Evangelistic Sermons in Acts

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Evangelistic Sermons in Acts

John Hepp, Jr.

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Evangelistic Sermons in Acts

John Hepp, Jr.

 

What is the gospel, the
church’s message of good news for the unconverted? There are
four books called “Gospels.” Is the gospel presented
clearly in them? In all of them or only in John? In Romans? Or
where? Wherever else we find it, the gospel must surely be clear in
the Book of Acts, God’s authoritative account of the church’s
amazing beginning. Fully as inspired as the Gospels and the
epistles, Acts accurately reports the apostolic words as well as
deeds. The church, “built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets” (Eph. 2:20), must continue to preach their
message. This study considers the gospel they preached, according to
Acts.

 

Acts
does not lack for summaries of evangelistic sermons (messages
attempting to convert the hearers). As already suggested, these
summaries are accurate; they report what was said without adding or
subtracting anything essential. Furthermore, their content is
different from our modern Western evangelistic preaching. The
purpose of this study is to analyze those sermons and discover their
pattern.

In
this study there are three sections entitled Comments, Contents, and
Conclusions. Comments mostly explain key terms in Acts. Comments are in
the order of the first use of those terms in Acts. Many of the same
terms are marked with an asterisk (*) in Contents. Contents explore
all the sermons in three groups based on the lengths of their
summaries in Acts. That section ends with a summary of the “Main Teachings of the Evangelistic Sermons in Acts.” Conclusions are my own. Please study the
Comments and each sermon for yourself before you evaluate my
Conclusions. Scripture quotations are from the New American
Standard Bible with one change: Instead of the title Christ
I use the equivalent, Messiah.
In this way I attempt to retain the original reference to the
promised King.

Comments

Acts
1:3, 6; 8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31. The
kingdom. Also
see the comments on 3:12-26 and 3:19-21. During His forty days of
post-resurrection ministry, Jesus taught His disciples “about
the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). No one doubts that the
disciples had material and political views of the kingdom God had
promised, views derived from many prophecies in Scripture. Did they
understand the prophecies? At least after the forty days they
should, for Jesus “opened their minds so they could understand
the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45). Did this new understanding
change their views about Jesus’ main topic, the kingdom?
Certainly not. To them the kingdom was still future and political,
as seen by their question just before He ascended to heaven. They
asked if He was about to “restore the kingdom to Israel”

(Acts 1:6, NIV).

 

“Restore”
implies that the kingdom had existed before but was now in abeyance.
That could only refer to the kingdom that was the main theme of the
Old Testament, God’s former rule over the nation of Israel.
That kingdom had aspects political and material as well as spiritual.
“Restore the kingdom to Israel” implies a future for
that same kingdom over the same nation. It is just what Micah had
said to Jerusalem, “To you it will come—Even the former
dominion will come, the kingdom…” (Micah 4:8). Many
prophets had enlarged on Micah’s prediction.

 

How
did Jesus answer the disciples’ question about restoring the
kingdom? He did not correct their understanding but assured them
that the Father knows the timing (Acts 1:7). In other words, such a
kingdom will come—only God knows when. Therefore, when we
preach that Jesus is Messiah, we imply that He will someday rule in a
kingdom that is material as well as spiritual. His goal and ours is
that kingdom, as seen, for example in

Matthew 7:21-22 “Not every one who says to Me,
‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he
who does the will of My Father…Many will say to Me on that
day….”

 

Matthew 25:34 When Jesus “comes in His glory”
to “sit on His glorious throne” (v. 31), “Then the
King will say ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Acts 14:22 Paul and Barnabas returned to the new,
largely Gentile, churches and warned them that “through many
tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

 

2 Timothy 4:1 In this last letter Paul charged Timothy
“in the presence of God and of Messiah Jesus, who is to judge
the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom.”

 

Acts
2:36. The title Lord.
The basic meaning of Lord
was “Master” (one to be obeyed, as in Luke 6:46). It had
a variety of uses, from simple respect (like “sir”) to
substituting for the Hebrew name of God (Yahweh),
as it does in the quotation in Acts 2:21. When referring to Jesus,
many contexts show that it kept its basic meaning of “Master.”

In Acts 2:36, for example, God has made Jesus
Lord (the same thought as in Phil. 2:9-11). He could be made Master
but not Yahweh. Other such examples are: “Lord of the
Sabbath” (Matt. 12:8), “Lord of all” (Acts 10:36),
and the frequent use of possessive personal pronouns, such as, “my

Lord” (Matt. 22:44; 24:48; Luke 1:43; John 20:28) and “his
Lord” (Matt. 24:46; Rom. 14:4).

Acts
2:36. The title Messiah.
In Matthew 2:4 “the Messiah” clearly means the same as
“King of the Jews” 2:2. Aramaic Messiah

stands for Hebrew Mashiac,
which means “Anointed.” As a verbal adjective, this word
was used to describe the High Priest (ha-cohen
ha-mashiac, Lev. 4:3, 5, 16) as anointed with
the holy oil. When used as a substantive/title, it referred to God’s
chosen king, anointed not only with oil but with the Holy Spirit.
This was true of any legitimate king of God’s people Israel.
For example, David used it of Saul in 1 Samuel 24:6, 10. It was
especially appropriate for the promised future Ruler (as in Psalm
2:2, 6), whose full anointing is described in Isaiah 11:2. The Greek
translation of Mashiac/Messiah

was Cristos (also
meaning anointed), which in the New Testament passes into English as
Christ, as seen in John 1:41. Thus, readers
in the Greek version of the Old Testament find Cristos
(Christ) there just as
in the New Testament. In neither Testament
was it a personal name but a royal title,
which I suggest by using Messiah.

Acts
3:12-26. The title Servant.
Jesus is called God’s “Servant” (paidos)
several times in the early sermons of Acts (3:13, 26; 4:27, 30).
Though the term can also mean “child” (as translated by

KJV in 4:27, 30), it is not a normal word for “son” (KJV
in 3:13, 26). In fact, the KJV translates it “servant”
where it refers to David in Acts 4:25 and to Jesus in Matthew 12:18.
The term is used often in the Greek version of Isaiah, as a title for
the future Servant who would both suffer and rule, the Messiah. Jews
listening to the Acts sermons would recognize that meaning.
There are four prophetic “songs” by that future Servant
in Isaiah 42:1-9; 49:1-7; 50:4-11; and 52:13-53:12. Jesus
began fulfilling these Servant prophecies during His ministry, as
stated in Matthew 12:17-21, and will finish fulfilling them when He
returns to rule.

