Reference: Acts Of The Apostles
American
A canonical book of the New Testament, written by Luke as a sequel to his gospel, and a history in part of the early church. It is not, however, a record of the acts of all the apostles, but chiefly of those of Peter and Paul. In his gospel, Luke described the founding of Christianity in what Christ did, taught, and suffered; in the Acts he illustrates its diffusion, selecting what was best fitted to show how the first followers of Christ in building up his church. Beginning were his gospel indeed, he narrates the ascension of the Savior and the conduct of the disciples thereupon; the outpouring of the Holy Spirit according to Christ's promise; the miraculous preaching of the apostles, their amazing success, and the persecutions raised against them; with other events of moment to the church at Jerusalem, till they were scattered abroad. He then shows how Judaism was superseded, and how Peter was led to receive to Christian fellowship converts from the Gentiles. The remainder of the narrative is devoted to the conversion and calling of the apostle Paul, his missionary zeal, labors, and sufferings, and the ends with his two years' imprisonment at Rome.
Luke himself witnessed, to a great extent, the events he narrates. His Greek is the most classical in the New Testament; and the view he gives of the spirit of the early church so many of whose members had "been with the Lord," is invaluable. The book was probably written about A. D. 64, that is, soon after the time at which the narration terminates. The place where it was written is not known.
In order to read the Acts of the Apostles with intelligence and profit, it is necessary to have a sufficient acquaintance with geography, with the manners of the times and people referred to, and with the leading historical events. The power of the Romans, with the nature and names of the public offices they established, and the distinctions among them, must be understood, as well as the disposition and political opinions of the unconverted Jewish nation, which were to prevalent among the Christianized Hebrews.
Easton
the title now given to the fifth and last of the historical books of the New Testament. The author styles it a "treatise" (Ac 1:1). It was early called "The Acts," "The Gospel of the Holy Ghost," and "The Gospel of the Resurrection." It contains properly no account of any of the apostles except Peter and Paul. John is noticed only three times; and all that is recorded of James, the son of Zebedee, is his execution by Herod. It is properly therefore not the history of the "Acts of the Apostles," a title which was given to the book at a later date, but of "Acts of Apostles," or more correctly, of "Some Acts of Certain Apostles."
As regards its authorship, it was certainly the work of Luke, the "beloved physician" (comp. Lu 1:1-4; Ac 1:1). This is the uniform tradition of antiquity, although the writer nowhere makes mention of himself by name. The style and idiom of the Gospel of Luke and of the Acts, and the usage of words and phrases common to both, strengthen this opinion. The writer first appears in the narrative in Ac 16:11, and then disappears till Paul's return to Philippi two years afterwards, when he and Paul left that place together (Ac 20:6), and the two seem henceforth to have been constant companions to the end. He was certainly with Paul at Rome (28; Col 4:14). Thus he wrote a great portion of that history from personal observation. For what lay beyond his own experience he had the instruction of Paul. If, as is very probable, 2 Tim. was written during Paul's second imprisonment at Rome, Luke was with him then as his faithful companion to the last (2Ti 4:11). Of his subsequent history we have no certain information.
The design of Luke's Gospel was to give an exhibition of the character and work of Christ as seen in his history till he was taken up from his disciples into heaven; and of the Acts, as its sequel, to give an illustration of the power and working of the gospel when preached among all nations, "beginning at Jerusalem." The opening sentences of the Acts are just an expansion and an explanation of the closing words of the Gospel. In this book we have just a continuation of the history of the church after Christ's ascension. Luke here carries on the history in the same spirit in which he had commenced it. It is only a book of beginnings, a history of the founding of churches, the initial steps in the formation of the Christian society in the different places visited by the apostles. It records a cycle of "representative events."
All through the narrative we see the ever-present, all-controlling power of the ever-living Saviour. He worketh all and in all in spreading abroad his truth among men by his Spirit and through the instrumentality of his apostles.
The time of the writing of this history may be gathered from the fact that the narrative extends down to the close of the second year of Paul's first imprisonment at Rome. It could not therefore have been written earlier than A.D. 61 or 62, nor later than about the end of A.D. 63. Paul was probably put to death during his second imprisonment, about A.D. 64, or, as some think, 66.
