Book of Acts

7262019 Book of Acts

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullbook-of-acts 142

Part hree

HE EARLY CHURCH AND PAUL

IN HIS PORION of this work the book of Acts (chap 8) forms thebasic framework for the discussion of Paulrsquos life and ministry (chap 9)and subsequent chapters treating Paulrsquos letters in chronological sequence

in their presumed order of writing (chaps 10ndash15) Galatians 1 amp 2 Tessa-lonians 1 amp 2 Corinthians Romans the Prison Epistles (Philippians Ephe-

sians Colossians and Philemon) and the Pastoral Epistles (1 amp 2 imothyitus)

Organizing the material in this way enables the student to get a sense ofthe development of the early church and first-century Christianity through-out Paulrsquos missionary career Since Paul wrote 13 of the 27 books of the Nand since his letters probe the major implications of Jesusrsquo mission and savingcross-work for N believers Part Tree forms the very heart of this Introduc-tion to the N It is complemented and completed by the discussion of theGeneral Epistles and the book of Revelation in Part Four (chaps 16ndash20) anda concluding chapter on unity and diversity in the N (chap 21)

CCC Sample chap 8indd 1 31009 82048 AM



2

C 983096

B A

CORE KNOWLEDGE

Basic Knowledge Students should know the key facts about the bookof Acts With regard to history student should be able to identify the bookrsquosauthor date provenance destination and purpose With regard to literaturethey should be able to provide a basic outline of the book and identify core

elements of the bookrsquos content found in the Unit-by-Unit discussion Withregard to theology students should be able to identify the major theologicalthemes in the book of Acts

Intermediate Knowledge In addition to mastery of the core contentidentified in Basic Knowledge above students should be able to present thearguments for historical literary and theological conclusions With regardto history students should be able to discuss the evidence for Lukan author-ship date provenance destination and purpose With regard to literaturethey should be able to provide a detailed outline of the book With regard totheology students should be able to discuss the major theological themes in

the book of Acts and the ways in which they uniquely contribute to the Ncanon

Advanced Knowledge In addition to mastery of the core content iden-tified in Basic Knowledge and beyond the Intermediate Knowledge notedabove students should be able to evaluate critically and to assess the historicalaccuracy of the speeches the Jerusalem Council and the miracles recordedin Acts Tey should also be able to evaluate accurately the sources that liebehind the composition of Acts




he Book of Acts 3

KEY FACTS

AUTHOR Luke

DATE Early 60s

PROVENANCE Rome

DESTINATION Teophilus

PURPOSE A defense of the Christian faith showingthe expansion of the early church froma Jewish sect to a worldwide movement

THEME Salvation history the birth and mission

of the early church

KEY VERSE 18

INRODUCION

W HEN OSCAR WILDE was studying the classics at Oxford hehad to take an oral exam to test his knowledge of Greek Teexaminers looked at him sensed that he was ldquoan effete and lsquodif-

ficultrsquo young manrdquo and assigned him the most difficult text to translate in the

Greek N the account of Paulrsquos shipwreck in Acts 27 with its extensive use ofnautical language ldquoTat will be all Mr Wilderdquo the examiners said when Os-car a brilliant Greek student provided an effortless translation ldquoOh pleaserdquoexclaimed Wilde ldquodo let me go onmdashI am longing to know how the storyfinishesrdquo1

Tis anecdote illustrates two facets of the book of Acts o begin with itis the account of a grand adventure taking us from Palestine to the centerof the Gentile world Rome Along the way it includes the exciting story ofencounters with hostile people and governments sailing adventures and ship-

wrecks and even courtroom dramas No doubt about it the book of Acts is

an exciting adventure But the anecdote not only underlines the exciting talethat is the book of Acts it also leaves us (like Wilde) longing to know howthe story finished after the end of the book since Paul remained under arrestin Rome awaiting trial

1 A N Wilson Paul Te Mind of the Apostle (New York W W Norton 1997) 21ndash22 Ironically of

course Wilde would not have found out how the story finishes even if he had read through the end of the

book of Acts since the story is open-ended




4 HE EARLY CHURCH AND PAUL

HISORY

AuthorIn a previous chapter we identified Luke the beloved physician as the

author of both the Gospel and the book of Acts o recapitulate Luke wasa well-educated man steeped in the O (especially the LXX) He knew thegeography of Palestine and the Mediterranean world He was not an originaldisciple (see Luke 12) but was a traveling companion of Paul (thus the use ofthe first person plural pronoun in the ldquowerdquo passages starting at Acts 168ndash17see able 81 below) and revealed great respect for Paul in his writings Tus

while Luke was not an eyewitness of the events recorded in his Gospel he wasan eyewitness of a significant portion of events narrated in the second half ofthe book of Acts Lukersquos close association with the apostle Paul ensured thatthe canonical criterion of apostolicity was met

Table 81 The ldquoWerdquo Passages in Acts

Passage in Acts Journeys and

LocationsEvent

168ndash17 roas to Philippi Ministry in Philippi

205ndash15 Philippi to roas to Miletus On way to Jerusalem

211ndash18 Miletus to Jerusalem viaCaesarea

On way to Jerusalem

271ndash2816 Caesarea to Rome All the way to Rome

Date

Like its authorship the date of the book of Acts was established in thechapter on the Gospel of Luke Te following brief discussion summarizesthe major views on the subject Tere are basically three positions set forth inthe relevant literature (1) a date prior to 70 (2) a date of 70ndash100 and (3) adate in the second century

Virtually no one today dates Acts in the second century although this hasbeen proposed in the past2 Te more popular date among less conservativecommentators is a date some time after 75 Tis is usually based on these

2 Eg the uumlbingen School posited a reconciling tendency in the book of Acts and assigned the book

to the second century A few have suggested a later date on other grounds see F C Burkitt Te Gospel

History and Its ransmission 3d ed (Edinburgh amp Clark 1911) 105ndash10 M S Enslin ldquoOnce Again

Luke and Paulrdquo ZNW 61 (1970) 253 271 and J C OrsquoNeill Te Teology of Acts in Its Historical Setting

(London SPCK 1961) 21 26




he Book of Acts 5

scholarsrsquo solution to the Synoptic Problem (typically in terms of Markan pri-ority) and a dating of Mark in the mid- to late 60s3 Te abrupt ending of

Acts is then explained in terms of Luke completing his purpose4 An early date however remains the best option for the book of Acts Te

aforementioned abrupt ending the neutral if not friendly presentation ofthe Roman Empire5 the lack of mention of the Pauline Letters and the lackof mention of the Jewish war and its events all point to an early date for Acts6Te ending of Acts is best explained as Luke having recorded everything thathas happened up to this point in Paulrsquos mission Although not universally ac-cepted an early date is thus most plausible in light of the available evidence

If (1) if Paul was released from his first Roman imprisonment in which he

found himself at the end of the book of Acts (2) engaged in several years offurther missionary travels and ministry as the Pastorals suggest (3) if his mar-tyrdom was preceded by a second significantly harsher Roman imprison-ment as 2 imothy seems to indicate and (4) as tradition indicates Paul wasmartyred in c 6566 during the persecution under Nero (54ndash68) subsequentto the great fire in Rome (64) this indicates that 60 is the most reasonabledate for the conclusion of the book of Acts and a date of composition shortlythereafter

Provenance

If the evidence for the date has been rightly evaluated the only optionfor the provenance of the book is the city of Rome If Luke had caught upin time with Paul so that the apostle was awaiting trial in Rome at the timeof writing and if the ldquowe sectionsrdquo are an indication of personal involve-ment then Luke was with Paul when he wrote the book Tis was the viewof Irenaeus (c 130ndash200) Eusebius (c 260ndash340) and Jerome (c 345ndash420)7Te Anti-Marcionite Prologue mentions Achaia as the place of publication

Jeromersquos belief that Luke wrote from Rome was self-admittedly adduced from

3 For this argument see J A Fitzmyer Te Acts of the Apostles A New ranslation with Introduction and

Commentary AB 31 (Garden City Doubleday 1998) 54ndash554 Eg D J Williams Acts NIBC 5 (Grand Rapids Zondervan 1990) 13 and W G Kuumlmmel Intro-

duction to the New estament rev ed trans H C Kee (Nashville Abingdon 1975) 186 It must also be

noted that this is not just a ldquoliberalrdquo vs ldquoconservativerdquo option for the generally conservative D Wenham

dates Acts rather late D Wenham and S Walton Exploring the New estament A Guide to the Gospels and

Acts vol 1 (Downers Grove InterVarsity 2001) 2975 P Parker (ldquoTe lsquoFormer reatisersquo and the Date of Actsrdquo JBL 84 [1965] 53) noted ldquoFor any Christian

to write thereafter with the easy optimism of Acts 28 would require almost subhuman obtusenessrdquo6 For a slightly different track to reach the same conclusion see A J Matil ldquoTe Date and Purpose of

Luke-Acts Rackham Reconsideredrdquo CBQ 40 (1978) 335ndash507 Irenaeus Against Heresies 311 3141 Eusebius Eccl Hist 2226 and Jerome De Viris Illustribus 7





the ending of Acts8 Te other church fathers may well have come to thesame conclusion Ultimately we are left with a few contradictory snippetsin the tradition Tis makes the provenance hard to pinpoint Like Irenaeus

Jerome and Eusebius one may deduce from the ending that Luke was withPaul in Rome at the time of writing without staking any undue weight onthis deduction (Also at a later point Luke is said to be the only one left withPaul in Rome 2 im 411)

Destination

Teophilus like Josephusrsquos Epaphroditus goes unnamed in the rest of thenarrative As discussed in chap 6 on Lukersquos Gospel little is known about himother than that he may have been a Roman official (see the designation ldquomostexcellentrdquo in Luke 13 it also occurs in Acts 2326 243 2625 with referenceto Felix and Festus) and that he had received previous information regardingthe Christian faith (Luke 14) Most likely he was Lukersquos literary patron in

which case he would not only have paid the price of publication but mayhave housed Luke during the bookrsquos production and made the manuscriptavailable for copying subsequent to its completion

In addition it is very likely Luke had a target audience beyond Teophi-lus In determining the makeup of Lukersquos intended readers it is instructiveto look at the kind of information that Luke expected or did not expect his

audience to know On the one hand he did not expect his readers to knowthe basic details of Judean topography as in the statement that Mount Ol-ivet was near Jerusalem (Acts 112) Nor did he expect them to know thelocal language Aramaic terms are explained (see 112 19 436 936 138)

At the same time no explanation is given with regard to Jewish institutionssuch as Pentecost (21 2016) ldquoa Sabbath dayrsquos journeyrdquo (112) ldquounclean-nessrdquo (1014) and ldquoPassoverrdquo (124) which suggests that Luke expected hisaudience to be familiar with this kind of information9 Likewise it may beassumed that since the O quotes are from the LXX this was the Bible ofchoice among Lukersquos readers

Finally the apologetic thrust of the book setting forth the expansion ofChristianity from a Jewish sect to a worldwide movement may also indicatea particular target audience namely anyone interested in the astonishing riseof the Christian movement from humble beginnings in Jerusalem to the em-pirersquos capital Rome On the whole then Acts is a book that would resonate

8 Jerome De Viris Illustribus 79 C J Hemer Te Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History (Winona Lake Eisenbrauns 1990)

107




he Book of Acts 7

well with non-Aramaic speakers familiar with the Greek O Tis would haveincluded Gentile Christians and it would not have ruled out Diaspora Jewsor Jewish Christians living outside of Palestine Beyond this anyone interest-ed in the nature and phenomenal rise of Christianity in the first few decadesof the church would have found the book of Acts valuable and informative

Purpose

Numerous proposals have been made regarding the purpose of Acts Teseinclude evangelism10 an apology or defense of the Christian faith11 Paulrsquoslegal defense12 various theological concerns13 the historical basis of theestablishment and growth of the kingdom of God14 and evangelism andedification15

In considering the purpose of Acts it must be remembered that the workis a sequel to Lukersquos Gospel Tis does not necessarily mean that the purposeof Acts is identical to the purpose of Lukersquos Gospel it means that the formershould be related appropriately to the latter (see especially Acts 11) If thepreface to Luke applies to Acts as wellmdashand given the brevity of Actsrsquo prefacethis is most likely the casemdashthen Luke set out to write an orderly accountand to provide assurance and an apology or defense of the Christian faith But

what kind of defense did Luke provideTe first and best indication is the literary structure of Acts which re-

volves around showing the early expansion of the church from a local sect toa worldwide movement as empowered by God Each expansion is broughtabout by the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than by the disciplesrsquo owninitiative In this theological emphasis the book manifests the same focus onGodrsquos plan (including promise and fulfillment) that is prominent in Lukersquos