Acts
3:19-21. “Times of refreshing…from the presence of the
Lord,” “the period of restoration of all things.”
These phrases refer to the future kingdom, which will begin when
Jesus returns. The Jews also called that kingdom “the kingdom
of God” (for its Ruler) and “the kingdom of heaven”
(for its source). It drew near during Jesus’ ministry (Matt.
4:17; 10:7; Luke 10:9, 11) but was not established then, as Jesus made
clear in Luke 19:11-27. Instead, He revealed that He would come a
second time, bringing the kingdom with Him (Luke 19:12, 15; 21:31;

22:29-30). At that time He will restore all things, as described in
many prophecies (such as, Isaiah 11 and 35) and as He Himself
summarized (Matt. 19:28). Since His title Messiah
relates Him to that kingdom, and since the
church is being prepared for that kingdom (James 2:5; 1 Cor. 6:9-11),
the Christian message has to do with the kingdom.

 

Acts
4:13-22. The “Council.” This
was the supreme Jewish authority in Jerusalem, composed of the high
priest and seventy other priests, scribes, and elders.

Acts
9:20. The title
Son of God. In the Book of Acts Jesus is called the “Son
of God” only in 9:20.
In 13:33 “My
Son” is quoted from Psalm
2:7 with the same meaning. A different Greek word is sometimes translated “Son”
in 3:13 and 3:26;
for its meaning, see the comment on Acts 3:12-26.

In the KJV, which is based on
the Textus Receptus,
Acts 8:37 also calls Jesus “Son of God.” For
centuries, however, none of the Greek manuscripts had that verse. “The
earliest known New Testament manuscript that contains the words dates
from the sixth century” (Bruce Metzger, A
Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament,
Second Edition, p. 315). It is found neither in the Majority Text
(the textual family of most Greek manuscripts) nor the Alexandrian
Text (usually considered the best textual family). It is one of many
interpolations (paraphrases and additions) by the Western Text in the
Book of Acts. In fact, the verse was not even in the key medieval
manuscripts from which the Humanist Erasmus prepared the Textus
Receptus. Assuming that the verse gave a necessary explanation
omitted by careless scribes, he inserted it from the margin of
another manuscript. There are other examples of Erasmus’ using
ingenuity in place of evidence. For example, since his Greek
manuscript lacked Revelation 22:16-21, he translated those verses to
Greek from Latin. But his Latin version was defective. As a result,
he used the word “book” in 22:19 instead of “tree,”

which is found in every Greek manuscript of Revelation! These
changes continue in versions based on the Textus Receptus, such as
the KJV.

 

What
is the meaning of “Son of God” in Acts 9:20 and its
equivalent in 13:33? Certainly Jesus sometimes used the term in
reference to His deity. But it would be strange to have that message
only twice in Acts. There is another meaning for the term, one that
agrees with the other summaries in Acts: “royal Heir,”
a synonym for King or Messiah. This was its meaning (a) in many Near
Eastern coronation texts, which are reflected in Psalm 2:7; (b) in
other Old Testament Scriptures, such as, 2 Samuel 7:14, which applied
the term originally to Solomon; and (c) in the Great Confession
(Matt. 16:20).

In the three parallel accounts
of that confession, only Matthew 16:20 includes “Son of God”
as part of it (“the Messiah, the Son of God”). Mark 8:29 has only “the
Messiah,” and Luke 9:20 has “the Messiah [Anointed] of
God.” But there is no difference in meaning of the three
accounts. “Son of God” in Matthew simply states what is
already implied in “Messiah,” that He is the royal Heir.
This meaning for “Son of God” also clarifies the argument
in Hebrews 1:4-5, which says that Jesus “inherited”

(obtained by inheritance) the name “Son.” In that case
it referred to His dignity as a human, not to His deity.

 

Acts
10:42. “Judge of the living and the dead.”
This is another synonym for Messiah.
In the Bible judging normally implies all the functions of ruling.

 

Acts
10:43. “Forgiveness.” This is
the most basic need for sinners, the first of many eternal blessings.
The method for obtaining it seems exceedingly simple: “believe”

in Jesus. No human works are required—nor confession to a
human priest. However, genuine and lasting faith is required—not
merely saying “Lord” (John 8:31-32; Matt. 7:21). Such
faith involves a costly decision—to die with Jesus (Luke
9:23-26)–and is proved by
works (Matt. 7:16-23;

James 2:14-26).

 

Acts
14:15-17. When dealing with pagans, it was
necessary to lay a foundation for the gospel beginning with the God
of creation. Jews and proselytes already had that part of the
foundation.

 

Acts
17:30-31. Paul preached the bodily
resurrection even to the Athenian culture, which scorned such an
idea. It was probably part of every complete sermon (see Contents
II.1). Without the Messiah’s resurrection, implying our own,
there is no gospel and no hope (1 Cor. 15:13-18; see the next
paragraph here).

 

Acts 24:14-16. In
Acts chapters 23-26 Paul repeatedly declared that the Jewish hope is the resurrection
of the body (23:6; 24:15, 21; 26:8). “Hope” denotes confidence, not
uncertainty, about the future. Jesus had showed that eventual resurrection is
implied in God’s still being the God of the patriarchs centuries after
their death (Luke 20:27, 37-38). This is true because only in raised bodies can
they inherit His promises (1 Cor. 15:42-50).

Contents

In this study the evangelistic sermons in Acts are
considered in three categories:

 

I. Sermons summarized in Acts in two or more sentences
(also analyzed in a table)

II. Sermons summarized in Acts in a sentence or less
(listed in categories)

III. Sermons summarized by unbelievers, as reported in
Acts

  1. SERMONS SUMMARIZED IN TWO OR MORE SENTENCES IN ACTS
    (These same
    sermons are summarized in much more detail in the table at the end of
    this section.)

    2:14-40 David’s Descendant, Jesus, was attested
    by His miracles but murdered; His resurrection and ascension to
    God’s throne as predicted, prove that He is Messiah.

     

    3:12-26 After His Servant Messiah suffered as
    predicted, God raised Him; He will send Him back to restore all
    things (also as predicted) and destroy the disobedient.

    4:8-12 This man has been healed by Jesus Messiah, the
    rejected One now raised to first place.

     

    5:29-32 Though the Jewish leaders killed Jesus, God
    raised Him to be Ruler.

     

    7:2-53 (Defense) In Israel’s history God revealed
    Himself in places besides the Promised Land, did not need the temple,
    often worked through those Israel rejected.

     

    10:34-43 God’s Anointed (Messiah) did miracles
    but was crucified; by raising Him, God showed that He is the coming
    Ruler and only Savior.

     

    13:16-41 Israel’s history leads to David’s
    Descendant, the Savior, whom the Jews killed but God raised, and who
    will forgive believers but punish scoffers.

     

    14:15-17 (Pre-evangelism) Don’t worship idols
    but the good Creator.

    17:22-31 (Partly pre-evangelism) The Creator does not
    need for us to sustain Him but wants us to know Him—to turn to
    the Man about to rule, as proved by His resurrection.

