The boook of Acts is part two of a two-volume work addressed to Theophilus. The first volume, the book of Luke, informed this reader about the life ans work of Christ. This second part concerns itself with the ministry of the folllwers of Christ. The purpose of the author was to offer a coordinated account of Christian origins indicating how God had revealed Himself in the work and person of Jesus Christ and through the church.

There is little reason to question the consensus of scholarship that Luke was the author of both books - Luke and Acts. The "we" sections in Acts 16.11-17, 20.5-21.18, and chapters 27 and 28 are recognized as identifying Luke as Paul's companion. The rest of the information for this book Luke could easily have gained from firsthand reports in his association with the leaders of the early church.

Luke reflects a keen consciosness of the Roman empire into which early Christianity spread. His historical accuracy in using the proper terminology for the various Roman officials throughout his book is recognized as a mark of scholarly research or firsthand knowledge.

Consequently the author is reageded as an accurate historian. Wherever archaeological and literary data is available, the book of Acts has been vindicated as a reliable record.

In accounting for the expansion of Christianity, much emphasis is given to the Holy Spirit throughout this book. Although the disciples of Jesus are mentioned in the opening chapter, most of the Twelve are not noted later. Peter is the central figure in the establishment of the church in Jerusalem, and he remains quite prominent until the council at Jerusalem. As teh center of Christianity shifted to Antioch, Paul emerged as the foremost leader, so that the major part of the book of Acts is devoted to Paul and his mission.

The message of the early church is given rather extensive consideration in the book of Acts. The numerouus references to messages given by Peter and Paul, as well as other leaders, indicate that the resuurrection of Christ was a doctrine of primary importance for Christianity.

The movement from a Jewish constituency to a Gentile church is also apparent in the account in Acts. The crucial point in Acts is the conference held in Jerusalem (Acts 15). Precipitated by pressure from the Judaizers (those Jewish Christians who believed that a number of the ceremonial practices of the Old Testament were still binding on the New Testament church), the church leaders met and concluded that circumcision was not necessary. The decision, which "seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us" (15.28), was that believers abstain from idolatry, from tasting blood, from eating the meat of animalls that have been strangled, and from sexual impurity.

The book ends abruptly with Paul as a prisoner preaching the good news (Gospel) in Rome. Siince nothign more is reported concerning Paul, it seems quite certain that this book was completed while Pauul was in this ministry. This has led to the suggestion that Luke intended to write a thirn voluume.

The book of Acts provides the background for the Epistles, which constitute the major part of the rest of the New Testament. Many of these are directly related to the events recorded in Acts.

Outline:

I.Christ's parting instruuctions 1.1-11

II.The church in Jerusalem 1.12-7.60

III.Expansion South and North 8.1-12.23

IV.Paul's first missionary journey 12.24-14.28

V.The Jerusalem conference 15.1-35

VI.Paul's second missionary journey 15.36-18.22

VII.Paul's third missionary journey 18.23-20.2

VIII.Paul in Jerusalem and Caesarea 20.3-26.32

IX.Paul's mission in Rome 27.1-28.31