10 Eg W J Larkin Acts IVPNC (Downers Grove InterVarsity 1995) 19ndash20 W Neil Acts New

Century Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1981) 2811 R H Gundry A Survey of the New estament 4th ed (Grand Rapids Zondervan 2003) 304 F F

Bruce Te Book of Acts NICN (Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1987) 20 D A deSilva An Introduction to

the New estament Contexts Methods and Ministry Formation (Downers Grove InterVarsity 2004) 354

L Johnson Te Acts of the Apostles SacPag 5 (Collegeville Liturgical Press 1992)12 B H Streeter Te Four Gospels A Study of Origins (London St Martins 1953) 539 Kuumlmmel (In-

troduction 162) also lists Munck Sahlin and Koh13 Eg the geographical movement of the gospel ( Zahn Die Apostelgeschichte des Lukas [Leipzig A

Deichert 1919ndash21] 14ndash15) the adjudication of church controversies (E rocmeacute Le lsquoLivre des Actesrsquo et

lrsquoHistoire [Paris University of France Press 1957]) or the explanation of the delay of the parousia or Sec-

ond Coming (H Conzelmann Te Teology of St Luke [New York Harper amp Row 1961])14 I H Marshall Te Acts of the Apostles NC (Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1980) 17ndash2215 So D A Carson and D J Moo An Introduction to the New estament 2d ed (Grand Rapids

Zondervan 2005) 305 R E Brown An Introduction to the New estament (New York Doubleday 1997)

272ndash73 and Kuumlmmel Introduction 163





Gospel Tis also answers the question of why a sequel to Lukersquos Gospel wasneeded in the first place Te Gospel is ldquoabout all that Jesus began to do andteachrdquo (Acts 11) and Acts narrates the continuation of that which was begunin the Gospel Te story of Jesus is not complete until the gospel has movedfrom the Jewish capital to ldquothe end of the earthrdquomdashall the way to Rome (Acts18)

It is sometimes claimed that Lukersquos Gospel is continually journeying to- ward Jerusalem (especially the ldquoLukan ravel Narrativerdquo) and that the bookof Acts is moving away from Jerusalem to the ldquoends of the earthrdquo But thisis an oversimplification More precisely the book of Acts spirals out from

Jerusalem and Palestine In the second half of the book Paul was continually

returning to Jerusalem only to set out deeper and deeper into the Gentile world Tree factors point to a sustained apologetic for Gentile inclusion onthe basis of the Jewish rejection of the Messiah the sustained apologetic forGentile inclusion in the first part of the book that culminated in the Jerusa-lem Council (Acts 151ndash29) Paulrsquos consistent pattern of preaching in the lo-cal synagogue in each city before moving on to the Gentiles and his repeatedreturn to Jerusalem

Tis prominently surfaces in Acts 2825ndash27 where Paul upon reachingRome first speaks to the Jewish leaders there Some of them believe but tothose who do not Paul cited Isa 69ndash10

Te Holy Spirit correctly spoke through the prophet Isaiah to yourforefathers when he said ldquoGo to this people and say lsquoYou will listenand listen yet never understand and you will look and look yetnever perceive For this peoplersquos heart has grown callous their ears arehard of hearing and they have shut their eyes otherwise they mightsee with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with theirheart and be convertedmdashand I would heal themrsquordquo

Having thus explained the rejection of the gospel by the Jews Paul drewthe following implication ldquoTerefore let it be known to you that this saving

work of God has been sent to the Gentiles they will listenrdquo (2828) Withthis the book of Acts closes

Te literary structure of the book thus points to a historical apologeticthat explains Godrsquos plan extending the gospel to the Gentiles while includingbelieving Jews as well While it can be surmised that Lukersquos target audienceincluded non-Aramaic speakers who were familiar with the O the apolo-getic presented is wide-ranging including the evangelism of Diaspora Jews




he Book of Acts 9

as well as the edification of Gentile Christians who worship the Jewish Mes-siah whom the Jews had rejected Lukersquos purpose was to write an accuratehistorical narrative designed to edify his Christian readers and to help themevangelize unbelievers

Something to Tink AboutChristianity akes the World by Storm

I f the first generation of the Christian church proves anything it is

this the power of God is infinitely greater than any human obstaclesin its way A humble Galilean craftsman who suffered an untimelydeath and accumulated no earthly possessions wrote no books and leftbehind nothing but a small band of disheartened followers spawned amovement so powerful that it took the Roman empire by storm

How was this possible Tere is only one satisfying answer the same Jesus who was crucified on a hill outside of Jerusalem rose again from thedead three days later and was exalted to the right hand of God As Peter

proclaimed at Pentecost ldquoGod has resurrected this Jesus We are all wit-nesses of this Terefore since he has been exalted to the right hand of Godand has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit he has pouredout what you both see and hearrdquo (232ndash33)

Te rest of the book of Acts records the amazing astounding breath-taking irresistible progress of the Christian gospel in a world where the

Jews fiercely oppose the early churchrsquos mission and where ironically theRomans protect Paul and the early Christians from certain death Internalobstacles whether dishonesty or potential disunity are overcome as are

persecution and various external threats Not clever strategy but humbletrust in God and faithful witness to him empower the early Christianswho prove victorious again and again

Lukersquos account of the spiritual exploits of the early church can serve asa mighty inspiration to the church of all ages which is faced with the samechallenge of bearing witness to the living resurrected Christ in a world

hostile to the gospel message As we continue this godly legacy we mustmake sure our trust as that of the first Christians is in the same God whoraised Jesus from the dead and for whom no obstacle is too great if we only

put our trust in him and his awesome power rather than in our own abil-ity to overcome the obstacles we face





LIERAURE

GenreTe question regarding the genre of Acts is more than merely a matter of

curiosity Te answer to this question helps one to identify the expectationsone should have when approaching the book Certain genres of literaturehave no or little expectation of trustworthiness or historical veracity (eg afairy tale or a novel) It matters therefore if the book of Acts was written as acollection of legends or as a serious historical narrative For this reason identi-fying the genre of Acts is a significant aid in understanding Lukersquos purpose

Similar to the Gospels the literary genre of Acts is difficult to determine with certainty Tere are few (if any) works of a similar nature prior to thepublication of Acts Also again similar to the Gospels a host of apocryphalldquoActsrdquo were written in imitation of the canonical book16 Tis is not to saythat the term ldquoActsrdquo is original In literary circles ldquoActsrdquo (praxeis) referred tothe heroic deeds of mythical or historical figures but this kind of writing wasmost likely not an established literary genre (even less was the term featuredin titles) when Luke penned this volume17

Te Gospels have been identified by some as a specialized form of biog-raphy with the words and deeds of Jesus at the center If so at first sightLukersquos second volume does not seem to fit this description as it features the

deeds of more than one person Peter Stephen Philip Paul and so on Tereare several significant human agents but there is one and only one majordivine agent underlying the entire plot of the book of Acts the Holy SpiritFor this reason rather than identifying the book as presenting the ldquoActs ofthe Apostlesrdquo it may be more accurate to say that at its heart are the ldquoActs ofthe Holy Spiritrdquo18

In fact this unity of what Jesus began to do during his earthly ministryand what he began to do in the power of the Holy Spirit subsequent to hisascension seems to be precisely what is implied by Luke himself in the open-ing verse of Acts ldquoI wrote the first narrative Teophilus about all that Jesus

began to do and teach until the day he was taken up after he had given ordersthrough the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosenrdquo (Acts 11ndash2)

16 Eg Te Acts of Paul and Tecla Te Acts of John Te Acts of Peter et al17 Fitzmyer Acts of the Apostles 47 and Carson and Moo Introduction to the New estament 30118 So is Acts a sort of ldquobiographyrdquo of the Holy Spirit or perhaps a ldquobiographyrdquo of the ascended Christ

conducting his work through the Holy Spirit and the apostolic church If so this would need to be under-

stood within the larger framework of Godrsquos salvation-historical purposes on which see further below




he Book of Acts 11

Tis may constitute the common ground between Lukersquos Gospel and Actsand mark both books as a literary unity19

In recent times the genre of Acts has been identified by some as relatedto the romance literature of its time that is as a kind of novel20 Tis is ul-timately unproven and not very helpful21 More likely the genre of Acts isbound up with historiography Te early church fathers who were familiar

with the different literary genres referred to the book as a ldquohistoryrdquo22 Al-though Luke did not use the term himself there is good evidence that he setout to write a historical account He wrote in a Septuagintal style resemblingO narratives23 It thus appears that Luke saw himself as writing sacredhistory24

Another good indication of this comes from the prefaces of Luke and ActsD Aune suggested that Lukersquos Gospel exhibits the following four of sevenfeatures of ancient historiography (1) requests and dedications (2) mentionof predecessors (3) use of appropriate methodology and (4) reasons for writ-ing25 If the preface to the Gospel covers both volumes then Luke claimed

19 Against M C Parsons and R I Pervo (Rethinking the Unity of Luke and Acts [Minneapolis Fortress

1993] 20ndash44) who identified Acts as a ldquoromancerdquo and registered concerns about what they see as a shift

in genre between Luke and Acts Also Luke mentioned other Gospels in Luke 11 but he did not mention

any such predecessors in the case of the book of Acts (see B Witherington III Te Acts of the Apostles A

Socio-Rhetorical Commentary [Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1998] 9)20

See R I Pervo Profit with Delight (Philadelphia Fortress 1987) However just because the work isentertaining does not mean that it must be in the novel genre Pervorsquos genre identification is followed by

the Westar Institutersquos ldquoActs Seminarrdquo Tis seminar of which Pervo is a fellow is a sequel to the notori-

ous ldquoJesus Seminarrdquo D E Smith (ldquoWas Tere a Jerusalem Church Christian Origins According to Acts

and Paulrdquo Forum 3 [Spring 2000] 57) said ldquooday some scholars still propose that Acts can be defined

under the genre of ancient history in some sense but the burden of proof has now shifted to those who

would claim historicity for Actsrdquo In that same volume D R MacDonald (ldquoLukersquos Emulation of Homer

Acts 121ndash17 and Illiad [sic] 24rdquo Forum 3 [Fall 1999] 197) stated that ldquothe Acts of the Apostles is a

self-conscious fiction Te historical stratum if any is extremely thin and from my perspective quite

uninterestingrdquo Lucian in the second-century work How to Write History noted that the historianrsquos task

was not free from providing an entertainment value He wrote ldquoTe task of the historian isto give a fine

arrangement to events and illuminate them as vividly as possiblerdquo (51)21 Marshall Fresh Look 19ndash2122

See Clement Stromateis 512 Jerome Epistles 538 Jerome called it ldquounadorned historyrdquo Lat nudahistoria which is lit ldquonaked historyrdquo

23 Since Luke demonstrated an ability to write in other styles this is most likely deliberate (so I H

Marshall Acts NC [Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1980] 18) J Polhill ( Acts NAC 26 [Nashville BampH

1992] 43) noted ldquoTroughout Acts there is a verisimilitude in the narrative Jews speak with a Jewish ac-

cent Athenian philosophers speak in Atticism and roman officials speak and write in the customary legal

style Luke showed not only a familiarity with such linguistic idiosyncrasies but also the ability to depict

them through his style of writingrdquo24 Whether or not Luke understood himself to be writing an inspired work is another question25 Te full list includes requests and dedications an apology for defective style comments on the value

and utility of history mention of predecessors assurance of impartiality use of appropriate methodology





to have written an account that is trustworthy emphasizing the veracity of hisresearch Moreover Luke produced a linear historical writing He was carefulto set events clearly at a point in history (called ldquosynchronismsrdquo) and in line

with Greek historiography arranged his work geographically26However Acts does not seem to fit any one genre of historiography Like

Plutarchrsquos Lives Acts features the lives and words of well-known people (Pe-ter Stephen Paul etc) At the same time the book shifts from person toperson Stephen is only important in Acts 6 and 7 Philip in Acts 8 After Acts15 Peter drops off the scene altogether and then the main character is Paulas the gospel moves through the known world It seems that the personalitiesinvolved serve a purpose other than chronicling their lives

Te genre of Acts is also similar to O historiography Similar to the Gos-pels the history is properly seen as ancient historiography with a theologicalfocus Blomberg called it a ldquotheological historyrdquo27 which seems to be a satis-fying way of capturing the nature of the book If so the reader should expectthe book to set forth a historical narrative that strives not only for accuracyin its portrayal of events but also seeks to be God-centered in its approach tohistory In Acts God is engendering salvation history Tus the next questionis How accurate is this history