     

    22:1-22 (Defense) Paul told how Jesus stopped him from
    persecuting believers and made him His witness to the Gentiles.

     

    24:10-21 (Defense) Paul claimed that the main issue in
    his ministry was God’s promise to raise the dead.

    26:1-29 (Defense) Paul told how Jesus stopped him from
    persecuting believers and made him His witness to the Gentiles—that
    Messiah has risen from the dead.

  2. Sermons Summarized in a Sentence or Less in Acts

    1. The
      resurrection       (of

      or from the dead) or
      Jesus and the resurrection

      4:2 Peter and John to people in the temple were
      “proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”

      4:33 The
      apostles “were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord
      Jesus.”

      17:18 Paul
      in Athens “was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.”

      23:6 Paul
      cried out to the Council that he was “on trial for the hope and
      resurrection of the dead.”

    2. Messiah or
      Jesus (is) Messiah

      5:42 The apostles every day in the temple and house to
      house “were teaching and preaching Jesus as Messiah.”

      8:5 Philip
      to the city of Samaria was “proclaiming Messiah.”

       

      8:12 Philip
      to the city of Samaria was “preaching the good news about the
      kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Messiah.”

       

      9:22 Paul
      to the Jews at Damascus was “proving that this Jesus is the
      Messiah.”

       

      17:3 Paul
      from Scriptures in the Jewish synagogue in Thessalonica was

      “explaining and giving evidence that the Messiah had to suffer
      and rise again from the dead” and that “this Jesus is the
      Messiah.”

       

      18:5 Paul
      to Jews—and Greeks?—in Corinth was “solemnly
      testifying…that Jesus was the Messiah.”

       

      18:28 Apollos
      refuting Jews in Achaia “was demonstrating by the Scriptures
      that Jesus was the Messiah.”

      20:21 Paul
      to Jews and Greeks in Ephesus testified “of repentance toward
      God and faith in our Lord Jesus Messiah.”

       

      24:24 Paul
      to Felix and Drusilla in Caesarea spoke about “faith in Messiah
      Jesus.”

       

      28:31 Paul
      in Rome to all who came was “preaching the kingdom of God and
      teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Messiah.”

       

    3. Jesus, or
      the Lord Jesus,       or the
      name of Jesus—      without the words Messiah
      or resurrection

      This category probably means the same as the preceding category, that
      Jesus is Messiah.

      8:35 Philip to the Ethiopian, starting in Isaiah 53,
      where the latter was reading, “preached Jesus.”

      9:15 The
      Lord Jesus told Ananias that Saul would “bear My name before
      the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.”

       

      9:28 Paul
      in Jerusalem was “speaking out…in the name of the Lord
      Jesus.”

       

      11:20 Scattered
      believers speaking in Antioch to Greeks also were “preaching
      the Lord Jesus.”

       

      16:31 Paul
      and Silas told the Philippian jailer to “believe in the Lord
      Jesus.”

      18:25 Apollos
      in Ephesus “was speaking and teaching…the things
      concerning Jesus.”

       

      19:4 Paul
      told John the Baptist’s disciples at Ephesus that John the
      Baptist told people to believe in Jesus.

       

    4. The gospel
      (=good news) or the word of the gospel—without
      specifying what gospel it is, such as of the
      kingdom       or of grace

      8:4 Philip from Ashdod to Caesarea “kept preaching
      the gospel.”

       

      14:7, 15, 21 Paul
      and Barnabas to Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding area “preached
      the gospel.”

       

      15:7 Peter
      summarized his message at Caesarea as “the word of the gospel.”

      16:10 Paul
      and his group were called to Macedonians to “preach the
      gospel.”

    5. The gospel
      (or word) of God’s
      (      or the Lord’s)
      grace

      This category makes the preceding category more specific.

      14:3 When Paul and Barnabas were at Iconium, the Lord
      was “bearing witness to the word of His grace.”

       

      20:24 Paul
      summarized his ministry received from the Lord: “to testify
      solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”

       

      20:32 Paul
      summarized his message at Ephesus: “the word of His [God’s]
      grace.”

    6. The
      kingdom,       or the
      kingdom of God,       or the
      gospel of the kingdom of God*

      Assuming that the apostles understood the kingdom
      correctly in Acts 1:6 (see the note about the kingdom), this category
      combines the meanings of the preceding categories: the good news
      that Jesus is risen, is Lord and Messiah, and will come to rule as
      predicted.

      8:12 Philip
      to the city of Samaria was “preaching the good news about the
      kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Messiah.”

      19:8 Paul
      in the synagogue at Ephesus was “reasoning and persuading them
      about the kingdom of God.”

       

      20:25 Paul
      summarized his former message in Ephesus as “preaching the
      kingdom.”

       

      28:23 Paul
      in his lodging in Rome to many Jews was “testifying about the
      kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus”
      from the Scriptures.

      28:31 Paul
      in Rome to all who came was “preaching the kingdom of God
      and…the Lord Jesus Messiah.”

    7. Miscellaneous

      4:19-20 Peter and John to the Council said they must
      testify to “what we have seen and heard.”

      5:20, 21, 25 After
      he freed them, the angel told the apostles to speak in the temple

      “the whole message of this life.”

      9:20 Paul
      in the synagogues of Damascus proclaimed Jesus, that “He is the
      Son of God.”*

      18:26 Priscilla
      and Aquila helped Apollos by teaching him “the way of God.”

      20:27 Paul
      summarized his message at Ephesus as “the whole purpose of
      God.”

      24:24-25 Paul
      to Governor Felix and his wife Drusilla, spoke of “faith in
      Messiah” and “righteousness, self-control, and the
      judgment to come.”

       

      28:28 Paul
      to the Jews of Rome who rejected his message, quoted Isaiah 6:9-10
      and said that “this salvation of God has been sent to the
      Gentiles.”

    8. The word, or
      words, or,
      the word of God,       or

      the word of the Lord,

      or the
      teaching of the Lord      —without further
      specification

      This category classifies the message as to origin (word
      or words from God).

      11:1 In
      Caesarea the Gentiles had received “the word of God.”

      11:14 In
      Caesarea the angel told Cornelius that Peter would speak “words
      by which you will be saved.”

      11:19 The
      believers scattered from Judea spoke to Jews “the word.”

       

      13:5 In
      the synagogues of Salamis Barnabas and Saul spoke “the word of
      God.”

       

      13:7 In
      Paphos Sergius Paulus wanted to hear from Barnabas and Paul “the
      word of God.”

       

      13:12 In
      Paphos after Barnabas and Paul preached, Sergius Paulus was amazed at

      “the teaching of the Lord.”

       

      13:44 In
      Pisidian Antioch nearly the whole city wanted to hear from Paul and
      Barnabas “the word of God.”

       

      13:46 In
      Pisidian Antioch Paul and Barnabas spoke to the Jews first “the
      word of God.”

