The Acts of the Apostles
Background

Welcome to the new series on The Acts of the Apostles, but more commonly referred to as the Book of Acts. We will do a chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse study on the Acts of the Apostles; however, as in any study of the Bible, it is imperative that we do a background study of the book we are studying. 

Let's begin by answering the “who, what, when, where, why and how” to help us understand the the Book of Acts more thoroughly.

•  We will look at the author
• To whom the scriptures were written
• When it was written
• Why the book was written
• And any other pertinent information that is needed to help us understand the scriptures deeper.
• Where needed, we will look at the Greek meanings of particular scripture words, relying on the original Koine Greek meaning for its interpretation.
• A lot of dates will be used because 1) The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the history of the Church, and 2) it is important in our perspective understanding of this book.  Most of my dates comes out of A Chronology of Biblical Christianity.  R.C. Wetzel.  I have relied on this source for many years when studying the Bible.
• Other information will come from a variety of resources, most of which I have put in my heart over the past 50 years or so, so finding the sources may not happen, but where I know, or any new information, I will certainly source them.

Background

Author - Luke

Luke was a Gentile convert who became a follower of Jesus Christ.   Before he came to Christ, his profession was that of a physician.  He was a well educated man, a researcher, prone to details, and an excellent writer.  He became a traveling companion/protege/disciple of the Apostle Paul.  As a Gentile convert to Jesus, traveling with the Apostle Paul, hearing him preach over and over, he became well versed in the Old Testament and the doctrines of the New Testament (Lk 1:3-4).  Because he was a Greek, he was proficient in the Greek language, so he could easily converse with any Gentile person to whom the Apostle Paul ministered.  We know him as the author of the Gospel of Luke and the writings of the Acts of the Apostles.

While traveling with the Apostle Paul, and in his early minister, Luke interviewed many people to support his writings for the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.  Luke’s writings were so extensive and indepth, it cover 2/5^th of the New Testament writings, which is even more, volume wise, than the writings of the Apostle Paul.

Re-echo-er

Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles as a “re-echoer” of the Apostle Paul, who was a re-echoer of Jesus.  What then is a re-echo-er?

Re-echo-er
A person who repeats the words or opinions of another. 
It was a familiar 1^st and 2^nd century term used by the followers of Jesus who quoted what He said. 

The question then arises:  Why was it important to us that Luke re-echoed the words of the Apostle Paul?  Since a re-echoer only repeated the words of another, he or she then was not adding any of his or her own personal opinions, but simply re-echoing the words of the Apostle Paul.  The Apostle Paul was re-echoing the words of Jesus, and Jesus did nothing on His own, but spoke exactly what His Father had taught Him (John 12:49) .  He then echoed the words of His Father.  Thus, we are getting the exact words and correct meaning that came from Jesus Who got it from God. 

Here is a question that we can ask of ourselves:  Why is it important that we become re-echoers of the Word of God?  If we want truth, we must first go to the source.  How important it is to get into the Word of God to allow the Word of God to get into us. 

• I have all of my adult life been a strong believer in memorizing Scripture - in other words, I have learned to become an re-echo-er of the Word of God.  Every memory verse I have ever memorized, I have used over and over throughout my life.  What I have always done is whenever I have gotten into a situation, many times, rough times, I have taken a scripture verse that speaks hope and victory to me, and I get it down deep into my heart.  I still write them down on 3x5 cards and carry them with me wherever I go. 
• I do far more than just memorize it in my head, but I get it down deep into my heart to where it becomes a reality for me.  I can probably take every scripture verse I have ever memorized and quote it even today.  Not because I memorize easily, because I don't, I just get it down so deep in my heart, and I use these verses over and over, to where it becomes a part of me. 
• I can't tell you how many times a situation has come up in my life where I go back to God's promises to me through those verses, or I have used them on my family, or anyone I am teaching or ministering to.  Memorizing scripture is such a vital part of my Christian growth and I encourage you to have it become a large part of your Christian growth as well.

One Letter- One Story

The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles were originally one letter and one story; yet written on two scrolls by Luke.  He wrote on two scrolls because lengths beyond 35 feet became too bulk and too heavy to carry.  So he divided the Gospel of Luke into one scroll and The Acts of the Apostles on another.  There were, however, not meant to be two stories, but one.  The Book of Acts simply picks up where the Gospel of Luke ends. 

Important Information

The Book of Acts begins right after God rose Jesus from the dead in 29 A.D. and before He ascended into heaven.  During those 40 days in between His resurrection and ascension, Jesus spent time teaching His apostles and disciples His final words about the Kingdom of God. The Book of Acts covers a span of around 30 years - continuing through the life and ministry of the apostles, particularly the Apostle Paul, as well as the development of the early church until the time just prior to the Apostle Paul having to face Emperor Nero in Rome, in which he historically was acquitted and set free (63 A.D.).

After the release of the Book of Acts, the apostle was free for two years, but recaptured, put into prison and was sentenced to death in 68 A.D.  Just an interesting note, Paul did not die in the prison because Nero knew his prison death would raise a stir among the Christians in Rome, so Nero released him with schrewd intentions.  As he traveled on the road outside of the prison – on the Ostia Road, soldiers, under orders of Emperor Nero, quietly and quickly ganged up on him and beheaded him.  That way, the people could not blame the emperor for his death.  People, however, knew the truth.

Written To:

The Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles were written to a man named Theophilus, which means "God lover."  Luke called Theophilus “your most excellent” as an expression of honor, leading us to believe he was wealthy and a very influential man in society who had the ability to reach many people.

Theophilus was also a believer in Jesus Christ.  He was also a patron of Luke – meaning Luke dedicated these writings of Luke and Acts to Theophilus, implying he was commissioned to share them with a lot of people, of whih he did.

Date Written:

Both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles were written over a period of many years.  It was finally released around 63 A.D. - sometime after Paul was released from prison in Rome (Acts 28:30-31), but before the fire of Rome on July 19, 64 A.D., the martyrdom of Paul in May of 68 A.D, and the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in Aug of 70 A.D.  Luke ended these writings with Paul being released from the Roman prison in 63 A.D., and from there Paul traveled on to Macedonia and Asia Minor.

Written From: 

These writings were written from various places as Luke continuously was documenting while traveling with the Apostle Paul.  Luke documented other information from the Apostle Peter, John, other disciples, including Mary, the mother of Jesus.  His information in both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are much too detailed and precise to get it second hand.

So completes our background study on the Book of Acts.

God bless!

Pastor Joyce Erickson
Believersbibleschool.com

Click here for Acts - Chapter 1