Evangelism is one of the most important missions of the church. In evangelism, we are making an appeal to non-Christians to both believe and do something. What we ask them to believe and do ought to pattern what the first disciples asked non-Christians to believe and do. Does it? To answer that question, I recently examined what the early church preached to unbelievers, chronicling every detail of every message found in Acts (2:14-40; 3:12-26; 4:8-12,33;  5:29-32,42; 7:2-53; 8:5,12,35; 10:34-43; 11:20; 13:16-41; 14:15-17; 16:30-31; 17:2-3,6-7,18,22-31; 18:5,28; 19:2-4,8; 20:21,25; 22:1-21; 23:6,11; 24:10-21,24-25; 25:19; 26:1-23; 28:17-20,23,30).[1] What follows are my findings and analysis.

What the Early Church Did Not Preach

As I examined the preaching content of the early church, what intrigued me most is what they did not preach:

  • Whereas we focus on God’s love and His desire for a relationship with us, this message was entirely absent from the preaching of the early church. In fact, you won’t find the word “love” or “relationship” a single time in Acts. While God does love us and desires a relationship with us, these truths were taught to saints (in the epistles), not preached to sinners.
  • There is no mention of God’s mercy and very little regarding His grace.[2] One might argue that these concepts are implicit in the message of forgiveness, but they are not explicit or common.
  • The message of Christ’s atonement is not articulated either. While they repeatedly spoke of Jesus’ crucifixion, they never connected this event with a substitutionary atonement for sin or as the basis of our forgiveness. While they clearly connected the person of Jesus to forgiveness (5:31; 10:43; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18), they did not connect that forgiveness to Jesus’ crucifixion/death.[3]
  • There is no mention of hell.[4] They only spoke generally of a coming judgment (10:42; 17:31; 24:25) and identified Jesus as the judge of all people (10:42; 17:31). With only three references to judgment, clearly even this was not a major theme.
  • They did not speak of heaven,[5] but rather about the kingdom of God (8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23,31).
  • They did not speak of God’s plan for our life.

I find it ironic that these missing elements of first century evangelism are typically the focus of our message today. My concern is not with what we have added. In principle, it is unproblematic to expand on the message of the early church by adding additional elements that appeal to our 21st century audience. After all, the way we present the gospel will be conditioned by our audience and culture. My concern is with the elements we have eliminated or de-emphasized.

What the Early Church Did Preach

As I examined the preaching of the early church, it became clear to me that their message focused on two things: (1) the identity of Jesus, (2) the work of Jesus. They were not interested in preaching about God in general, but specifically about the person of Jesus. They wanted unbelievers to know who Jesus is (Lord, Messiah/King, judge, The Prophet, The Seed, Son of God, etc.) and what God did through Him (suffered, died, buried, rose again, appeared, brought forgiveness). There are at least 49 references to Jesus’ work[6] and 47 references to His identity.[7] Secondary and tertiary themes included sin and judgment (20 references[8]), salvation and forgiveness (17 references[9]), Jesus’ fulfillment of OT prophecy (11 references), and the kingdom of God (6 references).

Using frequency of mention as the determiner of what the early church considered most important, the following truths/themes were most central to the early church’s evangelism:

  1. Jesus rose from the dead = 25 occurrences[10]
  2. Jesus is Christ/Messiah/King = 15 occurrences[11]
  3. Jesus is Lord = 11 occurrences[12]
  4. The OT testifies to Jesus = 11 occurrences[13]
  5. Jews were guilty of Jesus’ death = 9 occurrences[14]
  6. Salvation/forgiveness is through Jesus = 7 occurrences[15]
  7. We have sins that need to be forgiven = 7 occurrences[16]
  8. Jesus was crucified = 6 occurrences[17]
  9. Kingdom of God = 6 occurrences[18]
  10. Exalted claims regarding Jesus’ identity = 5 occurrences[19]

The most prominent aspect of the early church’s evangelism was their proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection. When is the last time you heard the resurrection of Jesus included in an evangelistic appeal? In my experience, it is virtually absent today.

The same could be asked of the other elements. When is the last time you heard Jesus proclaimed as King (#2)? I don’t’ think I’ve ever heard Jesus presented as King to unbelievers. It’s rather unsettling when the two most prominent messages in the early church are virtually absent in modern evangelism.