       

      13:48 In
      Pisidian Antioch Paul and Barnabas spoke to the Gentiles “the
      word of the Lord.”

      14:25 In
      Perga Paul and Barnabas spoke “the word.”

       

      15:35 In
      Antioch of Syria Paul and Barnabas and many others were teaching and
      preaching “the word of the Lord.”

       

      15:36 Paul
      and Barnabas summarized what they preached on their first journey as
      “the word of the Lord.”

       

      16:6 The
      Holy Spirit forbade Paul and his company to speak in the Province of
      Asia “the word.”

      16:32 To
      the Philippian jailer and his household, Paul and Silas spoke “the
      word of the Lord.”

       

      17:11 In
      Berea the Jews received eagerly from Paul and Silas “the word.”

       

      17:13 In
      Thessalonica and Berea Paul had proclaimed “the word of God.”

       

      18:11 In
      Corinth Paul for eighteen months had taught “the word of God.”

      19:10 During
      Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, “all who lived in Asia heard
      the word of the Lord.”

       

      19:20 During
      Paul’s ministry in Ephesus “the word of the Lord was
      growing mightily and prevailing.”

  3. SERMONS SUMMARIZED BY UNBELIEVERS IN ACTS

     

    6:11-14 In Jerusalem a false report said that Stephen
    spoke “against Moses and God…against this holy place and
    the law, [and that] Jesus will destroy this place and alter the
    [Jewish] customs.”

    16:17 At Philippi the girl with the evil
    spirit said that Paul and his company “are proclaiming to you
    the way of salvation.”

    17:7 In Thessalonica Jews complained to the authorities
    that Paul and his company were saying “that there is another
    king, Jesus.”

    19:26 In
    Ephesus Demetrius the silversmith complained to other craftsmen and
    workmen that Paul was saying “that gods made with hands are no
    gods.”

     

    21:28 In
    the temple at Jerusalem Jews from the Province of Asia complained to
    Jews that Paul “preaches…against our people and the law
    and this place.”

     

    25:19 At
    Caesarea Governor Festus informed King Agrippa that the Jews
    disagreed with Paul “about their own religion and about a
    certain dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.”

In
the following table are more detailed summaries of Category I
sermons. For terms marked * see Comments.


SERMONS
SUMMARIZED IN TWO OR MORE SENTENCES IN ACTS
Peter,
to Jews from every nation at the temple in Jerusalem.At the Feast of Pentecost a
crowd gathers when disciples from Galilee speak in many
languages.
14-21
Peter explains the miracle as God’s gift of the Holy
Spirit, which will lead to the judgment of the day of the Lord,
as predicted in Joel 2.22-32
He gives witness that Jesus, attested by His miracles but killed
on a cross, has risen from the dead. This fulfills King David’s
prediction about his descendant, the Messiah (Ps. 16).33-35
He explains that as David predicted (Ps. 110), Jesus has
ascended to God’s right hand, from where He has poured out
the Holy Spirit.36 He
concludes that God has made Jesus Lord* and Messiah.*37-40
He exhorts them to respond with repentance and baptism, in order
to be saved from that generation.

37
Pierced to the heart, the Jews ask what to do.

41 About 3000 are baptized in
the name of Jesus Messiah.

 

4:1-3
Upset by the apostles’ message, the temple authorities
put Peter and John in jail.4:4 Many who hear believe. 13:16-41

Paul, to Jews…God-fearers
in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch. Paul…Barnabas
are invited to speak.

16-22
Paul sketches Jewish history from the Exodus to King David.

23-25
He asserts that from David’s offspring God has brought a
Savior, Jesus, so recognized by John the Baptist.

26-29
He asserts that the people and rulers in Jerusalem fulfilled
Scripture by killing this Savior.

30-37
He declares that in fulfillment of Scriptures, God raised Jesus,
who appeared to the witnesses.

38-41 He promises forgiveness to
believers and warns scoffers.

42-43
The people want to hear more; many Jews and proselytes follow
Paul and Barnabas.44-48
Jewish jealousy causes Paul and Barnabas to turn from them to
the Gentiles.

14:15-17 17:22-31

Paul, to the Areopagus (men of
Athens) at Athens. Some philosophers think Paul is
teaching about strange deities; they bring him to explain.

22-23
Paul offers to tell of the God they worship in ignorance.

24-28
The Creator does not need for men to provide Him lodging or
anything else. He determined the time and place for each
nation—so that they might seek their Source of life.

29
Idolatry is wrong: God is not dead like idols but alive like
us.

30-31
Repentance is now proclaimed through the Man about to judge the
world, as accredited by His resurrection.*

 

32-34 Some sneer at the message
of the resurrection; some promise to hear again; some believe.

24:10-21 24
Festus accuses Paul of being mad.28, 30-32 Agrippa remarks that
Paul wants him to become a Christian, tells Festus that Paul
has done nothing worthy of death.

VERSES

SPEAKER, AUDIENCE, PLACE, OCCASION

 SUMMARY OF SERMON

 

 RESULTS

 
2:14-40

3:12-26

Peter,
to a large crowd of Jews in the Portico of Solomon in the temple
at Jerusalem.

Peter heals the man born lame,
who has been put every day at the Beautiful Gate.

12-16
Peter explains that the man has been healed by faith in Jesus,
God’s Servant* (the
Holy and Righteous One, author of life), whom God has glorified
(raised up) after the Jews have rejected and killed Him.

17-18
He explains that through the Jews’ acting in ignorance God
has fulfilled His predictions that His Messiah would suffer.

19-21
He appeals to the Jews to repent and return to God, which will
result in cleansing from sin and God’s sending back the
Messiah with the kingdom* (to restore all things).

22-23
He warns them that they must obey the prophet like Moses
or be destroyed (Deut. 18:15, 19).

24-26
He announces that the predicted times have come to fulfill the
Abrahamic covenant, beginning with the Servant’s being
sent to wicked Israel.

4:8-12

Peter, as prisoner, to Jewish
leaders at Jerusalem, who ask him by what power or in what name
he and John have healed in the temple.

Peter explains that this
man—previously lame—is well by the name of Jesus
Messiah, whom the Jews have crucified but God has raised. Jesus
is the rejected stone that has become the most important—the
only means of salvation.

 

13-22 The Council* forbids
them to speak in Jesus’ name.

5:29-32

Peter…apostles, to the Jewish Council at

Jerusalem.
An angel releases the apostles from prison. When the leaders
find them teaching in the temple, they remind them of their
earlier prohibition.

 

29
The apostles explain that they must obey God rather than men.

30-32 They assert that God has
raised up Jesus, whom the leaders have killed, and has exalted
Him as Prince and Savior—to which the apostles and the
Holy Spirit give witness.

