使徒行传：全书背景讲解+第一章
 
GK611晨祷生命读经 
05.05.2026 
主讲：陈炎明牧师


 A.使徒行传背景介绍


一、关于圣经整体的理解

1. 顺服与任意（v.2–5）
1.⁠ ⁠圣经兼具人的话与神的话
2.⁠ ⁠读圣经可从两个层面来看

二、路加这位作者的特色
1.⁠ ⁠路加是圣经中唯一的外邦作者
2.⁠ ⁠路加是一名医生
3.⁠ ⁠路加是旅行者，也是保罗的同工
4.⁠ ⁠路加是优秀作家与史学家
5.⁠ ⁠路加也有传福音的心

三、路加写作的重点与负担
1.⁠ ⁠《路加福音》的重点—耶稣是救主
2.⁠ ⁠《使徒行传》的重点—圣灵的浇灌
3.⁠ ⁠路加的关键词：救赎

四、关于提阿非罗的可能身份
1.⁠ ⁠提阿非罗应该是真实人物
2.⁠ ⁠他可能是有身份地位的人
3.⁠ ⁠一种重要推测：他可能与保罗受审有关

五、本书写作的历史目的
1.⁠ ⁠说明基督信仰的起源与发展
2.⁠ ⁠为保罗和基督信仰作辩护
1.⁠ ⁠填补福音书与书信之间的空白

六、《使徒行传》的内容重心
1.⁠ ⁠这卷书真正的焦点不是所有使徒，而是彼得与保罗
2.⁠ ⁠目的之一是显示彼得与保罗并不对立

七、《使徒行传》的可能结构
1.⁠ ⁠按人物分
•⁠  ⁠前半：彼得
•⁠  ⁠后半：保罗

2.⁠ ⁠按地理分
•⁠  ⁠耶路撒冷
•⁠  ⁠犹太全地和撒玛利亚
•⁠  ⁠直到地极

3.⁠ ⁠按“福音扩展的涟漪”分
•⁠  ⁠每一个单元都以“神的道兴旺、人数增加”作结束标记。
•⁠  ⁠路加只记录那些会引发下一波福音扩展的关键事件。

这些事件像石子投入水中，激起一圈圈涟漪
    * 五旬节圣灵降临
    * 司提反殉道后门徒四散
    * 腓利往撒玛利亚
    * 埃提阿伯太监信主
    * 哥尼流全家得救
    * 耶路撒冷会议决定外邦人不必先变犹太人才可信主
* 保罗向外邦人传福音

整卷书的核心是：福音不断向外扩展

 B.《使徒行传》第一章【圣灵浇灌，作主见证】

一、复活的主坚固门徒（1:1–5）

耶稣复活以后，不是立刻离开，而是四十天之久向门徒显现，讲说神国的事，并且吩咐他们不要急着行动，要等候父所应许的圣灵。

这段让我们看见，主的工作没有停止。门徒将来要承担很大的使命，但主没有先叫他们出去忙，而是先坚固他们、教导他们、预备他们。今天我们也是一样，事奉神之前，先要与主有真实的关系，也要学习等候圣灵的能力。

先被主坚固，才能为主作工。

二、圣灵能力使命方向（1:6–11）

门徒关心“以色列国什么时候复兴”，但耶稣把他们的眼光从“时间”转向“使命”，并说：“圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力……作我的见证。”

人常常想知道“神什么时候做事”，但主更在意“我们有没有预备好回应祂”。第8节是全章钥节，也是整卷《使徒行传》的中心：圣灵赐下能力，不是为了让人夸耀，而是为了叫人作见证；而且这个见证要从近处开始，直到地极。接着主升天，也应许祂还要再来，叫门徒活在盼望中，不只是望天，而是忠心行动。

不要只问神何时工作，要预备自己成为主的见证人。

三、教会在祷告中预备自己（1:12–26）

门徒回到耶路撒冷，同心合意恒切祷告；彼得也带领众人按着圣经和祷告，补选马提亚，使团队得以整全。

这一段给我们看见，教会的起点不是热闹行动，而是同心祷告。门徒没有靠自己的聪明来安排一切，而是在神面前寻求，也用神的话来解释现实，并且按属灵原则建立团队。真正的复兴，常常不是从外面的工作开始，而是从里面的合一、祷告和顺服开始。

神的工作，开始于同心祷告，也建立在神的话语上。

结语：圣灵与教会
门徒不是靠自己去开创教会，而是在复活主的带领下，等候圣灵、领受使命、并在祷告中预备自己。今天我们也一样，若要为主作见证，就不能只靠热心，乃要先被主坚固，被圣灵充满，在祷告中与神对齐。
教会的开始，是在等候中得能力，在圣灵里担使命而开始了基督的教会。



  

Background Overview of the Book of Acts + Chapter 1
 GK611 Morning Devotion 
05.05.2026
Speaker: Rev David Tan


