Author

The book was written by Luke, who was an associate of the Apostle Paul, traveling with him often. Luke was a Gentile (non-Jew), and a physician by trade. The book of Acts is Luke’s sequel to the gospel which bears his name (Acts 1:1).

Date

It is impossible to get an exact date for the writing of Luke and Acts, however, if we look at the content of Luke’s writings, he does not include any references to major events which took place after 64A.D., including Nero’s persecution of Christians, the fall of Jerusalem (70A.D.), or even to Paul’s letters, many of which were written from prison in Rome. Even the book of Acts ends without resolving what happened to Paul, leading to speculation that at the time of Luke’s writing, Paul was still alive in prison. For these reasons, the early 60s seems likely.

Other scholars, however, based on the idea that Mark’s gospel had already been widely distributed and read by the time Luke was writing, put the date later; possibly into the early 80s.

Audience and Purpose

As is the book of Luke, Acts is addressed to “Theophilus” (Acts 1:1), whom most historians believe to be Luke’s patron (meaning he funded Luke’s work and published his writings.) Some, however, have speculated that Theophilus was not a real person. Instead, as the Green name means “God-lover,” they believe it was a sneaky way for Luke to write the book for any believer who would read the book.

The book of Acts is Luke’s continued account of the ministry of Jesus, after His ascension, through Spirit-empowered men and women. The goal is to show that not only did Jesus rise from the dead, but His work did not stop (Acts 1:1-5). Containing the stories that followed Jesus’ ascension, including the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, through the gospel’s spread throughout the Roman empire, the book of Acts is the first book of church history ever written.

Major Themes

• The Activity of the Holy Spirit, especially regarding His filling men and women with gifts for ministry.
• The Church. 
• Global Missions/Evangelism. The book of Acts shows that the gospel did not remain among the Jews. Once the Holy Spirit launched the church at Pentecost, the door to grace was open to the gentiles and God sent missionaries throughout the Roman empire.
• Prophecy Fulfilled. See for example Joel 2:28-29 and Acts 2:16.

Key Scriptures

• Acts 1:8 — “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
• Acts 2:2-4 — “And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
• Acts 28:28 — “Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

Outline

• Acts 1:1-3 — Luke’s Introduction
• Acts 1:4-6:7 — The Acts of the Holy Spirit in the Church at Jerusalem
• Acts 6:8-9:31 — The Acts of the Holy Spirit through Religious Persecution and Dispersion
• Acts 9:32–12:25 — The Acts of the Holy Spirit through Peter
• Acts 13:1–28:31 — The Acts of the Holy Spirit through Paul
  • Acts 13:1-14:28 — Paul’s First Missionary Journey
  • Acts 15:1-35 — Apostolic Council in Jerusalem
  • Acts 15:36-18:22 — Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
  • Acts 18:23-21:16 — Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
  • Acts 21:17-28:31 — Paul’s Arrest, Trials, and Imprisonment at Rome

Gospel Summary

Whereas the four gospels show the price that Jesus paid to establish the gospel and His Kingdom, the book of Acts shows us how, through the power of the Holy Spirit, God began to flood the world with the good news of salvation. Everywhere Jesus’ disciples went the gospel was proclaimed, people were saved, the church was established, and the Holy Spirit testified with signs, wonders, and miracles. 

It is through the book of Acts that we get our first glimpse of the power of the gospel at work in the world. This is because the preaching of the gospel is central to the book of Acts. In fact, the Greek word “euangelizo,” where we get the term “evangelize,” is used more in the book of Acts than any other book of the New Testament. The book records sermons preached by Peter, Paul, and others, as the good news was shared.

It is also in the book of Acts where we see that the Kingdom of God would not be limited to the nation of Israel; nor would earthly powers be able to withstand its spread. Throughout the book, we see the church established as an embassy of God’s eternal Kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

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© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

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