33-41 Persuaded by Gamaliel not to kill the
apostles, the Council flogs them and repeats the prohibition.
Freed, they rejoice in their suffering.

 

7:2-53

Stephen,
to the Jewish Council at Jerusalem.

Men from the Synagogue of
the Freedmen drag Stephen to the Council and accuse him of false
teaching.

2-8
Stephen tells of Abraham, to whom God appeared in Mesopotamia
and in the Promised Land—but gave him no inheritance
there.

9-16
He tells of Joseph, who, though rejected by his brothers, got
his family safely to Egypt.

17-43
He tells of Moses, who was also rejected by his brothers though
prepared and willing to deliver them. God appeared to him in
the desert both before and after he delivered Israel—but
they again rejected him and turned to idolatry.

44-47
He reminds them that from Moses to Solomon the fathers had no
temple—just the tabernacle—but God’s blessing.

48-50
He reminds them that though Solomon built God a house, God does
not dwell in such a house.

51-53 He asserts that the present generation
resists the Holy Spirit just as their fathers did. The fathers
persecuted the prophets; these have killed Messiah.

54-60 The Council become quite
angry, more so when Stephen reports seeing Jesus at God’s
right hand. They stone him to death.

 

10:34-43

Peter,
to the Centurion Cornelius plus relatives and close friends
in the house of Cornelius at Caesarea.

Through Cornelius and a vision,
the Lord prompts Peter to go from Joppa to evangelize these
Gentiles at Caesarea.

34-35
Peter remarks that God welcomes men from every nation.

36 He
introduces God’s word of peace through Jesus Messiah.

37-39
He presents the ministry of Jesus, God’s Anointed,
beginning with John’s baptism and continuing through His
crucifixion by the Jews.

40-41
He asserts that God raised Jesus and let Him appear to chosen
witnesses.

42-43 He explains that the
witnesses teach that Jesus is the appointed Judge of all*
and that those who believe in Him receive forgiveness.*

44-48 The Holy Spirit falls on
these Gentiles, making them speak other tongues (as at
Pentecost). Peter has them baptized.

Paul…Barnabas, to a crowd
of idolaters at Lystra. Because Paul heals a man born lame, the
crowd wants to worship him and Barnabas as gods.

The missionaries claim to be
only men, trying to turn others from such idolatry to the
Creator,* who has given evidence of Himself through food and
gladness.

 

18
The people still want to worship the missionaries.

19
Won over by Jews from Antioch and Iconium, they stone Paul.

22:1-21

 

Paul,
to Jews, from the stairs between the temple and the Roman
barracks in Jerusalem.

Roman soldiers rescue Paul from
a Jewish lynch mob that thinks he is desecrating the
temple.

1-2
Paul gets their attention when he speaks in Aramaic.

3-5
He recounts his strict Jewish upbringing and zealous persecution
of the church, which activity took him toward Damascus.

6-10
He recounts the Lord Jesus’ appearing to him and directing
him into Damascus.

11-16
He recounts the Lord’s instructing him through Ananias to
become His witness and to get baptized.

17-21
He recounts the Lord’s revelation to him in
Jerusalem—telling him to flee and go to the Gentiles.

22-24 This so enrages them that
the commander has Paul brought into the barracks,
where he intends to scourge and question him.

Paul, to Governor Felix in a
Roman court in Caesarea. Jewish leaders, through their attorney
Tertullus accuse Paul of being a troublemaker.

10-13
Paul denies engaging in public discussions in Jerusalem or
causing a riot there.

14-16
He admits serving God because of his belief in the Scriptures,
specifically the hope that God will raise the dead.*

17-21
He explains why he was in Jerusalem and challenges his accusers
to bring witnesses—or tell what he did wrong before the
Council, where he cried out that the issue was the resurrection.

22-23 Felix says that he will
decide the case later—and gives orders to let Paul’s
friends visit him.

 

26:1-29

Paul, to King Agrippa (II),
Bernice, commanders, prominent men,…Governor Festus,
in an auditorium in Caesarea. Agrippa wants to hear Paul;
Festus wants something to write to the emperor.

 

1-3
Paul appreciates the opportunity to defend himself before
Agrippa.

4-8
He points out the irony that a well-known strict Pharisee is now
accused for believing that Israel’s great
hope—resurrection—is now being realized.

9-11
He recounts his zealous persecution of Jesus’ saints.

12-18
He recounts Jesus’ appearing to him near Damascus and
appointing him to open the eyes of Gentiles, so that they also
may inherit.

19-23
He affirms that he has obeyed the vision and preached repentance
to the Gentiles—and that Jews have tried to kill him
because he preaches that Messiah rose from death.

25-29
Accused of madness, Paul appeals to Agrippa to believe that
prophecies are being fulfilled (in Jesus Messiah).

 

Main
Teachings of the Evangelistic Sermons in Acts

As you have seen, the Book of Acts gives nearly eighty
summaries of “gospel” sermons to the unsaved: (a)
twelve summaries in two sentences or more, (b) about sixty summaries
in a sentence or less, (c) about six summaries by unbelievers. In
those sermons five main teachings are found over and over. Each of
those main teachings is summarized in the first row of the table
below (see A to E). In two cases (B,C) related but secondary
teachings are added in parentheses. In the column below each
teaching is the evidence for it in Acts. Using this table, a
serious student can verify that these teachings were emphasized—and
can infer what was not taught.

The evidence for each teaching is given (a) on row 2
from the “general” (short) Acts summaries, then (b) on
the other rows from most of the longer summaries. Excluded are two
self-defense sermons (7:2-53 and 24:10-21) and one pre-evangelistic
sermon (14:15-17). A term different from but equivalent to one in
my summary, is marked “EQ.” In order to remember the
import of the title Christ, its equivalent Messiah is used instead.
The following abbreviations are used:

 

col. column L Lord (Master) res. resurrection
EQ equivalent M Messiah (coming King)
J Jesus

 

 

Reference in Acts

A

Jesus is Messiah/Lord.

 

[Coming King/Master]

B

MJ suffered…

died (a
Jewish crime).

C

God raised MJ from the dead (as
the first of many, and exalted Him to His own throne).

D

MJ will return to rule.

[Many of these are
implied.]

E

Repent (turn to God)…believe in MJ for
forgiveness; be baptized in Jesus’ name.

 

Stated in a general
summary

 

Messiah, or
Jesus (is)
Messiah: 5:42;
8:5, 12; 9:22; 17:3; 18:5, 28; 20:21; 24:24; 28:31

Jesus

or Lord Jesus:
8:35; 9:15, 28; 11:20; 16:31; 18:25; 19:4

17:7 another king

9:20 EQ Son

implied by col.C17:3

The res.
or Jesus…the res.: 4:2,
33; 17:18; 23:6

17:3

25:19

EQ The
kingdom (of God):
8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31 (assuming that the kingdom is
future and as predicted)

11:1 EQ received the word

16:36 believe in the LJM

19:4 believe on MJ

20:21 repentance
toward God…faith in LJM

24:24 faith in M

24:25 EQ righteousness,
self-control

2:14-41

(includes response)

31 Messiah

36 Lord…M

30 EQ David’s Heir

22 EQ did Messianic
works

23 by Jews

24-32

33-35 adds His ascension to
God’s throne.

