Apostolic Preaching in the Book of Acts: Summary of Common Themes

[This is a paper I did in my Biblical Theology class concerning Apostolic preaching in the book of Acts. These are from the chapters in which the Apostles are preaching to unbelievers. Though this is a combination of the Apostles speaking to both Jews and Gentiles, it should show us how we are to preach the Gospel to unbelievers today. Notice the Apostles never say "Jesus died for you" to any unbelieving crowd.]

1. Jews linked with killing Christ (2:23, 36; 3:13-15; 4:10; 5:30; 10:39): Peter, in preaching to the Jews, emphasizes that the Jews had a hand in the death of Christ. He seems to want to drive the point home to the Jews to bring conviction because it happens in every one of his sermons to the Jews. Peter does this, not because he has something against the Jews (he himself is a Jew), rather, he is reminding them that they had cried out for the death of Jesus in front of Pilate. The Apostles recognize that the Jews are not solely responsible for they mention Herod, Pilate, the Romans, and the Jewish leaders (4:27). Yet everything that happened occurred under the sovereign hand of God (4:28).

2. Repentance (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 17:30): The Apostles stress the accompaniment of repentance with belief. Yet, repentance is not a work. Rather it is accompanied with regeneration as Acts 5:31 states. God is the giver of repentance.

3. Faith and conviction (3:16; 10:43; 13:39): Not only is repentance necessary, so is belief which is faith. Faith must be put in Christ by the gospel in order for salvation to be accomplished in an individual.

4. Jesus Christ (2:22-23,32,36,38; 3:13,15,20; 4:10-11; 5:30; 10:36,38; 13:23,33): Salvation is found in no other name. The Apostles were always preaching Christ as the Messiah who was delivered up for sins, raised from death by the power of God, and sits at the right hand of God until all of his enemies are made his footstool. Christ is also the Son of David which he [David] prophesied about when he said “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool” (Acts 2:34-35).

5. Abraham and Jewish Heritage (3:13,25; 5:30; 13:17,26,32,36; 28:25): The Apostles, when preaching to the Jews, talk about the relationship that God has had with their fathers in the past and how God has prophesied of the day that has now arrived. That day is the New Covenant purchased by the blood of Christ. Peter talks about the covenant that God made with Abraham and how it has been fulfilled through Christ in that “all nations will be blessed” (Acts 3:25).

6. The prophetic foretelling of Christ in the Tanak (2:16,30; 3:18,21-25; 4:43; 13:20,27,40; 28:25): The Apostle’s message has been the same message from the prophets in the Tanak. When speaking to the Jews, the Apostles point out that their message is not new but has been foretold by the prophets and David as well. The prophets quoted by the Apostles are Joel, David (from the Psalms), Moses (from Deuteronomy), YHWH (from his covenant with Abraham), Isaiah, and Habakkuk.

7. Salvation (4:12; 13:26; 28:28): The Apostle’s message was always about salvation for “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (4:12). The gospel is the message of salvation which was the Apostle’s duty to preach to all people.

8. The Holy Spirit (2:33,38; 4:8; 5:32; 10:38; 28:25): The Holy Spirit, third person of the Trinity, is a gift and promise to those who repent and believe in the gospel. The Holy Spirit is the one who fills the Apostles and gives them their divine speech. The Holy Spirit was also responsible for the prophetic speeches given by the prophets of the Old Testament for Peter says, “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet…” (28:25).

9. The Humanity of Christ (2:22; 13:38; 17:31): The Apostles, in their preaching, refer to Christ as a “man.” Though, in the early parts of Acts, this may not seem important, it will become important later as the Apostles battle Cerinthus and Gnosticism. This will also become important later for the early church fathers as they continue the battle against Gnosticism.

10. The Resurrection of Christ (2:24,31-32; 3:14,26; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30,34,37): The resurrection of Christ is always a key point for the apostles in preaching about Christ. They show that death could not conquer Christ because he was truly the perfect sacrifice. Though men had put him to death, God raised him up because of the accomplished work.