a.! Nicholas, one of the seven deacons from Acts 6:5 was a Gentile convert from Antioch b.! After the death of Stephen, and the rise of persecution,

Transcription

1 I.! The Author A.! External Sources extra-biblical commentary 1.! Muratorian Canon (c. AD ) a.! Luke was a doctor b.! Paul s companion c.! Native of Antioch, Syria 2.! Anti-Marconite Prologue (c. AD 175) a.! Native of Antioch, in Syria b.! Lived to the age of 84 c.! Unmarried all his life, no children d.! Died in Boeotia (Greece) 3.! Against Heresies by Irenaeus (c. AD ) Inseparable companion of Paul 4.! Ecclesiastical History by Eusebius (early 4 th century) Luke, who was born at Antioch, and by profession a physician, being for the most part connected with Paul, and familiarly acquainted with the rest of the apostles, has left us in two inspired books, the institutes of that spiritual healing art which he obtained from them. One of these is his gospel, in which he testifies that he has recorded, As those who were from the beginning eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, delivered to him, whom also, he says, he has in all things followed. The other is his Acts of the Apostles, which he composed not from what he had heard from others, but from what he had seen himself. (Eusebius 3.4, p. 85) B.! Internal Sources 1.! Colossians 4:14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 2.! 2 Timothy 4:11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 3.! Philemon Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 4.! The we sections of Acts One of Paul s traveling companions a.! Acts 16:10-17 Traveling with Paul from Troas to Philippi, the conversion of Lydia. b.! Acts 20:5-21:18 From Phillipi to Troas, to Jerusalem C.! The World of Antioch 1.! Founded c. 300 BC by Seleucus I Nicator after his victory over Antigonus at Issus 2.! The Seleucids encouraged Jews to emigrate there in large numbers (New Bible Dictionary [NBD]), p. 50) 3.! Fell to Pompey in 64 BC, and became a free city and the capital of the Roman province of Syria (third largest in the empire) 4.! Known for huge temples (with lots of orgiastic rites celebrating Apollo), center of culture (commended by Cicero). 5.! Apart from Jerusalem itself, no other city was so intimately connected with the beginnings of Christianity. (NBD, p. 50) 1

2 a.! Nicholas, one of the seven deacons from Acts 6:5 was a Gentile convert from Antioch b.! After the death of Stephen, and the rise of persecution, many disciples fled to Antioch (Acts 11:19) c.! When there was a substantial rise in Greek conversions, the Jerusalem church sent Barnabas, who brought back Paul to the area, where they both taught for a whole year. First Gentile church. d.! First place the disciples of Jesus are referred to as, Christians. (Acts 11:26) e.! Sent famine relief for the believers in Judea f.! The birthplace of Christian foreign missions (Acts 13:1-3) g.! Sent a deputation headed by Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to debate the issue of circumcision of Gentiles. (Acts 15:1-2) h.! Where Paul began and ended his second missionary journey, the start of his third missionary journey. i.! Archaeological excavations at the site have unearthed over twenty ruined churches dating from the 4 th century AD. (NBD, p. 51) D.! Luke was a second generation believing Gentile E.! He was a medical doctor who would have undergone rigorous training F.! The only Gentile contributor to the New Testament G.! He knew the art of rhetoric, had superb research and compositional skills, and was familiar with the conventions of historical writing in the Hellenistic tradition. Yet Luke also had a strong familiarity with Judaism and the Greek Old Testament, which may have come as a result of involvement in a synagogue prior to becoming a Christian. (Arnold, p ) 1.! Jewish Connections a.! He used techniques for interpreting Old Testament passages in accord with Jewish methods of the time. 1)! Koine Greek by someone well-connected to Jewish traditions 2)! 90% of his vocabulary is found in the LXX 3)! Old Testament connections 4)! Speeches faithfully preserved and highly valued. (i)! 30% of the text is taken up with preaching that explains the meaning of the gospel. (Johnson, p. 4) (ii)!preaching texts are more prominent than miracle stories so that Luke could explain how preaching was used to address difference audiences. 5)! References to Old Testament figures without explanation 6)! Shows how Jesus fulfills prophecy 2.! Greco-Roman Connections a.! Luke s Greek writing style showed education and culture Luke has the largest vocabulary of any New Testament writer. (Bock, p. 13) b.! He does not use Hebraic expressions that would disconcert a Greek reader, and relates narrative details in the Greco-Roman style. (Garland, p. 24) 2

