Acts Lesson 1: The Continuing Work {Linking the 4 Gospels to the Book of Acts}

The Book of Acts is the natural out-flow of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).  It is really what we could call the fifth book of the New Testament "Pentateuch"!  Although Acts is not considered a "gospel," it is an extension of them; it supplementary to them; it is an expansion of them.  It is the record of the continuing story of Christ working through His Church (i.e. ". . . the Lord added to the church daily . . ." (2:47).  The One working in Acts is the Ascended Christ, through His Spirit using the "mouths" and "hands" of the Church body.

Acts, the inspired account of the first 40 years of the Lord working through His Church, presents for us a pattern of every other generation of the Church.  It is an historical book, not a doctrinal book.  It is "a pattern" for Christian enthusiasm, testimony, discipleship, mission-work, and church planting.  Although the Lord's work of redemption for sin was finished, His work of evangelism, through His Church, was just beginning!