Luke is the author, although he is not mentioned by name in the book. We know the author was a companion of Paul because he uses “we” in several passages (Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-15; 21:1-18; 27:1-28:16).<\/p>\n
There are 50 or so words and phrases that are used in both Luke and Acts that do not appear elsewhere in the New Testament.<\/p>\n
Luke was probably a Gentile (Colossians 4:11-14) \u2014 He is distinguished from those “who are of the circumcision.”<\/p>\n
Luke was a physician (Colossians 4:14) and uses technical terms to describe diseases and other physical conditions throughout Luke and Acts.<\/p>\n
The Acts of the Apostles was not the title given to the book by Luke, but it is found as early as late second-century manuscripts.<\/p>\n
Acts is a continuation of Luke.<\/p>\n
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed (Luke 1:1-4).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 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 (Acts 1:1-3).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Suppose again the Epistles were there, but [Acts] left out, how startling would appear the heading “To the Romans,” which would confront us on turning from the study of the Evangelists! How could we account for the transition involved? How could we explain the great thesis of the Epistles, that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile … ? The earlier Scriptures will be searched in vain for teaching such as this. Not the Old Testament merely but even the Gospels themselves are seemingly separated from the Epistles by a gulf. To bridge over that gulf is the Divine purpose for which [Acts] has been given to the Church. The earlier portion of the book is the completion of and sequel to the Gospels; its concluding narrative is introductory to the great revelation of Christianity. \u2014 The Silence of God<\/em>, by Sir Robert Anderson, pages 54-55.<\/span><\/p>\n The following is a timeline taken from The Acts of the Apostles<\/em>, by Thomas Walker (pages xxvi – xxviii). I haven’t studied enough to know how accurate it is, but I include it for reference sake.<\/p>\n 30 A.D.<\/p>\n Our Lord’s ascension<\/p>\n Day of Pentecost<\/p>\n 36<\/p>\n Martyrdom of Stephen<\/p>\n Philip in Samaria<\/p>\n Conversion of Paul (If the “fourteen years” of Galatians 2:1 do not include the “three years” of Galatians 1:18, the date of Paul’s conversion must be thrown back to A.D. 33 or 34.)<\/p>\n 36-38<\/p>\n Paul in Arabia and Damascus<\/p>\n 38<\/p>\n Paul in Jerusalem (first visit)<\/p>\n Departure to Tarsus<\/p>\n 38-43<\/p>\n Paul’s work in Syria and Cilicia (Galatians 1:21)<\/p>\n Peter at Lydda, Joppa and Caesarea<\/p>\n Conversion of Cornelius<\/p>\n Hellenists preaching at Antioch and Barnabas’ work there<\/p>\n 43 or 44<\/p>\n Paul at Antioch with Barnabas<\/p>\n 44<\/p>\n Martyrdom of James<\/p>\n Death of Herod Agrippa I<\/p>\n 46<\/p>\n Paul at Jerusalem (2nd visit) with Barnabas, carrying alms from Antioch<\/p>\n 47 (early)<\/p>\n Paul returns to Antioch with Barnabas<\/p>\n 47 (spring to summer)<\/p>\n First Missionary Journey \u2014 Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, return to Antioch, via Perga<\/p>\n 50 (early)<\/p>\n Paul at Jerusalem (third visit) with Barnabas<\/p>\n 50 (spring)<\/p>\n Return to Antioch. Separation from Barnabas<\/p>\n 50 (summer) to 53 (early)<\/p>\n Second Missionary Journey<\/p>\n 50-51<\/p>\n Paul and Silas in Syria, Cilicia and Asia Minor. Timothy. Troas. Arrival of Luke<\/p>\n Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens<\/p>\n 51 (September ?) to 53 (early)<\/p>\n At Corinth. Writes 1 Thessalonians. Writes 2 Thessalonians<\/p>\n 53 (early)<\/p>\n Return to Palestine via Ephesus<\/p>\n Paul at Jerusalem (fourth visit) short<\/p>\n 53 (spring) to 57 (May)<\/p>\n Third Missionary Journey<\/p>\n 53 (summer)<\/p>\n Work in Galatia – Phrygia<\/p>\n 53 (autumn) to 56 (early)<\/p>\n Work in Ephesus<\/p>\n Writes 1 Corinthians (end of stay)<\/p>\n 56 (summer and autumn)<\/p>\n Work in Macedonia<\/p>\n Writes 2 Corinthians<\/p>\n Writes Galatians (?)<\/p>\n 56 (December) to 57 (February)<\/p>\n Work in Corinth<\/p>\n Writes Romans<\/p>\n 57 (April)<\/p>\n Travels via Philippi<\/p>\n 57 (April – May)<\/p>\n Return to Jerusalem, via Troas, Miletus, Tyre and Caesarea<\/p>\n 57 (May)<\/p>\n Paul at Jerusalem (fifth visit). Arrest in temple. Speeches to people and Sanhedrin<\/p>\n Sent to Caesarea by Claudius Lysias<\/p>\n 57 (summer) to 59 (summer)<\/p>\n Paul at Caesarea, a prisoner. Felix, Festus, Herod Agrippa II<\/p>\n 59 (late summer)<\/p>\n Paul’s voyage to Rome<\/p>\n 59 (November) to 60 (February)<\/p>\n Shipwrecked in Malta<\/p>\n 60 (spring)<\/p>\n Arrival in Rome via Puteoli<\/p>\n 60 (spring) to 62<\/p>\n Paul’s first Roman imprisonment. Writes Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and Ephesians<\/p>\n 62 (spring)<\/p>\n Release from captivity<\/p>\n 62 to 65<\/p>\n Paul’s last labors in Spain (?), Crete, Greece and Asia Minor<\/p>\n Writes 1 Timothy, Titus<\/p>\n 65 to 67<\/p>\n Paul’s second Roman imprisonment. Writes 2 Timothy<\/p>\n 67<\/p>\n Paul’s martyrdom<\/p>\n The reference books I used at the beginning of my study of Acts are as follows. (My library may change if I find other useful books or decide one of these isn’t worth the time.)<\/p>\n The Acts of the Apostles<\/em>, by Thomas Walker (Moody Press, 1965)<\/p>\n Acts Dispensationally Considered<\/em>, by C.R. Stam (Berean Bible Society, 1954)<\/p>\n The Acts of the Apostles: An Exposition<\/em>, by Arno C. Gaebelein (Our Hope Press, 1912)<\/p>\n Lectures on the Book of Acts<\/em>, by H.A. Ironside (Loizeaus Brothers, Bible Truth Depot, 1943)<\/p>\n The Acts of the Apostles<\/em>, by G. Campbell Morgan (Fleming H. Revell Company, 1924)<\/p>\n King James Bible Commentary<\/em> (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983)<\/p>\n The New Testament: An Expanded Translation<\/em>, by Kenneth S. Wuest (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1961<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Luke is the author, although he is not mentioned by name in the book. We know the author was a companion of Paul because he uses “we” in several passages (Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-15; 21:1-18; 27:1-28:16). There are 50 or so … Continue reading