As most of us know, the Book of Acts records the genesis of the Church...Let's answer a few questios into introduce this book before we get into studying the actual text:
Why did Luke write his books? First we have to understood that Luke wrote a 2 part series Luke-Acts, Acts being the book we are discussing. Both of his books were dedicated to Theophilus. Luke seems to have regarded the Acts as a single continuous work with his gospel. Now to answer the question, "Why did Luke write a two-volume work on the origins of Christianity?" We will turn to the three sides of Luke: historian, diplomat, and theologian.
Historian: Luke claimed in his preface to the Gospel to be writing accurate history, and it is generally agreed that he intended this to cover both volumes. Meaning we can look at Luke 1:1-4 as the real preface to both his gospel and the book of Acts. The reason we can bank on Luke as a polished historian goes beyond his simple claims, but can also rests in the fact that he was an educated doctor, a traveling companion of Paul, and had actually lived in Palestine for at least two years. Finally, A.N. Sherwin-White affirmed the accuracy of Luke's background knowledge. He said, "The historical framework is exact. In items of time and place the details are precise and correct...As documents these narratives belong to the same historical series as the record of provincial and imperial trials in epigraphical and literary sources of the first and early second centuries AD...For Acts the confirmation of historicity is overwhelming...Any attempt to reject its basic historicity even in matters of detail must now appear absurd. Roman historians have long taken it for granted. " So reaon one for this writing was to show and prove historically that Christ came to offer salvation to humanity.
Diplomat: Luke develops a political apologetic because he is deeply concerned about the attitude of the Roman empire toward Christianity. This is probably why Luke's books are addressed to Theophilus. It is likely to be the name of a specific person. And the adjective, kratistos, most excellent, used before his name in Luke 1:3 is probably the honorary form of address used to persons who hold higher offiical or social positions than the speaker. We see this used later with Felix and Festus. I could go into this much deeper, but to wrap it up the second reason Luke wrote this book was to show that this new Salvation, this new king was for the Peace of the whole world through salvation in him.
Theologian: Luke carefully selected, arranged, and presented their material in order to serve his particular theological purpose. In fact, Luke used his history to service and promote his theology. Luke was a theologian of salvation. Salvation is the central theme in Lucan theology-In the Gosple we see Salvation accomplished, and in the Acts we see it proclaimed. Luke's theology of salvation is already adumbrated in the Song of Simeon. First Luke proclaims that salvation has been prepared by God, second that salvation is bestowed by Christ, and finally salvation is offered to all peoples. The prominence given to the universal offer of the gospel comes with particular appropriateness from Luke, as I don't think it is ironic that he is the only Gentile writer in the New Testament. The third reason being theological, is that Luke proclaims the gospel of slavation from God in Christ for all people. Hence his inclusion in the Acts of so many sermons and addresses.
So based off of these three ideas, what do we need to focus on in Acts? Do we focus on the many sermons written so we can duplicate them with perfect exegesis? Do we focus on the charismatic acts and try to duplicate them? Do we focus on the Apostles and their amazing ability? Luke's two volumes were not a contrast between Christ and his Church, but rather the two part volumes show us the two stage ministry of Jesus. In other words, Jesus' ministry on earth was executed personally and publicly (Gospel of Luke); and then was followed by his ministry from heaven exercised through his Holy Spirit by his apostles (Acts). So, this calls on us to look at the ascension as not the place in history that ended Jesus' ministry, but rather the moment in which he passed the batton to his Apostles to end his earthly ministry while at the same time beginning his heavenly ministry. So in short, the book of Luke and the book of Acts are the continued works of the Story of Salvation to Humanity through the life, death, burial, ressurrection, ascension, and continued work of Christ from the heavenly realm...let's begin our journey into this very dangerous church led by Christ...
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