Book of Acts Intro

8/11/2019 Book of Acts Intro

1/12


2/12

Book of Acts Introduction

Author

The Author of the Book of Acts was Luke, a close companion of the Apostle Paul as shown by

the writer who writes at times in the first person we and us in passages (16:10 -17, 20:5-21:18;

27:1-28:16). These passages eliminate known companions of Paul other than Luke the

Physician Col.4:14 and Phile.24 points affirmatively to him.

One of the most significant help in discovering the author of Acts is recognizing this book's

relationship to the Gospel of Luke in that:

1) Both books begin with a greeting to a man named Theophilus ("friend of God");

2) Acts' greeting to Theophilus refers to a previous writing;

3) The end of Luke intentionally overlaps with the beginning of Acts to provide

continuity between the two volumes;

4) The author's writing style, vocabulary, and attention to specific themes remain

constant throughout both books.

Place and Date

Luke wrote his narrative up to the time that the events occurred covering approximately 30 years

of the early Church development after Christs Ascension . Luke does not give the results of what

happened with Paul because they had not happened until after he had completed the book. With

this in mind, it is much easier to date Acts in the early Sixties, or more precisely sometime

between AD 61- 63 and perhaps written from Antioch, or Ephesus but mostly like in Rome

(28:16, 30-31). It is likely that Luke wrote the book while accompanying Paul in Rome awaiting

Paul's first trial. Luke, the beloved physician was at his side.


3/12

Addressee/s

It was addressed to Theophilus, who could be someone of great stature like probably a Roman

official by title (Luke 1:3). Probably he had become a friend and also come to the Christian faith,

as addressed in Acts 1:1 without the title and was curious to know its history or beginnings.

Apparently, as Longenecker observes, Theophilus "seems to have been a man, who though

receptive to the gospel and perhaps even convinced by its claims, had many questions about

Christianity as he knew it." Luke wrote to strengthen him in his belief. Given the contents of the

book of Acts, Theophilus appears to have had questions about the coming and activity of the

Holy Spirit, the ministry of the apostles, Paul and his dealings with the Jerusalem apostles and

the advance of Christianity to the Imperial capital.

Historical/ Geographical setting

It is also wise to pay attention to his terms and historical accuracy in which he carefully

documented this period of Christianity.

The following dates are helpful for dating the events found in the book of Acts:

A.D. 45 - Herod Agrippa dies suddenly (Acts 12:20-23).

A.D. 49 - Emperor Claudius issues an edict banning all Jews from Rome (Acts 18:2).

A.D. 51 - Gallio appointed as proconsul of Achaia for a one-year term (Acts 18:12-17).

A.D. 59 - Porcius Festus takes the office of Procurator of Judea (Acts 24:27). Paul has

already been imprisoned in Caesarea for two years


4/12

In addition to being a historian, Luke is also a Christian teacher writing about his own faith. In

the introduction to his first volume of history, he says that one of his purposes is to help readers

understand the truthfulness of the Christian faith (Luke 1:4) . Similarly, Luke has selected events

in church history that help show Christian doctrine and practice; he has quietly omitted facts that

might confuse the reader. Regarding circumcision, for example, he says there was a heated

debate (Acts 15:2) , but he reports the arguments of only one side of the controversy. What Luke

writes is true it is historically accurate but it is also theologically selective.

Geography is important to Luke, but it is not the only important framework for his story about

the earliest years of Christianity. Luke also has ethnic interests he especially wants to explain

how Christianity moved from its Jewish foundations to spread to the Gentile world.

