Acts
Here is a list of words and their definitions that may need to be defined in the Book of Acts (ESV)
I. Early Christian Terms, Practices, and Beliefs:
The Way (e.g., Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22): An early designation for Christianity and the community of Jesus' followers, emphasizing that they followed the "way" of Jesus, His teachings, and lifestyle, as the true path to God.
Apostle(s) (e.g., Acts 1:2, 13, 25-26; 2:37, 42-43; 4:33-37; 5:2, 12, 18, 29, 40; and frequently throughout): Meaning "sent ones." Primarily refers to the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus (with Matthias replacing Judas), who were eyewitnesses of His ministry, death, and resurrection, and were commissioned by Him to be foundational leaders and preachers of the gospel. Paul also claims the title of apostle due to his direct commission from the resurrected Christ.
Disciple(s) (e.g., Acts 1:15; 6:1-2, 7; 9:1, 10, 19, 25-26, 38; 11:26, 29; and frequently throughout): Learners or followers of Jesus Christ. While the apostles were disciples, the term also refers to the broader community of believers. In Antioch, the disciples were first called "Christians" (Acts 11:26).
Believers (e.g., Acts 2:44; 4:32; 5:12, 14; 10:45; 15:5; 16:34; 19:18): Those who had placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Saints (e.g., Acts 9:13, 32, 41; 26:10): Meaning "holy ones." A term used to describe Christians, emphasizing that they are set apart by God for His purposes and called to live holy lives.
Holy Spirit / Spirit of God / Spirit of Jesus (e.g., Acts 1:2, 5, 8, 16; 2:4, 17-18, 33, 38; 4:8, 25, 31; 5:3, 9, 16 [ESV: "unclean spirits"], 32; and frequently throughout): The third person of the Trinity, whose outpouring at Pentecost (Acts 2) empowered the apostles and the early church for witness, mission, and holy living. His presence and guidance are central to the narrative of Acts.
Pentecost (Acts 2:1; 20:16): A major Jewish feast, also known as the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), celebrated fifty days after Passover. It originally commemorated the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. In Acts 2, it marks the occasion when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Jesus' followers in Jerusalem, empowering them and inaugurating the church.
Baptism / Baptize (e.g., Acts 1:5; 2:38, 41; 8:12-13, 16, 36, 38; 9:18; 10:37, 47-48; 11:16; 13:24; 16:15, 33; 18:8, 25; 19:3-5; 22:16): A rite of immersion in water, practiced by John the Baptist for repentance and by the early church as a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance from sin, and identification with His death and resurrection, often associated with receiving the Holy Spirit.
Laying on of hands (e.g., Acts 6:6; 8:17-19; 9:12, 17; 13:3; 19:6; 28:8): A symbolic act used for various purposes, including commissioning individuals for specific ministries (like the seven in Acts 6 or missionaries in Acts 13), imparting the Holy Spirit (Acts 8, 19), and for healing (Acts 9, 28).
Fellowship (Greek: koinonia) (e.g., Acts 2:42): Sharing in common, communion, partnership. In the early church, this involved sharing in the apostles' teaching, meals (including the Lord's Supper), prayers, and material possessions.
Breaking of bread (e.g., Acts 2:42, 46; 20:7, 11; 27:35): Can refer to sharing a common meal or, more specifically, to the observance of the Lord's Supper (Communion) in remembrance of Jesus' death.
The Lord's Supper (Implied in "breaking of bread"; explicitly mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11:20, but the practice is seen in Acts): The commemorative meal instituted by Jesus on the night He was betrayed, where bread and wine symbolize His body and blood sacrificed for the forgiveness of sins.
Speaking in tongues / Other tongues (Acts 2:4, 6, 8, 11; 10:46; 19:6): A spiritual gift manifested by speaking in languages previously unknown to the speaker, understood by some listeners in their own native languages (Acts 2), or as ecstatic utterances in praise of God (Acts 10, 19). It was a sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Prophecy / Prophesy (e.g., Acts 2:17-18; 11:27-28; 13:1; 15:32; 19:6; 21:9-11): Speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to deliver God's message, which could include foretelling future events, exhortation, edification, comfort, or revealing God's will.
Elders (Greek: presbyteros) (e.g., Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:2, 4, 6, 22-23; 16:4; 20:17; 21:18): Appointed leaders in local churches responsible for spiritual oversight, teaching, and pastoral care.