Thankfully, number three on the list – Jesus’ lordship – is included in many evangelistic messages, but by no means is it central to all evangelism.

Numbers four (the OT testifies to Jesus) and five (the Jews were guilty of Jesus’ death) were only prominent in the early church because of their Jewish audience. I would not expect these themes to be prominent in our Gentile culture today.

The message of salvation through Jesus (#6), the fact that we have sins that need to be forgiven (#7), and Jesus’ death by crucifixion are prominent themes in modern evangelism, but the message of the kingdom of God (#9) is entirely absent.

What the Early Church Asked Unbelievers to Do

Earlier, I said our evangelistic appeal includes both asking people to believe certain things, as well as do certain things. Up to this point, I’ve focused on what they asked people to believe. But what did they ask people to do? And what did the people do in response to their appeal? Again, we have a record in the book of Acts.

Of the 22 evangelistic encounters recorded in Acts,[20] we find 13 salvation appeals and 14 responses. The appeals were to (in order of prominence):

  • Repent (6 times[21])
  • Be baptized (5 times[22])
  • Believe in / call on Jesus (4 times[23])
  • Be filled with the Spirit (4 times[24])
  • Seek God (1 time[25])
  • Wait for the kingdom (1 time[26]).

The responses[27] included (in order of prominence):

  • Believing (14 times[28])
  • Being baptized (9 times[29])
  • Receiving the Spirit (3 times[30])
  • Joining the believers (2 times[31]).[32]

How does this compare to what we ask people to do today? Are we calling on people to put their faith in Jesus (as Lord, King, Savior, etc.), repent, be baptized, and be filled with the Spirit? Are we asking them to believe that Jesus rose from the dead? And how are people responding? Are they expressing their faith and repenting? Are they being baptized (immediately)?[33] Are they being filled with the Holy Spirit?

Conclusion

While there are certainly elements of the early church’s evangelistic message that we are still preaching today, unfortunately we have added elements absent from the early church while eliminating or de-emphasizing critical elements of their message. We can’t just invite people to commit their life to God. We must specifically ask people to believe in Jesus. While many do invite people to believe in Jesus, they rarely tell them what they should believe about Jesus. We must direct people to express their faith in Jesus’ identity as Lord and King and affirm His resurrection from the dead, and then direct them to repent, be baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit. A mere commitment to follow God or a mere decision to ambiguously “believe” in Jesus is not sufficient for salvation. One must place their faith in Jesus’ identity and believe that He has risen from the dead (Romans 10:9-10).

What could an evangelistic message look like today that incorporates the key messages of the early church as well as the culturally relevant elements for today’s culture? Perhaps it could be construed along these lines: “The God who created us is morally perfect. We have sinned, however, and this has caused a rift in our relationship with God. But because God loves us, He still desires a relationship with us. That relationship can only be restored, however, if our sins are dealt with. Since we are unable to do anything about our sin, God took the initiative to do so by sending His Son, Jesus, whose coming and work was predicted long ago in the OT Scriptures. Jesus willingly died on a cross and rose again from the dead so that our sins could be forgiven. This Jesus is not only the Savior of all people, but is also the Lord and King over all. In the future, He will return to establish an everlasting kingdom. If you want to know God, receive forgiveness, and be part of His kingdom, confess that Jesus is your Lord and Savior and believe that God has raised Him from the dead. Turn away from your sin, get water baptized, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. When you do, you will begin a lifelong journey of knowing God and fulfilling His purpose in your life.”

For further details on my research, see below.

 

EVANGELISTIC CONTENT BROKEN OUT BY MESSAGE TYPE AND AUDIENCE

There are 35 monologues and message summaries found in Acts.[34] By “message summary,” I refer to Luke’s summation of what was preached as opposed to His portrayal of a verbal monologue. In some instances, Luke records a combination of both monologues and message summaries. Here is a breakout of these monologues/summaries by audience:

  • To Jews = 22 times
    • 2:14-41; 3:12-26; 4:1-2,8-12,33; 5:29-32; 7:2-53; 8:35; 9:17,20-22; 11:20; 13:16-41; 17:2-3; 18:5,28; 19:2-4,8; 22:1-21; 23:6; 26:1-23; 28:17-20,23
  • To Samaritans = 1 time
    • 8:5,12
  • To Gentiles = 8 times
    • 10:34-43; 14:15-17; 16:30-31; 17:6-7,18,22-31; 24:10-21; 24:24
  • To mixed audience = 4 times
    • 20:21,25; 23:11; 25:19; 28:30-31