3 c.! 85% of his vocabulary overlaps that of the works of Plutarch 1 3.! Historic Connections a.! Luke is a careful historian, connecting his history to key people that are affirmed by extra-biblical sources (Bock, p. 30), which put the events on a larger world history and scene. 1)! Pilate s rule as procurator ends in AD 36 (Josephus, Ant ) 2)! Death of Herod Agrippa I, AD 44 (Josephus, Ant ; Acts 12:20-23) 3)! Edict of Claudius expelling Jews from Rome, AD 49 (Suetonius, Claudius 25; Acts 18:2c) 4)! M. Antonio Felix is procurator of Judea, AD (Josephus, Ant ) 5)! Portius Festus is procurator of Judea, AD (Josephus, Ant ; Acts 25:9-12) b.! Luke s key events are connected to people, not politics or the military (Greco- Roman style) to emphasize God s work among His people (Jewish style). II.! The World of Luke A.! The Gentile World 1.! Rise of Hellenism under Alexander the Great (considered himself a missionary of Greek culture) a.! Greek art, architecture, education and religion (mythology plus whatever already existed, including occult, magic, astrology, demonology, goddess worship, eastern mystery religions) b.! Greek becomes the language of trade/commerce, politics 2.! Imperial Cult a.! Big cities competed for the right to be the official wardens of the cult/various guilds and associations coveted the patronage of the emperor b.! Intended to unify all subjected peoples of the Roman empire, to provide social cohesion and political stability, to define Roman life and culture- Cult central to society (parades, dinner parties, festivals, rituals, athletic and gladiatorial contests, citizenship) c.! Romans citizens expected to participate, non-citizens expected to pay respect d.! Some emperors demanded absolute obedience Caligula insisted that he be worshipped as a god, which created violent Gentile hostility toward Jews (torture, death, destruction of synagogues, homes and businesses) B.! The Jewish World 1.! Roman conquerors as early as 2 nd century BC brought thousands of Jewish slaves to Rome, manumitted during their lifetime and granted Roman citizenship. 1 Greek Historian, c. AD Born in Boeotia, traveled extensively around the Roman Empire, writing and lecturing. 3

4 2.! Hellenized by years of interaction with Gentile culture. Some Jews had a reputation for having the power to manipulate evil spirits, mixing Judaism with superstitions and magic. 3.! Primarily Greek speakers outside of Palestine; Aramaic and Hebrew in Palestine. 4.! Lived in closed communities as a way to protect their religion as accepted ethnic worship (at least 10 different synagogues known of in Rome) 5.! The Issue of Circumcision III.!The Books a.! Jews in Palestine had a history of suffering under Hellenistic subjugation Antiochus IV Epiphanes (around 160 BC) conquered Palestine and outlawed circumcision under penalty of death (many mothers and their babies were killed for circumcision) Antiochus offered sacrifices to Zeus in Temple in 167 BC rise of the Maccabeus revolt, focus on circumcision as a national symbol. b.! Pharisees lay society with a rigorous commitment to obeying Torah; scrupulously observing every word, obeying every interpretation and explanation of Torah. Considered the main religious approach in Judean Jewish community from 150 BC to AD 70. Circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, dietary laws taken very seriously. Bring in the Kingdom by Law-keeping. c.! Since the gymnasium, athletic events and public baths accepted nudity, Jews often did not participate because of the social stigma attached to circumcision d.! God-fearers Gentiles in all areas that were circumcised and followed Jewish Law. A.! Mark appears to have been an important source, since almost 40% of Luke s gospel (around 410 verses) correlates with Mark. (Garland, p. 24) B.! Luke wrote two books, but a single story The Gospel of Luke, The Acts of the Apostles 1.! A book was one papyrus roll, a volumen, or papyrus roll, hence two volumes 2.! The Gospel covers about 4 BC to AD 30/33 3.! Acts covers about AD 30/33 to AD 60/62 4.! The last 23% of Luke deals with Jesus arrest, trial, death, resurrection, and ascension. 5.! The last 24% of Acts deals with Paul s arrest, trial, and arrival in Rome. 6.! We are meant to see it as one continuing story a.! Luke s ending looks forward to what is picked up in Acts. (Garland, p. 28) b.! From Jerusalem to the ends of the earth Luke 24:47 leads to Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43; 11:18; 13:38; 20:21: 26:20 c.! The disciples stay in the city Luke 24:49 leads to the first seven chapters of Acts d.! The disciples wait to be clothed with power from on high Luke 24:49 leads to Acts 2:1-41 e.! The disciples role as witnesses Luke 24:48 leads to Acts 1:8; 1:22; 2:32; 3:15; 4:33; 5:32; 10:39, 41; 13:51; 22:20; 26:16 f.! A quote from Is. 6:9-10 (Mark 4:12) Is abbreviated in Luke 8:10 and fleshed out in Acts 28:26-27 g.! The subject of clean and unclean foods from Mark 7:19, is not in Luke, but addressed in Acts 10 and connected to the Gentile mission. 4

