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Acts of the Holy Spirit
Hooray! We're now officially into the book of Acts. Thanks for sticking with NT in a Year! This book is often more fully titled "The Acts of the Apostles" in Bibles, but another named given is "The Acts of the Holy Spirit". The Holy Spirit plays a huge role, especially in the first half of the book, after which time He falls into the background more, but is certain present. Book titles aren't inspired, so you can feel free to make the decision yourself about which title best represents what we see in Acts.
Let's take a quick look at the introduction to the book, then I'll give some quick comments about some important stuff.
"In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
1. Theophilus: This name means "friend of God" or "lover of God". The suggestion has been made that this is being used as a generic term for a large group of people that are reading the book, but that's probably not the case. This was a name that was in use at the time, and it's much more likely that Theophilus is the person that sponsored/funded Luke's research and travels so that he could write this book about Jesus.
2. The Holy Spirit: See already in the sections that I've bolded that the Holy Spirit is central to this book. This is a continuation of Luke's previous book, and they were meant to be read together. Most people would consider Acts to be the first history book of Christianity, and it doesn't make any sense if you removed the Holy Spirit.
3. Acts 1:8: This is Luke giving us the rough outline of the book of Acts. The Holy Spirit will come, then we will see the Gospel go forth into all of the world in that order. Keep a keen eye out for each of those "ripples" and why they happen.
Further Introductory Material
Who Was Luke?
a. a Gentile (listed in Col. 4:12–14 with Epaphras and Demas, not with the Jewish helpers)
b. from either Antioch of Syria (Anti-Marcion prologue to Luke) or Philippi of Macedonia (Sir William Ramsay on Acts 16:19)
c. a physician (cf. Col. 4:14), or at least a well educated man
d. became a convert in middle adulthood after the church was started at Antioch (Anti-Marcion prologue)
e. Paul’s traveling companion (“we” sections of Acts)
f. unmarried
g. wrote the third Gospel and Acts (similar introductions and similar style and vocabulary)
h. died at the age of 84 at Boeotia
When Was Acts Written?
A. There is much discussion and disagreement as to the time of the writing of Acts, but the events themselves cover from about A.D. 30–63 (Paul was released from prison in Rome in the middle 60’s and rearrested and executed under Nero, probably in the persecutions of A.D. 65).
B. If one assumes the apologetic nature of the book concerning the Roman government, then a date (1) before A.D. 64 (the beginning of Nero’s persecution of Christians in Rome) and/or (2) related to the Jewish revolt of A.D. 66–73.
C. If one tries to relate Acts to Luke’s Gospel in sequence, then the date for the writing of the Gospel influences the date of the writing of Acts. Since the fall of Jerusalem to Titus in A.D. 70 is prophesied (i.e. Luke 21), but not described, seems to demand a date before A.D.70. If so, then Acts, written as a sequel, must be dated sometime after the Gospel.
D. If one is bothered by the abrupt ending (Paul still in prison in Rome, F. F. Bruce), then a date related to the end of Paul’s first Roman imprisonment, A.D. 58–63, is favored.
E. Some historical dates related to the historical events recorded in Acts.
1. widespread famine under Claudius (Acts 11:28, A.D. 44–48)
2. death of Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:20–23, A.D. 44 [spring])
3. proconsulship of Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7, appointed in A.D. 53)
4. expulsion of Jews from Rome by Claudius (Acts 18:2, A.D. 49 [?])
5. proconsulship of Gallio, Acts 18:12 (A.D. 51 or 52 [?])
6. proconsulship of Felix (Acts 23:26; 24:27, A.D. 52–56 [?])
7. replacement of Felix by Festus (Acts 24:27, A.D. 57–60 [?])
8. Judea’s Roman officials
a. Procurators
(1) Pontius Pilate, A.D. 26–36
(2) Marcellus, A.D. 36–37
(3) Marullus, A.D. 37–41
b. In A.D. 41 the procuratorial method of Roman administration was changed to an empirical model. The Roman Emperor, Claudius, appointed Herod Agrippa I in A.D. 41.
c. After the death of Herod Agrippa I, A.D. 44, the procurator method was reestablished until A.D. 66
(1) Antonius Felix
(2) Porcius Festus [1]
Acts of the Holy Spirit
Hooray! We're now officially into the book of Acts. Thanks for sticking with NT in a Year! This book is often more fully titled "The Acts of the Apostles" in Bibles, but another named given is "The Acts of the Holy Spirit". The Holy Spirit plays a huge role, especially in the first half of the book, after which time He falls into the background more, but is certain present. Book titles aren't inspired, so you can feel free to make the decision yourself about which title best represents what we see in Acts.