HE HISORICAL RELIABILIY OF ACS

Introduction

Assessments of Lukersquos accuracy in Acts range from complete affirmationto total denial28 Some such as Pervo complimented Lukersquos literary ability

while denigrating his accuracy in recording historical details Pervo claimed

and reasons for writing (D Aune New estament in Its Literary Environment 89ndash90) L Alexander (Te

Preface to Luke rsquos Gospel Literary Convention and Social Context in Luke 11ndash4 and Acts 11 SNSMS 78

[Cambridge University Press 1993]) disagreed and posited that the prefaces in Luke-Acts are more akin

to scientific and technical treatises that were written for a less educated audience She drew the conclusion

that Luke was written for an audience with the same level of education Of course not every element had

to appear for a work to be considered historiography When the prefaces to Luke and Acts are compared to Josephusrsquos Against Apion there is an amazing similarity See Josephusrsquos preface in the second book against

Apion ldquoIn the former book most honored Epaphroditus I have demonstrated our antiquity and con-

firmed the truth of what I have said from the writings of the Phoenicians and Chaldeans and Egyptiansrdquo

(Josephus Apion 21)26 See especially the works of Ephorus (Witherington Acts of the Apostles 34ndash35)27 C L Blomberg From Pentecost to Patmos An Introduction to Acts through Revelation (Nashville

BampH 2006) 1728 For the former see W W Gasque A History of the Criticism of the Acts of the Apostles BBGE 17

(uumlbingen J C B Mohr 1975) for the latter see E Haenchen Te Acts of the Apostles A Commentary

trans B Noble G Shinn H Anderson and R M Wilson (Philadelphia Westminster 1971) 14ndash50




he Book of Acts 13

that Luke was ldquobumbling and incompetent as an historianrdquo29 Tose advo-cating a radical denial of historicity include M Dibelius H Conzelmann OVielhauer and E Haenchen On the other side of the spectrum F F BruceC Hemer W Gasque and I H Marshall among others strongly defendLukersquos accuracy In recent days many have sought to find middle ground Oneof these scholars is J Fitzmyer who noted ldquoIt is clear today that a middleground has to be sought between the skeptical approach and a conservativereaction to it One has to admit that at times Lukersquos information is faulty andthat he has confused some things in his narrative but by and large he doespresent us with a reliable account of much of what he recountsrdquo30 Bumblingand incompetent historically accurate or somewhere in betweenmdashwhich is

itLukersquos general reliability in verifiable matters has been well attested In

matters of geography he knew the topography of Jerusalem (eg Acts 11219 32 11) He was also familiar with the geography of Asia Minor In 134ndash5 the natural crossing is correctly called ldquoportsrdquo In 161 Paul passes throughthe ldquoCilician gatesrdquo and Luke correctly chronicled Derbe as the first city onthe route Luke was also well acquainted with the Greek peninsula In 1612Philippi is correctly described as a Roman colony In 176 the board of mag-istrates in Tessalonica is properly identified as ldquopolitarchsrdquo More examplescould be given Suffice it to say that C Hemerrsquos 51-page article ldquoSpecific

Local Knowledge of Lukerdquo has conclusively settled the matter of Lukersquos geo-graphical and provincial accuracy in the affirmative31

Lukersquos descriptions are also accurate in terms of specific people Te titleof the emperor was ldquoAugustusrdquo (transliterated Augoustos in Luke 21) but onthe lips of a Roman official it was formally and correctly rendered Sebastos(Acts 2521 25) Cyprus was governed by a proconsul at Paphos (137) Lukecorrectly stated that Ananias was the high priest (232) Te Roman gover-nor of Malta was known to be the ldquofirst manrdquo (prōtos) of the island (287)Gallio was proconsul of Achaia (Greece) in Corinth starting in the year 44(1812)32

Luke also correctly portrayed elements of ancient culture He accuratelynoted that the people at Lystra spoke their own dialect (1411) Tey werealso particular worshippers of Hermes and Zeus (see the ascription of the

29 Pervo Profit with Delight 330 Fitzmyer Acts 12431 Hemer Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History 108ndash5832 Tese and other examples can be found under the headings ldquoCommon Knowledgerdquo and ldquoSpecialized

Knowledgerdquo in Hemer Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History 107ndash8





titles ldquoHermesrdquo and ldquoZeusrdquo to Paul and Barnabas in 1412) Also Luke accu-rately detailed ancient navigation (chap 26) Classicist A N Sherwin-Whiteably demonstrated that Luke presented an accurate description of Roman

jurisprudence33 Because Luke narrated many encounters with the Romancourts (especially the last quarter of the book) in Acts this covers a large por-tion of the narrative

Further Luke correctly narrated events that were recorded elsewhere inancient historiography Tese included a famine during the reign of Clau-dius (1128) the death of Herod Agrippa I (1219ndash23) the edict of Clau-dius (182) and the replacement of the proconsul Felix by Porcius Festus(2427)

Tere are only a few points where Luke is severely criticized in verifiablematters outside of Scripture Te first is found in the short speech of Gamaliel

when he mentioned a certain Teudas and Judas (534ndash37) Teudas ac-cording to Gamaliel claimed to be someone important gathered 400 menbut was killed and his followers scattered A Teudas whom we know from

Josephus appeared 10 to 15 years prior to Gamalielrsquos speech34 Tis is seenby many as an anachronism on Lukersquos part A possible key to unlocking thispuzzle may be the mention of a certain Judas who is said to have come afterTeudas Te Judas of Galilee we know comes from the time near Jesusrsquo birth(at the death of Herod the Great) It is possible that Gamalielrsquos Teudas was

not the same man as Josephusrsquos35 Since Teudas was a common name andafter the death of Herod numerous uprisings occurred this otherwise un-known Teudas may be one of them36

Te second specific charge against Lukersquos accuracy is related to his use ofnumbers in the case of the number of the Egyptianrsquos band of 4000 (2138)Te ancient historian Lysias also mentioned an Egyptian terrorist with 4000

33 A N Sherwin-White Roman Law and Roman Society in the New estament (Grand Rapids Baker

1963)34

Josephus wrote ldquoDuring the period when Fadus was procurator of Judaea [c AD 44] a certainimpostor named Teudas persuaded the majority of the masses to take up their possessions and to follow

him to the Jordan Riverrdquo ( Ant 2097) But Fadus would have none of it and Teudas was captured and

his head cut off35 While Gamalielrsquos summation is quite brief there are some differences For example Gamaliel said

that Teudas gathered an army of 400 men while Josephus referred to ldquothe majority of the massesrdquo36 K F Noumlgren (Commentar uumlber die Apostelgeschichte des Lukas [Leipzig Doumlrfling und Franke 1882]

147) noted that Josephus related four Simons in a forty-year time span and three men named Judas in

a ten-year span who each led a rebellion Cf Josephus Ant 17269 ldquoNow at this time there were ten

thousand other disorders in Judea which were like tumultsrdquo According to Ant 17285 this state lasted

a long time




he Book of Acts 15

men but Josephus said he had 30000 men37 But in this instance Lukeshould be preferred over Josephus since Josephus had a well-demonstratedtendency to inflate numbers38

Tose striking the middle ground often concede the point of Lukersquos ac-curacy in historical matters but do not necessarily extend it to the story hetold39 Tese scholars take issue with Luke at three major points Fitzmyerrsquosthreefold charge is representative (1) the speeches in Acts are Lukan com-positions (2) there are tendentious story lines (Fitzmyer cites Acts 15 as aconflation of two councils) and (3) the recounting of miracles and heavenlyinterventions are judged problematic in terms of historicity40 It is thereforenecessary to address these three issues next As shown in each case closer

scrutiny vindicates Lukersquos accuracyTe Speeches of Acts

Te speeches in Acts take up about 25 to 30 percent of the book depend-ing on how one identifies a speech Some have suggested that the speeches in

Acts are wholly Lukersquos invention so much so that some theologians do noteven use Paulrsquos speeches in Acts to develop a Pauline theology

Although some claim that the pre-critical understanding of the speechesin Acts considered them verbatim reports this is not the case Many pre-En-lightenment exegetes considered them to be summaries rather than dictated

notes41 Indeed verbatim reports are a virtual impossibility given the textualevidence First in some cases the receptor language is different than the origi-nal speech Luke said that Paulrsquos defense against the mob in the temple was in

Aramaic (2140) as was the heavenly voice at Paulrsquos conversion (2614) Onother occasions the language used would most likely have been Greek suchas Paulrsquos speech in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch (1315) or the conversa-tion between Paul and the commander of the guard (2137) But in none ofthese cases is the conclusion warranted that these were verbatim reports

Second the text itself indicates at places that the speeches have been sum-marized For example Peterrsquos sermon at the temple square lasted from 3 pm

37 Te account is found in Josephus Jewish War 2261ndash63 Ant 20169ndash72 See P W Barnett ldquoTe

Jewish Sign Prophets AD 40ndash70mdashTeir Intentions and Originrdquo NS 27 (1981) 679ndash9738 Polhill Acts 455 notes that it has been suggested that a scribal error accounts for Josephusrsquos inflation

Te uncial D (4 in Greek) was accidentally replaced by aL (30 in Greek)39 C K Barrett (ldquoTe Historicity of Actsrdquo JS 50 [1999] 525) stated ldquoTe accurate accounts of the

working of Greek cities cannot prove that Lukersquos main plot is not wholly or in part fictitiousrdquo40 Fitzmyer Acts 12741 W W Gasque History of the Criticism of the Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1975)

20





to evening (see 31 43) but it only covers 17 verses No one suggests thatthese 17 verses represent the totality of the original speech

Finally in matters of literary and linguistic style Lukersquos diction is evidenteven in the speeches But the rhetorical style (ie the shape of the speeches)is suitable to the context For instance Peterrsquos Pentecost sermon reads likethat of an O prophet (214ndash36) but Stephen spoke like a Hellenistic Jew(chap 7)42 Paulrsquos speech at the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch resembles thatof a rabbi (1316ndash41) while he used the structure of a philosopher in Athens(1722ndash31)43 Tis suggests that while the speeches are not verbatim reportsneither are they ldquofree compositionsrdquo by Luke44

Nevertheless many object to this conclusion and challenge Lukersquos ac-

curacy Hemer summarized the arguments as follows (1) ancient historiansoften invented speeches to suit their purposes (2) the unity of style also sug-gests that the material was fabricated (or at least embellished) by Luke ratherthan accurately recording the actual original content of the speeches and(3) the speeches display a continuity of content that spans from speech tospeech and from speaker to speaker45 Fitzmyer modifying Schweizer iden-tified a series of elements that commonly appear in the major speeches of

Acts He proposed that these elements allowed him to characterize them asldquoLukan compositionsrdquo46 But these objections can be met by the followingrejoinders

Regarding the first objection B Witherington III noted that in the mat-ters of ancient historians and source materials ldquothere was no convention thatancient historians were free to create speechesrdquo47 Ancient historians werehighly influenced by rhetorical conventions but not to the detriment of ac-curacy so they had two concerns ldquofidelity to the truth and perfection ofstylerdquo48 Ancient historians fell into a continuum between those who elevated

42 J J Scott Jr (ldquoStephenrsquos Defense and the World Mission of the People of Godrdquo JES 21 [1978]

172) noted regarding Stephen ldquoHis speech employs literary forms ideas and emphases that suggest the

influence of a culture other than that of O Judaismrdquo Cf B Gaumlrtner Te Areopagus Speech and Natural

Revelation (Uppsala C W K Gleerup 1955) 2743 See Witherington Acts 51844 J W Bowker ldquoSpeeches in Acts A Study in Proem and Yelammedenu Formrdquo NS 14 (1967ndash68)

96ndash11145 Hemer Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History 42046 Fitzmyer Acts 107 Te list is limited to ldquoMissionary and Evangelizing Speechesrdquo (excluding apolo-

gies) and includes items such as ldquoDirect Addressrdquo and ldquoAppeal for Attentionrdquo that ostensibly any impromp-

tu speech would have as well as items such as ldquoChristological-theological Kerygmardquo47 Witherington Acts 4048 Ibid 41 citing H F North ldquoRhetoric and Historiographyrdquo Quarterly Journal of Speech 42 (1956)

242




he Book of Acts 17

oratorical style and those who were less so inclined49 Tose on the latter endof the continuum were less likely to manipulate speeches for oratorical flavorStudies in Lukersquos style show that he is no Atticizer writing in rhetorical flour-ishers but more in line with writers of serious Hellenistic history (especiallyPolybius)50 He therefore falls on the latter end of the continuum as one lessinclined to create oratorical compositions with his speeches