The place where the book was written was probably Rome, to which Luke accompanied Paul.
The key to the contents of the book is in Ac 1:8, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." After referring to what had been recorded in a "former treatise" of the sayings and doings of Jesus Christ before his ascension, the author proceeds to give an account of the circumstances connected with that event, and then records the leading facts with reference to the spread and triumphs of Christianity over the world during a period of about thirty years. The record begins with Pentecost (A.D. 33) and ends with Paul's first imprisonment (A.D. 63 or 64). The whole contents of the book may be divided into these three parts:
(1.) Chaps. 1-12, describing the first twelve years of the Christian church. This section has been entitled "From Jerusalem to Antioch." It contains the history of the planting and extension of the church among the Jews by the ministry of Peter.
(2.) Chaps. 13-21, Paul's missionary journeys, giving the history of the extension and planting of the church among the Gentiles.
(3.) Chaps. 21-28, Paul at Rome, and the events which led to this. Chaps. 13-28 have been entitled "From Antioch to Rome."
In this book it is worthy of note that no mention is made of the writing by Paul of any of his epistles. This may be accounted for by the fact that the writer confined himself to a history of the planting of the church, and not to that of its training or edification. The relation, however, between this history and the epistles of Paul is of such a kind, i.e., brings to light so many undesigned coincidences, as to prove the genuineness and authenticity of both, as is so ably shown by Paley in his Horae Paulinae. "No ancient work affords so many tests of veracity; for no other has such numerous points of contact in all directions with contemporary history, politics, and topography, whether Jewish, or Greek, or Roman." Lightfoot. (See Paul.)
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Inasmuch as many took it in hand to present a history concerning these things which have been fulfilled among us, as those being eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word have delivered unto us; read more. it seemed good to me also, having followed carefully all things from the beginning, to write unto thee consecutively, O most noble Theophilus, in order that thou mayest know the certainty of the words concerning which thou hast been instructed.
Truly, I made the first history, O Theophilus, concerning all things which Jesus began both to do and to teach,
Truly, I made the first history, O Theophilus, concerning all things which Jesus began both to do and to teach,
But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost having come upon you, and shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and in Samaria, and into the extremity of the earth.
And having embarked from Troas, we sailed directly to Samothrace, and on the following day into Neapolis,
and we, after the days of unleaven bread, sailed from Philippi, and came to them into Troas within five days; where we spent seven days.
Luke alone is with me. Having taken Mark, bring him with you: for he is useful unto me for the ministry.
Fausets
The second treatise, in continuation of the Gospel as recorded by Luke. The style confirms the identity of authorship; also the address to the same person, Theophilus, probably a man of rank, judging from the title "most excellent." The Gospel was the life of Jesus in the flesh, the Acts record His life in the Spirit; Chrysostom calls it "The Gospel of the Holy Spirit." Hence Luke says: "The former treatise I made of all that Jesus began to do and teach;" therefore the Acts give a summary of what Jesus continued to do and teach by His Spirit in His disciples after He was taken up. The book breaks off at the close of Paul's imprisonment, A.D. 63, without recording his release; hence it is likely Luke completed it at this date, just before tidings of the apostle's release reached him.
There is a progressive development and unity of plan throughout. The key is Ac 1:8; "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me in (1) Jerusalem, and (2) in all Judaea, and (3) in Samaria, and (4) unto the uttermost part of the earth." It begins with Jerusalem, the metropolis of the Jewish dispensation, and ends with Rome, the metropolis of the whole Gentile world. It is divisible into three portions:
I. From the ascension to the close of Acts 11, which describes the rise of the first purely Gentile church, at Antioch, where the disciples consequently were first called See CHRISTIANS (see);
II. Thence down to the special vision at Troas (Acts 16), which carried the gospel, through Paul, to Europe;
III. Thence onward, until it reached Rome. In each of the three periods the church has a distinct aspect: in the first, Jewish; in the second, Gentile with a strong Jewish admixture; in the third, after the council at Jerusalem (Acts 15), Gentile in a preponderating degree. At first the gospel was preached to the Jews only; then to the Samaritans (Ac 8:1-5); then to the Ethiopian eunuch, a proselyte of righteousness (Ac 8:27); then, after a special revelation as Peter's warrant, to Cornelius, a proselyte of the gate; then to Gentile Greeks (not Grecians, i.e. Greek speaking Jews, but pagan Greeks, on the whole the best supported reading, Ac 11:20); then Peter, who, as "the apostle of the circumcision," had been in the first period the foremost preacher, gives place from Acts 13 to Paul, "the apostle of the uncircumcision," who successively proclaimed the word in Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and Rome. Luke joined Paul at Troas (about A.D. 53), as appears from the "we" taking the place of "they" at that point in his history (Ac 16:8-10). The repetition of the account of the ascension in Acts 1 shows that an interval of some time had elapsed since writing the more summary account of it at the end of Luke 24; for repetition would have been superfluous unless some time had intervened.
