Scholars date the writing of the book of acts from ad 62 to ad in light of three different perspectives. The bible mentions its name only a few times, but we tend to remember it for the. In his preface to the book of acts, luke wrote, after he jesus through the holy spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen acts 1. Acts 17 11 now the bereans were of more noble character than the. In addition, outside sources such as other books of the bible as well as history recorded by other historians of the time supplement. The tradition from the earliest days of the church has been that luke, a companion of the apostle paul, wrote the books of luke and acts colossians 4. Ephesians, philippians, colossians, i timothy, philemon, titus and ii timothy. The holy spirit at work in believers bib 117 prison. The result of this noble searching of the scriptures was that many of them the jews believed acts. In addition, margins contain two learning toolslesson objectives with their respective numbers and interactive questions that focus on key principles.
In summary, the bereans have long been seen as a positive example of how a person or community should respond to biblical teaching. The berean fellowship was built upon a solid biblical foundation and has. One that is sometimes cited is acts 17, which deals with an incident that happened when st. He has crossed the aegean sea to philippi, where he preached the gospel, was beaten and imprisoned, and founded a church. Berean bible church is located in virginia beach, virginia, and is an independent bible church with reference to denominational affiliation, and are led through a serious, often versebyverse study of the scriptures by pastor david b. The berean call was formed under the direction of dave hunt for the purpose of encouraging spiritual discernment among those who regarded themselves not just as evangelicals but as biblical christians. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The bereans were residents of the city of berea in macedonia.
Founded in edinburgh in 1773, the berean church followed a modified form of calvinism. Since luke is the author of acts, any date between ad 60 and 100 is reasonable as conzelmann points out. Why are the issues of date and author important to a proper interpretation of acts. During the 1970s the number one book on the new york times bestseller list was not a book. As any biblical student knows, it is the bereans approach to the scripture and their response to it that makes them an interesting study. He became the author of sin, our adversary and accuser, and the great deceiver of the nations. The book of acts ends with paul in house arrest waiting to. It is full of old testament quotes and allusions concerning christ and israel.
Global universityberean school of the bible ministerial studies program level one certified minister bib 114 christ in the synoptic gospels the 114 introduction to pentecostal doctrine bib 115 acts. The authorship and date of the book of acts 628 words. Baur, promotes the view of an early christian faith divided. The gospel of luke and the book of acts form a single, twovolume work. Dave hunt was an internationally known author and lecturer whose best selling books have been translated into more than forty languages. As such, the authorship and date can be established by evidence found in the book itself. In acts 17, luke contrasts the response of some jews in thessalonica with those in berea. The author quite certainly was luke for the following reason. The bible speaks to us about the bereans in acts 17. A majority of the time, we use this scripture to encourage christians to search the word of god to make sure that what is being taught is true. According to the book of acts, chapter 17 verse 11, paul of tarsus and silas preached at berea, and the inhabitants. These bereans were noble in heart and posture to receive from god.
To understand the bereans noble character, we have to remember what. Ohair online library articles compiled by douglas lee pastor ohair was, without a doubt, the one person who, more than any other, was used of god to establish among believers what paul, by inspiration calls, the preaching of jesus christ according to the revelation of the mystery. The book of hebrews is one of the most difficult, debated, misunderstood, letters of the new testament. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the jews. Polhill states, the berean jews were a noble example. The noble mindedness of these berean jews is a matter of emphasis. Berean bible church is a nondenominational christian church. Who were the bereans, who are mentioned in the new testament. Unlike the unbelieving thessalonian jews, these hearers were eager to. The word translated prince is applied to christ here and in acts 5. The ending of acts plays an important role in route of determining the book s date. For the following reasons, luke is generally considered to be the inspired author of acts.
Luke, the author of acts, specifically notes that nonjews or gentiles came to. The classic commentaries and studies of the book of acts is a 10volume collection of some of the greatest studies on the acts of the apostles in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including the works of wellknown scholars and commentators such as j. Why apostles are not for today, part 1 berean research. Berean bible society po box 756 germantown, wi 530220756 phone. We believe the bible, consisting of both the old and new testament. Sopater, likely a gentile christian, continued to assist paul and timothy in ministry long after pauls first visit to berea. In ancient times, the bereans were the inhabitants of the city of berea, also known in the bible. The book of acts, also called acts of the apostles, does not specifically identify its author. Idols in athens introduction of luke jesus taken up into heaven matthias chosen to replace judas the holy spirit comes at pentecost. The bereans studied the scriptures every day to verify he was teaching the truth even as the law of moses demanded in deuteronomy 18. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament.
The author of acts had written a former account of jesus life. Studying scripture like the bereans olive tree bible. Who are the berean christians and what can we learn from. These bereans had a much more positive response to the gospel message than some that paul had encountered. He was a greek and the only gentile christian writer of the new testament. Seven years after publication of the controversial groundbreaking bestseller the seduction of christianity in 1985, its authors, dave hunt and t. As i continue to read the book of acts, i am inclined to conclude that. We are studying pauls second missionary journey, which is recorded in five chapters in the middle of the book of acts. The following blog post was originally published on august 12, 2015. Paul and silas preached to them during pauls second missionary journey.
Our doctrine statement berean fellowship of churches, inc. According to church tradition, luke wrote the book of acts. Classic commentaries and studies on the book of acts 10. The name of our church is inspired by the bereans, mentioned in the bible book of acts because of their desire to know jesus christ and. He was an educated man, and we learn in colossians 4. Some might surmise that the bereans were more nobly disposed than the. Its primary meaning, like that of prince princeps, is one who takes the leadwho is the originator of that to which the title is attached. It reads, the brothers immediately sent paul and silas away by night to berea, and when they arrived they went into the. The necessity of appointment by christ is also emphasized when judas iscariot was replaced. If he did, the book is a sequel to the gospel of luke. These were more noble than those in thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily. Berean bible church is a nondenominational church located in the beautiful city of oxford, ohio, that began on october 5, 2008 by dr. Verse 1 demonstrates clearly that the unnamed author of acts is the same person as the unnamed author of the third gospel luke 1. At this time, paul and silas were making their way along different territories preaching the gospel of jesus christ to all men.
James white, director of alpha and omega ministries, is the author of letters to a mormon elder and the king james only controversy. Authorship of the book of acts is attributed to luke. For instance, the author of acts writes that when it was decided that we were to sail to italy, they handed over paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named julius, of. Sixth, because of the author s involvement with the book of acts, one can deduct from the we passages that the author was a close associate of the apostle paul. It is one of the most profound theological works in the new testament. The book of acts is the book between the earthly ministry of the son of god, which closed about 33 a. This package includes thousands of pages of exegetical analysis. The account of paul and silas in this location is recorded in acts 17. The authorship and date of the book of acts the book of acts is a historical narrative of the early history of the church. Just as his gospel opens with a dedication to theophilus, so also does acts.
Sopater the berean, son of pyrrhus, accompanied him acts 20. They were more noble because of their willing reception of the word of god. Historically, the bereans also called beroeans, barclayans or barclayites were a protestant sect following former scottish presbyterian minister john barclay 17341798. And many of them found out for themselves that pauls claims were true and so believed polhill, acts. It had congregations in scotland, london and bristol, but mainly merged with the congregationalists after barclays death in 1798. The bible says, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of christ. If we listen uncritically to only one preacher or read only one author even if. The ancient bereans have a wonderful biblical reputation. I am convinced that the most dangerous lie is the one that is almost true. The holy spirit at work in believers what to look for in the margins left margins contain numbers for units, chapters, and lessons.
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