Witherington also noted that the speeches in Acts show some disjunction with Hellenistic historical works such as those by Tucydides o begin withthe speeches in Acts are considerably shorter which diminishes the possibilitythat Luke used a speech to impress his readers with his own oratorical skill

Also the speeches in Acts are grounded more strongly in their historical set-

ting than the speeches in Tucydidesrsquo works Finally the speeches in Acts donot comment on the events they are the evensmdashproclamations of the wordof God51

Regarding the second objection the unity of style is conceded by all Butthis can also be seen in Lukersquos Gospel when Luke cited his source Te factthat Luke stamped his sources with his own style in no way undermines theview that the speeches are summaries of what was actually said

Te third objection is based on a continuity of content across the speechessomething Hemer shows ldquois clearly not the caserdquo52 o be sure Psalm 16 iscited twice by different people as a messianic proof text but Peter was less

refined than Paul in his usage Te speeches also show a remarkable suitabil-ity to their own context For example Paul cited a Stoic philosopher (Epi-menides) when dealing with the Stoics (Acts 1728)

One should also include certain verbal affinities that point away from Lu-kan free compositions Peterrsquos speeches have certain vocabulary words thatoccur in 1 Peter One example is the use of ldquotreerdquo (Gk xylon) for the cross(see Acts 530 1039 1 Pet 224) It should also be noted that Peterrsquos outline

49 Witherington Acts 4150 Ibid 43 Polybius stated that the ldquowhole genus of orationshellipmay be regarded as summaries of events

and as the unifying element in historical writingrdquo (Hist 1225a-b see 361)51 Witherington Acts 46 Tucydides is often cited at this point by both sides of the argument He

stated ldquoAs to the speeches that were made by different men it has been difficult to recall with strict ac-

curacy the words actually spoken both for me as regard that which I myself hear and for those who from

various other sources have brought me reports Terefore the speeches are given in the language which as it

seemed to me the several speakers would express on the subjects under consideration the sentiments most

befitting the occasion though at the same time I have adhered as closely as possible to the general sense of

what was actually saidrdquo (War 122) Te troublesome issue comes when Tucydides is interpreted as saying

that he gave what his subjects ought to have said Witherington observed that he should be interpreted as

noting what it seems likely that they said (ibid 47)52 Hemer Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History 424





of the ministry of Jesus is remarkably similar to that found in the Gospelof Mark (Acts 1036ndash41 ostensibly based on Peterrsquos preaching)53 FinallyPaulrsquos ldquoMiletus speech is widely conceded to contain Pauline characteristicsrdquo(Acts 2018ndash35)54

Terefore no real reason to doubt the accuracy of Lukersquos speeches existsif these are understood as reliable summaries of real speeches Whatever re-daction Luke performed does not seem to have robbed the speeches of theirsituation in history or of the substance of what was said If then the speechesmost likely are not free compositions of Luke it is also less probable that thestoryline is invented

Te Jerusalem Council

Another important matter pertaining to Lukersquos accuracy is the reportingof the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 Not only is the event central to the theo-logical message of the book how one interprets it also bears heavily on howLuke has composed his book As Witherington observed ldquoIt raises all thekey questions of what Lukersquos relationship to Paul was what the relationshipis between Acts 15 and Galatians 2 and therefore what sort of history Lukeis writingrdquo55

A number of scholars see problems in Acts 15 Tey allege that the prob-lem of Gentile inclusion apparently was not solved after the council (as seen

in Galatians) Tey also contend that Paul never mentioned the decree lateron in the book and they object that he would not have liked it Teir solu-tion is to propose a conflation of meetings from an Antiochene source Atfirst Paul was present and in agreement with the conclusion to continue theGentile mission At a later meeting a new law was imposed on the Gentilessomething to which Paul would have never agreed56 Tus conceiving ofthe speeches as free compositions is an integral part of ldquosolvingrdquo an apparentingruity

But each of these objections is based on debatable antecedent judgmentsTe theory that the speeches were free compositions has already been cri-

tiqued Te assumption that Galatians 2 chronicles (at least in part) Acts 15is debated and unlikely as well It is more probable that Galatians 2 refers tothe famine relief visit of Acts 113057 Tus Paul did not mention the resultsof the decree in Galatians because the Jerusalem Council had not yet taken

53 W Lane Te Gospel of Mark NICN (Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1974) 10ndash1154 Hemer Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History 42555 Witherington Acts 43956 Barrett ldquoHistoricityrdquo 53057 See the discussion of the date of Galatians in chap 10 below




he Book of Acts 19

place As for the theory that the decree imposed a new law on Gentile believ-ers Blomberg noted ldquoWhen the council writes its letter to believers in An-tioch and nearby regions explaining their decision (vv 22ndash29) it concludessimply by stating lsquoyou will do well to avoid these thingsrsquo (v 29) hardly a wayto refer to mandatory legislationrdquo58 Tus a hypothetical conflation theory isnot necessary to explain the phenomenon of the Jerusalem Council

Miracles in Acts

Tere is no doubt that the most problematic area for some regarding theveracity of Acts is the miraculous elements in the book Indeed the bookfeatures some astonishing miracles such as healings of men lame from birth(31ndash10 148ndash10) Peterrsquos repeated angelic deliverances from prison (519ndash20 126ndash11 cf the violent earthquake in 1626) Philip being carried awayby the Spirit of the Lord from the Ethiopianrsquos presence (839ndash40) Paulrsquos vi-sion of the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus (93ndash9) Peter healing aparalyzed man named Aeneas (933ndash34) Peter raising Dorcas from the dead(936ndash41) visions by Cornelius and Peter (103ndash16) Paul striking Elymasthe sorcerer with blindness (139ndash11) God speaking directly to Paul in hisMacedonian vision in Corinth and in Jerusalem (169ndash10 189ndash10 2311)and Paul raising young Eutychus from the dead (208ndash12) Perhaps amongthe more astonishing feats recorded is the following ldquoGod was performinhg

extraordinary miracles by Paulrsquos hands so that even facecloths or work apronsthat had touched his skin were brought to the sick and the diseases left themand the evil spirits came out of themrdquo (1911ndash12 see also 512ndash16)

Are these accounts of astonishing miracles performed by the apostles andother supernatural manifestations credible or should these be regarded asreflections of an outmoded superstitious frame of mind o some the ex-istence of these references as part of a historical narrative is unacceptableBut the heart of the issue is not historical it is a matter of philosophical andtheological presuppositions59 Tose who reject divine intervention rejectthe veracity of the miracles those who accept divine intervention have no

problems with these events Te more moderate commentators leave themin the category of ldquounprovablerdquo It should be affirmed however that in lightof Lukersquos proven credibility elsewhere there seems to be no good reason todoubt his reliability with regard to the supernatural events mentioned above

58 Blomberg From Pentecost to Patmos 5359 See the discussion of Philosophical Foundations of Modern Gospels Study in chap 3 above (includ-

ing bibliographic references) Cf ldquoChapter 3 Miraclesrdquo in C L Blomberg Te Historical Reliability of the

Gospels 2d ed (Downers Grove InterVarsity 2007)





especially since post-Enlightenment skepticism regarding the possibility ofmiracles and Godrsquos supernatural intervention in human affairs has itself beenshown to be of doubtful merit

Conclusion

Ultimately there is no substantial reason to doubt Lukersquos accuracy on em-pirical grounds Where sources are available Lukersquos information is shown tobe reliable Unlike in his Gospel where Luke relied on the account of eyewit-nesses (Luke 13) Luke himself was an eyewitness to a substantial part ofPaulrsquos missionary travels in the book of Acts Tis assumes that the ldquowe pas-sagesrdquo indicate Lukersquos participation in these portions of the narrative In lightof Lukersquos proven reliability where this is borne out by the available sourcesit seems reasonable to hold him innocent until proven guilty where his in-formation cannot be currently corroborated by extant extrabiblical material

As W Ramsay stated ldquoYou may press the words of Luke in a degree beyondany other historianrsquos and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardesttreatment provided always that the critic knows the subject and does not gobeyond the limits of science and justicerdquo60

HE SOURCES OF ACS

Arising from the scholarly quests for the historical Jesus where everythingmust have a written source of some kind Lukersquos sources for writing Acts havebeen a field of inquiry as well61 Tis kind of procedure is the next logicalstep once one rejects the notion that the writer was a follower of Paul Hy-pothetical sources include a ldquoJerusalem A and B sourcerdquo62 ldquoan AntiocheneSourcerdquo63 and a ldquotravel diaryitineraryrdquo64 Haenchen left open the possibil-ity that Luke traveled to the great Pauline centers gathering information from

60 W Ramsay Te Bearing of Recent Discovery on the rustworthiness of the New estament (London

Hodder amp Stoughton 1915) 8961 Eg F Schleiermacher Einleitung ins Neue estament in Friedrich Schleiermacherrsquos Saumlmtliche Werke

ed G Wolde div 1 vol 8 (Berlin Reimer 1834ndash1864) 360 According to Meyer Schleiermacher heldthat Luke simply strung together other written documents See H A W Meyer Critical and Exegetical

Handbook to the Acts of the Apostles 2d ed trans P J Gloag (New York Funk amp Wagnalls 1889) 962 Harnack Acts of the Apostles 162 Harnack based this on apparent doublets in the narrative in Acts

1ndash15 that is two Petrine sermons two arrests two defenses before the Sanhedrin two estimates of con-

verts and two accounts of the community sharing all things But Bruce showed that this is unnecessary

( Acts 23)63 R E Brown ( An Introduction to the New estament [New York Doubleday 1997] 317) contended

that today this source is probably the most widely held64 Dibelius Studies in the Acts of the Apostles 126 Dibeliusrsquos work largely ended the quest for solely

written sources for Acts preferring to describe Luke as a creative author (Neil Acts 24)




he Book of Acts 21

local sources65 Fitzmyer is representative of much of mainstream scholarshipon the issue He posited a Palestinian source (generally chronicling Peterrsquos ac-tivities) an Antiochene source (Stephen Gentile inclusion issues the Disper-sion and the Jerusalem Council) a ldquowerdquo sections source and a Pauline source(encompassing Paulrsquos conversion and activities)66 Much of this is conjecturebased on the research of someonemdashnot a follower of Paulmdashwho wrote a gen-eration after the death of Paul a theory critiqued above

So what kind of sources can be postulated for Acts Acts 16ndash28 is domi-nated by the ldquowerdquo passages and this is best explained as discussed above underthe authorship of the Gospel of Luke Tis section reflects either (1) the remi-niscences of the author or (2) a diary of sorts of the author Te greater de-

tails in the latter part of the book point to recent events and more than likelyto the first option67 For the events outside of the ldquowerdquo passages in the secondhalf of Acts one needs to look no further than Lukersquos personal acquaintance

with Paul himself68Te question remains concerning Lukersquos sources for Acts 1ndash15 when he

was not present at the events Hemer in a rather extensive look at how Luketreated his sources concluded regarding Acts that ldquoLuke obtained parts ofhis material by interviewing participants and that he sometimes edited oldertraditions by re-interviewing such surviving participants as may have beenaccessible to him and that this process accounts for some of the significant

lsquoL-nuancesrsquo in the Tird Gospelrdquo69Hemer further suggested that a close connection to Peter (such as a per-

sonal interview) can be sustained so that Luke was not necessarily dependenton second-hand sources70 Tis then would coincide with Lukersquos declara-tion of his sources in the preface to Luke (Luke 11ndash4) some written sources(see Acts 1523ndash29 2325ndash37) eyewitness testimony and personal investiga-tion Lukersquos extensive travels would have allowed for sufficient opportunitiesto make contact with individuals who could supply him with informationregarding events in which he was not personally involved

65

Haenchen Acts 8666 Fitzmyer Acts 85ndash8867 See the discussion of the authorship of Lukersquos Gospel in chap 6 above68 Since he was strongly connected to the Sanhedrin Paul could even have been the source for speeches

and events at which it was impossible for Luke or the early Christians to be present such as the speech of

Gamaliel given to the Sanhedrin (Acts 535ndash39) or Stephenrsquos speech and stoning (Acts 7)69 Hemer Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History 351 Cf S J Kistemakerrsquos treatment that

shows that Peter and Paul spoke in terms familiar to the Peter and Paul known outside of Acts but not

available to Luke at the time of writing ( An Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles [Grand Rapids Baker

2002] 9ndash12)70 Hemer Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History 356ndash62








he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN

As stated above and as widely agreed upon the basic blueprint of Actsis given at Acts 18 ldquoBut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit hascome upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem in all Judea andSamaria and to the ends of the earthrdquo Te rest of the book shows the fulfill-ment of Jesusrsquo command and the unfolding of Godrsquos plan from the church in