Matthew's Gospel, as adapted to Jewish readers, answers to the first period ending about A.D. 40, and was written probably in and for Jerusalem and Judaea; Mark answers to the second or Judaeo-Gentile period, A.D. 40-50, as his Gospel abounds in Latinisms, and is suited to Gentile converts, such as were the Roman soldiers concentrated at Caesarea, their head quarters in Palestine, the second great center of gospel preaching, the scene of Cornelius' conversion by Mark's father in the faith, Peter. Luke's Gospel has a Greek tinge, and answers to the third period, A.D. 50-63, being suited to Greeks unfamiliar with Palestinian geography; written perhaps at Antioch, the third great center of gospel diffusion.
Antioch is assigned by tradition as his residence (A.D. 52) before joining Paul when entering Europe. Beginning it there, he probably completed it under Paul's guidance, and circulated it from Philippi, where he was left behind, among the Greek churches. Probably Paul (A.D. 57) alludes to his Gospel in 2Co 8:18; "the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches." Certainly he quotes his Gospel as Scripture, and by inspiration stamps it as such in 1Ti 5:18. His having been chosen by the Macedonian churches joint trustee with Paul of their contributions to Jerusalem implies a long residence, during which he completed and circulated his work. As Acts was the fruit of his second connection with Paul, whose labors down to his imprisonment in Rome form the chief part of the book, so he wrote the Gospel through the help he got in his first connection with him, from Troas down to Philippi. (See Birks' Horse Evarig., 192, etc., for the probability that Theophilus lived at Antioch.) Jerome says Luke published his Gospel "in the parts of Achaia and Baeotia."
The Book of Acts links itself with the Gospels, by describing the foundation and extension of the church, which Christ in the Gospels promised; and with the Pauline epistles by undesigned, because not obvious, coincidences. It forms with the Gospels a historical Pentateuch, on which the Epistles are the inspired commentary, as the Psalms and Prophets are on the Old Testament historical books. Tertullian De Bapt., 17, and Jerome, Vir. Illustr., Luc., 7, mention that John pronounced spurious the Acts of Paul and Thecla, published at Ephesus. As Luke's Acts of the Apostles was then current, John's condemnation of the spurious Acts is a virtual sanction of ours as genuine; especially as Re 3:2 assigns this office of testing the true and the false to John's own church' of Ephesus. The epistle of the churches of Lyons and Vienna to those of Asia and Phrygia (A.D. 177) quotes it. Irenseus, Adv.
Hser., 1:31, Clemens Alexandrinus, Strom., 5, and Origen, in Euseb. H. E., 6:23, attest the book. Eusebius, H.E., 3:25, ranks it among "the universally recognized Scriptures." Its rejection by the Manicheans on purely doctrinal grounds implies its acceptance by the early church catholic. Luke never names himself. But the identity of the writer with the writer of the Gospel (Lu 1:3) is plain, and that the first person plural (Ac 16:10,17; 21:1,18; 27:1; 28:16) includes the writer in the first person singular (Ac 1:1). Paul's other companions are distinguished from the writer (Ac 20:4-6,15). The sacred writers keep themselves in the background, so as to put forward their grand subject. The first person gives place to the third at Ac 17:1, as Paul and Silas left Luke behind at Philippi. The nonmention of Luke in Paul's epistles is due to his not having been with him at Corinth (Acts 18), whence the two epistles to the Thessalonians were written; nor at Ephesus (Acts 19), whence he wrote to the Romans; nor at Corinth again, whence he wrote to the Galatians.
