Chapter Intro Video

Chapter Objectives

This chapter should enable the student to

• summarize the basic content of the book of Acts and the stories it tells about early Christianity.

• articulate what modern scholarship has to say about the historical background for the book of Acts, including what can be known about its author, intended audience, and date of composition.

• explain how the book of Acts fits into the genre of “ancient history” and engage the question of how it can serve as a reliable source for historical knowledge today.

• discuss how the book of Acts expresses theological claims about God, including God’s control over history, guidance, and faithfulness to both Israel and Gentiles.

• engage the Christology of Acts in terms of how it presents Jesus as both absent and present, and as the one through whom present and future salvation are experienced.

• describe the book of Acts’ enthusiastic portrayal of Christian life as marked by charismatic manifestations, miracles, and participation in a triumphant mission.

Chapter Summary

This chapter offers an overview of the contents of the book of Acts, followed by discussion of that book’s historical background, genre, and major themes.

In terms of historical background, the book of Acts was written by the author of Luke’s Gospel and may be read as a continuation or second volume to that work. Most scholars date the work to the decade of the 80s, and many respect its apparent claim to be written by someone who accompanied the apostle Paul on some of his travels.

In terms of genre, the book of Acts fits into the basic category of “general history” and may be compared to other ancient historical works. It does not, however, accord with modern standards for historical reporting, and scholars sometimes question the reliability of Acts as a reference work for understanding early Christianity.

The theology of Acts focuses, first, on God as having sovereign control over all of history. God sometimes guides people by revealing what has been predestined. God has also proven faithful in keeping promises; thus, the transfer of divine blessings from Israel to Gentiles must be understood as a consequence of Israel’s rebelliousness and not of God’s unfaithfulness. The book of Acts does emphasize that a remnant of Israel continues to be faithful, and the book presents Jerusalem as the center of the Christian movement. The book of Acts also presents Jesus as still present within the church, and it links reception of present and future salvation to him. Much of Acts is taken up with an enthusiastic account of the church at work in the world, a mission that is marked by charismatic manifestations of the Holy Spirit, miracles, numerical growth, and victorious, triumphant living.

Study Questions

1. Why did the author of Luke’s Gospel write a second volume? Give five reasons that have been suggested for why Luke wrote the book of Acts?

2. What problems attend scholars who want to use Acts as a resource for understanding early Christianity? Give an example of one way in which Acts seems to prove reliable and another example of a way in which the reliability of Acts has been questioned.

3. What implications does the author of Acts draw from his belief that historical events have all been predetermined? How does this belief affect his theological understanding of God, of scripture, and of what faithful people can or should expect of God?

4. How does the book of Acts deal with the theological problem posed by Israel’s rejection of Jesus and the concomitant acceptance of Christ by Gentiles?

5. What is meant by “Lukan generosity”? Give three examples of how this theme can be seen in the book of Acts.

6. List four ways in which the book of Acts depicts Jesus as still present on earth after his ascension into heaven. How do these modes of Christ’s presence relate to Luke’s notion of salvation?

7. What does the Holy Spirit do in the book of Acts? Give three examples.

8. List three ways in which followers of Jesus are often depicted as being “like their master” in the book of Acts? What theological problem has this depiction of Christ-like disciples posed for some Christians and how is that problem sometimes resolved?

Gallery: Daily Life during the Time of Acts

Gallery: Paul's Journeys

Gallery: Locations of Paul's Ministry

Overview: The Book of Acts

Video: Cosmology in the New Testament World