Six geographical periods
Expansion map of Acts used in this lesson.
Lesson 2 · Course 60
Structure and Strategy in Acts
Six geographic expansion periods — internal growth and external opposition — and Luke as a reliable, selective, teaching narrator.
At a glance
Summary
Acts Lesson 2 traces six geographical periods of expansion. Internal growth/tension and external growth/opposition reinforce each other. Luke writes a reliable, selective, episodic narrative that teaches implicitly. Pentecost is unique equipping; historical details are corroborated. Watch the misses: property-sharing context in other Acts homes; narrative percentage ~70% not 90%; apostleship limited to NT apostles who saw the risen Lord with a direct calling.
Lesson 2: Quiz 2.1 100% · 2.2 100% · 2.3 90% · Cumulative 90% (18/20). Misses: 2.3 Q1 property sharing; Cumul Q14 70% not 90%; Q15 NT apostleship only.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Six geographical periods of expansion structure Acts movement.
- Internal growth/tension and external growth/opposition reinforce one another.
- Luke = reliable, selective, episodic, implicitly teaching narrative.
- Pentecost is special/unique equipping.
- Historical details in Acts are corroborated.
- Miss 2.3 Q1: other Acts accounts show believers meeting in wealthy homes without sharing resources (not merely a persecution/famine exception).
- Cumul miss Q14: narrative percentage is 70%, not 90%.
- Cumul miss Q15: apostleship = only NT apostles who saw the risen Lord + direct calling (not a broader modern apostleship).
- Acts 1:8 order: Jerusalem → Judea → Samaria → ends of the earth; six geographical periods divided by summaries.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Internal vs external growth
Growth/tension inside and growth/opposition outside reinforce each other.
Episodic selective narrative
Luke chooses episodes that teach implicitly while remaining historically reliable.
Pentecost (unique equipping)
Special equipping event in Acts opening movement.
Apostleship (NT)
Those who saw the risen Lord and received a direct calling — not a broader modern category (Cumul Q15).
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Catechetical / didactic history and the role of speeches
- Six geographical expansion periods
- Internal growth/tension and external growth/opposition
- Luke narrative style: episodic, selective, implicit teaching
- Pentecost unique equipping; corroborated historical detail
- Misses to lock: property sharing; 70% narrative; NT apostleship
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz 2.1 / 2.2 | 100% / 100% |
|---|---|
| Quiz 2.3 | 90% — miss Q1 property sharing / wealthy homes |
| Cumulative L2 | 90% (18/20) — miss Q14 70% not 90%; Q15 NT apostleship only |
| Geography | Six expansion periods |
| Luke narrative | Reliable, selective, episodic, implicitly teaching |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Internal vs external pressures
- Internal: growth and tension
- External: growth and opposition
- Together they reinforce the story of advance
Misses to remember
- 2.3 Q1: wealthy homes without resource-sharing (not only persecution/famine exception)
- Cumul Q14: ~70% narrative, not 90%
- Cumul Q15: NT apostles who saw risen Lord + direct calling
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Map the six geographies so Acts does not feel like random travel stories.
- Preach both insides and outsides of growth — tension and opposition belong in the advance.
- Luke selects episodes that teach; preach the implicit lesson, not only the plot.
- Keep apostleship tethered to the risen Lord eyewitnesses and calling.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 50 items
Stems from Jaira attempt reviews for Quiz 2.1–2.3 and Cumulative Lesson 2.
Quiz 2.1 · 100% · 1 attempt
1. Which deed in Acts 13:7–12 supports the authority of the gospel?
Elymas was blinded and the proconsul was convinced.Miracle and conversion support gospel authority.
2. When was Paul allowed to speak as a prisoner?
He was allowed when the ship was in danger.Allowed to speak when the ship was in danger.
3. True or false? Luke edited the style and content of the speeches.
FalseHe retained the speakers’ unique styles and content.
4. Acts is “_____ or didactic history.”
catecheticalCatechetical or didactic history.
5. What authority did Luke include in Acts?
speeches of apostles/prophetsApostolic/prophetic speeches.
6. What was Luke’s purpose?
reliable history plus gospel/kingdom teaching to TheophilusHistory + teaching for Theophilus.
7. True or false? First-century writers often gave inaccurate speech reports.
TrueOften inaccurate speech reports in the century — Luke’s care stands out.
8. True or false? The title “first of the island” was used only by Luke.
FalseNot used only by Luke.