Implied by col.A

35, 40

 

38 Repent, be baptized

41 received his word, were
baptized

 


3:12-26

18, 20

13, 26 EQ Servant

14, 15 EQ titles

13-15 by Jews

17-18

13-15

21 involves His ascension.

 

20-23 He will bring
refreshing and restore all.

16 faith

19, 26 repentance

22-23 EQ listen

4:8-12

10b

10c by Jews

10d

11-12 EQ cornerstone, to
save

5:29-32

31 EQ Prince…Savior

30b by Jews

30a, 32a

31a adds His ascension.

implied by col.A

 

31b repentance

32b obey

 


10:34-43

36 Jesus Messiah, Lord of
all

38 God anointed Him

38b-39a miracles

39b by Jews

 

40-41

42 EQ appointed judge
of living and dead

 

43 believe

[cf. 47-48 be baptized]

 


13:16-41

23 EQ promised Savior from
David

34 EQ to give the sure
blessings of David

33 EQ Son

27-29 by Jews

 

30-31

32-37

40-41 EQ coming
judgment

38-39 believe

[also 48]

17:22-31

 

implied by col.D

 

 

31b His res. proves He will
judge.

31 EQ a day fixed for
judgment

30 repent

22:1-22

8, 10, 21, etc. Lord

14 EQ the Righteous
One [7:52]

implied by col.E

6-10 requires ascension
[7:55-56]

implied by col.A

 

16 be baptized

26:1-29

15 Lord

23 Messiah

 

implied by col. E and 6-8

23b first to rise

13-18 requires His
ascension.

implied by col. A

 

18 forgiveness… inheritance

20 repent

27 believe

 

CONCLUSIONS

  1. Most
    of the sermon summaries in Acts state or imply the complete gospel.
    Some of the sermons, however, were not intended to be complete,
    since they were pre-evangelism of pagans (telling of the Creator)
    or defense before authorities.
  2. As
    seen in the chart entitled “Main Teachings of
    the Evangelistic Sermons in Acts,” there
    are five elements constantly repeated or implied in the Acts
    sermons. It can be assumed that these elements were essential to
    the gospel preached then.
  1. Jesus is Messiah/Lord.
  2. Messiah Jesus suffered and died

    (a Jewish crime)

  3. God raised Messiah Jesus from the dead

    (as the first of many, and exalted Him to His own throne).

  4. Messiah Jesus will return to rule.
  5. Repent (turn to God)…believe in Messiah
    Jesus for forgiveness; be baptized in Jesus’ name.

 

  • One short summary embodies or implies all the parts of the gospel in
    Acts: “Jesus is God’s Messiah,” that is, the One
    who will rule, fulfilling all of God’s promises. This
    summary is identical to the Great Confession in the Gospels (see my
    note on “Son of God”). In fact, since the Gospels all
    have that main theme, they are the
    gospel. The gospel in Acts, however, primarily reflects the
    content and emphasis of the Synoptic Gospels, especially Mark. For
    although the Gospel of John has the same theme (20:31), it adds
    supplementary teachings.

 

 

  • None of the
    sermons in Acts include the following teachings: Jesus’
    preexistence, His virgin birth, His divinity; or the divine reasons
    for His death. I conclude that these truths—important as
    they are and quickly added in early evangelism—are not the
    best basis for faith. The best basis is to first see Jesus as
    Messiah, as the apostles preached, then learn other implications
    after faith begins.
  • Statements of the
    gospel in the epistles can and should be harmonized with those in
    Acts, remembering that the epistles deal with many corollaries of
    the gospel as well as the gospel itself. For example, consider the
    statement of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15, which is the most
    important chapter on the resurrection of the body. Its statement
    in verses 3-8 not only emphasizes the resurrection; it also
    includes the reason for Messiah’s death:

 

 

Messiah died for our sins …was buried…was raised…appeared.

But according to Acts 18:5, the message (gospel) first preached at
Corinth was much simpler and shorter:

Jesus is Messiah.

Can the two versions be harmonized? Yes, by simply emphasizing the fact
from the longer version that it was “Messiah”

who died and rose. The reason for His death, though not essential to
the original message, was a corollary important to 1 Corinthians 15
(see v. 17).

 

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References for

Evangelistic Sermons in Acts

NASB

COMMENTS
Acts 1:3, 6
these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
6So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.

Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

Acts 19:8
And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

Acts 20:25
“And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face.

Acts 28:23, 31
23When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.
31preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

Acts 1:7
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

Acts 2:36
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Luke 6:46
“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

Acts 2:21
‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’

Philippians 2:9-11
9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Matthew 12:8

“For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Acts 10:36
“The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—

Matthew 22:44
‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,

“SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET”’?

Matthew 24:48
“But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’

Luke 1:43

“And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?

John 20:28
Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Matthew 24:46

“Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

Romans 14:4
Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Acts 2:36
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Matthew 2:4
Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

Matthew 2:2
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

Leviticus 4:3, 5, 16

3if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD a bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.
5‘Then the anointed priest is to take some of the blood of the bull and bring it to the tent of meeting,
16‘Then the anointed priest is to bring some of the blood of the bull to the tent of meeting;

1 Samuel 24:6, 10
6So he said to his men, “Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD’S anointed.”

10“Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’S anointed.’

Psalm 2:2, 6
2The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together

Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
6“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him,

The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

John 1:41
He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).

Acts 3:12-26
12But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14“But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. 16“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18“But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 22“Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. 23‘And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24“And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. 25“It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ 26“For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

Acts 3:13, 26
13“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.
26“For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

Acts 4:27, 30
27“For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
30while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

KJV, Acts 4:27, 30
27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

KJV, Acts 3:13, 26
13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
26Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Acts 4:25

25who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE,
AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS?

Matthew 12:18
18“BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN;

MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED;
I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM,
AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES.

Isaiah 42:1-9
1“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;

My chosen one in whom My soul delights.
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the nations.
2“He will not cry out or raise His voice,

Nor make His voice heard in the street.
3“A bruised reed He will not break
And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish;
He will faithfully bring forth justice.
4“He will not be disheartened or crushed

Until He has established justice in the earth;
And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”
5Thus says God the LORD,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and its offspring,
Who gives breath to the people on it

And spirit to those who walk in it,
6“I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness,
I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You,
And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the nations,
7To open blind eyes,

To bring out prisoners from the dungeon
And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.
8“I am the LORD, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another,
Nor My praise to graven images.
9“Behold, the former things have come to pass,

Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

Isaiah 49:1-7
1Listen to Me, O islands,
And pay attention, you peoples from afar.

