The Spirit-Empowered Mission of the Early Church

Course Description

Welcome to NTBS 201! This course is a comprehensive study of the Book of Acts, detailing the Church’s origins, its empowerment by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, its expansion through the ministries of Peter and Paul, and the challenges it faced. We will trace the explosive growth of the early Messianic community as it follows Jesus’ commission to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. From the sound of a rushing wind in the Upper Room to Paul’s bold witness under house arrest in Rome, Acts is the divinely inspired record of the gospel on the march.

Course Structure

This course is composed of five chapters, each building upon the last to tell the story of the early church. Each chapter includes a detailed summary, five in-depth lessons, a chapter test, and an optional “Deep Dive” for further study. The course culminates in a final course test.

• Course: Syllabus + Interactive Syllabus + 5 Chapters + Course Test
• Chapter: Summary + 5 Lessons + Chapter Test + Deep Dive

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Trace the Narrative Arc: Articulate the historical and theological progression of the church’s mission from its Jewish roots in Jerusalem to its expansion into the Gentile world.
• Identify Key Figures and Events: Recognize the major characters (e.g., Peter, Stephen, Philip, Paul) and pivotal events (e.g., Pentecost, the Jerusalem Council, the missionary journeys) and explain their significance.
• Understand the Role of the Holy Spirit: Explain the person and work of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) as the empowering agent of the church’s life, witness, and mission.
• Connect to the Gospels and Epistles: Situate the narrative of Acts as the crucial bridge between the life of Christ in the Gospels and the theological development in the Epistles.
• Analyze Key Speeches and Sermons: Examine the major kerygmatic speeches in Acts to understand how the apostles presented the gospel to various audiences.
• Appreciate Foundational Ecclesiology: Grasp the foundational elements of church life, including community, worship, persecution, and governance, as modeled in Acts.

Course Outline

Chapter 1: The Witness in Jerusalem (Acts 1:1 – 8:3)

• Lesson 1: The Commission, the Ascension, and the Waiting (Acts 1)
• Lesson 2: The Day of Pentecost: The Spirit Poured Out (Acts 2)
• Lesson 3: The Early Community: Signs, Wonders, and Fellowship (Acts 3-4)
• Lesson 4: Internal and External Pressures: Ananias to the Apostles’ Arrest (Acts 5)
• Lesson 5: The First Martyr: The Testimony and Trial of Stephen (Acts 6-7)

Chapter 2: The Witness in Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:4 – 12:25)

• Lesson 1: Philip’s Mission to Samaria and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8)
• Lesson 2: The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9)
• Lesson 3: Peter’s Ministry and the Gentile Pentecost (Acts 10)
• Lesson 4: The Church in Antioch and the Birth of “Christianity” (Acts 11)
• Lesson 5: Persecution and Deliverance: Herod, Peter, and the Angel (Acts 12)

Chapter 3: The Witness to the Gentiles (Acts 13:1 – 15:35)

• Lesson 1: The First Missionary Journey: Cyprus and Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13)
• Lesson 2: To Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe: Miracles and Opposition (Acts 14)
• Lesson 3: The Jerusalem Council: The Central Conflict (Acts 15:1-35)
• Lesson 4: <u>A Legal Perspective:</u> Analyzing the Apostolic Decree as a Legal Ruling (Acts 15)
• Lesson 5: <u>A Rabbinic Perspective:</u> Understanding the Council in light of Jewish Law and Tradition (Acts 15)

Chapter 4: The Witness to the Aegean World (Acts 15:36 – 21:16)

• Lesson 1: The Second Missionary Journey: The Macedonian Call and Philippi (Acts 16)
• Lesson 2: To Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens: Reason and Revelation (Acts 17)
• Lesson 3: The Gospel in Corinth and the Beginning of the Third Journey (Acts 18)
• Lesson 4: The Ephesian Ministry: A Center for the Gospel (Acts 19)
• Lesson 5: Journeys and Farewells: Paul’s Heart for the Churches (Acts 20)

Chapter 5: The Witness to Rome (Acts 21:17 – 28:31)

• Lesson 1: The Arrest in Jerusalem and Paul’s Defense (Acts 21-22)
• Lesson 2: Before the Sanhedrin and the Plot Against Paul’s Life (Acts 23)
• Lesson 3: The Trials Before Felix and Festus (Acts 24-25)
• Lesson 4: The Apology Before King Agrippa (Acts 26)
• Lesson 5: The Journey to Rome: Shipwreck, Miracles, and Mission (Acts 27-28)

Assessments & Grading

• Chapter Quizzes: Short quizzes will follow each lesson to assess comprehension.
• Chapter Tests: A test at the end of each of the five chapters will review the material covered.
• Final Course Test: A comprehensive final exam will cover the key ideas from all five chapters.
• Passing Requirement: To successfully complete this course, you must achieve a score of 80% or higher on each of the five Chapter Tests and the Final Course Test.