9. True or false? There are about 24 speeches in Acts, mostly by apostles, prophets, and leaders.
TrueAbout 24 speeches.
10. What is Acts’ focus?
internal and external growth with tension and oppositionInternal/external growth with tension and opposition.
Quiz 2.2 · 100% · 1 attempt
1. What marked Jerusalem’s internal growth?
Holy Spirit outpouring at PentecostPentecost outpouring.
2. What marked Judea/Samaria’s external growth?
Paul’s conversionPaul’s conversion.
3. What was Antioch’s internal tension?
resistance to loosening dietary restrictionsDietary restrictions tension.
4. Who evangelized Judea and Samaria?
PhilipPhilip.
5. How many were converted at Pentecost?
3,0003,000 converted.
6. What was Jerusalem’s internal tension?
discrimination against Hellenistic widowsHellenistic widows.
7. Who was the Gentile in Acts 10?
CorneliusCornelius.
8. Which region was not evangelized by Paul?
EgyptEgypt not by Paul.
9. What internal growth came from Acts 15?
Jerusalem Council removed the circumcision requirementCircumcision requirement removed.
10. True or false? There was a rumor that Paul required Gentiles to keep Jewish laws.
FalseThe rumor concerned Jewish believers abandoning traditions.
Quiz 2.3 · 90% · 1 attempt
1. Why is sharing property not necessarily normative for the church?
Other Acts accounts had believers meeting in wealthy homes without sharing resources.Miss / partialMiss: chose special persecution/famine/poverty exception; Moodle: wealthy homes without sharing resources.
2. Meeting in homes — is it necessarily normative?
Not necessarily normative; it was a custom related to persecution.Persecution-related custom.
3. What does “episodic” mean?
successive selection of smaller accountsEpisodic = successive smaller accounts.
4. Luke’s selectivity means…
he selected history to fit his purposesSelective for his purposes.
5. Feeding widows — normative for every church?
good practice, not required for every church; special circumstancesSpecial circumstances, not universal requirement.
6. Pentecost — required manifestations today?
special event equipping early believers; the same manifestations are not required todayUnique equipping event.
7. Argumentative vs narrative discourse
direct vs indirect communicationDirect vs indirect.
8. Which has more argumentative discourse?
epistlesEpistles.
9. Which has more narrative discourse?
Gospels and ActsGospels and Acts.
10. Mark each correct about Luke’s narrative.
The author is selective; It narrates in episodes; It teaches implicitly, not directlyAll three correct.
Cumulative Lesson 2 · 90% · 1 attempt
1. True or false? Paul was unable to preach freely in Rome.
FalseHe was able to preach freely in Rome (False that he was unable).
2. Acts is “_____ or didactic history.”
catecheticalCatechetical.
3. Whom did Priscilla and Aquila instruct?
ApollosApollos.
4. Meeting in homes — normative?
Not necessarily normative; persecution customPersecution custom.
5. Acts 1:8 order
Jerusalem → Judea → Samaria → “The ends of the earth”1:8 expansion order.
6. True or false? First-century speech reports were inaccurate.
TrueOften inaccurate in the century.
7. What authority did Luke add?
speeches of apostles/prophetsSpeeches.
8. Rumor about Paul and Gentile laws
FalseNot that Paul required Gentiles to keep Jewish laws.
9. Critics’ view of Acts
religious sentiment / “pious fiction”Pious fiction charge.
10. Argumentative vs narrative
direct vs indirectDirect vs indirect.
11. Implicit teaching
stories allowing indirect inferenceIndirect inference from stories.
12. Structure of Acts
six geographical periods divided by summariesSix periods + summaries.
13. Acts 15 internal growth
Council removed circumcision requirementCircumcision requirement removed.
14. What percentage of Acts is narrative?
70%Miss / partialMiss: chose 90%; Moodle 70%.
15. Who are apostles?
Only New Testament apostles existed, requiring seeing the resurrected Lord and direct callingMiss / partialMiss: chose broader modern apostleship; Moodle NT apostles only (risen Lord + direct calling).
16. Paul speaking as prisoner
allowed when the ship was in dangerShip in danger.
17. “First of the island” used only by Luke
FalseNot only by Luke.
18. More argumentative discourse
epistlesEpistles.
19. Continuity in Acts
same God, goal, gospelSame God, goal, gospel.
20. Jerusalem internal growth
Pentecost outpouringPentecost.