Jerusalem and Judea (11ndash67) to Samaria (68ndash931) and to the ends of theearth (93ndash2831)71 Luke took pains to show that the expansion of Christi-anity was at Godrsquos direction including the Gentiles while at the same timecontinuing salvation ldquoto the Jews firstrdquo

At the heart of the book is the Jerusalem Council (chap 15) where the

church regulated the inclusion of the Gentiles in the rapidly growing Chris-tian movement Paulrsquos ministry is presented through three missionary jour-neys (one before and two after the Jerusalem Council) Similar to Lukersquos Gos-pel where the extended ldquoLukan ravel Narrativerdquo shows Jesus on his way to

Jerusalem the action slows down during the last quarter of the book of Actsas Paul made his way to trial in Rome Unlike Lukersquos Gospelmdashwhere Jesus isarrested tried and crucified and on the third day rises from the deadmdashActsends on an inconclusive note with Paul still awaiting trial in Rome72

Table 82 Alternate Structural Proposals for Acts

F F Bruce D L Bock I Birth of the Church (11ndash542) I Ascension and Commission (11ndash11)

II Persecution amp Expansion (61ndash931) II Early Church in Jerusalem (112ndash67)

III Beginnings of Gentile Christianity(932ndash1224)

III Judea and Samaria (68ndash931)

IV Extension from Antioch (1225ndash1535) IV Gospel to the Gentiles (932ndash1225)

V Movement to the Aegean World V From Antioch to Gentiles (131ndash1535)

(1536ndash1920)

VI Paul ravels to Rome (1921ndash2831) VI Expansion to Greece (1536ndash1823)VII Arrest amp rip to Rome (2117ndash2831)

71 Commentators outline the book in slightly different ways able 82 reproduces in simplified form

the outlines by Bruce Acts viindashxiv and D L Bock Acts BECN (Grand Rapids Baker 2007) viindashviii

For other outlines see Marshall Acts 51ndash54 J R W Stott Te Spirit the Church and the World Te Mes-

sage of Acts (Downers Grove InterVarsity 1990) 3ndash4 and Larkin Acts 34ndash3672 A few of the headings in the outline below are borrowed from the useful book by H A Kent Jr

Jerusalem to Rome Studies in Acts (Grand Rapids Baker 1972) 7





OULINE

I FOUNDAIONS FOR HE CHURCH AND IS MISSION 98308011991251247983081 A Preface (11ndash5)

B Jerusalem Waiting for the Spirit (16ndash26) 1 Te Ascension of Jesus (16ndash14) 2 Te Choice of a welfth Apostle (115ndash26)

C Pentecost Te Church is Born (21ndash47) 1 Te Event Te Exalted Jesus Sends the Spirit (21ndash4)

2 Te Evidence of the Spiritrsquos Coming Foreign Languages (25ndash13) 3 Te Explanation Peterrsquos Message (214ndash40) 4 Te Expansion Te Growth of the Early Church (241ndash47)

II HE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM 9830803199125167983081

A A Miracle and its Aftermath (31ndash431) 1 Te Miracle (31ndash10) 2 Te Aftermath Peter and Johnrsquos Arrest and Bold Witness (45ndash31) B rouble Within and Without (432ndash67)

1 Te Sharing of Property in the Early Church Good Example(432ndash37)

2 Te Sharing of Property in the Early Church Bad Example (51ndash11) 3 Further Growth in Numbers and Geographical Extension (512ndash17) 4 Another Arrest (518ndash42)

5 Serving the Hellenistsrsquo Widows Potential Conflict Avoided (61ndash7)

III WIDER HORIZONS FOR HE CHURCH SEPHEN SAMARIA ANDSAUL 98308068991251931983081

A Suffering One of the Servants Arrested and Martyred (68ndash760)

1 Te Charges against Stephen (68ndash15) 2 Stephenrsquos Defense (71ndash53)

3 Stephenrsquos Martyrdom (754ndash60) B Palestine and Syria Philip Saul and Peter (81ndash931) 1 Saul the Persecutor (81ndash3)

2 Te Gospel Spreads to Samaria through Philip (84ndash25) 3 Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (826ndash40) 4 Saulrsquos Conversion (91ndash19a)

5 Saulrsquos Post-conversion Days (919bndash30) D Summary Judea Galilee and Samaria (931)

IV PEER AND HE FIRS GENILE CONVER 9830809329912511224983081 A Te Proof of Gentile Conversion (932ndash1118)

B Gentile Conversion in Antioch and the Return of Paul (1119ndash26) C Events in Jerusalem (1127ndash1224)

V PAUL URNS O HE GENILES 9830801225991251165983081 A First Missionary Journey (1225ndash1428)




he Book of Acts 25

1 Syrian Antioch Sent out (131ndash3)

2 Cyprus Proconsul Sergius Paulus Believes (134ndash12) 3 Pisidian Antioch Gentiles Believe Despite Jews (1313ndash52) 4 South Galatia Iconium Derbe Lystra (141ndash23)

5 Return to Syrian Antioch (1424ndash28) B Jerusalem Council (151ndash35)

1 Setting (151ndash4) 2 Apostles and Elders Convene (155ndash6) 3 Reports by Peter Paul and Barnabas (157ndash12)

4 Jamesrsquo Response on behalf of Jerusalem Church (1513ndash21) 5 Te Councilrsquos Decree (1522ndash29) 6 Return to Syrian Antioch (1530ndash35)

C Second Missionary Journey Begins (1536ndash165) 1 Paul and Barnabas Separate (1536ndash41)

2 Paul and Silas Deliver Decisions of Jerusalem Council ake imothy(161ndash5)

VI FURHER PENERAION INO HE GENILE WORLD 9830801669912511920983081 A Second Missionary Journey (166ndash1822) 1 Paulrsquos Vision of the Man of Macedonia Ministry in Philippi

(166ndash40) 2 Ministry in Tessalonica (171ndash9) 3 Ministry in Berea (1710ndash15)

4 Ministry in Athens (1716ndash34) 5 Ministry in Corinth (181ndash17)

6 Return rip (1818ndash22) B Tird Missionary Journey (1823ndash1920) 1 Apollos Instructed by Priscilla and Aquila (1823ndash28)

2 Apollos Goes to Corinth Paul Ministers in Ephesus (191ndash20)

VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

A From Ephesus to Jerusalem (1921ndash2116) 1 Ephesus Opposition by Demetrius (1921ndash41)

2 Paulrsquos Journey to Macedonia and Greece Seven Days in roas(201ndash13)

3 From roas to Miletus (2014ndash16) 4 Farewell to Ephesian Elders (2017ndash38) 5 Paulrsquos Journey to Jerusalem (211ndash16) B Paulrsquos Final Visit to Jerusalem and His Removal to Caesarea (2117ndash2335)

1 Paulrsquos Visit with James and the Elders (2117ndash26) 2 Paul Arrested at the emple (2127ndash40)

3 Paulrsquos Defense (221ndash29) 4 Paul before the Sanhedrin (2230ndash2311)





5 Paulrsquos Removal to Caesarea (2312ndash35)

C Paulrsquos Defenses before Felix Festus and Agrippa (241ndash2632) 1 Te Jewsrsquo Charges against Paul (241ndash9) 2 Paulrsquos Defense before Felix (2410ndash27)

3 Paulrsquos Defense before Festus and his Appeal to Caesar (251ndash12) 4 Paul before Agrippa Charges Specified (2513ndash2632)

D Paulrsquos rip to Rome (271ndash2831) 1 Sea Voyage and Shipwreck on Malta (271ndash2814) 2 Paul Preaches the Gospel Openly in Rome (2815ndash31)

UNI983085BY983085UNI DISCUSSION

I Foundations for the Church and Its Mission (11ndash241) A Preface (11ndash5)

Te book of Acts opens by referring to the ldquofirst narrativerdquo Lukersquos Gospel which narrated that which Jesus began to do and teach By implication Actsthe sequel sets forth the continuation of Godrsquos plan by recording what Jesuscontinued to do and teach through the Holy Spirit and the apostolic churchTe resurrected Jesus reminded the disciples of the promised Holy Spirit andcommanded them to wait for his imminent coming in Jerusalem

B Jerusalem Waiting for the Spirit (16ndash26)

Te disciples asked when Jesus would establish his kingdom but Jesus justtold them that they would be his Spirit-empowered witnesses A period of

waiting and praying followed as the early believers prepared for the comingof the Spirit (16ndash14)

Acts 115ndash26 shows the replacement of Judas by the Eleven After settingthe ground rules Matthias was selected by lot It is a matter of debate whetheror not Matthiasrsquo selection was approved by God73 However on balancesince Luke includes this narrative without any negative comment the action

was most likely appropriate

73 Te following concerns can be raised (1) Jesusrsquo command was for the apostles to wait until the giv-

ing of the Spirit Peterrsquos initiative to replace Judas appears to violate that command (2) casting lots is an

O mode of decision-making hardly normative for N times (3) Matthias is not heard of again in the

narrative of Acts subsequent to his selection (4) instead Luke narrated Christrsquos selection of Paul in Acts 9

apparently as the twelfth apostle and replacement of Judas (though this point is not explicitly made) (5)

Peter and the other apostles did not possess the Holy Spirit at this point prior to the giving of the Spirit

at Pentecost (6) Peterrsquos quotation of two O passages in Acts 220 is somewhat doubtful proof of the

disciplesrsquo need to choose a replacement for Judas




he Book of Acts 27

C Pentecost Te Church Is Born (21ndash47)

When the day of Pentecost arrived the gathered disciples experienced thecoming of the Holy Spirit (21ndash13) which took place in fulfillment of Jesusrsquopromise (see 18) Because devout Jews from every nation were present allIsrael was represented Tese worshipers heard the word of God in their ownlanguages and witnessed the power of the Spirit a sign of the end times Inthis way the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost highlights the worldwide im-plications of the gospel reversing the confusion of languages that ensued atthe tower of Babel incident (Gen 111ndash9)

Peter explained the significance of the events that had transpired (214ndash40) In essence the logic of Peterrsquos address is as follows (1) the Spirit had now

been poured out (2) Jesus predicted that this would occur once he had beenexalted with God subsequent to his ascension (Luke 2449 see Acts 18ndash9)(3) hence the coming of the Spirit proved that Jesus had now been exaltedldquoTerefore since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has re-ceived from the Father the promised Holy Spirit he has poured out what youboth see and hearrdquo (233)

Peter quoted the prophecy of Joel 228ndash32 to explain that this was thepromised coming of the Holy Spirit (214ndash21) Te last line of Joelrsquos proph-ecy ldquothen whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be savedrdquo transitionsinto Peterrsquos evangelistic appeal (222ndash36) He concluded with a call to repen-

tance (237ndash40) with the result that 3000 were converted Te citation of Joel 228ndash32 can be compared to the citation of Isa 611ndash2 in Luke 418ndash19in that it sets the stage for the rest of the book by narrating the coming of theSpirit to all those who called on the name of the Lord

Luke concluded his account of these preliminary events with the first ofseveral summaries that mark the transitions (241ndash47) Te church devoteditself to the apostlesrsquo teaching (the standard of doctrinal orthodoxy prior tothe formation of the N) to fellowship to the breaking of bread (ie cel-ebrating the Lordrsquos Supper) and to prayers (note the plural in the originalGreek which may suggest set prayers) Many miraculous signs and wonders

were performed by the apostles Te believers shared everything in common worshiped God in gladness and continually grew in numbers

II Te Church in Jerusalem (31ndash67)

Subsequent to the foundational narrative of the ascension of Jesus and thecoming of the Spirit in the first two chapters this unit presents the establish-ment of the church in Jerusalem stage one of the three-part expansion of thegospel predicted by the risen Jesus at the beginning of the book of Acts (18)





At this early juncture the church is wholly Jewish and expanding rapidly which is further underscored by the reference to a number of priests comingto the faith which concludes this section (67) Jesusrsquo promise that his follow-ers would be witnesses in Jerusalem was powerfully fulfilled

A A Miracle and Its Aftermath (31ndash431)

God performed a remarkable miracle through Peter who was on his wayto the hour of prayer in the temple (31ndash10) When approached for moneyby a man born lame Peter healed the man whose great rejoicing drew a largecrowd Peterrsquos ensuing speech at the temple (313ndash26) charged the people

with putting Jesus to death but acknowledged that they had done so out ofignorance Peter told the crowd that they would experience ldquotimes of refresh-ingrdquo if they repented and followed Jesus