When we examine the content contained in these monologues and summaries, the most prominent themes are as follows:

  • What Jesus did (49)
    • Jesus rose from the dead (2:24-32 [3 mentions]; 3:15,26; 4:1-2,10,33; 5:30; 10:40-41 [2 mentions]; 13:30,33-37 [3 mentions]; 17:3,18,31; 23:6 [implied]; 24:21 [implied],23; 25:19; 26:8 [implied],23; 28:20 [implied]), salvation/forgiveness in Jesus (4:11-12; 5:31; 10:43; 13:26; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18), Jesus crucified (2:23,36; 4:10; 5:30; 10:39; 13:27-9), Christ’s suffering (3:18; 13:29; 17:3; 26:23), Jesus appeared to believers (10:40-41; 13:31), Jesus buried (2:29-31 [implied]; 13:29), good news about Jesus (8:35), name of Jesus (8:12), facts about Jesus (23:11)
  • Who Jesus is (47)
    • Jesus is Christ/Messiah/King (2:36; 3:20; 4:10; 5:42; 8:5,12; 9:22; 10:36; 17:3,6-7; 18:5,28; 20:21; 28:23 [implied],31), Jesus is the Lord (2:25,34-36; 4:33; 10:36; 11:20; 16:31; 20:21; 22:10,19; 26:15; 28:31), exalted claims regarding Jesus’ identity (3:14-15; 7:52; 10:36; 17:18; 22:14), Jesus is exalted/glorified (2:33; 3:13; 5:31), Jesus’ claims vindicated by God (2:22; 10:38), Jesus is judge (10:42; 17:31), Jesus is Savior (5:31; 13:23), Jesus is God’s servant (3:13,26), Son of God (9:20; 13:33 [implied]), Jesus is The Prophet (3:22-23), Jesus is The Seed (3:25), son of David (13:22-23)
  • How to respond (25)
    • Repent (2:38; 3:19,26; 5:31; 14:15-16; 17:30; 20:21; 26:18,20), believe/call in/on Jesus (10:43; 13:39; 16:31; 19:4; 20:21; 22:16 [implied]; 24:24; 26:18), be baptized (2:38; 8:36; 10:48; 19:3-4; 22:16), receive the Holy Spirit (2:38; 5:32; 9:17; 19:2), seek God (17:27-28)
  • Sin and judgment (20)
    • Jews guilty of Jesus’ death (2:23,36; 3:13-15,17; 4:10-11; 5:30; 7:52; 10:39; 13:27-28), we have sins that need to be forgiven (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18), coming judgment/Jesus is judge (10:42; 17:31; 24:25), righteousness and self-control (24:25)
  • Salvation and forgiveness (17)
    • Forgiveness (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38-39; 22:16; 26:18), future resurrection of believers (4:2; 23:6; 24:15,21), faith in Jesus brings healing (3:16; 4:10), God accepts all who fear Him (10:34-35), peace through Jesus (10:36), Way opened to the Gentiles (24:23), grace (14:3)
  • OT testifies to Jesus (11)
    • 3:18,22; 10:43; 13:23,27,29,32; 24:14-15; 26:6-8,22-23; 28:23
  • Kingdom of God (6)
    • 3:19-21; 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23,31
  • Miscellaneous
    • Rehearsing of OT history (7:2-50; 13:16-22), God gave evidence of His existence (14:17), Paul’s credentials (22:3; 26:4-5), Paul’s conversion (22:4-21; 24:9-18), true God is omnipresent and beyond need (17:24-25), God made all people and gives them life (17:25-26)

Monologues – by Theme – All Audiences

We can break this content out further by monologues vs. summaries, and further break each of those out by audience.  Let’s start with the monologues (20 monologues).