The first person is not resumed until Ac 20:5-6, at Philippi, the very place where the first person implies he was with Paul two years before (Acts 16); in this interval Luke probably made Philippi his head quarters. Thenceforward to the close, which leaves Paul at Rome, the first person shows Luke was his companion. Col 4:14; Phm 1:24, written there and then, declare his presence with Paul in Rome. The undesigned coincidence remarkably confirms the truth of his authorship and of the history. Just in those epistles written from places where in Acts the first person is dropped, Luke is not mentioned, but Silas and Timothy are; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; 2Co 1:19 compared with Ac 18:5.
But in the epistles written where we know, from Acts 28, the writer was with Paul we find Luke mentioned. Alford conjectures that as, just before Luke's joining Paul at Troas (Ac 16:10), Paul had passed through Galatia, where he was detained by sickness (Ga 4:13, Greek "Ye know that because of an infirmity of my flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first"), and Phrygia, and as the epistle to Colossae in Phrygia terms Luke "the beloved physician," Luke became Paul's companion owing to the weak state of the apostle's health, and left him at Philippi when he was recovered, which would account for the warm epithet "beloved."
In Ac 21:10 Agabus is introduced as if he had never been mentioned before, which he was in Ac 11:28. Probably Luke used different written sources of information, guided in the selection by the Holy spirit. This view accounts for the Hebraistic style of the earlier parts (drawn from Hebrew sources), and the Grecian style of the
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And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of the heavens: and whatsoever you may bind on the earth, shall be bound in the heavens; and whatsoever you may loose on earth shall be loosed in the heavens.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of the heavens: and whatsoever you may bind on the earth, shall be bound in the heavens; and whatsoever you may loose on earth shall be loosed in the heavens.
it seemed good to me also, having followed carefully all things from the beginning, to write unto thee consecutively, O most noble Theophilus,
it seemed good to me also, having followed carefully all things from the beginning, to write unto thee consecutively, O most noble Theophilus,
Truly, I made the first history, O Theophilus, concerning all things which Jesus began both to do and to teach,
Truly, I made the first history, O Theophilus, concerning all things which Jesus began both to do and to teach,
But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost having come upon you, and shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and in Samaria, and into the extremity of the earth.
But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost having come upon you, and shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and in Samaria, and into the extremity of the earth.
Him by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, having been delivered, you having nailed up, slew through the hand of lawless men;
Him by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, having been delivered, you having nailed up, slew through the hand of lawless men;
This is the stone rejected by your builders, which has become the head of the corner.
This is the stone rejected by your builders, which has become the head of the corner.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there was a great persecution in that day against the church in Jerusalem: and all were dispersed abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there was a great persecution in that day against the church in Jerusalem: and all were dispersed abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And godly men buried Stephen, and made great mourning over him.
And godly men buried Stephen, and made great mourning over him. But Saul was laying waste the church, entering into the houses, and arresting men and women, he committed them to prison.
But Saul was laying waste the church, entering into the houses, and arresting men and women, he committed them to prison. Therefore indeed, being dispersed abroad, they went everywhere preaching the word:
Therefore indeed, being dispersed abroad, they went everywhere preaching the word: and Philip, having gone down to the city of Samaria, was preaching Christ to them,
and Philip, having gone down to the city of Samaria, was preaching Christ to them,
And rising up, he departed. And, behold, an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, an officer of Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury, had been to Jerusalem to worship,
And rising up, he departed. And, behold, an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, an officer of Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasury, had been to Jerusalem to worship,
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And He said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But stand up, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what it behooves thee to do.
But stand up, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what it behooves thee to do.
And the brethren, taking cognizance, led him to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.
And the brethren, taking cognizance, led him to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.
And Peter, opening his mouth, said, In truth I apprehend that God is no respecter of persons:
And Peter, opening his mouth, said, In truth I apprehend that God is no respecter of persons:
And of them there were certain Cyprian and Cyrenean men, who, having come into Antioch, were speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
And of them there were certain Cyprian and Cyrenean men, who, having come into Antioch, were speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
And one of them by name Agabus, standing up, signified through the Spirit that there is about to be a great famine throughout the whole world: which took place under the reign of Claudius.