At this Peter and John were seized by the Jewish leaders (41ndash4) Tis gavePeter the opportunity to extend a similar message to the Sanhedrin albeit

without an appeal to repent Subsequently Peter and John were released withorders to stop talking about Jesus (45ndash22) Upon their return to the com-munity of believers the place was shaken and the believers were all filled withthe Holy Spirit to ldquospeak Godrsquos message with boldnessrdquo (431)

B rouble Within and Without (432ndash67)

Tis section of Acts shows the nature of the new community and the

lengths to which God was prepared to go to protect her purity Barnabasfirst mentioned here sold a piece of property and donated the proceeds tothe church (432ndash37) Tis spurred a couple in the church Ananias and Sap-phira to do the same but to keep back a portion for themselves By itself this

was unobjectionable but lying about it in order to increase onersquos stature wasan affront to God Te couple was severely judged first Ananias and then his

wife were struck dead on the spot (51ndash11) As a result great fear came uponthe church

Undaunted the apostles preached continually in the temple boldly heal-ing in Jesusrsquo name (512ndash16) Once more the apostles were arrested but freedby an angel who told them to go on so they could ldquotell the people all aboutthis liferdquo (520) When arrested again and forbidden to preach about Jesusthe apostles retorted ldquoWe must obey God rather than peoplerdquo (529) Ga-malielrsquos advice to his fellow Sanhedrin members was to wait and see If thismovement was not from God it would fail as other movements had done inthe past After receiving a flogging the apostles returned joyfully to preaching




he Book of Acts 29

the word in direct disobedience to the Sanhedrin (540) but in obedience toGod

Te section is rounded out by a return to the community life of the youngchurch A potential crisis was averted by the churchrsquos selection of seven quali-fied Spirit-filled men to meet the needs of a group of Hellenistic widows(61ndash7) Stephen the main character of chap 7 is introduced as a man full offaith and the Holy Spirit Luke summarized the state of the church by high-lighting the effective witness borne in Jerusalem In particular Luke notedthat even a large number of priests came to the faith (67)

III Wider Horizons for the Church Stephen Samaria and Saul(68ndash931)

A Suffering One of the Servants Arrested and Martyred (Acts68ndash760)

Stephen introduced in the previous section was falsely accused of speak-ing against ldquoMoses and Godrdquo before the Sanhedrin by those of the ldquoSyna-gogue of the Freedmenrdquo (68ndash15) Stephenrsquos defense (chap 7) shows howthroughout Israelrsquos history the nation opposed Godrsquos plan Joseph was soldinto slavery Mosesrsquo leadership was rejected and the people worshipped idolsIn a sense this unit serves as the completion of the last section in its emphasison Jewish responsibility Stephenrsquos martyrdom and vision led to the events

that are narrated in the following chapters

B Palestine and Syria Philip Saul and Peter (81ndash931)

Stephenrsquos death sparked a period of great persecution for the church Saul who had played a major role in Stephenrsquos stoning was ravaging the church(81ndash3) Te believers except for the apostles were scattered throughout thesurrounding regions which resulted in the extension of the gospel beyond

Judea to Samaria in fulfillment of Jesusrsquo mandate (see 18)Philip one of the seven (65) performed signs in Samaria and preached

Christ to the Samaritans (84ndash8) However the Samaritans did not receive

the Spirit upon salvation until Peter and John representing the apostlescame and laid hands on the Samaritan believers Tis served to authenticateGodrsquos work among them In the process Simon the sorcerer who sought topurchase the power of the Holy Spirit from Peter for money was rebuked(89ndash25)

Subsequently Philip again at the direction of the Holy Spirit encoun-tered a court official for Candace the queen of Ethiopia and led him toChrist (826ndash38) Although Gentile by birth he was probably a proselyte





(God-fearer) Te Holy Spirit miraculously transported Philip to Azotus where he evangelized the coastal regions all the way to Caesarea (839ndash40)Te gospel then moved throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria

Te final chapter in this section records the conversion of Saul in prepara-tion for the Gentile mission (91ndash31) While on the road to Damascus to per-secute Christians Saul encountered the risen Christ and was converted Tismarks a momentous occasion in the mission of the early church Te majoropponent of Christianity became the greatest protagonist of the churchrsquos mis-sion and he would take the gospel to the ldquoends of the earthrdquo

o Ananias a disciple charged with ministering to Saul Jesus describedSaul as his ldquochosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles kings and

the sons of Israelrdquo (915) Although first met with skepticism Saul preachedthe gospel powerfully in Damascus Later the Jerusalem church received himat the intercession of Barnabas Saul preached boldly in the name of Jesusuntil an assassination attempt forced the brothers to take him to arsus viaCaesarea

Luke concluded this section with a summary that includes a reference tothe church enjoying a period of peace and increase in numbers Tus Lukechronicled the plan of God as expressed in 18 taking the gospel through

Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria His next step was to provide a clear dem-onstration that Gentiles can be saved without converting to Judaism first and

this is the subject of the next two major sections

IV Peter and the First Gentile Convert (932ndash1224)

A Te Proof of Gentile Conversion (932ndash1118)

Peter apparently had an itinerant ministry in Palestine Te healing of Aeneas the paralytic in Lydda led to raising Dorcas in Joppa (932ndash43) Italso set up the account of the encounter with the Roman centurion Corne-lius (chap 10) While in Joppa Peter received a vision which impressed onhim that he should not consider anyone ldquouncleanrdquo (109ndash29) MeanwhileCornelius received a vision to call for Peter in Joppa When Cornelius be-lieved Peter was convinced that God had accepted a Gentile into the church(1024ndash48) Peter in turn convinced skeptics among the Jewish Christianthat Corneliusrsquo conversion was genuine (111ndash18)

B Gentile Conversion in Antioch and the Return of Paul(1119ndash26)

Tose scattered because of the persecution of Stephen reached Syrian An-tioch preaching only to Jews But men from Cyprus and Cyrene preached to




he Book of Acts 31

the Gentiles (the term ldquoHellenistsrdquo means ldquospeakers of Greekrdquo which refersto Gentiles) Te Lord was with them and a large number was convertedBarnabas was sent to investigate observed the genuineness of the conversionand sought out Saul in arsus teaching daily for the period of a year Alsobelievers were first called ldquoChristiansrdquo in Antioch

C Events in Jerusalem (1127ndash1224)

Te events in Jerusalem are sandwiched between references to Saul andBarnabasrsquo relief mission in response to a famine (1127ndash30 1225) indicat-ing not only the solidarity the new Gentile believers had with the Jerusalemchurch but also that God was still moving among the Jews

Peterrsquos miraculous release apparently so infuriated Herod Agrippa I that when he could not find Peter he executed the guards and left town74 Hav-ing given an oration and received the adoration of men as a god Herod wasldquoinfected with worms and diedrdquo (121ndash23)

Another Lukan summary statement concludes the section noting that the word of God continued to spread Barnabas and Saul returned to Antiochfrom their mission to Jerusalem accompanied by John Mark who wouldlater go with them on the first part of their first missionary journey and laterstill write the Second Gospel

V Paul urns to the Gentiles (131-165)

Luke has described the progress of the gospel geographically through Pal-estine and parts of Syria and racially or religiously from Jews to proselytesGod-fearers and Gentiles His agenda here was to describe the Lordrsquos work ofsending the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth At each stage progress

was achievhed through the work of God and not human efforts

A First Missionary Journey (131ndash1428)

Te gospelrsquos penetration into the Gentile world began with a specific callby the Holy Spirit through the prophets at Antioch to separate Barnabas andSaul for the missionary enterprise Ironically what Saul prior to his conver-

sion sought to prevent by persecuting Christians in Damascus (also in Syria)he now actively brings about the spread of the gospel to Syria and beyondOnce commissioned they began their journey at Barnabasrsquos home on the is-land of Cyprus (134 see 426) Paul blinded Elymas the sorcerer because heldquoopposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faithrdquo (138)But the proconsul Sergius Paulus was converted

74 Tis is implied by the force of the word ldquoandrdquo (kai ) in v 19





Paul and Barnabas then traveled through Pisidian Antioch and 1316ndash41details Paulrsquos sermon in the local synagogue Te Jews and proselytes beggedPaul to preach again the next Sabbath and the ensuing crowds sparked jeal-ousy and derision from the members of the synagogue Paul then turnedto the Gentiles and the gospel spread throughout the area But the Jewsinstigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas expelling them from theregion Tis then forms the pattern throughout the first journey synagoguereception rejection persecution

Te results in Iconium were very similar to Pisidian Antioch (141ndash7)Paul preached in the synagogue and then suffered persecution At LystraBarnabas and Paul were met with a warm reception that almost turned to

idolatry after the healing of a man who had been lame from birth But the Jews from Iconium and Antioch swayed the crowds to stone Paul and theyleft him for dead Paul then evangelized Derbe (148ndash20) and made a returntrip through Derbe Iconium and Lystra establishing elders in every churchon his way to Antioch in Syria (1421ndash28)

B Jerusalem Council (151ndash35)

Te Jerusalem Council is a pivotal event for the Gentile mission Tequestion of Gentile converts is settled by this special meeting of the apostlesand elders in Jerusalem Te issue was whether Gentiles had to become Jewish

proselytes before they could become Christians (see 151 5) Te issue wassettled by the testimonies of Peter Paul and Barnabas and ultimately Jamesadjudicated the matter by citing Amos 911 At the conclusion of the meet-ing a letter was sent (see 1523ndash29) that encouraged the Gentiles to abstainfrom things particularly repulsive to Jews (1520 29)

C Second Missionary Journey Begins (1536ndash165)

raditionally 1536 has been seen as marking the beginning of Paulrsquos sec-ond missionary journey Tis journey is presented in terms of encouragingthe church in Syrian Antioch and the young churches planted during thefirst journey Te letter mentioned in the previous section was taken to thechurches of South Galatia Silas replaced Barnabas after Barnabas and Pauldisagreed on whether to take John Mark with them Paul said no beause ofMarkrsquos desertion early in the first missionary journey Buut Barnabas wantedto give his nephew another chance so they parted company While in Lystraimothy was highly recommended by the churches and joined Paul and SilasTe section concludes with a summary that notes the growth and encourage-ment of the churches




he Book of Acts 33

VI Further Penetration into the Gentile World (166ndash1920)

A Second Missionary Journey (166ndash1822)Like every genuine new movement of the gospel into new lands or people

groups God is the one who instigated the irresistible spread of the gospel inthe mission of the early church Paulrsquos plan was to continue through Asia Mi-nor but the Spirit prevented him from doing so When he had a dream abouta Macedonian calling him for help he proceeded to go there ldquoconcludingthat God had called us to evangelize themrdquo (1610)

Paulrsquos first stop after crossing the Hellespont was Philippi where the firstldquowe sectionrdquo occurs (starting in 1610) Paulrsquos pattern consistent with Godrsquossalvation-historical plan was to begin with the Jewish residents of a given cityor region and then turn to the Gentiles Te first convert to the Christiangospel in Europe was Lydia a merchant selling an expensive purple cloth

Te confrontation with a demon-possessed young woman led to a painfulbut fruitful encounter with the magistrates of the city Paul and his compan-ions were jailed but found this incident to be a platform for the gospel Te

jailer was converted and the magistrates offered to release Paul But Paulappealing to his Roman citizenship would not let the magistrates beat himand his associates in public and then release them secretly Paul demandedand received a public apology but he and his coworkers were urged to leave

townIn Tessalonica Paul stayed consistent in following the pattern ldquoto the Jew first and also to the Gentilerdquo (see 172 ldquoas usualrdquo) Preaching in thesynagogue for at least three Sabbaths Paul showed people from the Scripturesldquothat the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the deadrdquo and that that Messiah

was Jesus (173) When Gentiles came to Christ in large numbers the Jewsbecame jealous and hired scoundrels to persecute the believers When this

was brought to the attention of the magistrates they fined Paulrsquos host whilePaul and the missionary team departed for Berea After early success the Jewsfrom Tessalonica followed them to Berea and stirred up more violence until

Paul was forced to go to Athens Athens a major intellectual center provided Paul with a great challenge in

his missionary preaching He found the city full of idols and reasoned withEpicurean and Stoic philosophers who considered the apostle a ldquopseudo-in-tellectualrdquo (literally a ldquoseed pickerrdquo that is one who picks up scraps 1718)Some thought Paul spoke of ldquoforeign deitiesrdquo because the proclaimed Jesusand the resurrection (1718) Paul began his address by referring to an altar hehad observed that bore the inscription ldquoo an unknown Godrdquo (1723) From





this Paul declared the good news of Jesus and his resurrection from the deadSome ridiculed Paul but a few believed among them Dionysius the Areopa-gie and a woman named Damaris (1734) On the whole Paul met with lesspositive response than at other occasions in his missionary preaching

