Quench Not the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
Acts gives a picture of the beginning of the New Testament church with many “Progress Reports” of the spread of Christianity...AD 62-92 (approximately 30 years). Without persecution there would be no progress.
(Acts 6:2-3)
The first deacons are assigned to care for
the church; their qualifications are:
1. To
have a good reputation
2. To
be full of the Holy Spirit
3. To
be full of wisdom
4. To
be organized
5. To delegate
(Acts 6:4)
The apostles were then free:
1. To
give themselves continually to prayer
2. To minister the Word
PROGRESS
REPORT #1 (Acts 6:7)
The Word of God spread
The number of disciples multiplied
The Jewish priests became obedient to the faith
PERSECUTION (Acts
6:11-8:3)
Men were induced to bear false witness
They stirred up the people, elders, and
scribes
They stoned Stephen (v7:59)
Believers were scattered (v8:1)
Saul wreaked havoc; believers were imprisoned (v8:3)
PROGRESS
REPORT #2 (Acts 8:4-40)
Those who were scattered went preaching the Word
Multitudes heeded the preaching of the Word
Miracles happened
Many were delivered and healed
There was great joy
Many were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus
(v16)
Many received the Holy Spirit (v17)
Preached the gospel in many Samaritan villages
(v25)
Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch
and baptized him (v30-38)
Philip preached in all the cities (v40)
PERSECUTION (Acts 9:1-5)
Saul breathed threats of murder against the
disciples of the Lord (v1)
Saul was not just persecuting people; he was opposing Christ (v4-5)
PROGRESS
REPORT #3 (Acts 9:15-22)
Saul was a chosen
vessel (v15)
Ananias sent to
lay hands on Saul to receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit (v17)
Immediately Saul
began to preach the Christ (v20)
Saul’s zeal to persecute has now become a zeal to preach (v22)
PERSECUTION (Acts
9:23, 29)
Jews plot to kill Saul (v23)
Hellenists attempt to kill Saul (v29)
PROGRESS
REPORT #4 (Acts 9:31-42)
The churches had peace and were edified,
walked in the fear of the Lord, walked in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were
multiplied (v31)
Peter heals a paralyzed man in the name of
Jesus (v34)
All who saw turned to the Lord (v35)
Peter prayed for Dorcas and she was raised
from death (v40-41)
It became known and many believed on the Lord (v42)
(Acts 10:15-46)
God spoke to Peter, “What God has cleansed
you must not call unclean.” (v15)
Peter goes to the house of Cornelius (v25)
Many came to hear Peter preach (v27, 36)
Peter shares the Gospel and those who heard were baptized and spoke in tongues (v44-46)
(Acts 11:18-26)
They glorified God for granting the Gentiles repentance
to life (v18)
The Word had been preached only to the Jews before
this time (v19)
Preached the Lord Jesus to Hellenists (v20)
Great number believed and turned to the Lord
(v21)
Barnabas encouraged them to continue with the
Lord (v23)
Great many people were added to the Lord
(v24)
Assembled the church and taught a great many people (v26)
PERSECUTION (Acts
12:1-4)
Herod harassed some from the church (v1)
Herod killed James (v2)
Herod seized Peter and put him in prison (v3-4)
PROGRESS
REPORT #5 (Acts 12:5-24)
Church prayed for Peter (v5)
Angel delivered Peter from the prison (v7)
Herod put the prison guards to death (v19)
Word of God grew and multiplied (v24)
(Acts 13:2-44)
Barnabas and Saul sent out by the Holy Spirit;
preached the Word of God to the Jews (v2-5)
Saul now called Paul, filled with the Holy
Spirit, rebuked those perverting the straight ways of the Lord (v9-10)
Proconsul believed at the preaching of the
Lord (v12)
The rulers of the synagogue sought for a word
of exhortation (v15)
Paul expounded on the Gospel (v16-41)
Jews begged that they be preached to the next
Sabbath (v42)
Paul and Barnabas persuaded the Jews to
continue in the grace of God (v43)
The city comes together to hear the Word of
God (v44)
PERSECUTION (Acts
13:45-46)
Jews filled with envy, contradicting and
blaspheming (v45)
Jews rejected the Word of God (v46)
PROGRESS
REPORT #6 (Acts 13:48-49)
The Gentiles were glad and glorified the Word
