Acts of Apostles in the Early Church 

This is the beginning of a glossary of a few selected common terms that appear in Acts. More will be added over time.

Apostles (Acts 1:2) An apostle is "one who is sent" --a messenger, proxy, ambassador. In Jewish law, an apostolos (Greek) or shaliach (Aramaic) was "a person acting with full authority for another" in a business or legal transaction. John 13:16,20 and 20:21 reflect the Jewish idea of the shaliach. The early Church eventually recognized other believers as apostles in some sense: Paul, James Barnabas, James the brother of Jesus, and perhaps Andronicus and Junias.

Aramaic (Acts 21:40, 22:2) The Greek word could mean Hebrew (NASB, KJV). Aramaic was the common language of the people. The two languages were related, so the people could have understood Hebrew with some effort. Because many Jews outside Palestine could not speak Aramaic or Hebrew, Paul was identifying himself with his audience of patriotic, conservative Palestinian Jews by using their ancestral tongue.

Baptized (Acts 1:5) This word literally means "to immerse a person in water or to deluge him with in, as a means of cleansing." The Old Testament often describes the Holy Spirit figuratively as a liquid that can be "poured out" (Isaiah 44:3). We should remember the Spirit is a Person, not a fluid or a force.

Fellowship (Acts 2:42) The Greek word Koinonia had rich meaning: sharing, participation, communion, partnership. It could mean the sharing of goods as a family, partnership in a business or other enterprise, and shared religous or other experiences. It implied a degree of community, intimacy, and interdependence.

Grace (Acts 18:27) Grace is the root of true saving faith. Grace is the cause of salvation which includes faith in Jesus Christ. God's sovereign grace allowed us to believe in Christ. Had not God been gracious to us, we would yet be in our sins and rejectors of Christ.

Greek (Acts 11:20) The context suggests Luke meant Hellenistic Jewish believers from Cyprus and Cyrene were evangelizing Gentiles who spoke the language. The first contact was probably with Gentile "God-fearers" in the synagogues. Gentiles were drawn to the Jewish God but repelled by circumcision and food laws.

Justified (Acts 13:39) The term means legally acquitted of guilt. In Romans 3:21-22, Paul adds a further dimension of justification: the positive gift of righteousness, the restored relationship with God that flows from forgiveness and acquittal.

Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3) Jesus called His message "the good news of the kingdom of God" (Luke 4:43), and he spoke about the Kingdom constantly. The early church spoke of the Kingdom to refer to "the saving, sovereign action of God through" Jesus (Acts 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23,31)

Predestined (Acts 4:27-28) These verses tell us that Christ's death was no accident. It was part of God's sovereign purpose. He was predestined by God the Father to die. Everything about Christ's death was planned, even the free actions of sinful people. God sent his Son to accomplish redemption, while his murderers pursued a different purpose.

Pentecost (Acts 2:1) The 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week (pente koste is Greek for "fiftieth day". On Pentecost, Jews brought offerings of the first-fruits of the wheat harvest to the Temple to thank the Lord. In Jesus' time, Pentecost was associated with the renewal of the covenant made with Noah and then with Moses.

Repent (Acts 2:38) The word indicates a change of direction in a person's life rather than simply a mental change of attitude or a feeling of remorse. This is something of which man is incapable by himself. Men also can be  commanded to repent. Repentance is gift of God

Salvation (Acts 4:12) The word salvation means to deliver people from something or to make them safe in something. The Bible clearly declares that salvation resides only in the person of Jesus Christ. Salvation comes only when someone sees himself a sinner in desperate need of cleansing.

Son of Man (Acts 7:56) This was Jesus' favorite title for Himself, but rarely in the New Testament does anyone else call him this. Jesus used this name in connection with His rejection, death, resurrection, and exaltation to the right hand of God. (Luke 9:23-26)

Vow (Acts 18:18) Jews made vows to God in thankfulness for past blessings or as part of a petition for future ones. A temporary Nazirite vow involved abstinence form alcohol and from cutting one's hair completely off and offering a sacrifice in the temple (Acts 21:17-26)

(Sources: LIfe Change Series - Acts, NavPress, and Great Words by Jack Arnold)