Title
Most Bibles name this book “Acts of the Apostles”
The Greek word for Acts is Praxeis, a word commonly used in Greek literature to summarize the accomplishments of outstanding men.
Different manuscript title variations:
Codex Sinaiticus – just has the word “Acts”
Codex Vaticanus has the title “Acts of the Apostles”
Early writers refer to the book as the Acts of the Apostles
Most manuscripts contain the title “Acts of the Apostles”
This title is appropriate, as the book contains what the apostles were doing after the ascension of Christ
Author
Luke
Evidences:
Luke writes in both the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts to Theophilus #1
An examination of the "we" passages #2
Shows the author to have been a companion of Paul and to have written the whole book of Acts (Acts 16:10-17, 20:5, 21:18, 27:1, 28:16; cf. Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:11; Phile. 1:24)
The change from “we” to “they” at Philippi and then back to “we” when Paul returns demonstrates the author being a witness to the journey of Paul, without being named
The author was an eyewitness and travelling companion to Paul
Acts 16:4, 8– Timothy is joining Paul; the author is writing from the outside
At Troas, the pronouns become “we”
Acts 16:10-11, 16 – it changes to we
Acts 16:19 – Paul and Silas are going to be seized by authorities
It goes back to the author writing on the outside once again (Acts 16:25, 40)
This internal evidence provided with point number three proves it to be Luke and not someone else because he was not explicitly mentioned (2 Tim 4:11)
Luke is referred to as the “beloved physician” (Col. 4:14) #3
Luke uses medical language both in the gospel of Luke and in the book of Acts more so than other gospel accounts
Luke 14:2 — “dropsy”
Luke uses the Greek term ὑδρωπικός (hydrōpikos), referring to a person suffering from abnormal fluid retention/edema.
This is the only occurrence of the term in the New Testament and is distinctly medical terminology
Acts 3:7 ankle bones - specific anatomical term referring to the ankle or ankle joint, and it occurs only here in the New Testament.
Early historical records #4
Anti-Marcionite Prologue to Luke's Gospel; The Muratorian Fragment; Against Heresies, by Irenaeus; and writings of Clement of Alexandria, Eusebius, Tertullian for some examples (Cates)
Who was it written to?
Written to Theophilus, giving an orderly account or former account (Acts 1:1, Luke 1:3)
This is the second time that Theophilus is written to
Who was Theophilus? (2 popular theories) – Luke directly addresses the name in both of his writings
Theophilus was a real individual person #1
Refers to Theophilus as “most excellent”
This Greek adjective is a formal title for identifiable offices such as Felix and Festus (Acts 23:26, 24:3, 26:25)
BDAG entry – strongly affirmative honorary form of address, most noble, most excellent, used in the address of persons of varied social status
It documents that κράτιστος was actually used as an honorific form of address in the Greco-Roman world
Josephus, Life 430 - where Josephus addresses Epaphroditus, “O most excellent Epaphroditus.”
BDAG identifies this Epaphroditus as a freedman of Domitian and the man to whom Josephus dedicated Antiquities and Against Apion.
The Greek word supports this, as the Greek word for “you” is singular, implying that it would be an individual person and not a collective group of people
Theophilus was a group of people #2
(θεός) = God
philos (φίλος) means friend, beloved, or loving
It would translate to “friend of God” or “lover of God”
The argument is made that it is being written to what that name literally means in Greek
However, the Greek also states that this was a singular pronoun, “you”
States that this individual had already been instructed in certain matters (Luke 1:4)
In Luke 1:4, the pronouns are also singular “you”
The weight of the evidence points toward it being an individual person
“Philip” means “lover of horses,” but Philip was still an individual.
Time and Place
It was definitely written in the first century
That the book is authentic, dating from the first century, is evident from references to Acts in works by such early "Fathers" as Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, Hermas, Justin Martyr, Hegesippus, and Athenagoras
More precisely around 62-64 AD.
Paul was still alive under house arrest in Rome at the end of the book (Acts 28:16, 30-31)
Nero came into power in 54 AD.
Nero became emperor in AD 54, but his notorious persecution of Christians in Rome began following the fire of Rome in AD 64.
Why is Nero's persecution of the church in Rome (A.D. 64 and following) not mentioned?
Why is Luke silent on such deaths as those of Paul and Peter? The deaths of Stephen and James the apostle were recorded
The place of Luke's writing Acts was very likely Rome, where Paul was still in his first imprisonment awaiting his trial and verdict. Luke the physician was at his side
Significance
In the Old Testament, the historical framework is from Genesis (creation) to Esther; all 39 books contained in the Old Testament are going to fall somewhere in between the timeframe from Genesis and Esther
Acts serves as this bridge in the New Testament today
When we look at the epistles from the New Testament, we can look at the establishment of these congregations and where the writer was at the time.
Acts 18:1, 8 to 1 Cor 1:11-14 gives the history of the establishment of the Corinthian congregation
We can then go to the epistles written to this congregation, understanding its founding
The purpose of the book was led by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:2)
The Gospels were leading up to and anticipating the time of the reign of Christ and His kingdom
Acts is the book that the gospels have led up to
Christ being the propitiation for our sins (the payment) and establishing the plan of salvation for men to be saved is evidenced first in the book of Acts
Acts is church history
There is concern over church history in the religious world
People concerned with church history are looking late in church history, hundreds of years later, to men such as Augustine, Jerome, etc., instead of the inspired church history (a lot changes over hundreds of years)
If we follow the inspired church history given by God, we can do as they did in the 1st century, and we can be what they were.
A lack of understanding of this book has led many in the religious world to err regarding how to enter the kingdom, and what this kingdom is
Acts is a book where we understand how the Holy Spirit operates with regard to conversion, miraculous gifts, the confirmation of the word, and the gift of the Holy Spirit found in Acts 2:38
The worship of the church is described in some detail, including the first day of the week, along with avenues of worship and the Christians' steadfastness in the apostles' doctrine (Acts 2:42).
Acts places a real emphasis upon the heart, the spiritual part of man, emphasizing being of "one accord," "gathered together," "who knowest the hearts," "all together," "all things common," "neither was there among them any that lacked," "all with one accord."
For the kingdom of Christ to be preached throughout the world, the book of Acts must be preached and obeyed by honest hearers. In it, we see the unfolding of the scheme of human redemption.
Acts 1:8 inspired table of contents
Jerusalem - Acts 1–7
Judea and Samaria - Acts 8–12
The end of the earth - Acts 13–28