of the Lord; many believed (v48)
The Word of the Lord was spread throughout all the region (v49)
PERSECUTION (Acts
13:50)
Jews stirred up men and women of the city; persecuted Paul and Barnabas, expelled them (v50)
PROGRESS
REPORT #7 (Acts 13:51-52)
Paul & Barnabas shook off dust from their feet and were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 14:1)
Paul and Barnabas spoke and a great multitude of Jews and Greeks believed (v1)
PERSECUTION (Acts
14:2)
Unbelieving Jews stirred up Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren (v2)
PROGRESS
REPORT #8 (Acts 14:3)
Paul & Barnabas spoke boldly, bearing witness to the Word; signs and wonders (v3)
PERSECUTION (Acts
14:4-5)
The city was divided; part sided with the
Jews and part with the apostles (v4)
A violent attempt was made to abuse and stone them (v5)
PROGRESS
REPORT #9 (Acts 14:6-10)
The apostles fled to Lystra, Derbe, Lycaonia,
and surrounding region (v6)
They preached the Gospel (v 7)
Paul healed a cripple (v8-10)
PERSECUTION (Acts
14:19)
Jews from Antioch and Iconium stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city
PROGRESS
REPORT #10 (Acts 14:20-28)
Disciples gathered around Paul and he rose up
and departed with Barnabas to Derbe (v20)
They preached the Gospel and made many
disciples (v21)
They strengthened the souls of the disciples,
exhorting them to continue in the faith (v22)
Appointed elders; prayed and fasted and
commended them to the Lord (v23)
Preached the Word in Perga; went to Attalia (v25)
Sailed to Antioch; commended to the grace of
God for the work completed (v26)
Reported all that God had done with them and the door of faith opened to the Gentiles (v27)
(Acts 15:3-35)
The conversion of the Gentiles caused great joy
to all the brethren (v3)
Apostles and elders reported all things that
God had done with them (v4)
Barnabas and Paul declared many miracles and
wonders God worked through them (v12)
Judas and Silas exhorted and strengthened the
brethren with many words (v32)
Paul and Barnabas taught and preached the Word of the Lord (v35)
PROGRESS
REPORT #11 (Acts 15:39-41)
Contention between Paul and Barnabas became
sharp and they departed from one another
Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus
Paul took Silas and departed to Syria and Cilicia
Both strengthening the churches
(Acts 16:3-18)
Paul took Timothy through the cities and
delivered the decrees (v3-4)
Churches were strengthened in the faith and
increased in number daily (v5)
Holy Spirit forbade them to preach the word
in Asia (v6)
Holy Spirit did not permit them to go to
Bithynia (v7)
Vision appeared to Paul pleading with him to
come to Macedonia and preach the Gospel (v9-10)
They spoke to the women in Philippi on the
Sabbath (v12-13)
Lydia heard and her heart was opened to the
Lord and was baptized and her household (v14-15)
Paul prayed and delivered a slave girl from a spirit of divination (v16-18)
PERSECUTION (Acts
16:19-24)
Paul and Silas were seized and dragged into the
marketplace to the authorities (v19)
Accused of troubling the city and teaching
unlawful customs (v20-21)
Multitude rose against them and the
magistrates commanded they be beaten (v22)
They were thrown into prison; fastened in stocks (v23-24)
PROGRESS
REPORT #12 (Acts 16:25-40)
Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns
to God in prison (v25)
An earthquake shook the foundations, the
doors were opened, everyone’s chains were loosed (v26)
The prison guard thought everyone had
escaped; he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas (v27-29)
Guard asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be
saved?” (v30)
Guard and his household believed on the Lord
and were baptized; rejoiced in God (v32-34)
The magistrates said “Let those men go” and
the guard sent them out to go in peace (v35-36)
The magistrates pleaded with them to depart
the city (v39)
They encouraged the brethren in Lydia’s house and then departed (v40)
(Acts 17:1-4)
Paul entered the synagogue in Thessalonica &
reasoned the scriptures; explained & demonstrated Christ (v1-3)
Some were persuaded; a great multitude of Greeks and a few leading women joined them (v4)
PERSECUTION (Acts
