Book 5 traces the church's growth through the church's missionary efforts in Antioch and under Paul's leadership. Paul’s first missionary journey to Cyprus and Asia Minor brings the issue of the relationship between the Law of Israel and the grace of the church to a head. Choosing grace instead of the Law, the early church leaders rightly concluded that the body of Christ was for every tribe, tongue, and nation, and God's grace was for all who believed.

Against all odds, the church expanded from a Gentile church into the Gentile territories of Asia Minor under Paul’s leadership and preached the message of the grace of Christ rather than the Law of Moses.

The Christian life is lived by grace through faith, not by following the Law.

Book 4 records the shift of the church’s center from Jerusalem to Antioch of Syria. Luke emphasizes the Gospel’s spread increasingly to Gentiles in three momentous stages: Peter’s ministry to Hellenistic Jews in the port cities of Palestine (9:23-43), Peter’s ministry to the Gentile centurion, Cornelius, and his friends in Caesarea (10:1-11:18), and the beginning of the church in Antioch (11:19-30). In the face of tremendous persecution, the Jerusalem church remains vital for opening their lives to Gentiles (12:1-23). This proves that the word of God, Jesus’ words and promises to His church, cannot be resisted by earthly powers (12:24).

Against all odds, the church expands into Gentile territory and establishes an outpost in Antioch to deploy to the end of the earth.

Do you want to be a door opener? Prepare to be attacked by Christians and Satan.

Luke divides his history into panels or Books, separated by progress reports. Book 1 takes the reader from Christ's ascension to the birth of the church and concludes with the first progress report: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (2:47).

Throughout his account, Luke presents Christianity as an irresistible force in the face of significant opposition and persecution. Book 2 traces the expansion of the church in Jerusalem and introduces the two forces that oppose Christ’s followers—persecution from the enemies of Christ and pollution in the people of Christ.

The same factions that crucified Christ now try to suppress His apostles.