Acts of the Apostles
The “Acts of the Apostles” is an ancient historic document
written by one who was most likely a Gentile believer. It is actually a “Part 2” which was written
to follow and complete the account given in the gospel of Luke, which bears the
name of the author. Both books were
addressed to Theopholis who was apparently a man of high social standing, and
who is probably the one responsible for the publishing of Luke and Acts in
order to make them available to Gentiles.
What do we know about the author? His vocation was that of physician, and as
such, was a man of discerning thought and detail. He probably was not an eyewitness of the
events in the gospel, but he was a historian in the Greek tradition of ancient
approaches to history writing, research, consulting eyewitnesses, comparing
sources, traveling and participating. He was a close associate and traveling
companion of Paul, which certainly gave him direct access to a number of
eyewitnesses, including other apostles.
Ancient historiography, unlike ancient biography, focuses
more on event than on persons and personalities. There is a concerted effort to record
significant happenings and if possible, to explain the causes of the
happenings. Unlike modern
historiography, the ancients were less concerned about (1) chronological
precision (2) exhaustive or comprehensive accounts (3) value-free commentary
(4) ascribing all events to purely natural causes and (5) avoidance of
rhetorical devices or effects.[1]
Have you ever wondered why people waited so long to actually
sit down and record all the events that took place? It is likely that the disciples believed the
second coming of Jesus was imminent, and therefore priority was given to urgent
evangelism through preaching, service, signs and wonders. It was probably about 20 years after the
resurrection—when some of the disciples were surely old, and some passing away,
that documenting the history became a priority so that following generations
could comprehend the person of Jesus.
Most scholars believe the Acts of the apostles was written prior to
Paul’s trial before Caesar in A.D.62.
The last recorded words of Jesus have come to be known as
the Great Commission. The gospels of
Matthew, Mark, and Luke lead the reader to this point, leaving them with the
charge to act on the information they
now have. Acts records how some of the
early Christians did just that. They
took the commission seriously and devoted their lives to sharing the good news
of a Savior who offers deliverance from sin and destruction and opens the way
to relationship and peace with God.
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