  • Who Jesus is
    • Jesus’ claims vindicated by God (2:22; 10:38), Jesus is God’s servant (3:13,26), Jesus is The Prophet (3:22-23), Jesus is The Seed (3:25), exalted claims regarding Jesus’ identity (3:14-15; 7:52; 10:36; 17:18; 22:14), Jesus is exalted/glorified (2:33; 3:13; 5:31), Jesus is the Lord (2:34-36; 10:36; 22:10,19; 26:15), Jesus is Christ/Messiah/King (2:36; 3:20; 4:10; 10:36), Jesus is Savior (5:31; 13:23), Jesus is judge (10:42; 17:31), son of David (13:22-23), Son of God 13:33 [implied])
  • What Jesus did
    • Jesus crucified (2:23,36; 4:10; 5:30; 10:39; 13:29), Jesus buried (2:29 [implied]; 13:29), Christ’s suffering foretold (3:18; 13:29), Jews guilty of Jesus’ death (2:23,36; 3:13-15,17; 4:10; 5:30; 7:52; 10:39; 13:27-28), Jesus rose from the dead (2:24-32; 3:15,26; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40-41; 13:30,33-37; 17:31; 23:6; 24:6-8,21,23; 26: 8 [implied],23; 28:20 [implied]), Jesus appeared to believers (10:40-41; 13:31), salvation/forgiveness in Jesus (4:11-12; 5:31; 10:43; 13:26,38; 22:16; 26:18)
  • How to respond
    • repent (2:38; 3:19,26; 5:31; 14:15-16; 17:30; 26:18,20), be baptized (2:38; 10:48; 19:3-4; 22:16), receive the Holy Spirit (2:38; 5:32; 9:17; 19:2), believe/call in/on Jesus (10:43; 13:39; 16:31; 19:4; 22:16; 26:18), seek God (17:27-28)
  • Salvation and forgiveness
    • We have sins that need to be forgiven (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18); forgiveness (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38-39; 22:16; 26:18), future resurrection of believers (23:6; 24:15,21); faith in Jesus brings healing (3:16; 4:10), God accepts all who fear Him (10:34-35), peace through Jesus (10:36)
  • OT testifies to Jesus
    • 3:18,22; 10:43; 13:23,27,29,32; 24:14-15; 26:6-8,22-23
  • Miscellaneous
    • Rehearsing of OT history (7:2-50; 13:16-22), Paul’s credentials (22:3; 26:4-5), Paul’s conversion (22:4-21; 24:9-18), God gave evidence of His existence (14:17), true God is omnipresent and beyond need (17:24-25), God made all people and gives them life (17:25-26), Jesus brings the kingdom of God (3:19-21), way opened to the Gentiles (24:23)

Monologues – by Theme – Jews Only

  • Who Jesus is
    • Jesus’ claims vindicated by God (2:22), Jesus is God’s servant (3:13,26), Jesus is The Prophet (3:22-23), Jesus is The Seed (3:25), exalted claims regarding Jesus’ identity (3:14-15; 7:52; 22:14), Jesus is exalted/glorified (2:33; 3:13; 5:31), Jesus is the Lord (2:25,34-36; 22:10,19; 26:15), Jesus is Christ/Messiah/King (2:36; 3:20; 4:10), Jesus is Savior (5:31; 13:23), son of David (13:22-23), Son of God (13:33 [implied]), salvation/forgiveness found in Jesus (5:31; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18)
  • What Jesus did
    • Jesus crucified (2:23,36; 4:10; 5:30; 13:29), Jesus buried (2:19 [implied]; 13:29), Christ’s suffering foretold (3:18; 13:29; 26:22-23), Jews guilty of Jesus’ death (2:23,36; 3:13-15,17; 4:10; 5:30; 7:52; 13:27-28), Jesus rose from the dead (2:24-32; 3:15,26; 4:10; 5:30; 13:30,33-37; 23:6; 24:21; 26:8 [implied],23; 28:20 [implied]), Jesus appeared to believers (13:31), salvation/forgiveness in Jesus (4:11-12; 13:26)
  • How to respond
    • repent (2:38; 3:19,26; 5:31; 26:18,20), be baptized (2:38; 19:3-4; 22:16), receive the Holy Spirit (2:38; 5:32; 9:17; 19:2), believe/call in/on Jesus (13:39; 19:4; 22:16; 26:18)
  • Salvation and forgiveness
    • We have sins that need to be forgiven (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18); forgiveness (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 13:38-39; 22:16; 26:18), faith in Jesus brings healing (3:16; 4:10); future resurrection of believers (23:6)
  • OT testifies to Jesus
    • 3:18,22; 13:23,27,29,32; 26:6-8,22-23
  • Miscellaneous
    • Rehearsing of OT history (7:2-50; 13:16-22), Paul’s credentials (22:3; 26:4-5), Paul’s conversion (22:4-21; 24:9-18), Jesus brings the kingdom of God (3:19-21), way opened to the Gentiles (24:23)