Deacons (Though the specific title "deacon" is debated for Acts 6, the role is evident; Greek: diakonos means "servant" or "minister") (Acts 6:1-6): Individuals chosen by the church in Jerusalem to oversee practical matters, specifically the daily distribution of food to widows, thus freeing the apostles to focus on prayer and the ministry of the word. This laid the groundwork for the later formal office of deacon.
Witness / Testify (e.g., Acts 1:8, 22; 2:32, 40; 3:15; 4:20, 33; 5:32; 10:39, 41-43; 13:22, 31; 14:3, 17; 18:5; 20:21, 23-24, 26; 22:5, 15, 18, 20; 23:11; 26:5, 16, 22; 28:23): A central theme in Acts. To bear witness means to declare what one has seen, heard, or experienced, particularly concerning Jesus Christ's life, death, resurrection, and lordship. The apostles were primary witnesses.
The gospel / Good news (e.g., Acts 5:42; 8:4, 12, 25, 35, 40; 10:36; 11:20; 13:32; 14:7, 15, 21; 15:7, 35; 16:10; 17:18; 20:24): The message of salvation through Jesus Christ, including His death for sins, His resurrection, and the offer of forgiveness and eternal life to those who repent and believe.
Repentance (e.g., Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 8:22; 11:18; 13:24; 17:30; 19:4; 20:21; 26:20): A turning away from sin and toward God, involving a change of mind, heart, and behavior, essential for receiving forgiveness and salvation.
Faith (in Jesus Christ) (e.g., Acts 3:16; 6:5, 7-8; 11:17, 21, 24; 13:8, 12, 39, 48; 14:9, 22, 27; 15:5, 9, 11; 16:5, 15, 31, 34; 17:31; 18:8, 27; 19:2, 4; 20:21; 24:24; 26:18; 27:25): Trust, belief, and reliance upon Jesus Christ for salvation.
Salvation / Saved (e.g., Acts 2:21, 40, 47; 4:9, 12; 11:14; 13:23, 26, 47; 15:1, 11; 16:17, 30-31; 27:20, 31, 34, 43; 28:28): Deliverance from sin, death, and God's judgment, and the gift of eternal life, received through faith in Jesus Christ.
Kingdom of God (e.g., Acts 1:3; 8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31): God's sovereign reign and rule, which Jesus proclaimed and inaugurated, and which the apostles continued to preach. It involves God's redemptive work in the world and its future consummation.
II. Jewish Religious and Political Institutions and Practices:
Sanhedrin / Council (e.g., Acts 4:15; 5:21, 27, 34, 41; 6:12, 15; 22:5, 30; 23:1, 6, 15, 20, 28; 24:20): The supreme Jewish religious and judicial body in Jerusalem, before which Peter, John, Stephen, and Paul were tried.
Temple (e.g., Acts 2:46; 3:1-3, 8, 10-11; 4:1; 5:12, 20-21, 24-25, 42; 21:26-30; 22:17; 24:6, 12, 18; 25:8; 26:21): The central place of Jewish worship in Jerusalem. The early believers often met there.
Synagogue (e.g., Acts 6:9; 9:2, 20; 13:5, 14, 42-43; 14:1; 15:21; 17:1, 10, 17; 18:4, 7-8, 19, 26; 19:8; 22:19; 24:12; 26:11): Jewish places of assembly for worship and teaching. Paul typically began his missionary work in a new city by preaching in the local synagogue.
Sabbath (e.g., Acts 1:12; 13:14, 27, 42, 44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4): The weekly day of Jewish rest and worship.
Law (of Moses) (e.g., Acts 6:11, 13-14; 7:53; 13:15, 39; 15:1, 5, 24; 18:13, 15; 21:20-21, 24, 28; 22:3, 12; 23:3, 29; 24:6, 14; 25:8; 28:23): The Torah, the divine instruction given through Moses. Debates about the necessity of observing the Mosaic Law for Gentile believers were significant in the early church (e.g., Acts 15).
Circumcision (e.g., Acts 7:8; 10:45; 11:2-3; 15:1, 5; 16:3; 21:21): The ritual removal of the foreskin, a sign of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised was a major controversy addressed by the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).
Pharisees (Acts 5:34; 15:5; 23:6-9; 26:5): A Jewish sect known for strict observance of the Law and oral traditions. Some Pharisees became believers in Jesus.
Sadducees (Acts 4:1; 5:17; 23:6-8): A Jewish sect, often associated with the priestly aristocracy, who denied the resurrection, angels, and spirits. They often opposed the apostles.