And one of them by name Agabus, standing up, signified through the Spirit that there is about to be a great famine throughout the whole world: which took place under the reign of Claudius.
And one of them by name Agabus, standing up, signified through the Spirit that there is about to be a great famine throughout the whole world: which took place under the reign of Claudius.
And one of them by name Agabus, standing up, signified through the Spirit that there is about to be a great famine throughout the whole world: which took place under the reign of Claudius.
and this they did, sending to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
and this they did, sending to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
But at this time king Herod reached forth his hands to persecute some of those from the church.
But at this time king Herod reached forth his hands to persecute some of those from the church. And he slew James the brother of John with a sword.
And he slew James the brother of John with a sword. And seeing that it is pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also: and those were the days of the unleavened bread:
And seeing that it is pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also: and those were the days of the unleavened bread: whom having seized, he also put in prison, having committed him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; wishing to bring him out to the people after the passover.
whom having seized, he also put in prison, having committed him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; wishing to bring him out to the people after the passover. Then indeed Peter was kept in prison: but prayer to God in his behalf was incessantly made by the church.
Then indeed Peter was kept in prison: but prayer to God in his behalf was incessantly made by the church. But when Herod was about to lead him forth, and Peter was sleeping that night between two soldiers, and bound with two chains; and the guards were keeping guard before the door.
But when Herod was about to lead him forth, and Peter was sleeping that night between two soldiers, and bound with two chains; and the guards were keeping guard before the door. And, behold, the angel of the Lord stood over him, and a light shone in the house; and having touched the side of Peter, he raised him up, saying; Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
And, behold, the angel of the Lord stood over him, and a light shone in the house; and having touched the side of Peter, he raised him up, saying; Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals. And he thus did. And he says to him, Throw thy cloak about thee, and follow me.
And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals. And he thus did. And he says to him, Throw thy cloak about thee, and follow me. And having come out, he was following; and did not know that it is true which was done by the angel; but he was thinking that he saw a vision.
And having come out, he was following; and did not know that it is true which was done by the angel; but he was thinking that he saw a vision. And having come through the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and having come out, they came on to the first street; and the angel immediately departed from him.
And having come through the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and having come out, they came on to the first street; and the angel immediately departed from him. And Peter coming to himself, said, Now I know truly, that the Lord sent his angel, and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, out of all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
And Peter coming to himself, said, Now I know truly, that the Lord sent his angel, and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, out of all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And recognizing his whereabouts, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, called Mark; where many were assembled and praying.
And recognizing his whereabouts, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, called Mark; where many were assembled and praying. And he knocking at the door of the gate, a damsel, by name Rhoda, came to hearken:
And he knocking at the door of the gate, a damsel, by name Rhoda, came to hearken: and recognizing the voice of Peter, from joy did not open the gate, but running in, she proclaimed that Peter stands before the gate.
and recognizing the voice of Peter, from joy did not open the gate, but running in, she proclaimed that Peter stands before the gate. And they said to her, You are gone mad; but she persisted that it was so. And they said, It is his angel.
And they said to her, You are gone mad; but she persisted that it was so. And they said, It is his angel. But Peter remained knocking: and having opened, they saw him, and were astonished.
But Peter remained knocking: and having opened, they saw him, and were astonished. And he, beckoning to them with his hand to keep silent, related how the Lord led him out from the prison: and said, Proclaim these things to James, and the brethren. And having gone out, he departed into another place.
And he, beckoning to them with his hand to keep silent, related how the Lord led him out from the prison: and said, Proclaim these things to James, and the brethren. And having gone out, he departed into another place. And it being day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to where Peter then was.
And it being day, there was no small commotion among the soldiers, as to where Peter then was. And Herod having sought him, and found him not, condemning the guards, commanded that they should be put to death; and having gone down from Judea to Caesarea, he tarried.
And Herod having sought him, and found him not, condemning the guards, commanded that they should be put to death; and having gone down from Judea to Caesarea, he tarried.