Monologues – by Theme – Gentiles Only

  • Who Jesus is
    • Jesus’ claims vindicated by God (10:38), Jesus is the Lord (10:36; 16:31), Jesus is Christ/Messiah/King (10:36), Jesus is judge (10:42; 17:31), exalted language regarding Jesus (10:36; 17:18)
  • What Jesus did
    • Jesus crucified (10:39), Jews guilty of Jesus’ death (10:39), Jesus rose from the dead (10:40-41; 17:31; 24:21), Jesus appeared to believers (10:40-41), salvation/forgiveness in Jesus (10:43)
  • How to respond
    • Repent (14:15-16; 17:30), be baptized (2:38; 10:48), believe in Jesus (10:43; 16:31), seek God (17:27-28)
  • Salvation and forgiveness
    • Future resurrection of believers (24:15,21); we have sins that need to be forgiven (10:43); forgiveness (10:43), God accepts all who fear Him (10:34-35), peace through Jesus (10:36)
  • OT testifies to Jesus
    • 10:43; 13:23,27,29,32; 24:14-15; 26:23
  • Miscellaneous
    • God gave evidence of His existence (14:17), true God is omnipresent and beyond need (17:24-25), God made all people and gives them life (17:25-26)

Summaries – by Theme – All Audiences

Now that we’ve examined the monologues, let’s look at the message summaries (15 summaries).

  • Who Jesus is (16 references)
    • Jesus is the Christ/Messiah/King (5:42; 8:5,12; 9:2; 17:3,6-7; 18:5; 18:28; 20:21; 28:23 [implied],31), Jesus is the Son of God (9:20), Jesus is Lord (4:33; 11:20; 20:21; 28:31)
  • What Jesus did (10 references)
    • Jesus raised from the dead (4:1-2,33; 17:3,18; 25:19), Jesus suffered/died (17:3), good news about Jesus (8:35), name of Jesus (8:12), facts about Jesus (23:11), Jesus prophesied by OT (28:23)
  • Kingdom of God (5 references)
    • 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23,31
  • How to respond (4 references)
    • faith in Jesus (20:21; 24:24), repentance (20:21), be baptized (8:36)
  • Sin and judgment (2 references)
    • righteousness and self-control (24:25), coming judgment (24:25)
  • Salvation and grace (2 reference)
    • future resurrection of believers (4:2); grace (14:3)

Summaries – Themes by Audience

  • To Jews:
    • Jesus is the Christ/Messiah/King (5:42; 9:22; 17:3; 18:5,28; 28:23 [implied]); Jesus raised from the dead (4:1-2,33; 17:3; 25:19), Jesus suffered/died (17:3), Jesus is the Son of God (9:20), Jesus is Lord (4:33; 11:20); future resurrection of believers (4:2); good news about Jesus (8:35), kingdom of God (19:8; 28:23), Jesus prophesied by OT (28:23), be baptized (8:36).
  • To Samaritans
    • Jesus is the Christ/Messiah/King (8:5,12), kingdom of God (8:12), name of Jesus (8:12)
  • To Gentiles
    • Jesus is Christ/Messiah/King (17:6-7), Jesus rose from the dead (17:18), righteousness and self-control (24:25), coming judgment (24:25), believe in Jesus (24:24)
  • To mixed audience
    • Repentance (20:21), faith in Jesus (20:21); Jesus is Lord (20:21; 28:31); Jesus is Christ/Messiah/King (20:21; 28:31), kingdom of God (20:25; 28:31), facts about Jesus (23:11), grace of God (14:3)

Themes to Jews/Samaritans – Monologues and Summaries

We can also organize the data by audience, showing what was preached to each audience in the form of both monologues and summaries.

