Feb 18 2020 - Introduction to The Acts of the Apostles

Acts is the second volume of Luke's two part work and as such tells of what Jesus continued to do after his ascension. It could therefore be called The Acts of the Risen and Ascended Lord Jesus rather than The Acts of the Apostles. It tells the story of the expansion of the young Christian church and was written to defend both the Christian message and the ministry of the Apostle Paul against the accusations of various opponents.

As we noted in the introduction to Luke's Gospel, the transition from narrative in the third person to first person plural in Acts 16:10 suggests that the author was a travelling companion of Paul who joined him at Troas. From the earliest times in the Christian era (from at least 160 AD) there was a clear tradition within the church that identified the author as Luke the physician (cf. Col 4:14).

John Stott writes, "Luke arrived in Jerusalem with Paul (Acts 21:17) and left with him on their voyage to Rome (27:1). In between was a period of more than two years, during which Paul was held a prisoner in Caesarea (24:27), while Luke was a free man. How did he use this time? It would be reasonable to guess that he travelled the length and breadth of Palestine, gathering material for his Gospel and for the early Jerusalem-based chapters of the Acts. He will have familiarised himself as a Gentile with Jewish history, customs and festivals, and he will have visited the places made sacred by the ministry of Jesus and the birth of the Christian community." (Stott, The Message of Acts, IVP)

In the book of Acts:

• Luke presents a clear view of how the gospel and the Christian Church spread from Jerusalem to Samaria and to the ends of the earth in fulfilment of God's plan, Christ's promise and through the powerful direction and work of his Spirit;

• This is also reflected in Luke's account of Paul's missionary strategy – he preaches first to Jews and only when they reject the message does he turn to the Gentiles

• Acts shows that both Jewish and Gentile believers belong to the one church – that Christ, the Jewish Messiah, is Saviour of the world;

• Acts also makes clear that the Gentiles are not to be burdened with Jewish tradition – Christ brings freedom to all who believe in him;

• It demonstrates that the Christian message is no threat to the civil power – it is not a strange new religion but is the legitimate development of Judaism which had long been recognised by Rome as a religion that might legally be observed by inhabitants of the Roman Empire

• The chief cause of the unrest that has followed the spread of Christianity is shown to be Jewish opposition to the Gospel, particularly opposition by the Jews of the Dispersion;

• Paul's claim to be an apostle is shown to be grounded in the personal commission of the risen Christ.

Peter Misselbrook