From whose seed according to the promise he led forth Jesus, the Savior, to Israel:
From whose seed according to the promise he led forth Jesus, the Savior, to Israel:
Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of like suffering with you, preaching the gospel to you that you should turn from these vanities to the living God, who created the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things which are in them:
Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of like suffering with you, preaching the gospel to you that you should turn from these vanities to the living God, who created the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things which are in them: who in bygone generations, suffered all nations to walk in their own ways;
who in bygone generations, suffered all nations to walk in their own ways; indeed he did not leave himself without witnesses, doing good, giving to you the rains from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.
indeed he did not leave himself without witnesses, doing good, giving to you the rains from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.
and having come through Mysia they descended into Troas. And a vision was seen by Paul during the night: Some Macedonian man was standing and entreating him and saying, Having come over into Macedonia, help us.
And a vision was seen by Paul during the night: Some Macedonian man was standing and entreating him and saying, Having come over into Macedonia, help us. And when he saw the vision, we immediately sought to depart into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
And when he saw the vision, we immediately sought to depart into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
And when he saw the vision, we immediately sought to depart into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
And when he saw the vision, we immediately sought to depart into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
And when he saw the vision, we immediately sought to depart into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
And when he saw the vision, we immediately sought to depart into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
She, following Paul and us, continued to cry out, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.
She, following Paul and us, continued to cry out, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.
And having traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came into Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
And having traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came into Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
But the Jews giving away to jealousy, and receiving to themselves certain wicked men of those around the forum, and raising a mob, continued to put the city in an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they were seeking to lead them out to the people:
But the Jews giving away to jealousy, and receiving to themselves certain wicked men of those around the forum, and raising a mob, continued to put the city in an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they were seeking to lead them out to the people:
But having embarked Paul, they led him even to Athens: and receiving commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they departed from him.
But having embarked Paul, they led him even to Athens: and receiving commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they departed from him. But Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, seeing the city devoted to idolatry.
But Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, seeing the city devoted to idolatry.
But Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, seeing the city devoted to idolatry.
But Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, seeing the city devoted to idolatry. Then indeed he spoke to the Jews, and to the worshipers in the synagogue, and to those incidentally meeting him every day in the forum.
Then indeed he spoke to the Jews, and to the worshipers in the synagogue, and to those incidentally meeting him every day in the forum.
Then indeed he spoke to the Jews, and to the worshipers in the synagogue, and to those incidentally meeting him every day in the forum.
Then indeed he spoke to the Jews, and to the worshipers in the synagogue, and to those incidentally meeting him every day in the forum. And certain ones of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers interviewed him, and some continued to say, What would this babbler wish to say? and others said, He seems to be the propagator of strange divinities: because he was preaching the gospel of Jesus, and the resurrection.
And certain ones of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers interviewed him, and some continued to say, What would this babbler wish to say? and others said, He seems to be the propagator of strange divinities: because he was preaching the gospel of Jesus, and the resurrection.
And certain ones of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers interviewed him, and some continued to say, What would this babbler wish to say? and others said, He seems to be the propagator of strange divinities: because he was preaching the gospel of Jesus, and the resurrection.
And certain ones of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers interviewed him, and some continued to say, What would this babbler wish to say? and others said, He seems to be the propagator of strange divinities: because he was preaching the gospel of Jesus, and the resurrection. And taking him, they led him to the Areopagus, saying; Are we able to know what is this new teaching, spoken by thee?
And taking him, they led him to the Areopagus, saying; Are we able to know what is this new teaching, spoken by thee? For you bring certain strange things to our hearing: therefore we desire to know what these things wish to be.
For you bring certain strange things to our hearing: therefore we desire to know what these things wish to be. But all the Athenians and itinerant strangers were accustomed to devote their time to nothing else, than to tell something new, or to hear something.
But all the Athenians and itinerant strangers were accustomed to devote their time to nothing else, than to tell something new, or to hear something.
For going through, and seeing your devotions, I also found an altar on which it was superscribed, To THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore I now preach unto you Him whom you are ignorantly worshiping.