  • Who Jesus is (44)
    • Jesus is the Lord (2:25,34-36; 4:33; 11:20; 20:21; 22:10,19; 26:15; 28:31), Jesus is Christ/Messiah/King (2:36; 3:20; 4:10; 5:42; 8:5,12; 9:22; 17:3; 18:5; 18:28; 20:21; 28:23 [implied],31), salvation/forgiveness found in Jesus (5:31; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18), exalted claims regarding Jesus’ identity (3:14-15; 7:52; 22:14), Jesus is exalted/glorified (2:33; 3:13; 5:31), Jesus is Savior (5:31; 13:23), Son of God (9:20; 13:33 [implied]), son of David (13:22-23), good news about Jesus (8:35), name of Jesus (8:12), Jesus’ claims vindicated by God (2:22), Jesus is God’s servant (3:13,26), Jesus is The Prophet (3:22-23), Jesus is The Seed (3:25)
  • What Jesus did (34)
    • Jesus rose from the dead (2:24-32; 3:15,26; 4:1-2,10,33; 5:30; 13:30,33-37; 17:3; 23:6; 24:21; 25:19; 26:8 [implied],23; 28:20 [implied]), Jesus crucified (2:23,36; 4:10; 5:30; 13:29), Christ’s suffering foretold (3:18; 13:29; 26:22-23), Jesus buried (2:19 [implied]; 13:29), salvation/forgiveness in Jesus (4:11-12; 13:26), Jesus appeared to believers (13:31), suffered (17:3), name of Jesus (8:12), facts about Jesus (23:11)
  • How to respond (18)
    • repent (2:38; 3:19,26; 5:31; 20:21; 26:18,20), believe/call in/on Jesus (13:39; 19:4; 20:21; 22:16; 26:18), be baptized (2:38; 8:17,36; 19:3-4; 22:16), receive the Holy Spirit (2:38; 5:32; 9:17; 19:2)
  • OT testifies to Jesus (9)
    • 3:18,22; 13:23,27,29,32; 26:6-8,22-23; 28:23
  • Sin and judgment (8)
    • We have sins that need to be forgiven (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18); Jews guilty of Jesus’ death (2:23,36; 3:13-15,17; 4:10; 5:30; 7:52; 13:27-28)
  • Salvation (9)
    • Forgiveness (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 13:38-39; 22:16; 26:18), future resurrection of believers (4:2; 23:6); grace of God (14:3)
  • Kingdom of God (6)
    • 3:19-21; 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23,31
  • Miscellaneous
    • Rehearsing of OT history (7:2-50; 13:16-22)
    • Paul’s credentials (22:3; 26:4-5), Paul’s conversion (22:4-21; 24:9-18), way opened to the Gentiles (24:23), faith in Jesus brings healing (3:16; 4:10)

Themes to Gentiles – Monologues and Summaries

  • Who Jesus is (13)
    • Jesus is the Lord (10:36; 16:31; 20:21; 28:31), Jesus is Christ/Messiah/King (10:36; 17:6-7; 20:21; 28:31), Jesus is judge (10:42; 17:31), exalted language regarding Jesus (10:36; 17:18), Jesus’ claims vindicated by God (10:38)
  • How to respond (10)
    • Repent (14:15-16; 17:30; 20:21), believe in Jesus (10:43; 16:31; 20:21; 24:24), be baptized (2:38; 10:48), seek God (17:27-28)
  • What Jesus did (8)
    • Jesus rose from the dead (10:40-41; 17:18,31; 24:21), Jesus crucified (10:39), Jesus appeared to believers (10:40-41), salvation/forgiveness in Jesus (10:43), facts about Jesus (23:11)
  • OT testifies to Jesus (7)
    • 10:43; 13:23,27,29,32; 24:14-15; 26:23
  • Salvation (6)
    • Future resurrection of believers (24:15,21); we have sins that need to be forgiven (10:43); forgiveness (10:43), God accepts all who fear Him (10:34-35), peace through Jesus (10:36), grace of God (14:3)
  • Sin and judgment (3)
    • Jews guilty of Jesus’ death (10:39), righteousness and self-control (24:25), coming judgment (24:25)
  • Kingdom of God (2)
    • 20:25; 28:31
  • Miscellaneous
    • God gave evidence of His existence (14:17), true God is omnipresent and beyond need (17:24-25), God made all people and gives them life (17:25-26)

EVANGELISTIC APPEALS AND RESPONSES

Here is the full data on salvation appeals and responses:

