Who Wrote Acts In The Bible?
The book of Acts was created and written by the disciple or physician and possibly a Gentile, Luke. The complete name is ‘The Acts of the Apostles.
The importance of this book is that it gives interesting details of how the Christian Church began and rapidly developed. The Holy Spirit led as well as encouraged the followers. It should also serve to inspire us to see how effective we can be in changing the world if we imitate the very early devotees.
The “We” passages in Acts
Well, let’s first look at what is called the “we” section or passages of Acts? Now “we” passages play a significant role in identifying who the author of this book is? And this is because the “we” simply lets us know that whoever wrote these passages was also a participant in the events happening within these passages of Scripture. So overall, what this lets us know is that whoever wrote the book of Acts is simply given our witness to many of the accounts in and within this book. So now that we know whoever wrote the book of Acts is in our witness, it seems as though.
Also Know About: Who Are The Watchers In The Bible?
There may be quite a few different candidates for the authorship of this book. And this is because the Apostle Paul had many different companions with them throughout his ministry who could very well be these eyewitnesses. And so just one example, a very small example some say that Silas is an eyewitness so, therefore, he could be the author of this book. Some say, Titus. Some say, Timothy. Some even say the Apostle Paul is the author of this book. But it is generally believed that Luke, Luke Lokrum is also the author of the Gospel. Luke is also the author of this book, the Acts of the Apostles.
The Author Distinguishes Himself
You have to pay attention to the fact that Luke is the distinguishing himself. Not only from the Apostle Paul but also the rest of the companions by simply naming them throughout the book.
Timothy 4:10-11
Paul mentions in 2nd Timothy 4 10 through 11. Davis has deserted me because he loves the things of his life and has gone 2 Thessalonians. Croesus has gone to Galatia. And Titus has gone to damnation. Only Luke is with me. Bring mark when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. So here in this passage of Scripture, Paul is saying that only Luke was with him during his final imprisonment. Therefore, only Luke wasn’t a witness to a portion of Paul’s final imprisonment.
Parallel Similarities
- First, point to be made is that when both Luke’s Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles are compared with one another, there seem to be quite a few parallel similarities. For one, most seemed to have the same style and same form.
- Second, Both show evidence of being written by a physician, and lo and behold, it is the Apostle Paul himself who calls Luke the beloved physician.
- Third, both books are written by the same person names Theophilus.
Another note worth mentioning is that many of the early church fathers, such as those of Iranian origin, Eusebius, Tertullian, and Jerome, all unanimously agreed that Luke was indeed the author of the Acts of the Apostles.
Muratorian Canon
And then there is the moratorium canon. This is a new testament canon that came out of Rome around 200 AD. Now, what this Canon consists of is the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the thirteen letters of the Apostle Paul, the first and second John, Jude, and the apocalypse of Peter, but it does not include the Hebrews, James, 3rd John, first and second Peter or revelation. But what are the most interesting things about the moratorium Canon because it gives common authorship to both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts?
Acts Haven’t Always Been Called Acts
Finally, the Acts of the Apostles haven’t always been called the Acts of the Apostles. You see, the book didn’t receive this traditional name until around the 3rd century or so. Therefore, the Church Fathers simply called the book by the artists’ name. For example, all Rania’s called it Luke’s witness to the Apostles and certainly and simply called it Luke’s commentary. So who wrote the Acts of the Apostles well? It is generally believed that Luke Lokrum is also the author of the Gospel. Luke is also the author of this book, the Acts of the Apostles.
Overview Of The Book Of Acts
I want to give you an overview of the book of Acts. I want to start by talking about the background to the book of Acts. So first and foremost, the book of Acts was written by Luke, who also happened to be a physician. So as you know, Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke but also, if you look at Luke 1:1 and Act 1:1, you will see that both of them are addressed to someone named Theophilus.
This means lover of God. We can see that acts are simply more of a continuation of what he began to write about in the Book of Luke. So if Luke was about what Jesus began to do and teach on the earth, then the book of Acts is all about continuing Jesus’ work as he works through the church.
Outline To Acts
Interestingly enough, the entire book of Acts outline can be found in chapter 1, verse 8, which says but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be my witnesses first in Jerusalem and then Judea and Samaria and then even to the remotest parts of the earth. And so that is the outline to the book of Acts right there.
Message Of Acts
The book of Acts is all about how the Holy Spirit took the gospel from a small city in Jerusalem, and it spread all the way and transferred to the large city of Rome.
Overall Lesson From Acts
The key lesson that I believe we can learn in the book of Acts is that it demonstrates what God can do through individuals and churches who are first and foremost committed to him and allow themselves to be fully empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Act #1,2 – Peters’ Ministry
Okay, so let’s break the book of Acts up into a two-act play, so act 1 will be Peter’s ministry, and that’s going to go from 1:1 all the way through Acts 12:24. The second act of Acts will be Paul’s ministry which extends from Acts chapter 12 verse 25 through chapter 28 verse 31. So the first six chapters are that the church was limited primarily to the city of Jerusalem, and the key figure that was doing most of the speaking and teaching was the Apostle Peter.
Peters’ Sermons
So if you look at Acts chapter 2, Acts chapter 3 Acts chapter 4, you see him preaching these sermons primarily directed to Jewish people trying to urge them and convince them that you know what this Jesus who you just crucified and put on the cross he indeed was the Messiah that the Old Testament has promised to come.
So, due to Peter’s preaching, many people began to convert from Judaism to Christianity over time. This time was also characterized by miracles, signs, and wonders, which simply demonstrated that God’s hand and power were working through the church and this newfound religion called Christianity.
Key Turning Point
But then, in Chapter 8, something ended up happening. It wasn’t safe to be a Christian in Jerusalem, so an opposition broke out. As a result, all the Christians just scattered throughout all the different cities surrounding them, which served to work out good because if you remember the outline of the book Acts chapter 1, it says that you know what I want you to be my witnesses not just in Jerusalem but to the other cities as well. So God used this opposition in Jerusalem to push the people outside of their comfort zone; thus, the gospel began to spread.
So Peter, along with another guy named Philip, began to slowly advance and spread the gospel to places like Samaria, Caesarea, Joppa, and Antioch.
Paul The Church Persecutor and Planter
But towards the end of Peter’s ministry in the book of Acts, this other guy starts to take center stage. The Apostle Paul used to be a persecutor of Christians persecutor of the church. Now he gets saved in Acts chapter 9, and he now is getting ready to be the main spokesman to primarily the Gentiles.
Paul Ministry To The Gentiles
So now we’re in the second act of the book of Acts, which goes from chapters 12:25 through 28:31. So now the Apostle Paul is the main primary figure doing most of the preaching and whatnot. So the first several chapters are characterized by him going on these three missionary journeys, or missionary trips, if you will. And essentially what Paul is doing he’s taking a team of people, and he’s traveling, and he’s planting churches basically, and he’s pastoring these churches, and so he plants them.
Then he stays there for a while and develops their leadership. Whatnot teaches them good biblical doctrine, then he leaves and goes to another city to do the same thing and what he does is he communicates with them through letters because he can’t be there all the time, so he’s pastoring these churches through letters. Many of these letters are the same letters that we have right now that make up most of the New Testament.
Conclusion
Finally, the book of Acts ends with Paul and his men trying to take the gospel to the city of Rome, but as they are trying to go there, they experience a shipwreck. And then finally, when they get there, the Apostle Paul is imprisoned and put on house arrest simply for preaching the gospel, which is basically how the book of Acts ends.