17:5-8)
Some Jews were envious, gathered a mob and
set all the city in an uproar and attacked (v5)
They troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city (v8)
PROGRESS
REPORT #13 (Acts 17:11-12)
They received the Word with all readiness and many believed (v11-12)
PERSECUTION (Acts
17:13)
The Jews from Thessalonica stirred up the crowds in Berea (v13)
PROGRESS
REPORT #14 (Acts 17:14-31)
Brethren sent Paul away and brought him to
Athens (v14-15)
Commanded Silas and Timothy to come to him
(v15)
Paul saw that Athens was given over to idols
(v16)
Paul preached to the Jews and Gentiles daily in
the marketplace (v17)
Philosophers wanted to know what Paul’s preaching
meant (v18-21)
Paul explains their worship “to the unknown
god” is Jesus Christ (v22-31)
PERSECUTION (Acts
17:32-33)
Paul was mocked for what he preached and departed
PROGRESS
REPORT #15 (Acts 17:34)
Some believed and joined Paul (Dionysius and a woman Damaris)
(Acts 18:1-5)
Paul went to Corinth and stayed with Aquila
and Priscilla (v2)
He went to the synagogue and persuaded the
Jews and Greeks (v4)
Silas and Timothy joined Paul and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ (v5)
PERSECUTION (Acts
18:6)
The Jews opposed Paul and blasphemed him so he departed; he would go to the Gentiles
PROGRESS
REPORT #16 (Acts 18:7-11)
Paul went to the house of Justus who lived
next door to the synagogue (v7)
Crispus and his household believed along with
many of the Corinthians and were baptized (v8)
Paul received a vision to speak and not be silent. He stayed in Corinth 1½ years teaching the Word (v9-11)
PERSECUTION (Acts
18:12-17)
The Jews rose up against Paul, brought him to
Gallio for judgment saying he taught contrary to the law (v12-13)
Gallio refused to judge a matter for the Jews and drove the accusers out (v14-17)
PROGRESS
REPORT #17 (Acts 18:18-28)
Paul remained in Corinth, then sailed for
Syria with Priscilla and Aquila (v18)
Paul came to Ephesus, entered the synagogue
and reasoned with the Jews; left Priscilla and Aquila there (v19)
Paul sailed to Caesarea and greeted the
church there, then went down to Antioch (v22)
Paul departed and went to Galatia and Phrygia
to strengthen the disciples there (v23)
Apollos, a man fervent in spirit, spoke and
taught the things of the Lord (v24-25)
Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside and
explained the way of God more accurately (v26)
Apollos went to Achaia and greatly helped the believers for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly (v27-28)
(Acts 19:1-8)
Paul arrives in Ephesus and asked if the
disciples had received the Holy Spirit (v1-2)
Paul laid hands on them and the Holy Spirit
came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied (v6)
Paul went to the synagogue and reasoned and persuaded the things of God (v8)
PERSECUTION (Acts
19:9)
Some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude
PROGRESS
REPORT #18 (Acts 19:9-20)
Paul departed and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of
Tyrannus for two years (v9)
All who dwelt in Asia heard the Word
of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks (v10)
Paul, through God, worked miracles healing
the sick and delivering from evil spirits (v11-12)
Sons of Sceva used name of Jesus
over evil spirits; were overpowered and fled naked & wounded (v13-16)
Fear fell on all in Ephesus and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified and grew and prevailed (v17-20)
PERSECUTION (Acts
19:22-41)
Paul stayed in Asia; there arose
a commotion about the Way (v22-23)
Demetrius stirred up the craftsmen
who profited from the goddess Diana (v24-27)
They were full of wrath and
rushed to seize Paul’s companions, Gaius and Aristarchus (v28-29)
The assembly was confused, and
most of them did not know why they had come together (v32)
The rioters cried out, “Great is Diana
of the Ephesians!” (v34)
City clerk quieted the crowd to
do nothing rashly (v35-36)
City clerk asked them to bring
charges if there was a case against anyone (v37-38)
City clerk dismissed the assembly (v41)
PROGRESS
REPORT #19 (Acts 20:1-10)
Paul departed for Macedonia and encouraged
them with many words (v1-2)
