Welcome to an Examination of the 1st Century.
Most history is merely read; the Acts 2020 Project allows you to examine it in detail. To understand how a localized movement in Jerusalem transformed into a global force that "turned the world upside down," we use Seven Lenses.
These are not just themes; they are filters used to examine the biblical narrative against the hard data of Roman law, macro-economics, and archaeological fixed points. By filtering the Book of Acts through these lenses, we reveal connections between the Old and New Testaments.
The Practice Lab
To master the Book of Acts, you must move beyond reading the narrative to interrogating the evidence it presents. Student Practice Queries are designed to get you started making connections between the Old Testament, the Gospels, the Book of Acts and the Epistles.
Student Practice Queries
Lens 1: The Sovereign Mandate (The Strategy)
Query: "Compare the 'Sovereign Mandate' given in the Great Commission (Matthew 28) with the specific geographic rollout in Acts 1:8. What evidence shows a shift from a general command to a precise tactical blueprint for global witness?"
Lens 2: The Holy Spirit’s Role (The Power)
Query: "Identify the 'Active Administrator' in the transition from the Gospels to Acts. How does the Spirit’s role change from 'being with' the disciples in the Gospel of John to 'indwelling' them as the 'Divine Engine' in Acts 2?"
Lens 3: Teaching About Jesus (The Message)
Query: "Audit the core proclamation in Acts 2. How does the 'Message' transition from the Gospel's focus on Jesus’ coming to the forensic declaration of His Resurrection and Lordship as the primary witness point?"
Lens 4: Prophecy Fulfillment (The Foundation)
Query: "Analyze the 'Vertical Link' between the Prophet Joel and the events of Pentecost. How does Peter use Old Testament prophecy to legally authenticate the supernatural phenomena as a fulfilled administrative plan rather than random chaos?"
Lens 5: Acceptance & Opposition (The Response)
Query: "Document the 'Weight of Evidence' regarding the response to the Gospel. How did the Jewish leadership’s 'Opposition' to Jesus in the Gospels transition into a specific legal and socio-economic friction against the Apostles in the early chapters of Acts?"
Lens 6: The New Testament Bridge (The Connectivity)
Query: "Examine the prologue of Acts 1. How does the author utilize a 'New Testament Bridge' to connect his 'former account' (the Gospel of Luke) to the continuing historical record of the Church’s expansion?"
Lens 7: The Final Verdict (The Summary)
Query: "Based on the first two chapters of Acts, what is the 'Final Verdict' regarding the validity of the Church’s origin? Combine the evidence of the Resurrection, the Spirit’s arrival, and the 3,000-soul growth into a single forensic summary."