Message Audience Salvation appeal Response
Acts 2:14-31 Jews Repent, be baptized, filled with the Spirit (vs38-39) Received the word (believed) and were baptized (v41)
Acts 3:12-26 Jews Repent and wait for the kingdom (vs19-20) Believed (4:4)
Acts 4:8-12 Jewish leaders None None
Acts 5:29-32 Jewish leaders Repent (v31) and receive the Holy Spirit [implied] (v32) None
Acts 7:2-53 Jews None None
Acts 8:5* Samaritans None Believed (v12), baptized (v16), filled with the Spirit (v17)
Acts 8:35* Jewish proselyte Be baptized [implied] (v36) Baptized (v38)
Acts 9:17 Jew Be filled with the Spirit (v17) Baptized (v18)
Acts 10:34-43 Gentiles Believe in Jesus (v43), be baptized (v47) Received the Spirit and baptized (vs44,47-48)
Acts 11:20* Hellenistic Jews None Believed (v21) [it also mentions “turn to the Lord,” but I take that to be another way of saying they believed]
Acts 13:16-41 Jews Believe in Jesus (v39) Believed a week later (v48)
Acts 14:15-17 Gentiles Repent (v15) None
Acts 16:13* Gentile None Baptized (v14)
Acts 16:30-31 Gentile Believe (v31) Believed (v33) and baptized (v34)
Acts 17:3 Jews None Were persuaded (believed) and joined Paul (v4)
Acts 17:22-31 Gentiles Seek God (v27) and repent (30) Believed and joined Paul (v34)
Acts 19:2-4 Jews Receive the Spirit (v2) and be baptized (v3) Baptized (v5) and received the Spirit (v6)
Acts 22:1-21 Jews Call on Jesus and be baptized [implied] (v16) None
Acts 23:6 Jewish leaders None None
Acts 24:10-21 Gentile None None
Acts 26:1-29 Jewish leader Repent (v20) None
Acts 28:17-20 Jews None Convinced (believed) during a follow-up sermon (v24)
*Summary rather than monologue

 

_______________________________________

[1]Some of these messages are summaries by Luke, while others are records of what was actually spoken (even if Luke has stylized or condensed the speech for his literary purposes). By “message summary,” I am referring to Luke’s summation of what was preached rather than recording a verbal monologue.

[2]Grace is mentioned in Acts (Acts 14:3,15:11; 18:27; 20:24), but not as part of any particular monologue. It is only mentioned in two general summaries of what was preached (14:3; 20:24).

[3]Interestingly, it’s even absent in Acts 8:35-38 where we would most expect it. The Ethiopian eunuch was reading Isaiah 53 when he was approached by Philip. Isaiah 53 is one of the clearest passages regarding the substitutionary death of Jesus, and yet there is no indication that Philip preached that point to the Ethiopian.

[4]They often referred to sin (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18) and the need for forgiveness (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38-39; 22:16; 26:18), but did not explicitly speak of the consequences of sin.

[5]They did speak once of a future restoration that was predicted in the OT (3:19-21). Depending on one’s theology, this would either be identified as the Millennium or the kingdom of God.

[6]In order of prominence:

  • Jesus rose from the dead (2:24-32; 3:15,26; 4:1-2,10,33; 5:30; 10:40-41; 13:30,33-37; 17:3,18,31; 23:6 [implied]; 24:21 [implied],23; 25:19; 26:8 [implied],23; 28:20 [implied])
  • Salvation/forgiveness in Jesus (4:11-12; 5:31; 10:43; 13:26; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18)
  • Jesus was crucified (2:23,36; 4:10; 5:30; 10:39; 13:27-9)
  • Jesus suffered (3:18; 13:29; 17:3; 26:23)
  • Jesus was buried (2:29-31 [implied]; 13:29)
  • Jesus appeared to believers (10:40-41; 13:31)
  • Good news about Jesus (8:35)
  • The name of Jesus (8:12)
  • Facts about Jesus (23:11)

[7]In order of prominence:

  • Jesus is Christ/Messiah/King (2:36; 3:20; 4:10; 5:42; 8:5,12; 9:22; 10:36; 17:3,6-7; 18:5,28; 20:21; 28:23 [implied],31)
  • Jesus is the Lord (2:25,34-36; 4:33; 10:36; 11:20; 16:31; 20:21; 22:10,19; 26:15; 28:31)
  • Exalted claims regarding Jesus’ identity (3:14-15; 7:52; 10:36; 17:18; 22:14)
  • Jesus is exalted/glorified (2:33; 3:13; 5:31)
  • Jesus’ claims vindicated by God (2:22; 10:38)
  • Jesus is Savior (5:31; 13:23)
  • Jesus is Judge (10:42; 17:31)
  • Jesus is God’s Servant (3:13,26)
  • Jesus is the Son of God (9:20; 13:33 [implied])
  • Jesus is The Prophet (3:22-23)
  • Jesus is The Seed (3:25)
  • Jesus is the son of David (13:22-23)

