Much of what was written in the introduction to the Gospel of Luke applies here. Luke again writes to Theophilus, here presenting the second volume of his account. He begins by reviewing his first account in the opening verses, writing, “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (1:1-3). The former account of which the holy writer speaks must be the Gospel of Luke (cf. Luke 1:1-4). The early church is unanimous in its support of Luke as the holy writer and the internal evidence also supports this claim (cf. 1:1; and the “we” sections: 16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16).
The Gospel of Luke covered a period of about thirty five years beginning with the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist, and ending with Jesus’ ascension into heaven. The Book of Acts also covers thirty or more years. It begins where the first account left off, at Jerusalem with the ascension of Jesus, and ends with the success of the spread of the Gospel, being preached unhindered by the prisoner Paul in the very center of the Gentile world, namely, Rome.
The title often given to this book in the English, "The Acts of the Apostles", is somewhat misleading (the Greek was titled simply “Acts”). The book does not present a detailed account of the acts of all of the apostles. After the eleven apostles are mentioned in the first chapter (1:13), eight of them are not mentioned again (only Peter and John are mentioned more than one other time). Instead, Luke focuses on the proclamation of the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles by the Holy Spirit through many different individuals, most of whom were not apostles. The one prominent name mentioned from beginning to end is that of the Holy Spirit. The book records the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (ch. 2); the second coming of the Holy Spirit (4:31); the reception of the Spirit by the Samaritans (8:14-17); the guidance of Philip by the Spirit (8:29); the Call of Paul and Barnabas by the Spirit (13:1-4); the guidance of the Spirit at the Jerusalem Council (15:28); the guidance of Paul in his work by the Spirit (16:6,7); the reception of the Spirit by the Ephesians (19:1-6); and more. All in all, the name “Holy Spirit” is used 41 times in Acts, and is referred to simply as “the Spirit” an additional 14 times. So we should think of this book instead as the “Acts of the Holy Spirit.”
It is clear from the concluding verses of Acts that Luke wrote this account shortly after Paul had been under house arrest in Rome for two years (28:30). It was probably written while Luke was with Paul in Rome (see the “we” verses from earlier in the chapter), at about this time and shortly after the Gospel of Luke. Since Luke does not record the death of either Peter or Paul, the time of writing must be placed prior to 64 AD. It was likely written between 62-64 AD.
The history recorded in the book of Acts shows how the promise and instruction given by Jesus and recorded in 1:8, was carried out. Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” This account tells of the proclamation of Jesus as Savior to the whole world beginning on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem and then continues to trace the ever widening course of the Gospel “to the end of the earth.”
The reason that the holy writer focuses on Peter and Paul is seen in the purpose of the book. While the purpose of Luke’s Gospel was to show that Christ came to save all people, Jews and Gentiles, the book of Acts shows this saving Message being taken to all people, Jews and Gentiles alike (ch 2; 10; 21; 28:16-31). Luke therefore focuses on two great apostles, Peter, the apostle to the Jews, and Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (cf. Gal 2:9). Following the first introductory chapter, the book divides into two parts: the founding and the upbuilding of the church in Jerusalem, and the spread of the kingdom of Christ to the Gentile nations.
Some have commented that the book of Acts ends suddenly and suggest that Luke intended to write a third account at a later date. But when we understand that the purpose of the Holy Spirit was to show the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem even to Rome, we see that this purpose is brought to a fitting conclusion in the final verses: “Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31).
There are a few unique features about the book of Acts:
The Book of Acts has a very large cast of characters, an overwhelming majority of whom are not apostles. While the Book of Acts focuses much attention on the work of both Peter and Paul, it mentions many others in a supporting role, such as the apostle John, the deacons Stephen and Philip, Barnabas, James (not the apostle) and Apollos. Then there are many others mentioned who play a smaller role such as Mark, Silas, Timothy, Aquila and Priscilla, Aristarchus and others - showing how the Holy Spirit was working through many different people.
The Book of Acts is full of examples of preaching and teaching showing us what the message of the church was from the very beginning. In all there are 20 addresses or parts of addresses recorded in the book of Acts - Nine by Peter (1:16-22; 2:14-36; 3:15-26; 4:8-12; 5:29-32; 8:20-25; 10:34-43; 11:5-17; 15:7-11); nine by Paul (13:16-41; 14:15-17; 17:22-31; 20:18-35; 22:1-21; 24:10-21; 26:2-23; 27:21-26; 28:17-20); one by Stephen (7:2-52); and one by James (15:13-21).
The Book of Acts is the inspired history of the first thirty years of the Church’s growth. It also furnishes the background for ten of Paul’s epistles found recorded in the New Testament. See a chart on New Testament Chronology of this time period.
Theme: The Word of the Lord Grows! (Franzmann)
Note: This study was prepared for the Bible Class at Zion Lutheran Church,
Lawrenceville, GA by Pastor Nathanael Mayhew