5 h.! The charge in Mark 14:58 in Jesus trial that he would destroy the temple is not in Luke, but in Acts 6:14 as part of the charges against Stephen at his trial. C.! Both books are addressed to Theophilus, who was already a follower of Christ. Acts is written by a believer to help another believer, and probably a great many more. (Arnold, p. 221) 1.! Most excellent a title of respect for a person of high social status and wealth, often a person of equestrian rank in Roman society. (Arnold, p. 221) 2.! Equestrian rant is just below senatorial in status, implying an extremely wealthy individual with resources available for the cause of Christ Luke s literary patron. 3.! He likely subsidized Luke for the period required to research and write the gospel and Acts, and then covered its publication funding scribes to make copies for distribution. D.! God s sovereignty in the creation of Luke s writings 1.! The Research Period Luke accompanied Paul to Jerusalem, c. AD 57, with the Gentile-Christian delegation, which gave him two years in Palestine while Paul was in custody in Caesarea, to collect first person interviews of church leaders, apostles and other believers. It would also have given him two years of dialogue with Paul. 2.! The Writing Period both books were probably written during the two years of Paul s imprisonment in Rome, AD E.! Luke Wrote with Particular Foci 1.! He wrote selectively a.! A lot about Peter, John, Paul, and the Lord s brother, James, but not about the other apostles b.! He focused on the gospel s progress north and west of Jerusalem, but not east and south c.! He addressed some of the development of the Palestinian church, but more on the expansion of the Gentile church 2.! He wrote in a style that was intended as a political apologetic toward Rome a.! Christians are not a threat to Rome, but a wholesome influence on society b.! Roman officials were consistently friendly to Christianity. (Bock, p. 26) c.! Some Romans had become Christians the centurion Cornelius, Sergius Paulus, proconsul of Cyprus d.! Romans couldn t find any fault with either Jesus or His disciples 1)! Neither Herod nor Pilate could find any proof for the basis of sedition 2)! The Philippian magistrates apologized to Paul 3)! Proconsul Gallio in Corinth refused to adjudicate 4)! The town clerk in Ephesus declared Paul and his friends innocent 5)! Felix, Festus, and Agrippa failed to convict Paul 6)! Roman authorities conceded that Christianity was not a new religion (needing state approval), but the purest form of Judaism (Block, p. 27), accepted by Rome since the second century BC. 5

6 3.! Luke wrote in a style that presented a united church (Jew and Gentile; Jew and Samaritan), in response to Jewish criticisms of the growing Gentile body He wrote of the ministries of both Peter and Paul a.! Both men were filled with the Holy Spirit b.! Both men preached with boldness and bore witness to the Jews of Jesus crucified, risen, and reigning in fulfillment of Scripture. (Block, p. 29) c.! Both men preached to Gentiles d.! Both were given visions to the aid the church s direction e.! Both were imprisoned for their testimony and miraculously set free f.! Both healed the sick and exorcized evil spirits. Both raised the dead. g.! Both call down judgment h.! Both refused to be worshiped. i.! The risen Lord summons the ends of the earth to turn to him for salvation, and as they come, he sweeps from their path the ruins of the walls that had kept un-law-ful aliens out of Israel s covenant privilege. Circumcision, sanctuary, calendar, diet all are bypassed as the God of glory lavishes himself on outsiders. (Johnson, p. 11) 4.! The main message is Salvation In the Gospels the Son of Man offered his life; in Acts the Son of God offered his power. (Hughes, p. 13) a.! This is Salvation offered by God (Luke 2:30-31) b.! This is Salvation bestowed by Christ (Luke 2:11; 19:10; 15:1-32; Acts 2:38-39; 13:38-39; 4:12; 5:31) c.! This is Salvation offered to all peoples (Luke 2:31-32; 3:6; Acts 2:17) d.! The sign of the Age of God s Salvation is the coming of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Jesus and the early church e.! Because this Salvation is offered by God, bestowed by Christ, and undergirded by the work of the Holy Spirit, believers can have confidence in the truthfulness and reliability of their faith. 1)! God is in charge and guiding and directing all that is happening in the church. 2)! In spite of opposition and/or persecution and suffering, your faith is secure and God s will and word will prevail. 3)! Spread the good news! Be His witnesses. IV.!Unpacking the Book of Acts A.! Identify the types of writing used 1.! Narrative a.! emphasizing God s activity in this world b.! Repeated accounts Biblical narrators preferred to underscore an event s importance by repeating the story with slight variation like the repetition and development of a musical motif in a symphony. (Johnson, p. 10) 1)! Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost 2)! Conversion of Cornelius and his associates 3)! Conversion of Saul 6

