Lesson 2:The Book of Conversions

The Strategic Placement of the Book of Acts in the N.T.

• It is a vital and indispensible record of God’s holy and Divine will for man.

• In simplified summaries, the major divisions of the N.T. could be stated as follows:– The Gospels:

God’s vehement intent to save man– Book of Acts:

God’s vivid illustrations of men being saved– The Epistles:

God’s various instructions to men who are saved– Revelation:

God’s victorious incentive for men who are saved

Great Commission: Its Command, Compliance & Consequences

Great Commission

Book of Acts The Epistles The Results

Preach/TeachMark 16:15

TeachingActs 2:14, 40; 8:4-5, 12

TaughtRom. 10:14; Eph. 4:20-21

SavedMark 16:16; Eph. 2:8

BelieveMark 16:16

BelievingActs 2:37; 16:31

Believed1 Co. 15:2, 11; Ep. 1:13

Remission of SinsLuke 24:47; Acts 2:38

RepentLuke 24:47

RepentingActs 2:38; 17:30

Repented1 Thess. 1:9; 2 Pet. 3:9

DisciplesMt. 28:19; Acts 6:7; 11:26

BaptizedMt. 28:19; Mark 16:16

BaptizingActs 2:38; 18:8; 22:16

BaptizedRom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27

New Relationship with GodMt. 28:19; Gal. 3:26-27

Great Commission: Its Command, Compliance & Consequences• The Great Commission is simple, Jesus having used

clear and precise terms.• However, some either by ignorance or by choice do not

or will not “get it.”• God gave the book of Acts with clear and copious

examples of the commission of Christ being followed.– Clear and precise instructions combined with clear, precise

and copious examples (that correspond unambiguously with the instructions) makes God’s plan to save man crystal clear.

– Any misunderstanding, misinterpretation, miscommunication or misapplication is therefore by conscious choice or willful ignorance.

Examples of Conversion in ActsThose Taught Believed Repented Confessed Baptized SavedJewsActs 2:1-47

Cut to heart(37)

Repent(38)

Baptized(38, 41)

Remission (38)Added (47)

SamaritansActs 8:5-12

Believed(12)

Baptized(12)

SimonActs 8:13

Believed(13)

Baptized(13)

EunuchActs 8:26-40

Believed(36-37)

Confessed(37)

Baptized(36-38)

Rejoiced(39)

SaulActs 9:1-18

Baptized(9:18; 22:16)

Sins washed away (22:16)

CorneliusActs 10:25-58

Believed(43)

Repentance(11:18)

Baptized(47-48)

Remission of sins (43)

LydiaActs 16:11-15

Baptized(15)

The JailerActs 16:25-34

Believed(31, 34)

Washed stripes (33)

Baptized(33)

Saved (30)Rejoiced (34)

CorinthiansActs 18:4-11

Believed(8)

Baptized(8)

EphesiansActs 19:1-7

Believed(2, 4)

Baptized(5)

• Those who were converted in the New Testament did:– Exactly what they were told to do– Immediately what they were told to do– Uniformly (in every case) what they were told to do– Graciously receive the same blessing of salvation

• Men today must follow and use the conversions in Acts as their guide (see Lesson 1).

Examples of Conversion in Acts

A Parallel Between the Purpose and the Theme

• As persons were being converted to Christ, notice what happened to Christianity (i.e., the Lord’s church).– “And that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41)– “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts

2:47)– “Many…believed; and the number of the men came to be about 5,000”

(Acts 4:4)– “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes…” (Acts

5:14)– “…The number of the disciples was multiplying…” (Acts 6:1)– “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied

greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).

– “Then the churches…were multiplied” (Acts 9:31)– “…And many believed on the Lord” (Acts 9:42)

A Parallel Between the Purpose and the Theme

• As persons were being converted to Christ, notice what happened to Christianity (i.e., the Lord’s church).– “And a great many people were added to the Lord” (Acts 11:24)– “The word of God grew and multiplied” (Acts 12:24)– “…A great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed”

(Acts 14:1)– “…They had preached the gospel to that city and made many

disciples” (Acts 14:21)– “So the churches…increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5)– “A great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the

leading women” (Acts 17:4)– “Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the

Greeks…” (Acts 17:12)– “And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were

baptized” (Acts 18:8)