The LORD called Me from the womb;
From the body of My mother He named Me.
2He has made My mouth like a sharp sword,
In the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me;
And He has also made Me a select arrow,
He has hidden Me in His quiver.

3He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel,
In Whom I will show My glory.”
4But I said, “I have toiled in vain,
I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity;
Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the LORD,

And My reward with My God.”
5And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,
To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him
(For I am honored in the sight of the LORD,
And My God is My strength),
6He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant

To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also make You a light of the nations
So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
7Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and its Holy One,
To the despised One,

To the One abhorred by the nation,
To the Servant of rulers,
“Kings will see and arise,
Princes will also bow down,
Because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You.”

Isaiah 50:4-11

4The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples,
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
5The Lord GOD has opened My ear;

And I was not disobedient
Nor did I turn back.
6I gave My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;
I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.
7For the Lord GOD helps Me,

Therefore, I am not disgraced;
Therefore, I have set My face like flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
8He who vindicates Me is near;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us stand up to each other;

Who has a case against Me?
Let him draw near to Me.
9Behold, the Lord GOD helps Me;
Who is he who condemns Me?
Behold, they will all wear out like a garment;
The moth will eat them.

10Who is among you that fears the LORD,
That obeys the voice of His servant,
That walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
11Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with firebrands,

Walk in the light of your fire
And among the brands you have set ablaze.
This you will have from My hand:
You will lie down in torment.

Isaiah 52:13-53:12
13Behold, My servant will prosper,

He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.
14Just as many were astonished at you, My people,
So His appearance was marred more than any man
And His form more than the sons of men.
15Thus He will sprinkle many nations,
Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him;

For what had not been told them they will see,
And what they had not heard they will understand.
Chapter 53
1Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,

And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
3He was despised and forsaken of men,

A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.

6All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.
7He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;

Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
8By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation, who considered
That He was cut off out of the land of the living

For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?
9His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
10But the LORD was pleased

To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,

He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
11As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;

By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
12Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself to death,

And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors.

Matthew 12:17-21
17This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 18“BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN;

MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED;
I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM,
AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES.
19“HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT;
NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.
20“A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF,

AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT,
UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.
21“AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.”

Acts 3:19-21
19“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.

Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 10:7
“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Luke 10:9, 11

9and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
11‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’

Luke 19:11-27
11While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. 12So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. 13“And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’ 14“But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15“When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. 16“The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17“And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ 18“The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ 19“And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20“Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; 21for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ 22“He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ 24“Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25“And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ 26“I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 27“But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”

Luke 19:12, 15
12So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.
15“When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done.

Luke 21:31

“So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.

Luke 22:29-30
29and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you 30that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Matthew 19:28
And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Acts 4:13-22
13Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17“But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” 18And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Acts 9:20
and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Acts 9:20
and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Acts 13:33
that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’

Psalm 2:6
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

KJV, Acts 3:13, 26
13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
26Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

KJV, Acts 8:37
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Revelation 22:16-21

16″I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come ” And let the one who hears say, “Come ” And (I)let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
18I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;

19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
20He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly ” Amen Come, Lord Jesus.
21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Revelation 22:19
and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree [Erasmus and KJV substituted "book"] of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

Acts 9:20
and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Acts 13:33
3that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’

Psalm 2:7
“I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:

He said to Me, ‘Thou art My Son,

Today I have begotten Thee.

2 Samuel 7:14
“I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,

Matthew 16:20

Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

Matthew 16:20
Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

Mark 8:29
And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

Luke 9:20
And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

Hebrews 1:4-5
4having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

5For to which of the angels did He ever say,
“YOU ARE MY SON,
TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”?
And again,
“I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM
AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME”?

Acts 10:42
“And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.

Acts 10:43
“Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

John 8:31-32

31So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Luke 9:23-26
23And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25“For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 26“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Matthew 7:16-23
16“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20“So then, you will know them by their fruits.

21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

James 2:14-26

14What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

18But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. 24You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Acts 14:15-17
15and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. 16“In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

Acts 17:30-31
30“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

1 Corinthians 15:13-18
13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

Acts 24:14-16

14“But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16“In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.

Acts 23:6
But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”

Acts 24:15, 21
15having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
21other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”

Acts 26:8
“Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead?

Luke 20:27, 37-38
27Now there came to Him some of the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection),
37“But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB. 38“Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him.”

1 Corinthians 15:42-50
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly .49Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

50Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

CONTENTS
I. SERMONS SUMMARIZED IN TWO OR MORE SENTENCES IN ACTS
Acts 2:14-40
14But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15“For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: 17‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,

‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
18EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT

And they shall prophesy.
19‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
20‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS

AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.
21‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
22“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—23this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24“But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. 25“For David says of Him,

‘I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE;
FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN.
26‘THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED;
MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE;
27BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES,
NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.

28‘YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE;
YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’
29“Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30“And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE, 31he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. 32“This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33“Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34“For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:

‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,
“SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
35UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”’
36“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”

Acts 3:12-26
12But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14“But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. 16“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18“But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 22“Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. 23‘And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24“And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. 25“It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ 26“For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

Acts 4:8-12
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, 9if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11“He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. 12“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 5:29-32
29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31“He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32“And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Acts 7:2-53
2And he said, “Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3and said to him, ‘LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.’ 4“Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. 5“But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, even when he had no child, He promised that HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM AS A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS DESCENDANTS AFTER HIM. 6“But God spoke to this effect, that his DESCENDANTS WOULD BE ALIENS IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. 7“ ‘AND WHATEVER NATION TO WHICH THEY WILL BE IN BONDAGE I MYSELF WILL JUDGE,’ said God, ‘AND AFTER THAT THEY WILL COME OUT AND SERVE ME IN THIS PLACE.’ 8“And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

9“The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, 10and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.
11“Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food. 12“But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. 13“On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh. 14“Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all. 15“And Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died. 16“From there they were removed to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

17“But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18until THERE AROSE ANOTHER KING OVER EGYPT WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT JOSEPH. 19“It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. 20“It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home. 21“And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son. 22“Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. 23“But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. 24“And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian .25“And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand. 26“On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’ 27“But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US? 28‘YOU DO NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY, DO YOU?’ 29“At this remark, MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he became the father of two sons.

30“After forty years had passed, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH. 31“When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord: 32‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB.’ Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look. 33“BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, ‘TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND. 34‘I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS, AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM; COME NOW, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT.’

35“This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?’ is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. 36“This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37“This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN.’ 38“This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. 39“Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, 40SAYING TO AARON, ‘MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT—WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.’ 41“At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.

