Caesar defeats Pompey. 24) 47 Caesar appoints Antipater (for his help) Procurator of Judaea. 25) 44 Caesar assasinated. 26) 42 Phasael and Herod (sons of Antipater) appointed joint tetrachs of Judaea by
The Acts of the Apostles Fall 2020 Rev. Kevin C. Rudolph victorioous Octavian and Anthony (when they defeated Brutus and Cassius at Phillippi). 27) 40 Antigonus (son of Aristobulus II) takes over Jerusalem; Phasael killed; Herod flees to Rome. 28) 37 Herod returns, takes Jerusalem, has Antigonus killed, himself declared King of the Jews. 29) 37 Herod marries Mariamme (granddaughter of Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II) putting away first wife Doris. 30) 31 Octavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra at Actium. 31) 31-27 Octavian (Augustus) brings all Roman Empire to peace. 32) 19 Herod begins reconstruction of Temple and rebuilds Jerusalem's walls. 33) 6-5 Jesus is born. 34) 5 Herod orders slaughter of male children in Bethlehem. 35) 4 Herod dies dividing his kindgom between three sons; Antipas got Galilee and Peraea, Archelaus, got Judaea, and Philip got territory north and east of Galilee. 36) 6 AD Archelaus so oppressive Augustus disposes him and makes Judaea a Roman Province. 37) 4-36 Herod Antipas rules Galilee (40 years). 38) 14 Caesar Augustus dies—declared a god after his death. Tiberius (step-son of Augustus and accomplished general) becomes Caesar—reigns until 37 38) 26 Pontius Pilate named Procurator of Judaea - has several run-ins with Jews - seizes portion of Temple treasury for aqueduct for Jerusalem - Jews revolt - Pilate slaughtered revolters. 39) 30 Herod Antipas puts John the Baptist to death. 40) 31 Sejanus, Prefect of the Praetorian Guard and zealous anti-Semite, is killed; Emperor Tiberius changes to pro-Jewish; Pilate, ex-protegé to Sejanus and also anti-semite himself, begins to feel pressure. 41) 33 (?) Jesus crucified. Rose again (AMEN!). 42) 37-41 Gaius (Caligula - little boots) grandson of Dursius, Tiberius' brother, named Emperor - Gaius was mad. Gaius changed the emperorship from princeps to absolute monarchy (dictatorship - and declared divinity for himself while he was alive - he was murdered by the Praetorian Guard.) 44) 41-54 Dursus' son Claudius appointed Emperor by Praetorian Guard; he was a good emperor and builder; put civil service back in shape. After a riot between Jews and Christians, Claudius expels all Jews from Rome. Messalina and Agrippina, two of Claudius' wives, were evil women. Agrippina murdered Claudius, but first got Claudius to name her line as heir (her son was Nero). Nero became emperor and had Agrippina killed. 45) 41-44 Herod Agrippa I, King of the Jews, time of relative stability. 46) 44-66 Judaea back under direct Roman rule. 47) 64 Great fire of Rome 48) 65 Martyrdom of Paul and Peter 49) 66 Israel revolts against Nero. 50) 68 Nero commits suicide. 51) 69 Four generals bid for Roman Emperorship - Vespian overcomes and becomes Emperor. 52) 66-70 Jewish war against Roman rule. 53) 70 Jerusalem falls - temple at Jerusalem smashed.
The Acts of the Apostles Fall 2020 Rev. Kevin C. Rudolph