The Acts of the Apostles
The author
• As with the gospels, the book of Acts is
anonymous—the writer does not identify
himself. However, the author of Acts is the
same author as the Gospel of Luke. Scholars
frequently refer to both books together as
Luke-Acts.
• The author of Luke-Acts is traditionally
connected with Luke the physician who was a
“fellowlabourer” with Paul and accompanied
him on his mission to Rome (Colossians 4:14;
Philemon 1:24; 2 Timothy 4:11).
• Luke and Acts were both written to Theophilus
(Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1), who was probably a
Christian convert who was Luke’s patron.
• The general view among scholars is that Luke-
Acts was composed by a Greek-speaking,
urban, Gentile author.
Date
• Since Acts follows Luke, and Luke’s gospel was
written A.D. 80–85, Acts has to come sometime
after that, probably within the same time frame
or very soon after it.
Themes
• The spread of the gospel throughout the
world. At the beginning of Acts Jesus tells the
apostles, “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (1:8).
Acts lays out the fulfillment of this
commandment: Chapters 1–7 describe the
preaching of the apostles and the growth of the
church in Jerusalem; chapters 8–12 focus on
the spread of the church to other parts of
Judea, to Samaria, and to nearby Syria; and
chapters 13–28 deal with the expansion of
Christianity to “the ends of the earth,” through
Asia Minor, Greece, and eventually to Rome.
• Witnesses of Christ. Jesus’ commissioning of
the apostles as witnesses of him (1:8) is fulfilled
as they testify as eyewitnesses his resurrection
(1:22; 2:32; 3:15; 4:33; 5:32; 10:39–42; 13:30–
31).
• The growth and organization of the Christian
church. Acts recounts the development of a
primitive church organization, with Peter and
the apostles at the head (1:15–26; 2:41–47;
4:32–5:11; 6:1–8; 15:1–22).
• Persecution and martyrdom. The gospel does
not spread without opposition, and Luke
recounts the difficulties the early Christians
faced, including the death of several prominent
leaders (7:54–60; 12:1–2) and the persecutions
Peter, John, and Paul encountered.
• The Temple. Luke’s gospel begins (1:5–23) and
ends (24:53) at the Jerusalem Temple. In Acts
the Temple continues to play a significant role
in the early Christian community: Luke
describes the apostles teaching, meeting, and
healing there regularly (2:46; 3:1–11; 5:12, 42;
21:26).
Structure
Acts begins with a brief prologue, followed by a
recounting of important events in the expansion of
the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the known
world.
Prologue: Luke’s salutation to Theophilus (1:1–14).
• Luke writes his second treatise to Theophilus,
and begins by retelling the ending of his gospel
(1:1–14).
The early days of the community of believers in
Jerusalem (1:15–8:3).
• Matthias is chosen as Judas’ replacement
(1:15–26).
• The Holy Ghost comes in power on Pentecost
and thousands are baptized; the Christian
community is organized (2:1–47).
• Peter and John heal and preach at the Temple
(3:1–4:31).
• The believers have all possessions in common
(4:32–5:11).
• The apostles perform miracles, are arrested,
and are miraculously freed (5:12–42).
• Seven are appointed to minister in temporal
affairs (6:1–7).
• Stephen is arrested and put on trial; he
preaches fearlessly and becomes the first
Christian martyr (6:8–7:60).
• Saul persecutes the Christians (8:1–3).
The gospel spreads through Judea, Samaria, and
Syria (8:4–12:25).
• The ministry of Philip (8:4–40).
• The conversion of Saul (9:1–31).
• The ministry of Peter; the gospel goes to the
Gentiles (9:32–11:18).
• The gospel spreads to Antioch (11:19–30).
• Persecution increases in Jerusalem (12:1–25).
The gospel spreads “to the ends of the earth” (13:1–
28:31).
• Paul’s first missionary journey to Asia Minor
(13:1–14:28).
• The Jerusalem Council resolves a dispute over
Gentile converts (15:1–35).
• Paul’s second missionary journey to Asia Minor
and Greece (15:36–18:22).
• Paul’s third missionary journey to Asia Minor
and Greece (18:23-20:38).
• Paul returns to Jerusalem and is arrested
(21:1–39)
• Paul defends himself at the Temple, before the
Sanhedrin, before Felix, and before Agrippa
(21:40–26:32).
• Paul is taken to Rome, where he preaches while
under house arrest (27:1–28:31).
Adapted from Felix Just, “The Acts of the Apostles,”
http://www.catholic-resources.org/Bible/Acts.htm;
and Greg Herrick, “An Overview of the Book of Acts,”
http://bible.org/article/study-outline-acts