Acts can be divided into five major sections that combine some of Lukes emphases, as shown inthe table below.

part major personalities geographical regions ethnic groups

1 Peter and John Jerusalem Jews

2 Greek-speaking Jews:Philip and Stephen

Jerusalem, Samaria andJudea

Jews, Samaritans and anEthiopian eunuch

3 Paul and Peter Damascus, Judea, Antioch,Jerusalem and Asia

Jews, God-fearingGentiles and pagans

4 Paul the missionary Europe and Asia Minor Gentiles and Jews

5 Paul the prisoner Jerusalem, Caesarea andRome

Gentile rulers, Gentilesand Jews
http://biblia.com/bible/niv/Luke%201.4http://biblia.com/bible/niv/Acts%2015.2http://biblia.com/bible/niv/Acts%2015.2http://biblia.com/bible/niv/Luke%201.4


5/12

Occasion and Purpose

In a sentence, given the emphasis on the unity of the church (2, 4, 15, 20) and its expansion from

Jerusalem to Rome we may say that the Luke's purpose was to demonstrate to Theophilus the

sovereign, unified and unmitigated advance of the gospel into all the world, i.e. from Jerusalem

to Rome. There are seven "progress reports" on the unity and advance of the church that further

confirm this (cf. 2:47; 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:30, 31). With this knowledge,

Theophilus, who was probably a Roman official, could understand how Christianity reached his

city. Occasion is one that is set from Lukes earlier letter and it seemed a pleasure to rightly

confirmed the faith that what Theophilus had already been instructed (Luke 1: 3,4). This letter

was like the nail in the coffin as some would say some history to chew on.

Theme

The theme, of the Book begins in Jerusalem and ends at Rome. It describes the establishment and

growth of the Lords church throughout the Mediterranean world through the work of th e

apostles and other Christians under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We read their sermons and

see the conversions which resulted as they carried out the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20; Mk

16:15-16). We learn how local churches were established, and much of their work, worship and

organization. But mostly we see the faith and efforts of those charged to be witnesses of the Lord

and of His resurrection from the dead. An appropriate theme of this book might therefore be

WITNESSES FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST .


6/12

Key verse and Chapter

Acts chapter 1 is the key chapter; as our Lord Jesus Christ leaves this earth ascended into Heaven

leaving a promise of (The Holy Ghost) and dispatching instructions to his Disciples. This sets

forth the events that are about to happen in the beginnings of the Christianity and the Church.

Key verse: Acts 1:8 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:

and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and

unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Holy Spirit. He is the drive behind the apostles and commands them. This phrase is found 45

times in the book of Acts.

Power. This is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit. The word is found 11 times in Acts.

Witness. Look at how much of the book of Acts takes place within a courtroom setting. The

book is a presentation of legal witnesses in a courtroom drama who bear testimony of the

resurrection of Jesus.

Chief Characteristics (evaluate fair what the author has written)

While Luke tells the story of the spread of the Christian gospel from Jerusalem to Rome, he is

also able to achieve some additional purposes. A major theological goal is to explain why

Christianity was becoming more Gentile than Jewish. Luke stresses the connection that

Christianity has with Jews and with the Old Testament, and explains how God and the risen

Jesus directed that the message extend to all nations, as the Old Testament had predicted. Jesus

fulfills the hopes and needs of Gentiles as well as of Jews.

Luke seems to have a political objective, too to show that Christianity was not a threat to the

Roman government. Although riots sometimes broke out when the gospel was preached, Luke


7/12

notes that the problems were caused by Jews or Gentiles, not the Christian preachers.

Christianity was rooted in Judaism, which was a legal religion. Roman officials repeatedly find

Paul innocent of wrong-doing, and they allow the gospel to continue to be preached.

Luke also defends Paul against accusations that he was preaching against Judaism. Although

Gentile believers did not have to must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses

(Acts 15:5), Paul did not teach Jews to abandon their traditions. He participated in Jewish rituals

both in Ephesus and in Jerusalem. Luke shows us that Paul had been forced to preach to Gentiles

Jesus miraculously called him and commissioned him; the Antioch church sent him out; the

apostle Peter preached to Gentiles before Paul did; Paul preached to Jews first and to Gentiles

only after Jews rejected the gospel.

In practical matters of Christian life, Luke emphasizes repentance, faith, baptism and forgiveness

of sins. He emphasizes that the Holy Spirit gives believers courage to faithfully witness to Jesus

Christ in the face of persecution. He also stresses prayer asking God for help, and thanking

him for his deliverance.

Observation as to Context

Acts has both history and faith. Historically, the book serves as a vital link between the Gospels

and the epistles. It bridges the gap between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith. In the

Gospels, Jesus is preaching; in the epistles, Jesus is being preached. The book of Acts explains

how the messenger became the center of the message.

