The Book of Acts
“and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The Book of Acts
“…you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Author: Though unnamed in the document, ancient tradition and internal, textual evidence suggests that Luke was the author of this book. In the second half of the book, the author periodically shifts from third person narration to first person recollection (16:10-17; 20:5-17; 27:1-28:16), suggesting that he was a companion of Paul (Co. 4:14; 2Ti. 4:11; Phm. 24). Acts and Luke appear to have been written as a two-volume set for Theophilus, who was apparently a convert to Christianity and a public official of some sort.
Date: Acts concludes with Paul under house arrest in the city of Rome for two years. The narrative ends rather abruptly, leading some to infer that this volume was written during and near the end of that period of imprisonment. This seems a reasonable assumption, particularly since Acts makes no mention of Nero’s persecution (beginning in A.D. 64) or Paul’s execution (A.D. 65-68). The book was probably written between A.D. 60-64 after the Gospel According to Luke.
Theme: The Early Preaching of the Gospel
Acts continues the history of Jesus Christ’s work to save men from sin. Acts shows us the obedience of the apostles and early Christians to the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-20; Lk. 24:45-48). The book testifies to the triumphant nature of the gospel of Jesus Christ preached with the power and under the direction of the Holy Spirit. This text also serves at least four apologetic purposes. First, it emphasizes the basis of gospel preaching: the crucified and resurrected Christ (2:22-24, 36). Second, it shows that Christianity is the fulfillment of the Old Testament and Judaism (13:16-41). Third, it demonstrates the superiority of Christianity over paganism (17:22-31). Fourth, it establishes that Christianity is not a political threat to earthly government (26:29-32).
Structure: Acts divides naturally into three major sections corresponding to the three fields of preaching described by the Lord in chapter one and verse eight. The early chapters record the beginning of the church in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, accompanied by the Spirit’s power (1-2). Adversity comes quickly as first the religious leaders (4-5), then internal strife (6), then open persecution by the Jews (7-8) threaten to hinder the work of preaching that has begun. However, that persecution only fans the flame of the gospel as persecuted disciples scatter all over Judea, Samaria, and Galilee (8-10), some even taking the gospel as far as Syrian Antioch (11). With the conversion of the church’s greatest human opponent, Saul of Tarsus, the Lord’s kingdom gains a powerful advocate whose work among the Gentiles introduces the church’s greatest theological challenge (15) and whose testimony carries the good news even to Rome itself.
The book of Acts is dominated by sermons and speeches delivered by the apostles and early preachers to teach the gospel and defend its ministry. There are at least sixteen distinct speeches in the book.
1. Sermons to Unbelievers (ch.2, 3, 7, 10, 13, 17)
2. Defenses to Unbelievers (ch.4, 5, 22, 24, 26)
3.
Addresses to Believers (ch.1, 8, 11, 15, 20)
Outline of the Book of Acts
Part One: Preaching in Jerusalem (1-7)
1. Power of the Gospel (1-2)
2. Problems in the Church (3-6)
3. Persecution against the Church (7-8:4)
Part Two: Preaching in Syria-Palestine (8-12)
1. The Preaching of Philip (8)
2. The Conversion of Saul (9:1-31)
3. The Preaching of Peter (9:32-11:18)
4. The Church in Antioch (11:19-30)
5. Herod’s Persecution of the Apostles (12)
Part Three: Preaching in the Rest of the World (13-28)
1. Paul’s First Preaching Journey (13-14)
2. The Jerusalem Discussion (15:1-35)
3. Paul’s Second Preaching Journey (15:36-18:22)
4. Paul’s Third Preaching Journey (18:23-21:17)
5. Paul’s Journey to Rome (21:18-28:31)