The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament (131 page)

Date
 Scholars generally date the Book of Acts in either the 60s or the 80s of the first century. All things considered, it is most likely that Luke wrote the Book of Acts around
A.D.
63, soon after Paul's house arrest in Rome recorded in the closing chapter (28:16). This early date is inferred on the basis of what Luke does
not
tell us. For example, he makes no mention of the fire that swept through Rome and sparked a fierce persecution of Christians by the emperor Nero in
A.D.
64. He tells us nothing of the martyrdom of Peter or Paul in Rome in the mid 60s. He gives no indication that Rome's military conquest of Jerusalem in
A.D.
70 had already happened. Luke's silence on these matters speaks loudly, especially since Christianity's relationship with Imperial Rome is a key theme in the book, Peter and Paul are the leading figures in the book, and Jerusalem is the most important city in the early chapters of the book. Luke was apparently bringing the early history of the Church up to date around
A.D.
63, just after Paul's detainment in Rome from
A.D.
60 to 62 (28:30).

Structure
 The Book of Acts can be outlined in various ways.
(1)
Focusing on the leading figures, it can be said that chaps. 1-12 narrate the leadership role of Peter in establishing the Church, while chaps. 13-28 narrate the missionary efforts of Paul in expanding the Church.
(2)
Focusing on the central cities, the broad story of Acts stretches from the holy city of Jerusalem in the east (1:4) to the imperial city of Rome in the west (28:14).
(3)
Focusing on the geographical movement of the plot, Jesus' mandate in Acts 1:8 outlines the course of the entire book: "[Y]ou shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." The story unfolds in precisely this way, with the apostles preaching in Jerusalem (chaps. 1-7), then in Judea and Samaria (chaps. 8-12), and then all throughout the Roman world (chaps. 13-28). Luke's open-ended conclusion, with Paul still preaching the gospel (28:31), makes the entire Book of Acts a fitting prologue to the rest of Church history.

Themes
 The Book of Acts traces the first thirty years of Christian history from the Ascension of Jesus in Jerusalem to the imprisonment of Paul in Rome. It is Luke's intention to continue the story of Jesus through the life and mission of his first disciples (1:1; Lk 1:1-4). Though it is also the work of a careful historian, whose accuracy and reliability are increasingly confirmed in modern research, Acts is far from being a lifeless chronicle of facts and figures. Luke has given us an artful narrative filled with inspiring heroes, moving speeches, and daring adventures. Stylistically, he combines the best traditions of biblical and Hellenistic historiography. Like the writers of the OT, he brings out the
theological
meaning of history by taking readers behind the scenes to see God orchestrating all things to further his plan of salvation. Like the Hellenistic writers of his day, Luke also brings out the
moral
lessons of history by highlighting the particular people and events that exemplify universal moral truths. For him, the apostles and their opponents are living icons of virtue or vice whose actions encourage or discourage certain forms of behavior in light of the gospel.

Historical though it is, the Book of Acts is by no means an exhaustive account of Christian beginnings. Luke was forced, as all historians are, to be selective. So, for instance, despite the accepted title of the work, "The Acts of the Apostles", only two apostles spend significant time in the spotlight: Peter and Paul. Many scholars contend that Luke is mainly interested in the activity of the Holy Spirit. We see this from the beginning, where the Spirit descends mightily upon the apostles (2:1-4) and sends them out to evangelize Israel (chaps. 1-9) and the Gentiles (chaps. 10-28) with the good news that Jesus is risen. Thanks to the Spirit, who controls the pace and direction of these missions throughout the book (4:31; 13:2; 15:8, 28; 16:6-10; 20:23), the gospel meets with staggering success, and the Church is quickly built up (2:41, 47; 4:4; 6:7, etc.). Luke shows us that, even in the face of opposition, neither prisons (5:19; 12:7) nor persecutions (8:1; 12:1-5) nor plots (9:23-24; 23:12; 25:3) could thwart the spread of the gospel through the power of the Spirit (1:8).

Within this general focus of the book lies another reason for writing. Inferential evidence suggests the Book of Acts was also written as an apologetic defense for the apostolic mission of Paul. As one of his traveling companions (16:10), Luke knew as well as anyone that rival missionaries were busily trying to discredit Paul and undermine his authority to preach the gospel (2 Cor 11:4-6; 12:11; Gal 6:12). We learn from Paul's epistles that propaganda from these missionaries had damaging effects on some of the Churches he had established on his travels (especially in Galatia and Corinth). For skeptical opponents, it was Paul's unique status that called his apostleship into question: he was not one of the original Twelve; he had played no part in the founding of the Church; and at one time he had been a sworn enemy of the faith.