7 2.! Miracle accounts 3.! Summary Statements Acts 6:7; 12:24; 13:49; 19:20 4.! Travel notes eyewitness accounts 5.! Speeches B.! Read to understand the role and mission of the church 1.! God s witnesses to the world through the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit over a period of 32 years, from Pentecost AD 30/33 to AD 60/62 When Jesus announced at Caesarea Philippi that he intended to build his church within enemy occupied territory, he insisted that nothing not even the forces of darkness could prevail in their sustained opposition against it. (Matt. 16:18) The Acts of the Apostles provides the contours of how Jews accomplishes this task. (Thomas, p. 5) 2.! The Church s involvement in the instruction and spiritual growth of converts 3.! How do we wait for Christ s return? a.! It will come. God will someday come as judge. b.! Not our concern our task is the mission, the ministry of the Gospel. 4.! A people of prayer 5.! A people who look out for each other as a community a.! Providing physical needs of members 1)! What if members end up in prison? 2)! How do we take care of our widows and orphans, Gentiles put out of work by their conversion? 3)! How do we provide support for missionaries? b.! Fellowship meals c.! Celebration of the Lord s Supper d.! Appointing of leaders and simple organization The apostles continue to function as Christ s authoritative appointees. (Harrison, p. 13) e.! Dealing with persecution f.! The move from Temple preaching and synagogue worship to house church 1)! How are the Gentiles to be grafted in to the community? 2)! What parts of Judaism (circumcision, dietary laws, table fellowship) is necessary for Gentiles, and what is not? g.! This was a ministry of faithful, persevering service for Christ in the face of great odds and numerous setbacks. (Milne, p. 10) The church serves, preaches, teaches, heals, and prayers. This community values peace, promotes unity, settles disputes, shares goods, and exemplifies grace. (Bock, p. 41) C.! Read Acts in the light of the Epistles letters of the apostles to the church D.! Read Acts in the light of Old Testament fulfillment. He is writing in the tradition of a Hebrew prophetic history, bearing witness to the climax of that tradition in the work of the Messiah. (Johnson, p. 7) Look for Old Testament themes: the Spirit, the servant, holy judgment, dispersion, persecution of the prophets. 7

8 E.! Read Acts in the light of the Gospel of Luke Luke Acts Jesus receives the Spirit Jesus is the servant witness Jesus is referred to often as Lord. Salvation has arrived! The Gentiles are welcome The Church receives the Spirit The Church is the servant witness Jesus glory and authority as Lord are displayed by his resurrection from the dead. Salvation has arrived! (Johnson, p. 7) And the Church is His witness. The Gentiles are welcome Bibliography Arnold, Clinton E., Andreas J. Kostenberger, ed., Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary-Acts Zondervan: Grand Rapids, Bock, Darrell L., Acts, Baker Commentary on the New Testament, Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, 2007 Boice, James Montgomery,.Acts, An Expositional Commentary, Baker Books: Grand Rapids, Bruce, F.F., The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.: Grand Rapids, reprinted Harrison, Everett F., Acts, Expanding the Church, Moody Press: Chicago, Hughes, R. Kent, Acts, The Church Afire, Preaching the Word Series, Crossway: Wheaton, Johnson, Dennis E., The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption, P&R Publishing: Phillipsburg, Marshall, I. Howard, A. R. Millard, J.I. Packard, and D.J. Wiseman, ed, New Bible Dictionary, third edition, IVP Academic: Downers Grove, latest reprint Milne, Bruce, Acts, Witnesses to Him, Focus on the Bible Series, Christian Focus: Great Britain, Stott, John R. W., The Message of Acts, IVP Academic: Downers Grove, Thomas, Derek W. H., Acts, Reformed Expository Commentary Series, P&R Publishing: Phillipsburg,