Acts

Acts of the Apostles

            There are twenty-eight chapters. It was written around 61 – 62 AD. This is part two of the history of the early church. Luke documented the accomplishment of the task given to the apostles by the risen Christ in Acts 1:8. Within the twenty-eight chapters, there are several speeches. Scholars such as Irenaeus describe Luke as a physician and traveling companion of Paul. The audience for the two-volume book is Theophilus. The work ends with Paul in Rome for two years. Peter’s speeches do not include Nero which points to a date before 64 AD. Theophilus is possibly a Roman citizen of prominence to both Gentile and Jewish believers.

            Luke had first-hand accounts of eye-witness communities and churches. The purpose of the writing is the extension of the gospel to Rome. Luke dialogues as a historian/theologian. Twenty-seven percent of the New Testament is composed by Luke. The Old Testament can be found within the work. There are eight speeches by Peter, nine speeches by Paul, and ten major addresses. These speeches and addresses are summaries. There are miracle stories. Luke places Jesus as the focus. The miracles are performed by Jesus. The apostles’ miracles were under the authority of Jesus. Throughout the work, Luke focuses on the poor, needy, oppressed, and downtrodden women. He also takes much care in explaining the building of the early church. He refers to other events to show the relevance of other local events. There are many examples of inclusion in following Christ.[1]

Bibliography

Polhill, John B. and Charles W. Draper. “Acts, Book of,” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 20-25. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

[1] John B. Polhill and Charles W. Draper, “Acts, the Book of,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 20-25.