Editors Note: This study of the Book of Acts first appeared in Word and Work between 1983 and 1986.
Introduction to the Book All of the Word of God is profitable for study. We want to encourage all who read these words to be like the Bereans in the seventeenth chapter, who searched the scriptures daily to see whether the words the Apostle Paul spoke were truly from God. So, we encourage all to have your Bibles with you when you read these articles. Let us study together. Remember, God has told us to study His Word.
In this introductory essay, we are going to give an introduction to the book. We are going to relate to you the facts about the time setting. There will be some remarks on the author. The Book of Acts is the bridge that takes us from the Gospels to the Epistles. Jesus Christ, in Matthew 16:18, promised that He would build His Church. No where in the four Gospel’s do we find the establishment of that Church. Only after the death and resurrection and ascension of Jesus could there ever be a Church. Jesus lived and died under the conditions set forth under the Mosaic Law.
It is in the Book of Acts that we see the establishment of the Church. The Book of Acts is a book of beginnings. The late Bro. Tom Thurman, wrote the following, “Acts: The Genesis of the New Testament. Now what does that mean? Well, Genesis means, ‘beginnings.’ That’s what the first book of the Bible is— a book of beginnings. The Book of Acts talks about the beginning of the church, of Christian benevolence. It relates about the first church hypocrites, the first church election, and the first Christian martyr. The beginning of the Holy Spirit’s working in the church is described. So is the conversion of the first Gentile, the sending of the first missionaries, and the first great controversy in the church. Paul’s first work in Europe is explained in Chapter 16, and elsewhere in the book we get to meet the first mixed-up preacher and the first church sleeper! We can also read about Paul’s first sermon before royalty and his first view of Rome.”
At this time, we want to give a brief introduction of the book. Unless one is familiar with the events in Acts, the events in the Epistles will not have much meaning. The Book of Acts tells us of the advance of the Gospel. It tells us of the spread of Christianity from the Day of Pentecost until Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome that is recorded in the twenty-eighth chapter.
J. Vernon McGee tells us that the key verse is Acts 1:8. This verse also gives us a division of the book. Chapters 1-7: The work in Jerusalem, Chapters 8-12: The work in Samaria and Judea. Chapters 13-28: The work to the uttermost parts.
The author of the book is not mentioned by name. Dr. Luke is presumed to be the author. Post-apostolic writers, as far back as the second century ascribe the book to Luke. One thing we know is that the writer of the book was with Paul, in what we call the “we” passages. These are as follows: Acts 16:10-17: Troas to Philippi (second missionary journey), Acts 20:6-21:18: Philippi to Jerusalem (third missionary journey), and Acts 27:1-28:16, the Voyage to Rome.
Luke was the only non-Jewish writer of the Bible. He is mentioned just three times in the New Covenant Scriptures. The three places are (1) Col. 4:14; (2) II Tim. 4:11; (3) Philemon 24. Col. 4:14 tells us that his occupation was that of a physician. The book was written to Theophilus. Who was this man? He was, in all probability, a high-ranking Roman official. His name means lover of God. In the Book of Acts, Luke is continuing the narrative he began in his gospel. He was telling Theophilus the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.
What was the date of the writing of the Book of Acts? The most common dates to be suggested have been between A.D. 62 and 64. Why these dates?
A t least two reasons seem evident.
- If the writer had known the outcome of Paul’s trial, don’t you think he would have mentioned it. The imprisonment that Paul mentioned in II Tim. 4 is not the same as the one in Acts 28.
- No reference is made to the destruction of the city of Jerusalem that took place in A. D. 70.
No mention is made of the persecution of Emperor Nero. It is believed that Paul suffered martyrdom in Rome in the time of Nero. In the next article, we hope to deal with the events that took place in the first chapter. We ask that you read through the chapter. Be with us next time when we continue our study into the Book of Acts. MARANATHA! (1 Cor. 16:22)
–Larry Miles is Co-Editor of Word & Work Online. He lives in Louisville, KY and attends Cherry Street Church of Christ in New Albany, IN