 A. Background Introduction to the Book of Acts

I. Understanding the Bible as a Whole

1.⁠ ⁠The Bible is both the word of man and the word of God
2. ⁠ ⁠The Bible can be approached from two perspectives

 II. The Distinctive Characteristics of Luke, the Author
1.⁠ ⁠Luke is the only Gentile author in the Bible
2.⁠ ⁠Luke was a doctor
3.⁠ ⁠Luke was a traveller and a co-worker with Paul
4.⁠ ⁠Luke was an excellent writer and historian
5.⁠ ⁠Luke also had a heart for evangelism

 III. Luke’s Focus and Burden in Writing
1.The focus of the Gospel of Luke — Jesus is the Saviour. 
2.The focus of the Book of Acts — the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 
3.Luke’s key theme: Redemption. 

 IV. The Possible Identity of Theophilus
1.Theophilus was likely a real person. 
2.He may have been a person of status. 
3.An important suggestion: he may have been connected to Paul’s trial. 

 V. The Historical Purpose of Writing this Book
1.To explain the origin and development of the Christian faith. 
2.To defend Paul and the Christian faith. 
3.To fill the gap between the Gospels and the Epistles. 

 VI. The Central Focus of the Book of Acts
1. ⁠ ⁠The true focus of this book is not all the apostles, but Peter and Paul
2.⁠ ⁠One of the aims is to show that Peter and Paul were not in opposition

 VII. Possible Structure of the Book of Acts
1. By Key Figures
•First half: Peter 
•Second half: Paul 

2.⁠ ⁠By geography
•Jerusalem
•All Judea and Samaria
•To the ends of the earth

3. By the “Rippling Expansion of the Gospel”
•Each section concludes with a marker such as “the word of God increased” and “the number of disciples multiplied.” 
•Luke records only key events that trigger the next wave of gospel expansion. 

These events are like stones cast into water, creating concentric ripples
•The descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
•The scattering of the disciples following Stephen’s martyrdom
•Philip’s journey to Samaria
•The Ethiopian eunuch believing in the Lord 
•The salvation of Cornelius and his household
•The decision at the Jerusalem Council that Gentiles need not become Jews to believe in the Lord
•Paul’s preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles

The central message of the entire book: The gospel continues to expand outwardly.


 B) Acts 1: The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Bearing Witness for the Lord

I. The Risen Lord Strengthens the Disciples (1:1–5) 

After His resurrection, Jesus did not leave immediately. Instead, for forty days He appeared to the disciples, speaking about the kingdom of God and instructing them not to act hastily, but to wait for the Holy Spirit promised by the Father.

This passage shows us that the Lord’s work has not ceased. The disciples would soon bear a great mission, yet the Lord did not send them out to be busy straight away. Instead, He first strengthened them, taught them and prepared them. It is the same for us today: before serving God, we must first have a genuine relationship with the Lord and learn to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit. Only after being strengthened by the Lord can we work for Him.

 II. The Direction of the Mission Through the Power of the Holy Spirit (1:6–11) 

The disciples were concerned about “when the kingdom would be restored to Israel,” but Jesus shifted their focus from “timing” to “mission,” saying: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you… and you will be My witnesses.”

The disciples were concerned about ‘when the kingdom of Israel would be restored’, but Jesus shifted their focus from ‘timing’ to ‘mission’, saying: ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you… and you will be My witnesses.’

People often want to know ‘when God will act’, but the Lord is more concerned with ‘whether we are ready to respond to Him’. Verse 8 is the key verse of the entire chapter, and also the centre of the whole book of Acts: the Holy Spirit bestows power, not so that people may boast, but so that they may bear witness; and this witness is to begin at the nearest places and extend to the ends of the earth. Then the Lord ascended, promising that He would come again, enabling the disciples to live in hope—not merely gazing at the heavens, but acting faithfully.

Do not only ask when God will work; prepare ourself to be His witness.

 III. The Church Prepares Itself Through Prayer (1:12–26) 

The disciples returned to Jerusalem and devoted themselves to prayer with one accord; Peter also led the group to select Matthias through the Scriptures and prayer, thereby restoring the team to its full complement.

This passage shows us that the starting point of the church is not outward activity, but united prayer. The disciples did not rely on their own wisdom to arrange everything. Instead, they sought God, interpreted reality through His Word, and built the team according to spiritual principles. True revival often does not begin with outward works, but with inward unity, prayer, and obedience.
God’s work begins with united prayer and is built upon His Word.

 Conclusion: The Holy Spirit and the Church

The disciples did not establish the church in their own strength, but under the guidance of the risen Lord, they waited for the Holy Spirit, received their mission, and prepared themselves through prayer. The same applies to us today: if we are to bear witness for the Lord, we cannot rely solely on enthusiasm, but must first be strengthened by the Lord, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and aligned ourselves with God through prayer.

The Church began when, through waiting, it received power and, in the Holy Spirit, took up its mission to establish the Church of Christ.