Let's take a quick look at the introduction to the book, then I'll give some quick comments about some important stuff.
"In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
1. Theophilus: This name means "friend of God" or "lover of God". The suggestion has been made that this is being used as a generic term for a large group of people that are reading the book, but that's probably not the case. This was a name that was in use at the time, and it's much more likely that Theophilus is the person that sponsored/funded Luke's research and travels so that he could write this book about Jesus.
2. The Holy Spirit: See already in the sections that I've bolded that the Holy Spirit is central to this book. This is a continuation of Luke's previous book, and they were meant to be read together. Most people would consider Acts to be the first history book of Christianity, and it doesn't make any sense if you removed the Holy Spirit.
3. Acts 1:8: This is Luke giving us the rough outline of the book of Acts. The Holy Spirit will come, then we will see the Gospel go forth into all of the world in that order. Keep a keen eye out for each of those "ripples" and why they happen.
Further Introductory Material
Who Was Luke?
a. a Gentile (listed in Col. 4:12–14 with Epaphras and Demas, not with the Jewish helpers)
b. from either Antioch of Syria (Anti-Marcion prologue to Luke) or Philippi of Macedonia (Sir William Ramsay on Acts 16:19)
c. a physician (cf. Col. 4:14), or at least a well educated man
d. became a convert in middle adulthood after the church was started at Antioch (Anti-Marcion prologue)
e. Paul’s traveling companion (“we” sections of Acts)
f. unmarried
g. wrote the third Gospel and Acts (similar introductions and similar style and vocabulary)
h. died at the age of 84 at Boeotia
When Was Acts Written?
A. There is much discussion and disagreement as to the time of the writing of Acts, but the events themselves cover from about A.D. 30–63 (Paul was released from prison in Rome in the middle 60’s and rearrested and executed under Nero, probably in the persecutions of A.D. 65).
B. If one assumes the apologetic nature of the book concerning the Roman government, then a date (1) before A.D. 64 (the beginning of Nero’s persecution of Christians in Rome) and/or (2) related to the Jewish revolt of A.D. 66–73.
C. If one tries to relate Acts to Luke’s Gospel in sequence, then the date for the writing of the Gospel influences the date of the writing of Acts. Since the fall of Jerusalem to Titus in A.D. 70 is prophesied (i.e. Luke 21), but not described, seems to demand a date before A.D.70. If so, then Acts, written as a sequel, must be dated sometime after the Gospel.
D. If one is bothered by the abrupt ending (Paul still in prison in Rome, F. F. Bruce), then a date related to the end of Paul’s first Roman imprisonment, A.D. 58–63, is favored.
E. Some historical dates related to the historical events recorded in Acts.
1. widespread famine under Claudius (Acts 11:28, A.D. 44–48)
2. death of Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:20–23, A.D. 44 [spring])
3. proconsulship of Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7, appointed in A.D. 53)
4. expulsion of Jews from Rome by Claudius (Acts 18:2, A.D. 49 [?])
5. proconsulship of Gallio, Acts 18:12 (A.D. 51 or 52 [?])
6. proconsulship of Felix (Acts 23:26; 24:27, A.D. 52–56 [?])
7. replacement of Felix by Festus (Acts 24:27, A.D. 57–60 [?])
8. Judea’s Roman officials
a. Procurators
(1) Pontius Pilate, A.D. 26–36
(2) Marcellus, A.D. 36–37
(3) Marullus, A.D. 37–41
b. In A.D. 41 the procuratorial method of Roman administration was changed to an empirical model. The Roman Emperor, Claudius, appointed Herod Agrippa I in A.D. 41.
c. After the death of Herod Agrippa I, A.D. 44, the procurator method was reestablished until A.D. 66
(1) Antonius Felix
(2) Porcius Festus [1]
[1] Robert James Dr. Utley, vol. Volume 3B, Luke the Historian: The Book of Acts, Study Guide Commentary Series (Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International, 2003), 2-3.
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