[8]Half of these references are accusations against the Jews for killing Jesus. In order of prominence:

  • Jews guilty of Jesus’ death (2:23,36; 3:13-15,17; 4:10-11; 5:30; 7:52; 10:39; 13:27-28)
  • We have sins that need to be forgiven (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18)
  • Coming judgment / Jesus is judge (10:42; 17:31; 24:25)
  • Righteousness and self-control (24:25)

[9]In order of prominence:

  • Forgiveness (2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38-39; 22:16; 26:18)
  • Future resurrection of believers (4:2; 23:6; 24:15,,21)
  • Faith in Jesus brings healing (3:16; 4:10)
  • God accepts all who fear Him (10:34-35)
  • Peace through Jesus (10:36)
  • The Way opened to the Gentiles (24:23)
  • Grace (14:3)

[10]2:24-32 (3 mentions); 3:15,26; 4:1-2,10,33; 5:30; 10:40-41 (2 mentions); 13:30,33-37 (3 mentions); 17:3,18,31; 23:6 (implied); 24:21 (implied),23; 25:19; 26:8 (implied),23; 28:20 (implied)

[11]2:36; 3:20; 4:10; 5:42; 8:5,12; 9:22; 10:36; 17:3,6-7; 18:5,28; 20:21; 28:23 (implied),31

[12]2:25,34-36; 4:33; 10:36; 11:20; 16:31; 20:21; 22:10,19; 26:15; 28:31

[13]3:18,22; 10:43; 13:23,27,29,32; 24:14-15; 26:6-8,22-23; 28:23

[14]2:23,36; 3:13-15,17; 4:10-11; 5:30; 7:52; 10:39; 13:27-28

[15]4:11-12; 5:31; 10:43; 13:26; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18

[16]2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18

[17]2:23,36; 4:10; 5:30; 10:39; 13:27-9

[18]3:19-21; 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23,31

[19]3:14-15; 7:52; 10:36; 17:18; 22:14

[20]Acts 2:14-31; 3:12-26; 4:8-12; 5:29-32; 7:2-53; 8:5*,35*; 9:17; 10:34-43; 11:20*; 13:16-41; 14:15-17; 16:13*, 30-31; 17:3, 22-31; 19:2-4; 22:1-21; 23:6; 24:10-21; 26:1-29; 28:17-20. The presence of an asterisk indicates that a recorded summary of the message rather than a recorded monologue. Fifteen of these messages were directed at Jews, six to Gentiles, and one to Samaritans.

[21]2:38; 3:19-20; 5:31; 14:15; 17:30; 26:20

[22]2:38; 8:36 (implied); 10:47; 19:3; 22:16 (implied)

[23]10:43; 13:39; 16:31; 22:16

[24]2:38; 5:32 (implied); 9:17; 19:2

[25]17:27

[26]3:19-20

[27]Some of the responses are provided without any record of what was preached. Such instances include 9:42; 13:12; 14:1; 17:12; and 18:7-8. In these passages there are five references to believing and one to being baptized. I have included these responses in the numbers that follow.

[28]2:41; 4:4; 8:12; 9:42; 11:21; 13:12,48; 14:1; 16:33; 17:4,12,34; 18:7-8; 28:24

[29]2:41; 8:16; 8:35; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:14,34; 18:7-8; 19:5

[30]8:17; 10:44; 19:6

[31]17:4,34

[32]While Luke records many commands to repent, he never uses the word “repent” to describe a sinner’s response to the Gospel. However, if repentance is understood to be a change of mind concerning God/Jesus, then virtually every conversion pericope depicts sinners repenting despite the fact that their behavior is not named as such. If repentance is understood as a confession of sins, then we see repentance depicted (but not named as such) in 19:8.

[33]Baptism was always administered immediately after someone came to faith. There was no delay. Indeed, one’s willingness to submit to baptism seems to be how the early church gauged the genuineness of one’s profession of faith.

[34]There are also 15 generic summaries that do not provide us with any detail regarding what was preached. It is simply said that they preached “the gospel” [5 times (8:25,40; 14:7,21; 16:10)] or spoke “the Word of God” [10 times (4:31; 5:20; 8:4,14,25; 11:19; 13:5,7,44,49)].