For going through, and seeing your devotions, I also found an altar on which it was superscribed, To THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore I now preach unto you Him whom you are ignorantly worshiping. God having made the world and all things which are in it, being himself Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;
God having made the world and all things which are in it, being himself Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; neither is he worshiped by human hands, as if needing something, Himself having given life, and breath, and all things to all;
neither is he worshiped by human hands, as if needing something, Himself having given life, and breath, and all things to all; and of (one) man he created every nation of men to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, having determined their predestinated times, and the boundaries of their habitation;
and of (one) man he created every nation of men to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, having determined their predestinated times, and the boundaries of their habitation; that they should seek God, if perhaps indeed they might feel after him, and find him, though not being far from each one of you.
that they should seek God, if perhaps indeed they might feel after him, and find him, though not being far from each one of you. For in him we live and move and have our being, as indeed certain ones of your own poets have said, For we are truly his offspring.
For in him we live and move and have our being, as indeed certain ones of your own poets have said, For we are truly his offspring.
For in him we live and move and have our being, as indeed certain ones of your own poets have said, For we are truly his offspring.
For in him we live and move and have our being, as indeed certain ones of your own poets have said, For we are truly his offspring. Then being the offspring of God, we ought not to think that divinity is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, the invention of art and the device of man.
Then being the offspring of God, we ought not to think that divinity is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, the invention of art and the device of man. Then indeed God winking at the times of ignorance, now commands all men everywhere to repent:
Then indeed God winking at the times of ignorance, now commands all men everywhere to repent: as He has appointed a day, in which he is about to judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; giving faith to all, having raised Him from the dead.
as He has appointed a day, in which he is about to judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; giving faith to all, having raised Him from the dead.
And having found a certain Jew by name Aquila, a Pontic by race, having recently come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife; because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: he came to them:
And having found a certain Jew by name Aquila, a Pontic by race, having recently come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife; because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: he came to them:
And when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was straitened with the word, witnessing to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
And when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was straitened with the word, witnessing to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
And Sopater the (son) of Pyrrhus, the Berean, and Aristarchus, the Thessalonian, and Secundus; and Gaius the Derbean, and Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus the Asiatics, accompanied him;
And Sopater the (son) of Pyrrhus, the Berean, and Aristarchus, the Thessalonian, and Secundus; and Gaius the Derbean, and Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus the Asiatics, accompanied him; and these having gone in advance, awaited us in Troas;
and these having gone in advance, awaited us in Troas; and we, after the days of unleaven bread, sailed from Philippi, and came to them into Troas within five days; where we spent seven days.
and we, after the days of unleaven bread, sailed from Philippi, and came to them into Troas within five days; where we spent seven days.
and we, after the days of unleaven bread, sailed from Philippi, and came to them into Troas within five days; where we spent seven days.
and we, after the days of unleaven bread, sailed from Philippi, and came to them into Troas within five days; where we spent seven days.
And thence having sailed away on the following day we arrived opposite Chios; and on the following day we touched at Samos, and on the next day we came into Miletus.
And thence having sailed away on the following day we arrived opposite Chios; and on the following day we touched at Samos, and on the next day we came into Miletus.
serving the Lord with all humility, and tears, and temptations, which came upon me through the plots of the Jews:
serving the Lord with all humility, and tears, and temptations, which came upon me through the plots of the Jews:
But I consider my life worthy of no consideration to myself, so as to finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear testimony to the gospel of the grace of God.
But I consider my life worthy of no consideration to myself, so as to finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear testimony to the gospel of the grace of God.
Watch therefore, remembering, that three years night and day I ceased not admonishing you with tears.
Watch therefore, remembering, that three years night and day I ceased not admonishing you with tears. And now I commend you to God and the word of His grace, who is able to edify you, and give you an inheritance among all the sanctified.
And now I commend you to God and the word of His grace, who is able to edify you, and give you an inheritance among all the sanctified.
who also endeavored to pollute the temple: whom we indeed arrested, OMITTED TEXT
OMITTED TEXT with whom you yourself, having made inquiry, are able to know concerning all these things of which we accuse him.
with whom you yourself, having made inquiry, are able to know concerning all these things of which we accuse him.
And when it was determined that we should sail away into Italy, they committed both Paul and certain other prisoners to the centurion, Julius by name, of the band of Augustus.