This background best accounts for the present shape of Acts, especially its later chapters. Whereas Luke could have narrated Paul's conversion on the Damascus road once, he includes three separate accounts to stress that Paul is no missionary maverick but a chosen messenger sent by the risen Jesus (9:1-19; 22:3-16; 26:2-18). It is also notable that Luke never mentions the spread of Christianity eastward into Mesopotamia or southward into Egypt and Africa but focuses solely on the northwesterly arc between Jerusalem and Rome that formed the mission field of Paul's apostolic work (Rom 15:18-19). Most striking of all, Luke has drawn out an extended series of parallels between the ministry of Peter, whose apostolic status was never seriously questioned in the ancient Church, and the ministry of Paul:

• Both deliver inaugural sermons to Israel focusing on the Davidic covenant (2:22-36; 13:26-41).

• Both appeal to Psalm 16 to explain the Resurrection of Jesus (2:25-28; 13:35).

• Both have the power to heal cripples (3:1-10; 14:8-10).

• Both are filled with the Holy Spirit (4:8; 13:9).

• Both are renowned for extraordinary miracles (5:15-16; 19:11-12).

• Both confer the Spirit by the laying on of hands (8:14-17; 19:6).

• Both confront and rebuke magicians (8:18-24; 13:6-11).

• Both raise the dead to new life (9:36-41; 20:912).

• Both refuse to accept divine worship (10:25-26; 14:11-15).

• Both are miraculously delivered from prison (12:6-11; 16:25-34).

These parallels announce to the careful reader that the
power
at work in Peter is also at work in Paul, that the
preaching
of Peter is also the preaching of Paul, and that the
protection
given to Peter by God is likewise given to Paul. Together they show that Paul is equally approved by God and has all the credentials of a true apostle of Christ (1 Cor 9:1; 2 Cor 12:12). «

OUTLINE OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

1. Preface (
1:1-5
)

2. From the Ascension to Pentecost (
1:6-2:13
)

   A. Ascension of Jesus (
1:6-14
)

   B. Replacement of Judas (
1:15-26
)

   C. Pentecost (
2:1-13
)

3. The Gospel in Jerusalem (
2:14-8:3
)

   A. The Spirit's Descent on Jerusalem (
2:14-47
)

   B. Peter's Ministry and First Imprisonment (
3:1-4:31
)

   C. Donations and Discipline among Believers (
4:32-5:11
)

   D. Peter's Ministry and Second Imprisonment (
5:12-42
)

   E. Selection of the Seven (
6:1-7
)

   F. Stephen's Ministry and Martyrdom (
6:8-7:60
)

   G. The First Persecution of the Church (
8:1-3
)

4. The Gospel in Judea and Samaria (
8:4-12:25
)

   A. Philip's Ministry in Samaria and Judea (
8:4-40
)

   B. The Conversion of Saul (
9:1-31
)

   C. Peter's Ministry in Lydda, Joppa, and Caesarea (
9:32-11:18
)

   D. Gentile Conversions in Syrian Antioch (
11:19-30
)

   E. The Persecution and Death of Herod Agrippa (
12:1-25
)

5. The Gospel to the End of the Earth (
13:1-28:31
)

   A. Paul's First Missionary Journey: Cyprus and Asia Minor (
13:1-14:28
)

   B. The Council of Jerusalem (
15:1-35
)

   C. Paul's Second Missionary Journey: Asia Minor, Greece, Ephesus (
15:36-18:22
)

   D. Paul's Third Missionary Journey: Asia Minor, Ephesus, Greece (
18:23-21:15
)

   E. Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem and Imprisonment in Caesarea (
21:16-26:32
)

   F. Paul's Journey to Rome (
27:1-28:16
)

   G. Paul's Ministry in Rome (
28:17-31
)

Chapters

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

Essays and Charts

Peter, Prince of the Apostles

Kingdom Restoration

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1
 
In
the first book
, 
*
O Theoph'ilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
²
until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
³
To them he presented himself alive after his passion by
many proofs
, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God.
⁴
And while staying
^a
with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the
promise of the Father
, which, he said, "you heard from me,
⁵
for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

The Ascension of Jesus

6
 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time
restore the kingdom
to Israel?"
⁷
He said to them, "It is not for you to know
times or seasons
which the Father has fixed by his own authority.
⁸
But you shall receive
power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samar'ia and to the end of the earth."
⁹
And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was
lifted up
, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
¹⁰
And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
¹¹
and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come
in the same way
as you saw him go into heaven."

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12
 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a
sabbath day's journey
away;
¹³
and when they had entered, they went up to
the upper room
, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphae'us and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.
¹⁴
All these with one accord devoted themselves to
prayer
, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 
*

15
 In those days
Peter stood up
among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said,
¹⁶
"Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which
the Holy Spirit spoke
beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus.
¹⁷
For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry.
¹⁸
(
Now
this man
bought a field
with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong
^b
he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
¹⁹
And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in
their language
Akel'dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
²⁰
For it is written in
the book of Psalms
,

  
'Let his habitation become desolate,

  
and let there be no one to live in it';

and

  
'His office let another take.'