ACTS OF APOSTLES
This is the title by which one of the Bible books has been called since the second century C.E. It covers primarily the activity of Peter and Paul, rather than that of the twelve apostles in general; and it provides us with a most reliable and comprehensive history of the spectacular beginning and rapid development of the Christian organization, first among the Jews and then among the Gentile nations. The overriding theme of the entire Bible, Jehovah’s kingdom, dominates the book (Acts 1:3; 8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:31), and we are constantly reminded of how the apostles bore “thorough witness” concerning Christ and that kingdom and fully accomplished their ministry. (2:40; 5:42; 8:25; 10:42; 20:21, 24; 23:11; 26:22; 28:23) The book also provides a superb historical background against which to view the inspired letters of the Christian Greek Scriptures.
OUTLINE OF CONTENTS
I. Pentecost and intensified witness in Jerusalem (1:1–6:7)
A. Jesus foretold disciples would be spirit-empowered to witness (1:1-11)
B. Disciples receive holy spirit; witness in tongues (1:12–2:13)
C. Peter shows spirit bestowal by Christ fulfills prophecy (2:14-41)
1. Urges repentance and baptism in Jesus’ name; about 3,000 Jews and proselytes baptized
2. Unity, close association, sharing together and increase enjoyed (2:42-47)
D. Lame man healed; Peter and John arrested and released; believers increase to about 5,000 (3:1–4:22)
E. God manifests approval of apostles’ bold course (4:23-31)
F. Resources pooled and distributed; Ananias and Sapphira die for ‘playing false to the holy spirit’ (4:32–5:11)
G. Apostles jailed for ministry, released by an angel (5:12-21a)
H. Apostles set precedent, ‘obey God rather than men,’ where the two conflict; disciples increase (5:21b–6:7)
II. Persecution results in expansion of the witness (6:8–9:31)
A. Stephen arrested, gives bold witness; dies a martyr (6:8–7:60)
B. Persecution scatters all but apostles throughout land (8:1-4)
1. Philip’s ministry in Samaria blessed; Ethiopian eunuch converted (8:5-40)
2. Peter and John sent so Samaritans can receive holy spirit (8:14-17)
C. Jesus appears to persecutor Saul; Saul converted, baptized, begins zealous ministry (9:1-30)
D. Congregation in Judea, Galilee and Samaria enters period of peace (9:31-43)
III. The witness next reaches non-Jews (10:1–12:25)
A. Peter preaches to Cornelius and other uncircumcised Gentiles, who believe, receive holy spirit and are baptized (10:1-48)
B. Apostle’s report thereof prompts expansion among nations (11:1-30)
C. Herod kills James, imprisons Peter; freed by angel (12:1-19)
D. Herod dies for not giving God glory; Jehovah’s word spreads (12:20-25)
IV. Paul’s first evangelizing tour, with Barnabas (13:1–14:28)
A. From Antioch, Syria, to Cyprus and cities in Asia Minor
1. Jews persecute Paul from city to city
2. Congregations established
B. Further travels; return to Antioch, Syria
V. Dispute on need for circumcision of Christians settled (15:1-35)
A. Apostles and older men in Jerusalem decide, guided by holy spirit
B. Believers to keep free from idolatry, blood and fornication
VI. Paul’s second evangelizing tour (15:36–18:22)
A. Paul and Silas travel from Antioch through Syria and Asia Minor (15:36–16:8)
B. Responding to a vision, Paul visits Macedonia (16:9–17:15)
1. Paul and Silas imprisoned in Philippi; jailer becomes believer
2. Paul and Silas preach in Thessalonica and Beroea; Jews incite riots
C. In Athens, Paul speaks on Mars Hill; some believe (17:16-34)
D. Paul preaches in Corinth for 18 months (18:1-17)
E. Returns, through Ephesus and Caesarea, to Antioch, Syria (18:18-22)
VII. Paul’s third tour, arrival in Jerusalem (18:23–21:17)
A. Paul’s Ephesian ministry is fruitful; uproar develops over it (18:23–19:41)
B. He visits believers in Macedonia, Greece and Troas (20:1-16)
C. Apostle meets and admonishes Ephesian older men at Miletus (20:17-38)
D. He arrives in Jerusalem, despite danger there (21:1-17)
VIII. Paul witnesses despite opposition, imprisonment (21:18–28:31)
A. After mobbing in Jerusalem, Paul appears before Sanhedrin (21:18–23:10)
B. He is taken to Felix; appears often before him (23:11–24:27)
C. In defense before Festus, Paul appeals to Caesar (25:1-12)
D. Apostle makes a defense before King Agrippa (25:13–26:32)
E. Trip to Rome is marked by shipwreck on Malta (27:1–28:16)
F. A prisoner in Rome, Paul preaches Christ and Kingdom (28:17-31)
THE WRITER
The opening words of Acts refer to the Gospel of Luke as “the first account.” And since both accounts are addressed to the same individual, Theophilus, we know that Luke, though not signing his name, was the writer of Acts. (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1) Both accounts have a similar style and wording. The Muratorian Fragment of about 170 C.E. also attributes the writership to Luke. Other ecclesiastical writings of the second century C.E. by Irenaeus of Lyons, Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian of Carthage, when quoting from Acts, cite Luke as the writer.