This is particularly important when we read the epistles of Paul, because, without the book of

Acts, we would not know who Paul was or how he entered the picture or what motivated him to

preach to Gentiles or why he wrote to such far-flung regions.


8/12

Luke gives us glimpses into the personalities of Peter, John and James, who wrote other New

Testament books. He shows us the remarkable transformation that the Holy Spirit produced in

Peter, who went from denying Jesus three times to boldly defying the Jewish leaders and telling

them to their faces that he would continue to preach about Jesus. The sudden boldness of the

apostles is testimony that God raised Jesus from the dead and gave these fishermen dramatic

conviction and power.

Luke also records the persecutions of Peter, the martyrdoms of Stephen and James, the stonings

and beatings and imprisonments of Paul. Whether they lived or died, captive or free, these

Christians were led by the Holy Spirit to testify that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour.

Practical Applications

Luke tells us what happened, but he rarely indicates what should happen today. For example, he

tells us that seven men were chosen to wait on tables (Acts 6:1-6), but he does not tell us whether

churches should follow that example today. This book is descriptive, not prescriptive it is

history, not law.

So you may be tempted to classify it only as history, but also it may be read to strengthen our

faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. As we read, we can put ourselves in the apostles sandals,

to feel their boldness in preaching the gospel and their fears when facing persecution. We can

marvel that the apostles, right after being flogged, were rejoicing because they had been

counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name [of Jesus] ( Acts 5:41). And by reading about

their faith and perseverance, we can be a little more emboldened to face our own crises with the

help of the same Holy Spirit.


9/12

Acts is full of Surprises. There are a number of things within the book of Acts which will take us

by surprise. I would not have done things the way God did them. There is a lesson here. It is that

God does not fit into our nice, neat theological boxes. He is not some puppet which is used by

men. It is He who uses men.

In chapter 6, deacons are chosen to free up the apostles for their work of ministry. But then in

chapters 7-8 it is the deacons who are used by God to deliver the gospel.

In chapter 7 we read of Saul of Tarsus who is instrumental in having Stephen stoned to death, but

then the Lord calls Saul to be His apostle.

On the other hand, I want to suggest that this is not just a book for the first century. God is not

too tired to work in this century. He is still in the world-changing business. And He is at work

today, too waiting for you to allow him.

The Preaching of the Book of Acts.

The main theme of the preaching of the apostles is the resurrection of Jesus Christ and demand

for repentance on the basis of that message.

Acts is a book of Prayer. The Christian life cannot run without prayer any more than a car can

run without gasoline.

The idea is that the church was doing exactly what God wanted them to do. 1. Today, if we are

going to be a part of the New Testament church, we must do exactly what God wants us to do.

We can do these exact things; except, of course, for the miracles that were done. We can still

have this fellowship (partnership), break bread, pray, and preach. The only thing that we do that


10/12

is not specifically mentioned in Acts 2 is sing (singing is mentioned later in Acts and throughout

the New Testament).

Bible map covering the book of cts


11/12

Paul arrives in Rome


12/12

Reference and Bibliography:

1. http://www.christianlibrary.org/authors/Grady_Scott

2. https://bible.org/article/study-outline-acts#P18_1599

3. http://www.gci.org/bible/actsintro

4. http://www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/act00-00.html

5. Characteristics of the Early Church

6. Executable Outlines, Copyright Mark A. Copeland, 2008
http://www.christianlibrary.org/authors/Grady_Scotthttp://www.christianlibrary.org/authors/Grady_Scotthttps://bible.org/article/study-outline-acts#P18_1599https://bible.org/article/study-outline-acts#P18_1599http://www.gci.org/bible/actsintrohttp://www.gci.org/bible/actsintrohttp://www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/act00-00.htmlhttp://www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/act00-00.htmlhttp://www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/act00-00.htmlhttp://www.gci.org/bible/actsintrohttps://bible.org/article/study-outline-acts#P18_1599http://www.christianlibrary.org/authors/Grady_Scott

Documents

Book of Acts Intro