Sermon Tone Analysis

Acts divided into 6 parts showing the fulfillment of Acts 1:8

the growth of the church as it spread from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to the uttermost parts of the earth

each section part ends with a similar proclamation:

Acts 1:1 - 6:7 - birth of church at Jerusalem and its spectacular growth

the preaching of Peter and persecution, the first act of Church discipline, the choosing of the 7 to free up the Apostles

Acts 6:8 - 9:31 - spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and Galilee & conversion of Saul

Stephen’s martyrdom, persecution of the church causes the gospel to spread out from Jerusalem, Saul’s miraculous conversion from being a persecutor to a minister of the gospel

Acts 9:32 - 12:24 - explosive growth of church as it spread to Gentiles

Peter’s ministry and Cornelius, Peter’s report to the church in Jerusalem, spread of the gospel to Antioch which became the sending church for Paul’s missionary journeys, James killed and Peter’s miraculous rescue, death of Herod for not glorifying God

Acts 12:25 - 16:5 - church in Asia Minor and Galatia

Antioch church sent Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary journey, stops in Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, opposition of the Jews to Paul, Paul’s stoning at Lystra, Jerusalem Council and the problem of Jewish believers and their commitment to the ceremonial law, Council’s decision against them

Acts 16:6 - 19:20 - spread of the church further west

Paul & Silas’ trip to strengthen the churches they had established on their first journey, call to Macedonia, conversion of Philippian jailer, ministry in Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, return to Antioch, rise of Apollos, Paul’s ministry in Ephesus

Acts 19:21 to end - Paul’s final ministries and spread of gospel to Rome

riot in Ephesus instigated by the Demetrius and the idol craftsmen, ministry in Macedonia and Greece, raising of Eutychus from the dead, addressed the Ephesian elders, trip to Jerusalem, Paul’s arrest, trial and preaching to kings, appeal to Caesar, trip to Rome, ministry there and martyrdom

Saul one of God’s key servants in that spread

could not have happened if those whom Saul led to Christ did not take the gospel to their families, neighbourhoods and towns

Saul Carries Jesus to the Jews

Saul had been chosen by Jesus to carry his name (9:15)

he immediately set himself to accomplish this task by preaching to his own people (9:20)

“with the disciples” (19b)

up to this point they had fled from him, they refused to fellowship with him because they were afraid of him

example of Ananias’ fear (13,14)

Jesus had changed Saul from being their enemy to being their brother

when the disciples realized this they embraced him as a fellow member of the family of Christ

a mark of a transformed life is the desire to be with other Christians

true believers do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scoffer (Ps 1:1)

a professing believer who prefers the company of unbelievers is probably still one of them

“And immediately he proclaimed Jesus” (20)

another mark of Saul’s transformation: he could not stop speaking about God’s saving grace in Christ Jesus

having been appointed to carry Jesus’ name before the Gentiles, kings and children of Israel (9:15) Saul wasted no time getting started in his new calling!

immediately: Saul did not delay

“proclaim” = herald

heralds were messengers sent by rulers to convey messages or proclamations

Saul went about proclaiming the good news about Jesus

“he proclaimed ... in the synagogues”

Saul did not wander through the streets yelling, “Jesus is the Son of God”

Saul had a plan

he began with synagogues:

Saul’s reputation opened opportunities to speak in the synagogues

this was Saul’s preferred method of carrying the message of Christ to new cities

synagogues were often located in urban areas

this meant that the gospel would come to a city and then spread to the surrounding areas as new believers spread out

Saul was wise and intentional, seeking the most effective means of fulfilling his calling

gospel was to be sent to the Jew first

when the Jews rejected him and his message he would go to some other venue and teach all who followed him from the synagogues

with those people he would form new churches

if we would be wise and intentional in the spread of the gospel we will do like Saul

the most easily accessed venue is the church

what are we doing to invite our family, friends, neighbours and co-workers to church?

80% of church goers came to Christ because someone invited them

invite to church and then to your home for discussion

Saul’s Message

Jesus

for the Jewish people this was his common name

it identified him as the carpenter son of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth

but Jesus was much more than this and Saul sought to teach them

the name Jesus means Saviour

Saul first presented Jesus to them as their Saviour

to do this he told them about their sins

he warned them against trying to earn their salvation

he called them to repent and believe

Jesus the Son of God

when Jesus took this title to himself the Jews interpreted it as a claim to equality with God (Mt 26:63-64; Mk 15:39; Jn 10:36, 19:7)

devil and demons addressed Jesus as “Son of God” (Mt 4; 8:29)

Peter & Martha’s confessions

Jesus affirmed this when adjured by the Chief Priest at his trial

this was condemned as blasphemy because Jesus, a man, was claiming to be God

if Jesus was just a man he could not have been our Saviour, our substitute

only a perfect man could stand for another

only the God/man could stand for many

Jesus the Christ

who was “the Christ” to the Jew?

a future Jewish king from the line of David (Isa 11:1

would rule the Jewish people during the Messianic age

often referred to as “king Messiah”

will gather the Jews back to the promised Land (Isa 11:12)

usher in a period of peace, build the 3rd Temple

when he comes the rulers of the world will look to him for guidance (Isa 2:4; Zech 8:23)

the whole world will worship him (Isa 2:11-17)

belief in the coming Messiah a fundamental requisite of the Jewish faith

evil and tyranny will not be able stand during his reign (Isa 11:4)

when Jesus was asked by the Jews in John 10:22-30 if the was the Christ he said was one with the Father

they sought to stone Jesus for blasphemy, i.e. making himself God

Saul presented Jesus to them as the only one who could save them because he was the Son of God and their Messiah

are you convinced that Jesus is the only one who can save those you love?

are you telling them?

“Saul increased all the more in strength”

Saul experienced the same success that Stephen did when he debated in the synagogues in Jerusalem

increased: Saul learned how to communicate the gospel more and more effectively

his reasoning was such that his opponents could not answer or refute him

put them into a difficult position:

if they admitted Saul was right they would have to forsake Judaism

if they denied Saul they were rejecting God’s truth

increasing in strength requires knowledge and experimentation

must know the Word

must use the knowledge we have

must grow in our proficiency

“amazed … confounded”

“amazed” = to be removed from its place i.e. to shake, to alter