Te next stop was Corinth where Paul met with Aquila and Priscilla Jew-ish Christians recently expelled from Rome Again Paul reasoned in the syna-gogues When the people there steadfastly resisted Paul turned to the Gen-tiles Crispus the leader of the synagogue was converted along with manyCorinthians Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months Ultimately the conflict

with the Jews ended up with Paul standing before the Roman proconsul Gal-lio who decided he had no jurisdiction in Jewish religious matters Paul then

left for Syria via EphesusB Tird Missionary Journey (1823ndash1920)

Although from here on Paul traveled to Jerusalem and on to Antioch thefocus is on Ephesus When Paul left Corinth he briefly went to Ephesus

After preaching in the synagogue Paul was asked to stay longer but declinedsaying ldquoIrsquoll come back to you again if God willsrdquo (1821) His return oc-curred two verses later In the meantime he traveled to Caesarea Jerusalem

Antioch and back visiting some of the churches of the first journey andthen arrived back in Ephesus In Ephesus Paul encountered a residual John

the Baptist movement (1824ndash197) engaged in some initial missionary work(198ndash10) and performed extraordinary acts of ministry (1911ndash20)

VII On to Rome (1921ndash2831)

A From Ephesus to Jerusalem (1921ndash2116)

Paul planned to go to Rome after visiting Macedonia Achaia and Jerusa-lem and this itinerary dominates the concluding section of the book Paulrsquoslater vision (see 2311) reinforces this plan and Rome is the target on thehorizon throughout this last section of the book Before Paul departed fromEphesus however there was a strong pagan uprising Once again the Chris-

tians brought before the crowd were shown to be innocent of the chargesbrought against them Paul traveled through Macedonia and Greece and setsail for Miletus Tere he met with the Ephesian elders and gave them farewellinstructions Te final unit of this section (211ndash16) marks the beginning ofPaulrsquos last journey before his arrest and at every stop he was warned aboutdifficulties awaiting him in Jerusalem




he Book of Acts 35

B Arrival Unrest and Arrest in Jerusalem (2117ndash2335)

Upon arriving in Jerusalem Paul was invited to pay for a Jewish vow toalleviate suspicion among the Jewish believers But a charge from Jews of AsiaMinor that Paul brought a Gentile into the temple created a riot Paul wasseized by the Roman soldiers garrisoned at the fortress of Antonia (Ironicallythe false charge that Paul brought a Gentile into the temple caused Gentilesto enter the temple to rescue Paul)

C Paulrsquos Defenses before Felix Festus and Agrippa(241ndash2632)

After being allowed to give his defense before the crowd Paul over a peri-od of at least two years was brought before Felix (241ndash2632) Porcius Festus

(241ndash12) and Agrippa (2513ndash27) Paulrsquos appeal to Caesar necessitated thetrip to Rome even though Paul was declared innocent of the charges at eachinterrogation (261ndash32)

D Paulrsquos rip to Rome (271ndash2831)

Te actual seafaring journey comprises almost two thirds of the final twochapters of the book Just as God had been the major impetus behind thechurchrsquos missionary expansion he was also the driving force on the journeyto Rome While Paul was not in control of his movements neither were theRomans Godrsquos providence is clearly accentuated through this final section

of the book It ultimately brought Paul to Rome and proved God powerfulthroughout the journey

When Paul arrived in Rome he followed the pattern set throughout hisministry and met with the Jews first with moderate success Regarding those

who rejected the message Paul cited Isa 69ndash10 in order to show that therejection of the Jews was not unexpected After this the Gentiles were invitedto trust in Christ Tus Luke concluded the book with Paul under housearrest in Rome yet preaching unhindered to all who would hear Jews andGentiles alike

HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History

Lukersquos organizing principle is best described as ldquosalvation historyrdquo His in-tent throughout Luke-Acts was to narrate the unfolding of Godrsquos salvation





plan75 Tis of course was impacted by the identification of the genre of Acts as historiography and the nature of Acts as being a sequel to Luke In de-scribing this approach one must avoid importing all the negative conclusionsreached by proponents of Heilsgeschichte (German for ldquosalvation historyrdquo)to the interpretation of Luke-Acts For Luke focusing on salvation history

was not a necessary correction to an embarrassing delay in the apocalyptic ex-pectation within the lifetime of the early disciples76 Rather Luke presentedGodrsquos plan throughout history as one that brings about individual redemp-tion through Jesus Christ Tis redemption in the fullness of time was an-nounced and offered through the proclamation of this historical event thatis the gospel77 As Koumlstenberger and OrsquoBrien observed ldquoLukersquos Gospel tells

the story of Jesus and his salvation while the book of Acts traces the move-ment of that salvation to the Gentilesrdquo78

One of the more prominent themes throughout the book of Acts is thesovereignty of God in moving the gospel out of Palestine and ldquoto the ends ofthe earthrdquo (18) Tis can be seen in a variety of ways o begin with Luke

was clearly interested in the fulfillment of Scripture Te vast majority of theO quotations occur in the evangelistic speeches in Jewish contexts (see es-pecially Peterrsquos appeals in 214ndash36 and 312ndash26 Stephenrsquos speech in 72ndash53and Paulrsquos address in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch in 1316ndash41)79 InGentile contexts (eg 1722ndash31) this was a less effective appeal but among

those who hold to the inspiration of the orah it was quite successful Tefulfillment of the O was essential to the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch(830ndash35) Beyond these specific instances there are also unspecified appealsin Acts to the fulfillment of the O that point to Godrsquos activity in sendingChrist (eg Peter speaks of what ldquoall the prophets testifyrdquo 318 24 1043cf the summaries of Paulrsquos preaching in 173 2414 2622 and of Apollosrsquospreaching in 1828) Tus the message to Israel is ldquoYour Messiah has comeaccording to the Scripturesrdquo

Tis fulfillment of Godrsquos desire is seen in the continued emphasis on Godrsquosplan Te ldquodivine mustrdquo (dei) is a continued phenomenon from Lukersquos Gos-

75 See the essays in ldquoPart I Te Salvation of Godrdquo in Witness to the Gospel Te Teology of Acts eds

I H Marshall and D Peterson (Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1998) D Peterson (ibid 523) speaks of the

ldquocentrality of salvation theologyrdquo in Luke-Acts76 As proposed by H Conzelmann Te Teology of St Luke (Philadelphia Fortress 1961) 137ndash6977 See F Tielman Teology of the New estament A Canonical and Synthetic Approach (Grand Rapids

Zondervan 2005) 113ndash1478 A J Koumlstenberger and P OrsquoBrien Salvation to the Ends of the Earth NSB 11 (Downers Grove

InterVarsity 2001) 15779 All but two of the citations are in chaps 1ndash15 Te last two instances are in 235 and 2826ndash27




he Book of Acts 37

pel (see 116 21) At many places in the narrative it is used to show the plansof God (see 321 412 96 1422 173 1921 2311 2724 2726)

From a structural and literary standpoint Luke showed that the expansionof the gospel to the ends of the earth was a movement of God Above all elseit was in obedience to and in fulfillment of the explicit command of Jesus(18) Te rest of the book unfolds as Jesus foretold (ie ldquoJerusalem in all

Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earthrdquo) But more than that eachstep was a movement of God Te evangelization of Jerusalem came after theoutpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost In 84 the door was opened to Judeaand Samaria Te persecution at the stoning of Stephen and the subsequentdispersion proved to be providential Philip evangelized some Samaritans and

then a Gentile God-fearer (the Ethiopian) at the command of an angelTe door was further opened to Gentiles with the salvation of Cornelius

who received a vision to talk to a man named Peter (101ndash5) MeanwhilePeter in Joppa received a vision not to exclude anyone (109ndash16) At aboutthat time the invitation from Cornelius arrived

Te outline of Acts is centered geographically proceeding as follows Je-rusalem Judea and Samaria Asia Minor Macedonia and Greece and Rome

At the entrance of the gospel to each of these regions Luke was careful tonote that the gospel penetrated these areas at the direction of God In 132Paul and Barnabas were selected by the Holy Spirit to take the gospel to Asia

Minor On the return trip a Macedonian vision was interpreted as a messagefrom God to go there (169) Paul was determined to go to Rome but thishappened in such a way that could only be considered providential (1921)Te purposes of God were clearly announced to Paul on his final trip to Jeru-salem In the end he was arrested appealed to Caesar and was sent to Romeat state expense all of which was articulated to Paul as the decree of God (eg2110ndash14 2311 2723ndash24)

Te Universal Scope of the Gospel

Te second unmistakable theme related to salvation history is that the

gospel is for all nations Luke stressed in Acts 18 that Jesus commanded theapostles to go to the ends of the earth Yet he also documented that the stepsto the inclusion of the Gentiles were slow and hesitating Moreover thesesteps were certainly not the result of human planning For example Peter hadto be convinced by miraculous divine means that Gentiles could receive thegospel apart from Judaism (101ndash48)





Although the inclusion of the Gentiles is widely accepted it is often for-gotten (and sometimes denied)80 that salvation includes the restoration ofIsrael through Jesus (see especially the question at 16 and Peterrsquos invitationat 236) Jesusrsquo reply to the question at 16 (ldquoLord is it at this time that youare restoring the kingdom to Israelrdquo) was not that the kingdom would notbe restored but that this will take place in the Fatherrsquos timing F Tielmanis certainly correct when he stated ldquoTis implies that such a restoration iscoming although Christians should not calculate the timing of its arrivalrdquo81Troughout the book of Acts the patternmdashas Paul announced it in Rom116mdashis ldquoto the Jew first and also to the Gentilerdquo Tus Luke demonstratedthat the gospel was initially proclaimed ldquoto the Jews firstrdquo

Te Holy Spirit

Related to the emphasis on the sovereignty of God in moving the gospelforward is an emphasis on the Holy Spirit as the agent of the churchrsquos life andgrowth Luke described his Gospel as recording ldquoall that Jesus began to doand teachrdquo (Acts 11) implying that the book of Acts is about the continuingactivity of Christ Tis activity was accomplished through the Holy Spirit82Hence the disciples were commanded to wait for the promise of the Spirit(14 8) His coming at Pentecost signaled the beginning of the churchrsquos ad-vance (21ndash4 33)

Since God promised to give the Spirit at salvation (238 917) his re-ception is proof of salvation Speaking in tongues is the evidence that threekey people groups have been saved Jews (24) Gentiles (1046) and somedisciples of John the Baptist (196) Since it is evident that the Samaritanshad received salvation as well (816) it is possible that they spoke in tonguesat salvation toomdashthough this is not stated explicitly in the text It is a mis-take however to assume that salvation is always accompanied by speaking intongues Te account of Paulrsquos conversion for example makes no mentionof tongues ongues in Acts are an indisputable sign that salvation has takenplace with regard to specific people groups Te phenomenon strongly under-

scores the inclusiveness of the gospelTe Holy Spirit was the one who sovereignly directed the Christian mis-

sion Jesus gave orders through the Holy Spirit (12) Philip was ordered bythe Holy Spirit (829 39) Peter was instructed by the Holy Spirit to receive

80 See J Sanders Te Jews in Luke-Acts (Philadelphia Fortress 1987)81 Tielman Teology of the New estament 13382 A few times in Acts the Lord Jesus himself appears and communicates (14ndash8 756 91ndash18 and

2311) although these occasions can hardly be separated from the ministry of the Holy Spirit




he Book of Acts 39

Gentiles (1019ndash20) Te Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul and di-rected them to depart (132 4) Te Holy Spirit initiated Paulrsquos departure tothe Greek peninsula (166ndash10 cf 2022ndash23 28 214)

Te Holy Spirit not only directed the mission he empowered it Tis wasin keeping with the promise of Jesus (18) which was affirmed repeatedly inthe narrative (48 31 610 755 931 1128ndash29 139ndash10 2111) Peterrsquoscitation of Joel 228 (216ndash21) where the Lord promised an eschatologicaloutpouring of the Spirit that would inaugurate salvation on a universal scopeis programmatic for the entire book Tus it is hard to overstate the Spiritrsquospost-Easter role in salvation history83

Te Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus

Te key point in salvation history is the death resurrection and exaltationof Jesus In the proclamation of the gospel this cluster of significant eventsis the pivot point of history and the culmination of Godrsquos plan from longago Tis plan was commanded by God (423) predicted by the prophets(2622) accomplished in Christ (1328ndash39) and proclaimed by faithful wit-nesses (433)84