Zealots (Acts 1:13 [Simon the Zealot]; implied in Jewish nationalistic fervor): A Jewish political/religious movement characterized by fervent adherence to the Law and fierce opposition to Roman rule, sometimes resorting to violence.
Hellenists / Grecian Jews (Acts 6:1; 9:29; 11:20 [ESV: "Greeks" or "Hellenists" depending on manuscript]): Jews who had adopted Greek language and culture, often from the diaspora (Jewish communities outside Palestine). Tensions sometimes arose between Hellenistic Jews and Hebraic (Aramaic-speaking) Jews in the early Jerusalem church.
God-fearers (e.g., Acts 10:2, 22, 35; 13:16, 26, 43, 50; 16:14; 17:4, 17; 18:7): Gentiles who were attracted to Judaism, worshipped the God of Israel, attended synagogue services, and followed some Jewish practices (like observing the Sabbath or dietary laws), but had not fully converted to Judaism (which would involve circumcision for males). They were often receptive to the gospel message.
III. Roman Political and Administrative Terms:
Governor (e.g., Acts 13:7-8, 12 [proconsul Sergius Paulus]; 18:12 [proconsul Gallio]; Chapters 23-26 [Felix, Festus]): A high-ranking Roman official responsible for administering a province of the Roman Empire. Paul appeared before several governors.
Proconsul: The governor of a senatorial province in the Roman Empire.
Procurator: The governor of a smaller imperial province, often with military command. Felix and Festus were procurators of Judea.
Centurion (e.g., Acts 10:1, 22; 21:32; 22:25-26; 23:17, 23; 24:23; Chapter 27; 28:16): A Roman army officer commanding a "century" (typically 80-100 soldiers). Centurions like Cornelius and Julius are portrayed positively in Acts.
Tribune / Military tribune (Acts 21:31-37; 22:24-29; 23:10, 17, 19, 22, 26; 24:7 [KJV/TR, not modern ESV], 22; 25:23): A high-ranking Roman military officer, often in command of a cohort (a unit of about 600 soldiers). Claudius Lysias was the tribune in Jerusalem who rescued Paul from a mob.
Roman citizen / Citizenship (Acts 16:37-38; 22:25-29; 23:27; 25:10-12): A privileged legal status in the Roman Empire, granting certain rights such as protection from summary punishment (like flogging without trial) and the right to appeal to Caesar. Paul was a Roman citizen by birth, which he used to his advantage.
Caesar (e.g., Acts 11:28 [Claudius]; 17:7; 25:8, 10-12, 21; 26:32; 27:24; 28:19): The title used for Roman emperors. "Appealing to Caesar" was a Roman citizen's right to have their case heard by the emperor in Rome.
Forum / Market (Greek: agora) (Acts 16:19; 17:17): The public square or marketplace in a Greco-Roman city, a center for commerce, social interaction, and public discourse.
Areopagus / Mars Hill (Acts 17:19, 22, 34): A prominent hill and council in Athens, historically a judicial body but in Paul's time also a place for philosophical and religious discussions. Paul delivered a famous address there.
Colony (Roman colony) (Acts 16:12): A city, often strategically located, that was granted special status and privileges by Rome, with its citizens often having Roman citizenship. Philippi was a Roman colony.
IV. Other Notable Terms:
Sorcery / Magic (Acts 8:9, 11; 13:6, 8; 19:13, 19): Practices involving attempts to manipulate supernatural powers or spirits, often for personal gain or to deceive. Encountered by the apostles in figures like Simon Magus and Elymas (Bar-Jesus).
Idols / Idolatry (e.g., Acts 7:40-43; 14:11-18; 15:20, 29; 17:16, 23, 29; 19:24-35; 21:25): The worship of false gods or images, which was prevalent in the Gentile world and which the apostles preached against.
Gentiles / Nations (e.g., Acts 2:5 [Jews from every nation]; 4:25, 27; 7:45; 9:15; 10:45; 11:1, 18; 13:19, 42, 46-48; 14:2, 5, 11, 16, 27; Chapter 15; 18:6; 21:11, 19, 21, 25, 28; 22:21; 26:17, 20, 23; 28:28): Non-Jewish peoples. A central theme of Acts is the expansion of the gospel to the Gentiles and their inclusion in the people of God through faith in Jesus Christ, without requiring full adherence to Jewish ceremonial law.
This list is intended to provide clarity on some of the key terms encountered in the Book of Acts (ESV), helping the reader to better understand its historical narrative, the rapid expansion of the early church, and its foundational theological themes.