42“But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL? 43‘YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON.’
44“Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. 45“And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. 46“David found favor in God’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47“But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. 48“However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: 49‘HEAVEN IS MY THRONE,

AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET;
WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?’ says the Lord,
‘OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE?
50‘WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?’
51“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52“Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”

Acts 10:34-43
34Opening his mouth, Peter said:
“I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36“The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—37you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39“We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40“God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42“And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43“Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

Acts 13:16-41
16Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said,
“Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17“The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it. 18“For a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness. 19“When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about four hundred and fifty years. 20“After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21“Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22“After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.’ 23“From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, 24after John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25“And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

26“Brethren, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. 27“For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. 28“And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. 29“When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. 30“But God raised Him from the dead; 31and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. 32“And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, 33that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’ 34“As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY and SURE blessings OF DAVID.’ 35“Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.’ 36“For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; 37but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. 38“Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. 40“Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you: 41‘BEHOLD, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH;

FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS,
A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.’”

Acts 14:15-17
15and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. 16“In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

Acts 17:22-31

22So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23“For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 29“Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. 30“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Acts 22:1-22
1“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”
2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said,
3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today. 4“I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, 5as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.

6“But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8“And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 9“And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10“And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’ 11“But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.

12“A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13came to me, and standing near said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very time I looked up at him. 14“And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. 15‘For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’

17“It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, 18and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ 19“And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. 20‘And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’ 21“And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
22They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!”

Acts 24:10-21
10When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded:
“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12“Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. 13“Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14“But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16“In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 17“Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; 18in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia—19who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20“Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, 21other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”

Acts 26:1-29
1Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense:
2“In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; 3especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4“So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; 5since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. 6“And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; 7the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. 8“Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead?

9“So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10“And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. 11“And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.
12“While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14“And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15“And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16‘But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

19“So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. 21“For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death. 22“So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; 23that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

24While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.” 25But Paul *said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth. 26“For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner. 27“King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.” 28Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” 29And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

II. SERMONS SUMMARIZED IN A SENTENCE OR LESS IN ACTS
1.The resurrection (of or from the dead) or Jesus and the resurrection
Acts 4:2

being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Acts 4:33
And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

Acts 17:18
And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

Acts 23:6
But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”

2.Messiah or Jesus (is) Messiah
Acts 5:42

And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Acts 8:5
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.

Acts 8:12

But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.

Acts 9:22
But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 17:3
explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”

Acts 18:5
But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

Acts 18:28
for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Acts 20:21
solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 24:24
But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

Acts 28:31
preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

3.Jesus, or the Lord Jesus, or the name of Jesus—without the words Messiah or resurrection

Acts 8:35
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

Acts 9:15
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

Acts 9:28

And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.

Acts 11:20
But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

Acts 16:31

They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Acts 18:25
This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John;

Acts 19:4
Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

4.The gospel (=good news) or the word of the gospel—without specifying what gospel it is, such as of the kingdom or of grace

Acts 8:4
Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Acts 14:7, 15, 21
7and there they continued to preach the gospel.
15and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM.
21After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,

Acts 15:7

After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

Acts 16:10
When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

5.The gospel (or word) of God’s (or the Lord’s) grace

Acts 14:3
Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.

Acts 20:24
“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:32
“And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

6. The kingdom, or the kingdom of God, or the gospel of the kingdom of God

Acts 1:6
6So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.

Acts 19:8
And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

Acts 20:25
“And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face.

Acts 28:23
When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.

Acts 28:31
preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

7. Miscellaneous
Acts 4:19-20
19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 5:20, 21, 25

20“Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” 21Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.

25But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

Acts 9:20
and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Acts 18:26

and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Acts 20:27
“For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.

Acts 24:24-25
24But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.”

Acts 28:28
“Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.”

8. The word, or words, or, the word of God, or the word of the Lord, or the teaching of the Lord

Acts 11:1
1Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

Acts 11:14
and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’

Acts 11:19

So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.

Acts 13:5
5When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God inthe synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper.

Acts 13:7
7who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

Acts 13:12
12Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

Acts 13:44
44The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord.

Acts 13:46

46Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:48
48When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Acts 14:25

25When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

Acts 15:35
35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others also, the word of the Lord.

Acts 15:36
36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”

Acts 16:6
6They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;

Acts 16:32
32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.

Acts 17:11

11Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Acts 17:13
13But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

Acts 18:11

11And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Acts 19:10
10This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 19:20
20So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.

III. SERMONS SUMMARIZED BY UNBELIEVERS IN ACTS
Acts 6:11-14
11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words
against Moses and against God.” 12And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes,

and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. 13They
put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and
the Law; 14for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter
the customs which Moses handed down to us.”

Acts 16:17

17Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the
Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”

Acts 17:7
7and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that
there is another king, Jesus.”

Acts 19:26
26“You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded
and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no
gods at all.

Acts 21:28

28crying out, “Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”

Acts 25:19
19but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.

Main Teachings of the Evangelistic Sermons in Acts

Acts 7:2-53
2And he said, “Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3and said to him, ‘LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.’ 4“Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. 5“But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, even when he had no child, He promised that HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM AS A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS DESCENDANTS AFTER HIM. 6“But God spoke to this effect, that his DESCENDANTS WOULD BE ALIENS IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. 7“ ‘AND WHATEVER NATION TO WHICH THEY WILL BE IN BONDAGE I MYSELF WILL JUDGE,’ said God, ‘AND AFTER THAT THEY WILL COME OUT AND SERVE ME IN THIS PLACE.’ 8“And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

9“The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, 10and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.
11“Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food. 12“But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. 13“On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh. 14“Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all. 15“And Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died. 16“From there they were removed to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

17“But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18until THERE AROSE ANOTHER KING OVER EGYPT WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT JOSEPH. 19“It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. 20“It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home. 21“And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son. 22“Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. 23“But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. 24“And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. 25“And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand. 26“On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’ 27“But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US? 28‘YOU DO NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY, DO YOU?’ 29“At this remark, MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he became the father of two sons.

30“After forty years had passed, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH. 31“When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord: 32‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB.’ Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look. 33“BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, ‘TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND. 34‘I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS, AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM; COME NOW, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT.’

35“This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?’ is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. 36“This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37“This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN.’ 38“This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. 39“Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, 40SAYING TO AARON, ‘MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT—WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.’ 41“At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.

42“But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL? 43‘YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON.’
44“Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. 45“And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. 46“David found favor in God’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47“But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. 48“However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: 49‘HEAVEN IS MY THRONE,

AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET;
WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?’ says the Lord,
‘OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE?
50‘WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?’
51“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52“Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”

Acts 24:10-21
10When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded:
“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12“Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. 13“Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14“But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16“In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 17“Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; 18in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia—19who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20“Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, 21other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”

Acts 14:15-17
15and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. 16“In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

CONCLUSIONS
John 20:31
31but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8
3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

Acts 18:5
5But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:17
17and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.