Paul came to Greece and stayed three months
(v3)
When he heard there was a plot against him, he
decided to return through Macedonia (v3)
Paul spoke his message in Troas until
midnight (v7)
A young man, Eutychus, fell asleep and fell
from a third story window and died (v9)
Paul embraced him and said his life is in him (v10)
(Acts 20:22-38)
Paul feels compelled to go bound in the Spirit
to Jerusalem not knowing what will happen there (v22)
The Holy Spirit testifies in every city that chains and tribulations await Paul
(v23)
Nothing has deterred him from
preaching the kingdom of God (v24-27)
Paul encourages them to shepherd
the church (v28)
Paul warns of “wolves” coming
into the church and even some among them will draw disciples away (v29-31)
Paul encourages them to continue
in the faith (v32-38)
Paul departs for Jerusalem (v38)
(Acts 21:3-13)
Paul landed at Tyre and finding disciples,
stayed there seven days (v3-4)
The disciples told Paul, through the Spirit, not
to go to Jerusalem (v4)
Paul sailed to Ptolemais and stayed with the brethren
there (v7)
Agabus, a prophet, took Paul’s belt and bound
his own hands and feet demonstrating how the Jews at Jerusalem would bind Paul
and deliver him to the Gentiles (v10-11)
They pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem
(12)
Paul declares he is not only ready to be bound, but to also die at Jerusalem for the name of Jesus (v13)
(Acts 21:17-24)
Paul arrives in Jerusalem and tells the
elders in detail what God has done among the Gentiles (v17-19)
They encourage Paul to tell the Jews that he also walks orderly and keeps the law (v20-24)
PERSECUTION (Acts
21:27-32)
The Jews from Asia stirred up the
crowd against Paul and they laid hands on him (v27)
They cried out to the people that
Paul had defiled the temple by bringing in Greeks (v28)
All the city was disturbed; the
people seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple and shut the doors (v30)
They sought to kill him and all
of Jerusalem was in an uproar (v31)
They beat Paul (v32)
(Acts 21:33-40)
The commander of the garrison
took Paul and bound him with chains (v33)
He commanded Paul to be taken to
the barracks (v34)
The mob was violent and cried
out, “Away with Him!” (v35-36)
Paul asks the commander to speak
to the crowd (v40)
PROGRESS
REPORT #20 (Acts 22:1-21)
Paul explains in the Hebrew
language in detail why he himself is a Jew and also persecuted the Way (v1-5)
Paul testifies of his conversion
on the road to Damascus (v6-11)
Paul explains that Ananias [not the
high priest] told him he was chosen by God to be His witness (v12-16)
Paul explains that God sent him to the Gentiles (v17-21)
PERSECUTION (Acts
22:22-30)
The Jews raised their voices when they heard
Paul was sent to the Gentiles (v22)
They tore their clothes and threw dust in the
air to protest (v23)
The commander ordered him brought to the
barracks to be scourged and bound him with thongs (v24-25)
Paul asks, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and
uncondemned?” (v25)
The commander withdrew him from
the torture because Paul was a Roman citizen (v26-29)
The commander released Paul from his bonds and asked the chief priests why he was accused by the Jews (v30)
(Acts 23:1-10)
Paul calls Ananias, the high
priest, out for striking him on the mouth contrary to the law (v2-3)
Paul explains he is a Pharisee;
but also explains hope in Jesus (v6)
Dissension arose between Sadducees
and Pharisees and the assembly was divided (v7)
There arose a loud outcry (9)
There arose a great dissension, the commander took Paul to the barracks (10)
(Acts 23:11-24)
The Lord told Paul to testify of
Him in Jerusalem; also bear witness in Rome (v11)
More than forty Jews formed a conspiracy and made
an oath to kill Paul (v12-13)
Plotted with the chief priests and elders to kill Paul (v14-15)
Paul’s nephew heard of their
ambush and warned Paul (v16)
Paul sent nephew to the commander
(v17)
Nephew warned of the plot to kill
Paul (v20-21)
Commander sent Paul safely to Felix the governor (v24)
(Acts 23:25-35)
Commander explains to Felix in a
letter the details of the plot (v27-30)
Soldiers brought Paul to Antipatris
