Acts
Fun Facts About Acts of the Apostles
Acts of the Apostles is one of the longest books in the New Testament. It contains 1,003 verses.
It has 18,374 words.
In the Bible, 5,436 Greek terms appear only once by the author or in the whole work. Acts has 2,038, which only occur in this book.
In Hellenistic forms of writing, “Acts” is a genre focusing on the deeds of a great individual; this genre is not limited to Scripture. (For example, Alexander the Great’s story Diodorus Siculus, Library of History and Augustus in Res gestae divi Augustine.) Although these examples primarily focus on individuals, this genre does not lend itself to such limits. It has also been used for groups such as Acts of the Early Kings, also found in Diodorus Siculus. These stories were designed to showcase a type of hero, typically a historically famous person, divine man, or a mythological figure. According to the New Testament scholar Darrel Bock, this genre would chronicle the deeds of the extraordinary individual, often including the miracles they performed.
Theme to Watch for
The Holy Spirit builds the Church.
About the Author
Although the author does not disclose himself in the Acts of the Apostles nor in the prequel, the gospel of Luke, the consensus is that the writer is Luke, the physician. The early church was in favor of Luke’s authorship, and like the Gospel of Luke, it was not until the late nineteenth century that the authorship of these texts began to be questioned. In the book of Acts, Luke’s use of the pronoun “we” indicates his personal involvement in the events described and confirms his authorship. Additionally, due to the proper Greek used, we know that the writer was an educated man.
Similar to Mark, Luke, the beloved physician (Colossians 4:14), was also a close companion of Paul, often accompanying him on his missionary expeditions (2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24).
When was it written?
It is widely accepted that Acts would have been written no earlier than 62 A.D. Luke would have written it after the completion of his gospel.
About the Audience
The book of Acts very clearly lays out who the intended audience is. Acts 1:1-2 says, “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen” (NIV).
It is possible that Theophilus has a background that was familiar with the synagogue and also with Judaism. Some scholars (Witherington and Nolland) have even referred to him as a “God-fearer.” This book is saturated with Old Testament references thereby assuming the reader had at least a basic understanding of the Scriptures. For a reminder of who Theophilus is, review your introduction to the Gospel of Luke.
What Kind of Relationship Did Luke Have with His Audience?
See this section for the Gospel of Luke.
Historical & Cultural Factors to Keep in Mind
The social context of Luke’s writing in Acts revolves around the Jewish community in Judea, the effect of the diaspora in some areas outside of Judea, and the Roman Empire’s presence and power. The world of Acts and the Apostles was a complicated mix of Hellenistic influence and Jewish practices.
Because of the blend of these cultures, we observe the coexistence of monotheism and polytheism, creating a rich tapestry of diverse perspectives. The Roman Empire tolerated Judaism as an acceptable religion. The Romans allowed all citizens to worship as they desired so long as they did not challenge the emperor or Rome itself.
Even within the Jewish sects, diversity ran wild. The Sadducees worked in tandem with Rome as much as was possible. The High Priest at the time of Jesus’ death and when Acts was written was part of this sect. The Pharisees, not fully trusting of Rome, did not have a relationship with them either. The Essenes completely withdrew from Rome when the Hasmoneans combined their priestly and regal office into one person. The zealots were wildly opposed to Rome and even killed when they found it necessary in the hope of coming out from under Rome’s control. The Jews, alone, show the wide spectrum of views that were held regarding Rome during the time Acts was written.
Jews of the Diaspora tried to uphold their Jewish identity by gathering in community around houses of prayer and the study of the law at synagogues in various locations. These houses of worship will be important centers of activity in Acts. The Roman Empire had an estimated population of fifty to eighty million, with about seven million free Roman citizens. About two and a half million people inhabited Judea, and there were about five million Jews altogether in the empire, 10 percent of the whole population. Since Judaism was a minority religion, the earliest Christianity was barely a dot on the demographic map.
Acts is the amazing account of how this tiny religious movement made its way into the much larger Roman world. For Luke, nothing else could explain its growth but the work of God in association with God’s promise and direction. It is important to keep in mind, however, the ethnic history of the region and the turbulent relationship between Jews and Gentiles in order to truly appreciate the reconciliation that the gospel message sought to bring, not only between individuals and God but also between ethnic groups that had experienced so much hostility.
Why was Acts written?
Acts is the sequel to Luke’s gospel. This text not only continues the narrative that was started in this gospel account but it also explores the birth of the Church and the story of Paul.
The outline of Acts is summarized in Acts 1:8. Write this verse out in your favorite translation.
“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 1:8, ESV).”
