Acts of the Apostles

Professor: Dr. Phil Matanick

Email: phil.matanick@fullyequippedbibleinstitute.org

Phone/WhatsApp: +01419-309-8825

10-week course starting 10/16/2025, 7 – 9 am MST, 4 – 6 pm CAT

Office Hours: Wednesdays 9:00 – 11:00 am Eastern Standard Time, USA;  3:00-5:00 pm CAT, or by appointment

Zoom Class Link: 4037840878

Syllabus: CLICK to download

Course Overview:

This course will deeply examine the Acts of the Apostles as recorded in the Book of Acts in order to gain an understanding of the birth and growth of the early Church under the leadership of the Apostles and through the sovereign direction of the resurrected Christ.  This will be accomplished first by familiarizing ourselves with the historical and cultural background, purpose, themes, structure, and key theological motifs in the book.

We will proceed with an exploration of the meaning and significance of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as foundational to the life and work of the early Church.  The course continues by tracing the expansion of the church from its Jewish roots in Judea to Samaria and then to the broader gentile world.   The outline follows the early persecution and expansion of the church across cultural boundaries through Stephen, Philip, and others.  The conversion of Paul is a turning point in the broader growth of the movement.  We continue with Peter’s ministry and inclusion of gentiles, which is the watershed moment, marking a fundamental change in the direction and composition of the church.

We will explore Paul’s missionary journeys, eventual arrest, trials, and imprisonment, as the gospel reaches Rome, the launching pad for taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Course Objectives:

• To enable the Christian leader to become familiar with the content of the Book of Acts, including its historical context, author’s intention, purpose, and literary structure of the book.
• To enable the students to articulate the major events and participants in the expansion of the early church from Pentecost to Rome, as recorded in the Book of Acts.
• To assist the Christian leader in becoming familiar with the faith, growth, and acts of the apostles, and then apply this knowledge to their personal lives and ministry.
• To explore how the history and practices of the early church in Acts can inform and critique contemporary church practice.

Required Student Resources:

All students are required to have access to the Internet and a Zoom account with video and audio capabilities for online classes.

Textbooks:

Your textbooks can be digitally downloaded from the Fully Equipped Bible Institute Online Library HERE.  Your student password to the library is FEBISTUDENTS24-25!

Download the books by clicking on the cover of the books on the home page of the FEBI Student Library.

“Commentary Critical & Explanatory on the Whole Bible.”  Acts   by Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on the Bible”. Acts

Additional Required Reading:

The Book of Acts in the Bible

Students will be required to read additional commentary on the Book of Acts in commentaries of their choice as approved by the professor.

Recommended Readings:

Darrell L. Bock. “Acts”,  Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament.                   

Eckhard J. Schabel. “Acts”.  Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament.  

Craig S. Keener.  “Acts”. New Cambridge Bible Commentary.                                                      

David Peterson.  “Acts”. Pillar New Testament Series.                                                                             

Ben Witherington III.  “The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary”.                 

F.F. Bruce.  “Acts”. The New International Commentary on the New Testament.                      

John R. Stott.   “The Message of Acts”                                                                                                                 

R.C. Sproul.  “Acts”                                                                                                                                                         

I. Howard Marshall.  “Acts”. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries.                                                    

William Barclay.  “The Acts of the Apostles.”     The Daily Study Bible Series.                              

Craig S. Keener.  “The Spirit in the Gospels and Acts.”   pp. 190-201.

Evaluation Criteria:

25% of Grade – Class Attendance, Preparation, and Participation – Students are expected to attend each online class on time.   Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions.  Students are expected to read the assigned material each week and report to the professor what they have read.  Each week’s reading and class participation is worth 10 points.  100 points are possible.

25% of Grade – Quizzes – There will be 10 multiple-choice quizzes worth 10 points each.   100 points are possible.

25% of Grade – Reflection Papers – Short weekly papers applying Acts to personal faith and ministry.  Each paper is worth 10 points.  100 points are possible.

25% of Grade – Final Project – Analytical paper or ministry application project (10-12 pages).   100 points possible.

Total Points Possible:   400 points

Grading Rubric: 

91%-100% = A

82% -90%   = B

74% -81%. = C

66% – 73%  = D

Below 66% = F