and delivered him and letter to the governor (v31-33)
Governor commanded Paul be kept in Herod’s Praetorium (v35)
(Acts 24:1-9)
Ananias, the high priest, and the
elders arrived and gave evidence to the governor against Paul (vl)
Accusations to Felix began (v2-9)
PROGRESS
REPORT #21 (Acts 24:10-27)
Paul defends himself to Felix
(v10-13)
Paul confesses he worships God according
to the Way (v14)
Paul testifies of his hope in God
and strives to have a conscience w/o offense toward God and men (v15-16)
Paul brought alms and offerings
(v17)
Paul was purified in the temple without
agitation and no one objected (v18-19)
Paul states his belief in the
resurrection of the dead (v20-21)
Felix had knowledge of the Way and
allowed Paul to have liberty with his friends to visit (v22-23)
Felix sent for Paul and heard him
concerning the faith in Christ (v24)
Paul reasoned with Felix about
righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come (v25)
Felix left Paul bound when he was succeeded by Festus (v27)
PERSECUTION (Acts
25:1-12)
The high priest and the chief men
of the Jews petitioned Festus to summon Paul to Jerusalem
Jews planned to lay in ambush
along the road to kill Paul
Festus invited Jews to go with
him to Jerusalem to accuse Paul, to see if there is any fault in him (v4-5)
The
Jews laid many serious complaints against Paul (v7)
Festus asked Paul if he would go
to Jerusalem to be judged concerning their complaints (v9)
Paul denies his accusers and appeals to go to Caesar (v10-11) Festus sends Paul to Caesar (v12)
PROGRESS
REPORT #22 (Acts 25:14-22)
Festus laid Paul’s case before King Agrippa
(v14)
King Agrippa wanted to hear from Paul himself (v22)
(Acts
26:1-32)
Paul answers to King Agrippa and begs to be
heard patiently (v1-3)
Paul gives an account of how he
persecuted the Jews regarding Jesus (v4-11)
Paul relates his conversion on
the road to Damascus (v12-18)
Paul relates his ministry
declaring Jesus to the Jews and the Gentiles (v19-23)
Festus accuses Paul of being mad (insane)
(v24)
Agrippa answers Paul that he is almost
persuaded to become a Christian (v28)
Paul asks them to become Christians (v29)
Agrippa, Bernice, and Festus agree that Paul has done nothing deserving death (v30-32)
(Acts 27:1-44)
Paul sent
to Rome; treated kindly by Julius, a centurion; allowed to see friends and
receive care (v1-3)
Paul warns of a dangerous voyage if they
continue to set sail (v9-10)
They set sail anyway and are engaged with a
tempest (v11-17)
They lightened the ship and could not
navigate the storm (v18-20)
Paul urges there will be no loss of life but
only the ship (v21)
An angel tells Paul he will be saved from the
storm for he must go before Caesar (v24)
Paul says the sailors must stay
in the ship or they cannot be saved (v30-32)
After 14 days without food, Paul
tells them all to take nourishment (33-38)
They are shipwrecked on Malta and all were saved (v39-44)
(Acts
28:1-9)
The natives of Malta showed kindness;
they kindled a fire and made all welcome (v1-2)
Paul is bitten by a viper but he shook
it off into the fire and suffered no harm (v3-6)
Publius, entertained them for
three day; his father lay sick of a fever and dysentery (v7-8)
Paul went in to him and prayed,
and laid hands on him and healed him (v8)
The rest on the island who had diseases came and were healed (v9)
PROGRESS
REPORT #23 (Acts 28:11-31)
After many months they arrive in Rome
(v11-14)
The brethren heard about them and
came to meet them; Paul thanked God and was encouraged (v15)
Paul was permitted to dwell by
himself with the soldier who guarded him (v16)
Paul called the leaders of the
Jews together and explained his plight (v17-18)
Jews in Jerusalem spoke against
Paul and he was compelled to appeal to Caesar (v19)
They ask Paul to expound on “this
sect” … (Jesus) (v22-23)
Some were persuaded and some
disbelieved (v24)
Paul quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 against
them (v25-27)
Paul tells them he will now
preach the salvation of God to the Gentiles (v28)
The Jews departed and had a great
dispute among themselves (v29)
Paul preached the kingdom of God, taught concerning Jesus and no one forbid him (v30-31)