Lukersquos teaching on the resurrection of Christ entails not merely a restora-tion from the dead but an unprecedented exaltation Even though otherssuch as Enoch or Elijah had ascended to heaven Jesus was elevated to the

right hand of God Te importance of the ascension in Lukersquos theology is seenby strategic references to it in Luke-Acts at the end of the Gospel and at thebeginning of Acts Paul likewise in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch con-nected the resurrection of Jesus to his sonship (1333ndash34) Tus Jesus reignsas Godrsquos Messiah from the heavenly throne not only as the Son of David butalso as the Son of God

Te resurrection of Jesus is the proof of Jesusrsquo claims (see 315 5202519) It is also the guarantee of a personal resurrection for chosen humanity(see 2415 2623) Finally as noted above it is also the starting point for therestoration of Israel Tis is the first question asked of the resurrected Jesus in

the book of Acts (16) and it is the ldquohope of Israelrdquo (2820) Tis restorationbegins with the reception of the Messiah and his purging of sin a message

83 Although Luke clearly understood that the Spirit was involved in the writing of the O (eg some

O passages are identified as having come through the Holy Spirit 116 425ndash26 2825) the reception

of the Spirit is clearly something eschatological84 Tis is a far cry from Conzelmannrsquos understanding that Jesus was the ldquomiddle of timerdquo Lukersquos presen-

tation of the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus is not an eschatological correction of inaccurate prophecy

but an integral part of Godrsquos plan





powerfully proclaimed by Peter at Pentecost and marked especially by thepouring out of the Spirit as an inaugural sign of the last days (238)

Te restoration includes a powerful ldquoreconstitutingrdquo of the people of Godto include the poor and oppressed in Israel and ultimately the inclusion ofldquoall who are far off as many as the Lord our God will callrdquo (239)85 Peterrsquos

words thus provide a fitting summary ldquoLet it be known to all of you and toall the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarenemdashwhomyou crucified and whom God raised from the dead Tis Jesus is the stonedespised by you builders who has become the cornerstone Tere is salvationin no one else for there is no other name under heaven given to people by

which we must be savedrdquo (410ndash12)

CONRIBUION O HE CANON

bull Volume 2 of Luke-Acts what Jesus continued to do through theHoly Spirit (11)

bull Account of the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to Rome (18)and of the life and practices of the early church (see 242)

bull Giving of the Spirit at Pentecost and birth of the N church (chap2)

bull Ministry of Peter John James (Jesusrsquo half-brother) and others(chaps 1ndash12)

bull Inclusion of the Gentiles by decree of the Jerusalem Council (chap15)

bull Ministry of Paul ldquoto the Jew first and also to the Gentilesrdquo in loca-tions to which Paul addressed letters included in the canon (chaps13ndash28 see especially 2823ndash28)

SUDY QUESIONS

1 Who wrote Acts Was the author an apostle What ensures that thecriterion of apostolicity was met

2 When was Acts most likely written and what is the major reasonusually given for this date

3 Who was Teophilus how do we know who he was and what washis likely role with regard to LukeActs

4 Where was Acts most likely finished

85 See the fine treatment in Tielman Teology of the New estament 123ndash24




he Book of Acts 41

5 What are the major proposals regarding the purpose of Acts Accord-ing to the authors what is the most likely purpose

6 Why is the question regarding genre important for studying Acts 7 Why is Acts considered historically reliable 8 What are the sources that lay behind the composition of Acts 9 What is the basic ldquoblueprintrdquo for Acts and why 10 What is the logic underlying Peterrsquos Pentecost sermon 11 What was the major issue discussed at the Jerusalem Council 12 What role does the Holy Spirit play in Acts

FOR FURHER SUDY

Alexander L C A Acts in its Ancient Literary Context A Classicist Looks at the Acts ofthe Apostles Library of New estament Studies 298 London amp Clark International2005

Barnett P Te Birth of Christianity Te First wenty Years Vol 1 After Jesus Grand RapidsEerdmans 2005

Barrett C K A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles InternationalCritical Commentary 2 vols Edinburgh amp Clark 1994 1998

Bauckham R ed Te Book of Acts in Its First Century Setting Vol 4 Palestinian SettingGrand Rapids Eerdmans 1995

Blomberg C L From Pentecost to Patmos An Introduction to Acts through RevelationNashville BampH 2006

Bock D L Acts Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New estament Grand Rapids Baker2007Bruce F F Te Book of Acts Rev ed New International Commentary on the New esta-

ment Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1988Conzelmann H Acts of the Apostles Hermeneia ranslated by J Limburg A Kraabel

and D H Juel Philadelphia Fortress 1987Fitzmyer J A Te Acts of the Apostles Anchor Bible New York Doubleday 1999Gasque W W A History of the Criticism of the Acts of the Apostles Beitraumlge zur Geschichte

der biblischen Exegese 17 uumlbingen Mohr-Siebeck 1975Gill D W J and C Gempf eds Te Book of Acts in Its First Century Setting Vol 2 Greco-

Roman Setting Grand Rapids Eerdmans 1994Haenchen E Te Acts of the Apostles A Commentary ranslated by B Noble G Shinn H

Anderson and R M Wilson Philadelphia Westminster 1971

Hemer C J ldquoFirst Person Narrative in Acts 27ndash28rdquo yndale Bulletin 36 (1985) 79ndash109__________ Te Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History Winona Lake Eisen-

brauns 1990Hengel M Acts and the History of Earliest Christianity Philadelphia Fortress 1979

Johnson L Te Acts of the Apostles Sacra Pagina 5 Collegeville Liturgical Press 1992Keck L E and J L Martyn eds Studies in Luke-Acts Nashville Abingdon 1966Kent H A Jr Jerusalem to Rome Studies in Acts Grand Rapids Baker 1972Koumlstenberger A J and P OrsquoBrien Salvation to the Ends of the Earth New Studies in Bibli-

cal Teology 11 Downers Grove InterVarsity 2001Larkin W J Acts IVP New estament Commentary Downers Grove InterVarsity 1995





Levinskaya I Te Book of Acts in Its First Century Setting Vol 5 Diaspora Setting GrandRapids Eerdmans 1996

Longenecker R N ldquoActsrdquo In Te Expositorrsquos Bible Commentary Rev ed Vol 10 GrandRapids Zondervan 2007

Marshall I H Te Acts of the Apostles yndale New estament Commentary Grand RapidsEerdmans 1980

Marshall I H and D Peterson eds Witness to the Gospel Te Teology of Acts GrandRapids Eerdmans 1998

Nicklas and M illy eds Te Book of Acts as Church History Beihefte zur neutestament-lichen Wissenschaft 120 New York de Gruyter 2003

Pao D W Acts and the Isaianic Exodus Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuenestament 2130 uumlbingen Mohr Siebeck 2000 Repr Biblical Studies Library GrandRapids Baker 2000

Polhill J Acts New American Commentary 26 Nashville BampH 1992

Porter S E ldquoTe lsquoWersquo Passagesrdquo In Te Book of Acts in its First-Century Setting Vol 2 TeBook of Acts in its Greco-Roman Setting Edited by D W J Gill and C Gempf GrandRapids Eerdmans 1994 545ndash74

__________ Te Paul of Acts Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen estament115 uumlbingen Mohr-Siebeck 1999

Rapske B Te Book of Acts in Its First Century Setting Vol 3 Te Book of Acts and Paul inRoman Custody Grand Rapids Eerdmans 2004

Robbins V K ldquoTe We-Passages in Acts and Ancient Sea-Voyagesrdquo Biblical Research 20(1975) 5ndash18

Ropes J H Te Beginnings of Christianity Part I Te Acts of the Apostles Edited by F JFoakes Jackson and K Lake Vol III Te ext of Acts London Macmillan 1926

Schlatter A Te Teology of the Apostles Te Development of New estament Teologyranslated by A J Koumlstenberger Grand Rapids Baker 1999

Schnabel E J Early Christian Mission 2 vols Downers Grove InterVarsity 2004Stott J R W Te Spirit the Church and the World Te Message of Acts Downers Grove

InterVarsity 1990annehill R C Te Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts A Literary Interpretation 2 vols Min-

neapolis Fortress 1990Vielhauer P ldquoOn the lsquoPaulinismrsquo of Actsrdquo In Studies in Luke-Acts Edited by L E Keck and

J L Martyn Nashville Abingdon 1966 33ndash50 Wenham D Paul Follower of Jesus or Founder of Christianity Grand Rapids Eerdmans

1995 Williams D J Acts New International Biblical Commentary 5 Grand Rapids Zondervan

1990 Winter B W and A D Clarke eds Te Book of Acts in Its First Century Setting Vol 1

Ancient Literary Setting Grand Rapids Eeerdmans 1993 Witherington III B Te Acts of the Apostles A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary Grand Rap-

ids Eerdmans 1998



2

C 983096

B A

CORE KNOWLEDGE

Basic Knowledge Students should know the key facts about the bookof Acts With regard to history student should be able to identify the bookrsquosauthor date provenance destination and purpose With regard to literaturethey should be able to provide a basic outline of the book and identify core

elements of the bookrsquos content found in the Unit-by-Unit discussion Withregard to theology students should be able to identify the major theologicalthemes in the book of Acts

Intermediate Knowledge In addition to mastery of the core contentidentified in Basic Knowledge above students should be able to present thearguments for historical literary and theological conclusions With regardto history students should be able to discuss the evidence for Lukan author-ship date provenance destination and purpose With regard to literaturethey should be able to provide a detailed outline of the book With regard totheology students should be able to discuss the major theological themes in

the book of Acts and the ways in which they uniquely contribute to the Ncanon

Advanced Knowledge In addition to mastery of the core content iden-tified in Basic Knowledge and beyond the Intermediate Knowledge notedabove students should be able to evaluate critically and to assess the historicalaccuracy of the speeches the Jerusalem Council and the miracles recordedin Acts Tey should also be able to evaluate accurately the sources that liebehind the composition of Acts




he Book of Acts 3

KEY FACTS

AUTHOR Luke

DATE Early 60s

PROVENANCE Rome




of the early church

KEY VERSE 18

INRODUCION














HISORY






LocationsEvent




On way to Jerusalem


Date











he Book of Acts 5






Provenance

















Destination








107




he Book of Acts 7


Purpose
































he Book of Acts 9

















LIERAURE














he Book of Acts 11






































Introduction


















he Book of Acts 13






















1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 3

KEY FACTS

AUTHOR Luke

DATE Early 60s

PROVENANCE Rome




of the early church

KEY VERSE 18

INRODUCION














HISORY






LocationsEvent




On way to Jerusalem


Date











he Book of Acts 5






Provenance

















Destination








107




he Book of Acts 7


Purpose
































he Book of Acts 9

















LIERAURE














he Book of Acts 11






































Introduction


















he Book of Acts 13






















1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998




HISORY






LocationsEvent




On way to Jerusalem


Date











he Book of Acts 5






Provenance

















Destination








107




he Book of Acts 7


Purpose
































he Book of Acts 9

















LIERAURE














he Book of Acts 11






































Introduction


















he Book of Acts 13






















1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 5






Provenance

















Destination








107




he Book of Acts 7


Purpose
































he Book of Acts 9

















LIERAURE














he Book of Acts 11






































Introduction


















he Book of Acts 13






















1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998






Destination








107




he Book of Acts 7


Purpose
































he Book of Acts 9

















LIERAURE














he Book of Acts 11






































Introduction


















he Book of Acts 13






















1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 7


Purpose
































he Book of Acts 9

















LIERAURE














he Book of Acts 11






































Introduction


















he Book of Acts 13






















1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998
















he Book of Acts 9

















LIERAURE














he Book of Acts 11






































Introduction


















he Book of Acts 13






















1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 9

















LIERAURE














he Book of Acts 11






































Introduction


















he Book of Acts 13






















1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998




LIERAURE














he Book of Acts 11






































Introduction


















he Book of Acts 13






















1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 11






































Introduction


















he Book of Acts 13






















1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998









Introduction


















he Book of Acts 13






















1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 13






















1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998













1963)34








a long time




he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 15














20


















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998

















242




he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 17



































he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998
















he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 19


Miracles in Acts













Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998





Conclusion



HE SOURCES OF ACS














he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 21








65














he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998







he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 23

LIERARY PLAN













(1536ndash1920)











OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998




OULINE






















he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 25













VII ON O ROME 98308019219912512831983081

































he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



























he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 27






























he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



















he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 29
































he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



















he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 31




























he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998















he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 33































he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



















he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 35











HEOLOGY

Teological Temes

Salvation History





















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



















he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 37

















Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998





Te Holy Spirit










he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 39





























SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998















SUDY QUESIONS









he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998



he Book of Acts 41



FOR FURHER SUDY








































ids Eerdmans 1998
























ids Eerdmans 1998

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Book of Acts

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