“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” Acts 1:8
The book shows how that from Jerusalem, the Truth extended into Judea, up to Samaria, and was taken by Paul and others to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Theme of Acts–The Truth Triumphant
The record of Acts provides us with a dynamic account of the triumph of the Truth despite all the forces which would endeavour to crush it. It also provides us with a model upon which to pattern our lives, with regard to the outworking of the power of the Truth in our lives.
Every time the pressure of persecution bore heavily upon the ecclesia, it overcame, and the Truth prospered. This is the way the ecclesia of the 21st Century needs to respond to the encroachments made by the world upon it.
The 1st Century ecclesia was formed after the ascension of Christ; formed from his body, out of his side; converted upon the basis of hearing the sufferings and the glory of Messiah. Acts records Peter using the two “keys of the Kingdom” that Jesus gave to him (Matt 16:19). The first key was revealed when on the day of Pentecost. Peter’s hearers asked, “what shall we do?” He declared the formula for salvation, “Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:37–38). The second key was used to unlock the “door of faith to the Gentiles”. Again Peter was involved and he was commissioned to proclaim the Truth to Cornelius, the first Gentile convert (Acts 10). Thus “the mystery [or secret]… that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel” was made known (Eph 3:6).
Progress Report
Note the following progress reports. Acts records the formation and growth of the ecclesias in the 1st Century:
- 1:15 “… the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty”
- 2:41 “… there were added unto them about three thousand souls”
- 2:47 “… added to the ecclesia daily such as should be saved”
- 4:4 “the number of the men was about five thousand”
- 5:14 “… the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women”
- 6:7 “… and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith”
- 9:31; 11:24; 12:24; 13:48–49; 16:5; 19:20; 28:30–31; “… were multiplied”, “… and much people was added”, “… and increased in number daily”.
The Author of Acts
The record of Acts never once mentions the name of its author, for the singular reason that the writer was so well known to Theophilus, to whom the book was dedicated, and the wider circle of readers amongst whom it was circulated. However, though the name of the writer is not mentioned, indications in the book enable us to reach a positive conclusion.
- The opening statement of Acts reveals that its author was also the writer of the Gospel of Luke.
- It is evident that the writer of Acts was a companion of the Apostle Paul, for in several passages he uses the first person plural—“we”. These passages include the accounts of (i) Paul’s work at Philippi (Acts 16:10–17); (ii) Paul’s visit to Troas (Acts 20:5–15); (iii) the journey from Miletus to Jerusalem (Acts 21:1–18); (iv) the voyage from Caesarea to Rome (Acts 27:1–28:16).
- Luke was a companion of Paul, and was with him during his imprisonment at Rome (Col 4:14; Philemon 24; 2 Tim 4:11). This harmonises with Acts 27 and 28 which indicate that the author accompanied Paul to Rome.
- Luke was a physician (Col 4:14), which accounts for the use of medical terms, one of the characteristic features of his gospel and Acts.
The Objective of Acts
Luke’s desire in Acts is to set forth a record of the progress of the ecclesia after the resurrection of Christ, and is a continuation of his gospel. In the preface of his gospel, he declares his purpose in plain terms:
“Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us… it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus”. These are words which apply to Acts as much as to the Gospel, and make it clear that Luke’s aim was to provide an historical account of the development of the early ecclesia, and to follow the means whereby the commission which the risen Christ gave to the Apostles was fulfilled (Acts 1:8).
However, although Luke intended to give us an historical account, he also intended to tell us how the Truth was proclaimed. Acts provides us with some outstanding speeches which set forth the basis of the Truth for all ages.
Moreover, Luke intended that his record be an encouragement and a comfort to those in the ecclesia suffering at that time. Consider the words uttered by Peter and John as they stood before the Sanhedrin: “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19). These words are intended to be a rallying-cry for Luke’s contemporaries, and incentive to courage in the face of repression. The whole of Acts breathes the spirit of undaunting loyalty to Christ. Thus the message which Luke has to impart is twofold·
- No opposition or persecution must be allowed to silence our witness for the Truth.
- Persecution is part of the disciple’s life, and a powerful agent in the dissemination of the Truth.
The Contents of Acts
Acts is “a book of origins” relating to the Truth. Here are the beginnings of the ecclesia, of apostolic miracles, of apostolic teaching and proclamation, of the persecution, of the martyrdom of Gentile converts, and so forth.
The key word in the title of this book is ACTS—it is “The Acts of the Apostles”. These are not the words, theories or speculations of the apostles, but their acts, their deeds, that which they actually accomplished. Luke is vitally interested in setting on record the development of the Truth from small beginnings to the great development we see at the end of the book. He commences with a very small ecclesia in Jerusalem of Jewish extraction and consisting of 120 (Acts 1:15). The book closes with many ecclesias dotted over the vast Roman Empire. Thousands heard the Word and believed, many being Gentiles who received full recognition and acceptance. The whole world was astir with the remarkable doctrine of the risen Christ. Indeed, it was a time when men set the world on fire with the Truth, through their courageous and determined efforts. Behind it all, however, Luke sees a far greater influence than the mere efforts of men; he sees the Divine hand guiding and directing the affairs not only of the ecclesia, but of the world as well. In the Acts of the Apostles Luke sets forth God as the Great Controller of the ecclesia and of the world.
A Two-Fold Sphere of Work—Yet One Gospel
The book of Acts can be divided into two main spheres of work, the first of which records the preaching of the Gospel throughout Palestine, and the second, the proclaiming of it through out the world. A close examination will reveal a remarkable repetition of experiences. The two movements, though distinct, are yet harmonious. Therefore the two spheres of work, though bearing their own characteristics, are yet of the one Faith and one Hope. For example, Peter is a Jew yet he is involved with Cornelius, the first Gentile convert (Acts 10); while Paul the messenger to the Gentiles spoke to the Jews first (eg Acts 13:46).
Part 1:ch 1–12 Part 2:ch 13–28
The chief figure Peter Paul
Apostle to the Jews Gentiles
The Centre Jerusalem Antioch
Taken out to Samaria Rome
Rejected by the Jews Of the Land Of the Dispersion
First Address Ch 2 Ch 13
Lame man healed Ch 3 Ch 14
The sorcerer Simon Ch 8 Elymas Ch 13
Laying on of hands Ch 8 Ch 19
Worship of Peter Ch 10 Paul Ch 14
Raising of Tabitha Ch 9 Eutychus Ch 20
Imprisonment of Peter Ch 12 Paul Ch 28
Thus the signs and wonders performed by Peter in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria were replicated in Paul’s ministry when he took the Gospel “to the uttermost parts of the earth”.