A Closer Look at The Book of Acts

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Recommended: Church history background

Acts 2:42-47 is a direct model for the Christian Church today. These verses are a clear example of faith in action. The Holy Spirit’s effect on the early church and apostles brought teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer into fruition. The real-life love shown shouts to the 21st century church’s need to refocus on these basic tenants. This passage is a summary of the life of the early church. The four contexts in which the modern-church can draw knowledge to incorporate these heart-felt actions are historical context, literary contexts, interpretation and application.

Although technically anonymous, most biblical scholars agree that the book of Acts was written by the physician, Luke. Luke was a traveling companion of the Apostle Paul in Rome for two years. The physician was perhaps a gentile, but at least a Hellenistic Jew. He was a native of Antioch. The book of Acts was originally a sequel to Luke and the book was called Luke-Acts. Both letters address the name Theophilus (Luke 1:1-4, Acts 1:1). Theophilus has been said to be either a gentile in Greece or Asia Minor or a code word for all Christian congregations with significant gentile presence.

The general consensus of the date of the writing of Acts has been closely related to the date of writing for the Gospel of Luke before AD 64. If the book was written before AD 65 it would demand a date before the death of Paul. The death of Paul would have been a significant piece of information for Luke to include in his writing of the letter. However, the information cannot be found in Luke or Acts.

Looking back into history it can be concluded that the occurrences in Acts chapter two took place after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus C...

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...er Books, 1997.

Cook, F. C.. "The Acts of The Aposltes." In The Bible commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981.

Custer, Stewart. "Introduction to the Book of Acts." In Witness to Christ: a commentary on Acts. Greenville, SC: BJU Press, 2000.

Kostenberger, Andreas J., L. Scott Kellum, and Charles L. Quarles. "The Book of Acts." In The cradle, the cross, and the crown: an introduction to the New Testament. Nashville, Tenn.: B & H Academic, 2009.

Marshall, I. Howard. "Commentary." In The book of Acts: an introduction and commentary. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2007.

Polhill, John B.. "Acts." In Acts. Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman Press, 1992.

Ibis Communications, Inc.. "The Burning of Rome, 64 AD." EyeWitness to History - history through the eyes of those who lived it. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/rome.htm (accessed March 18, 2011).

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