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Question 8
Chuck lists multiple examples in Acts where apostles persuade by Old Testament prophecy (Peter, Stephen, Paul, Philip with Isaiah 53, Bereans, Apollos, Paul before Agrippa)—what does that tell you about the early Christian view of the Old Testament (authority, clarity, evangelistic usefulness), and how does that compare to how Christians typically treat the Old Testament today?
Another way to ask: In Acts, the apostles often use Old Testament prophecies to persuade people about Jesus. What does that show about how they viewed the Old Testament, and how is that different from how many Christians treat it today?

Direct Answer Chuck presents the early church as treating the Old Testament as authoritative, understandable, and central for evangelism—something to reason from publicly—whereas many Christians today often treat it as secondary compared to testimonies or New Testament-only approaches.

Support from Transcript:

  • He says he found “12 examples…in the Book of Acts” where they “used the Old Testament prophecies” to spread the gospel.
  • Examples he lists: Peter in Acts 2 “goes back to David”; Stephen in Acts 7 preaches the Old Testament as fulfilled in Jesus.
  • Paul in Acts 13 quotes “extensively from the Scriptures,” tied to David; in Acts 17 he “reasoned…from the Scriptures,” proving Christ had to suffer and rise.
  • Philip with the Ethiopian: beginning at Isaiah, he “preach[ed] Jesus to him.”
  • Bereans “searched the Scriptures daily,” and Apollos “show[ed] from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ”; Paul persuades “from both the law of Moses and the prophets from morning till evening.”
Discussion Follow-ups If the Old Testament was their main “proof-text,” what would need to change in our Bible literacy and preaching priorities?

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