As we study the rise and fall of all great nations prior to Christ s birth, we echo the words of Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 11, verse 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds (ages, Revised Version) were framed by the Word of God The interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar s image depicts for us the adjusting of the nations by the divine power, so that the world would be prepared for Christ s appearance, and especially for the message of His death and resurrection to go forth to all nations Such a thought is emphasized when we realize that, should the Apostle Paul with his divine corn mission have appeared in some era other than the Roman, he would not have had the liberty to go freely from one country to another As we study his activities, we observe that he was able to go from Arabia in all directions without losing the benefit of his Roman citizenship and the protection of the law So the stage was set for the apostles to fulfill the corn mission of their Master Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel, and for the creation of this book The Acts of the Apostles
Before we delve too deeply into its study, let us consider the political atmosphere in which this book had its growth. With the birth of Christ Rome was beginning to feel its might as a great empire, and, like other empires, reached such a peak that the leaning was to the emphasis on luxury and pleasure. The Roman Empire’s growth commenced about B.C. 192 and its fall came in 467 A.D. At its zenith Rome was beyond all challenge the center of the world’s civilization. Only China in the remote Orient deserves to be mentioned in the same breath. To Rome came missions and embassies from all corners of the earth, from places as far away as India and Ceylon.
Luke is universally accepted as the author of “The Acts”; his parents were from Antioch of Syria. We have no information concerning his early boyhood, not until the time he was caused by the power of the Word to become a minister of its power. Luke never married, and history informs us that he died in Bithynia at the age of 74. We can presume that he saw little, if anything of Christ. In his account of the activities of Christ he remarks that he had not been an eye witness of such events, but received instruction from eve witnesses (cp Luke 1:1-4). We read of Luke in the New Testament as the “Beloved Physician” (cp Colossians 4:14). Dr. Hobart in his book, “The Medical Language of Luke”, illustrates that Luke’s language, in writing of certain diseases, confirms our belief that he was a physician. Such examples of medical terms used only by this author are found in Luke 4:38: “Was taken with a great fear”: Acts 28:8: “Lay sick of a fever ” The word “heal” is used only once elsewhere in the New Testament, but is used seven times in Luke’s gospel, and three times in “Acts”. The word “healing” is found only in Luke 13:32 and Acts 4:22-30. It must have given God great pleasure to behold this man who in early manhood had dedicated his life to healing the people of their physical sickness now dedicated to the spiritual welfare of the people. His physician’s knowledge would not be abandoned. No doubt he was of great help to the members of the early ecclesias, and especially to Paul, his fellow companion on many journeys, who had the “thorn in his flesh.”
We mentioned at one point that we know very little of Luke’s early years, but of his life in Christ we know a great deal, especially about his character. On accompanying Luke through “The Acts”, we cannot help noticing the strongest virtue of his character, that of humility, a virtue vital to a successful physician, and especially to a successful disciple of Christ. Such a virtue controlled the pen which wrote the Book of “Acts”. Luke alone preserves the record of the two parables of Christ which were designed to impress on the minds of His disciples the necessity for developing a lowliness of mind (cp Luke 14:7 to 11 and Luke 18:10 to 14) (Pharisee and Publican). The virtue of humility is demonstrated when we recognize that Luke makes a great effort to avoid referring to himself in this book. An illustration of this fact is found when we consider the occasion when Luke was with Paul, traveling by ship to Rome. The ship was wrecked at Malta, and much had to be done for the crew and passengers on the ship to escape disaster. But Luke focuses the spotlight on Paul all the time while he records this event. Wherever possible he avoids self-advertisement. Such an example is found when we notice no mention is made of Titus in “The Acts”. It is thought that this action was taken because he was Luke’s brother. Upon this modest servant of Christ, God bestowed a singular honor. Luke’s gospel record, coupled with “The Acts of the Apostles”, is the longest of the four records of the Lord’s life attached to the Bible. His writings are the largest single contribution to the New Testament.
As we have already mentioned, it is universally agreed that Luke was the author of this book. Evidence is plentiful to support such a statement. A reading of the introduction to this book and the gospel of Luke displays that they were written by the same man. The vocabulary of the two works possesses remarkable peculiarities. The word “return” in Chapter 1, verse 12, and chapter 8, verses 25 to 28, occurs twenty-two times in “The Acts”, and eleven times in Luke’s gospel. Only twice is it found elsewhere in the New Testament. The compound verb rendered “sent” and “away” occurs three times in the gospel, and seven times in “The Acts” (cp Acts 7:12; 9:30). It is mentioned only once elsewhere. Different titles have been given to this book through the years. In the second century some writers named it ‘Acts of the Apostles”; Acts of the Holy Apostles”; “The Acts.” The title given to this book now, it is thought, is not the original. Such a title seems to be incorrect when we recall that in the first half of this book little is said of any of the apostles, with the exception of Peter, while the acts of Stephen, Philip and others are related freely. In the second half the narrative is concerned with the acts of the Apostle Paul. Various dates are set for the writing of this book, but I feel we can be safe in quoting that it was written roughly in A.D. 65. J.B. Phillips’ “Young Church in Action” sets such a date.
Traveling through the pages of this book, we are given the growth of the first century ecclesia, the gospel message going out from the capital of the Jewish state, Jerusalem, to Rome, the capital of the then world empire. While Luke records for us this outward expansion of growth of the spoken word, he records also the expansion within the ecclesia itself. For, added to the calling of Peter, the apostle. to the circumcision of the flesh, one of the Jews was Paul, the chosen vessel, an apostle of the circumcision of the heart to the Gentiles. A new Covenant was introduced to mankind, to the Jew and Gentile, through the precious blood of Christ.
Regarding the authenticity of this book, the historical facts, the towns, places and important people who are mentioned, the accuracy is beyond dispute. Sir W. Ramsay echoed such thoughts after careful study of this book. It is worthwhile to remember that this man commenced his research of this book as a critic, confident that error could be found, but, in concluding his work, he had to admit to the following statement: “Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness. Luke is an historian of the first rank, the author should be placed among the greatest historians.”
As we study the pages of this book, we have the feeling that we have always known the characters which make up this book. Such an effect is created by the style of the writing, for Luke portrays the apostles and disciples in their true light. He affords us insight into the disturbance in the establishment of the first ecclesia in Jerusalem, and the unhappy part Paul played as Saul of Tarsus, who consented to the death of Stephen; and the contention between Mark and Barnabas, the man whom Luke loved. Then he records the joy and peace the brethren and sisters found in having the knowledge of the gospel, rejoicing at times that they were allowed to suffer for Christ. Though the gospel was written for personal edification (Acts 1:1), we feel sure that it was God’s intention that it be preserved for disciples of other generations to follow.
It is quite possible that Luke intended to write another book after this one Maybe he did, but God did not find it necessary to use it in the greatest of all Books. This book, “The Acts of the Apostles” plays a very important part in the New Testament, acting as a bridge to link the gospels with the establishment of the first century ecclesias, and for the preaching of the Apostle Paul unto the Gentiles.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One