The Order of New Testament Books

—Matthew—Acts

Why are the books of the Bible in the order they are?
- Certainly God has providentially allowed the current order
The first 5 books of the N.T. have virtually always been in the same order, even from very ancient times

Matthew Mark & Luke are called the “synoptics” because the give a “synopsis” which means a condensed story of Jesus’ life
John assumes you know the story, and picks out seven miracles or signs and focuses on the underlying meaning of it all
Acts picks up the story after Luke
Why did John get put there?
In the Old Testament we have a story that begins with creation and goes right through the account of the history of the nation of Israel
- John is the one who explains the mystery that has been hidden
In the beginning God created the world by speaking words and it happened
- Genesis speaks of 6 days of creation, then a day of rest

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus is baptised and the Spirit descends like a dove, similar to Genesis 1:2
- “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”
John gives us 7 signs-miracles corresponding with the week of creation
Then on the first day of the second week, the Sunday, he rises again, a new creation

Genesis 1:27, 2:7 “then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”
John 20:22 “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”
We are left waiting for this command—it comes in Acts!
Acts 1:8 “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 6:7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 12:24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Acts 19:20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

O.T. prophecy of the barren woman and the eunuch having children
- Relevant to single people today
Next we have the story of the tower of Babel

And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,
both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

Then a new community of love was formed—the new creation people, living how they were intended to live.