WHEN AND WHERE WRITTEN
The book covers a period of approximately twenty-eight years, from Jesus’ ascension in 33 C.E. to the end of the second year of Paul’s imprisonment in Rome about 61 C.E. During this period four Roman emperors ruled in succession: Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero. Since it relates events down to the year 61 it could not have been completed earlier. Had the account been written later than 61, it is reasonable to expect that Luke would have provided more information about Paul; if written after the year 64, mention surely would have been made of Nero’s violent persecution that began then; and if written after 70 C.E., as some contend, we would expect to find Jerusalem’s destruction recorded. The writer Luke accompanied Paul much of the time during his travels, including the perilous voyage to Rome, which is apparent from his use of the first-person plural pronouns “we,” “our,” and “us” in Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-15; 21:1-18; 27:1-37; 28:1-16. Paul, in his letters written from Rome, mentions that Luke was also there. (Col. 4:14; Philem. 24) It was, therefore, in Rome that the book of Acts was written.
As already observed, Luke himself was an eyewitness to much of what he wrote, and in his travels he contacted fellow Christians who either participated in or observed certain events described. For example John Mark could tell him of Peter’s miraculous prison release (Acts 12:12), while the events described in chapters six through eight could have been learned from the missionary Philip. And Paul, of course, as an eyewitness, was able to supply many details of events that happened when Luke was not with him.
AUTHENTICITY
The accuracy of the book of Acts has been verified over the years by a number of archaeological discoveries. For example, Acts 13:7 says that Sergius Paulus was the proconsul of Cyprus. Now it is known that shortly before Paul visited Cyprus it was ruled by a propraetor or legatus, but the discovery of Cyprian coins proves that when Paul was there the island was under the direct rule of the Roman Senate in the person of a provincial governor called a proconsul. Moreover, an inscription found at Soli on the northern coast of Cyprus dated “in the proconsulship of Paulus” testifies to Luke’s exactness and accuracy. Similarly in Greece, during the rule of Augustus Caesar, Achaia was a province under the direct rule of the Roman Senate, but when Tiberius was emperor it was ruled directly by him. Later, under Emperor Claudius, it again became a senatorial province, according to Tacitus. A fragment of a rescript from Claudius to the Delphians of Greece has been discovered, which says “in Gallio’s proconsulship . . . Claudius being Imperator for the 26th time.” Therefore, Acts 18:12 is correct in speaking of Gallio as the “proconsul” when Paul was there in Corinth the capital of Achaia. Also, an inscription on an archway in Thessalonica shows that Acts 17:8 is correct in speaking of the “city rulers” (“politarchs,” governors of the citizens), even though this title is not found in classical literature.
To this day in Athens the Areopagus, or Mars Hill, where Paul preached, stands as a silent witness to the truthfulness of Acts. (Acts 17:19) Medical terms and expressions found in Acts are in agreement with the Greek medical writers of that time. Modes of travel used in the Near East in the first century were essentially as described in Acts: overland, by walking, horseback or horse-drawn chariots (23:24, 31, 32; 8:27-38); overseas, by cargo ships. (21:1-3; 27:1-5) Those ancient vessels did not have a single rudder but were controlled by two large oars, hence accurately spoken of in the plural number. (27:40) The description of Paul’s voyage by ship to Rome (27:1-44) as to the time taken, the distance traveled and the places visited is acknowledged by modern seamen familiar with the region as completely reliable and trustworthy.
Acts of Apostles was accepted without question as inspired Scripture and canonical by Scripture cataloguers from the second through the fourth centuries C.E. Portions of the book, along with fragments of the four Gospels, are found in the Chester Beatty No. 1 papyrus manuscript (P45) of the early third century C.E. The Michigan No. 1571 manuscript of the third or fourth century contains portions of chapters 18 and 19, and a fourth-century manuscript, Aegyptus No. 8683, contains parts of chapters 4 through 6. The book of Acts was quoted from by Polycarp of Smyrna about 115 C.E., by Ignatius of Antioch about 110 C.E., and by Clement of Rome perhaps as early as 95 C.E. Athanasius, Jerome and Augustine of the fourth century all confirm the earlier listings that included Acts.
See the book “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial.”