Acts is broken down into 6 panels with each panel ending with a summary statement telling the reader that the Church was expanded and established. Studying each of these panels, the reader will begin to note several keys that contributed to and unlocked the summary statement. The Acts course in the Antioch School assigns a project to write an annotated list of the keys to establishment and expansion of the 1st century Church for each of the 6 panels of Acts. Here is an attempt at the sixth and final panel:









6.  The Gospel to Rome (Acts19:21-28:30)
1)      Opposition is used for encouragement in the work of the church. (20:1-2)

2)      Elders are installed to continue the planted church’s work. (20:17)

3)      The message of the Gospel and it’s advancement through church planting was worth the trials of the workers.  (20:17-27)

4)      Alertness to the fact of wolves within the congregation and the feeding of truth from the word of grace would enable the overseers to participate in the Spirit’s work of building His church. (20:28-35)

5)      The cause of the advancement of the Church of God was worth even death. (21:13)

6)      The arrest and trial is an opportunity to share the message of the resurrected Christ with a captive audience and get the Gospel to the premiere city of the day, Rome. (25:12)

7)      Paul is preserved by God to get to Rome and continue the work along the way and under house arrest of the expansion of the kingdom of God through the Gospel forming disciples, emerging shepherding leaders and missionaries, and churches. (28:30-31)

8)      God’s purposes have His way and Jesus by the Spirit builds His church by His grace and will continue till he comes again.

Acts 28:31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Acts is broken down into 6 panels with each panel ending with a summary statement telling the reader that the Church was expanded and established. Studying each of these panels, the reader will begin to note several keys that contributed to and unlocked the summary statement. The Acts course in the Antioch School assigns a project to write an annotated list of the keys to establishment and expansion of the 1st century Church for each of the 6 panels of Acts. Here is an attempt at the fifth panel:









5. Strong Gospel Bases (Acts 16:6-19:20)
1)      It is the Spirit that sets the agenda for the work. (16:6-10)

2)      A beachhead for the advance of the church is established. (16:11-15)

3)      Through opposition, the advance continues. (16:16-40)

4)      The message of Christ transforms the influential into fellow-laborers. (17:4; 12; Phil. 4)

5)      Conversations with the public earn the curiosity of a larger hearing which leads into a conversation of how God and humanity are connected by the resurrected Christ and his demands and offer. (17:16-32)

6)      Networking and expanding the ministry team in Corinth lead to more churches formed. (18:1-18)

7)      Follow up of the churches was essential in further strengthening. (18:23)

8)      Clearer training of emerging leaders and the humility to allow them to take leadership expanded the gospel in Ephesus. (18:24-19:6)

9)      Ephesus becomes a base of operations and the church plants other communities in the surrounding geography (19:8-11).

10)   When counterfeit charismaticism is exposed, the name of Christ is honored. (19:17-20)

Acts 19:20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.