And when it was determined that we should sail away into Italy, they committed both Paul and certain other prisoners to the centurion, Julius by name, of the band of Augustus.
saying, Fear not, Paul; for it behooveth thee to stand before Caesar: and, behold, God has given thee all those sailing along with thee.
saying, Fear not, Paul; for it behooveth thee to stand before Caesar: and, behold, God has given thee all those sailing along with thee.
And when we came into Rome, it was permitted to Paul to remain to himself with the soldier guarding him.
And when we came into Rome, it was permitted to Paul to remain to himself with the soldier guarding him.
because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God has revealed it to them:
because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God has revealed it to them: for the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are seen, being known by the things which are made, even His eternal power and divinity; so that they are without excuse:
for the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are seen, being known by the things which are made, even His eternal power and divinity; so that they are without excuse: because, knowing God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were they thankful; but they became vain in their reasonings, and their foolish heart was darkened.
because, knowing God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were they thankful; but they became vain in their reasonings, and their foolish heart was darkened. Saying that they were wise, they became fools,
Saying that they were wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the invisible God into the similitude of the likeness of corruptible man, and of birds, and of quadrupeds, and of creeping things.
and changed the glory of the invisible God into the similitude of the likeness of corruptible man, and of birds, and of quadrupeds, and of creeping things. Therefore God gave them up, in the lusts of their hearts, to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves:
Therefore God gave them up, in the lusts of their hearts, to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for evermore: amen.
who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for evermore: amen.
But according to thy hardness and thy impenitent heart, thou art treasuring up to thyself wrath against the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
But according to thy hardness and thy impenitent heart, thou art treasuring up to thyself wrath against the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
whom God sent forth an expiation through faith in his blood, unto the manifestation of His righteousness through the remission of the sins which are passed,
whom God sent forth an expiation through faith in his blood, unto the manifestation of His righteousness through the remission of the sins which are passed,
For the promise to Abraham or his seed, that he should be the heir of the world, was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
For the promise to Abraham or his seed, that he should be the heir of the world, was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Be not deceived: Evil communications corrupt good manners.
Be not deceived: Evil communications corrupt good manners.
But we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is through all the churches;
But we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is through all the churches;
In Damascus Areta the governor of the king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, to arrest me:
In Damascus Areta the governor of the king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, to arrest me:
I knew a man in Christ, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not; whether out of the body, I know not, such a one having been caught up even to the third heaven.
I knew a man in Christ, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not; whether out of the body, I know not, such a one having been caught up even to the third heaven.
Then after fourteen years, I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking also Titus with me;
Then after fourteen years, I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking also Titus with me;
But the promises were spoken to Abraham and his seed. He does not say, And unto seeds, as of many; but as of one; And thy seed, which is Christ.
But the promises were spoken to Abraham and his seed. He does not say, And unto seeds, as of many; but as of one; And thy seed, which is Christ.
having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone,
having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone,
For many walk about, of whom I frequently spoke to you, and now I speak even weeping, the enemies of the cross of Christ:
For many walk about, of whom I frequently spoke to you, and now I speak even weeping, the enemies of the cross of Christ:
and he before all things, and all things consist in him:
and he before all things, and all things consist in him:
because in him all fulness is pleased to dwell;
because in him all fulness is pleased to dwell;
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.
For the scripture says, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The laborer is worthy of his hire.
For the scripture says, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The laborer is worthy of his hire.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
A certain one of them, their own prophet, said, The Cretans are all liars, evil beasts, slow stomachs.
A certain one of them, their own prophet, said, The Cretans are all liars, evil beasts, slow stomachs.
And if you call upon the Father, the One judging without respect of persons according to the work of each, pass the time of your sojourn with fear,
And if you call upon the Father, the One judging without respect of persons according to the work of each, pass the time of your sojourn with fear,
but by the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and spotless:
but by the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and spotless:
Therefore to you who believe he is precious: but to the unbelievers, the stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner, and the stone of stumbling, and the rock of offence,
Therefore to you who believe he is precious: but to the unbelievers, the stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner, and the stone of stumbling, and the rock of offence,
Be you watchful, and strengthen the remaining things, which are about to die. For I have not found your works perfect before my God.
Be you watchful, and strengthen the remaining things, which are about to die. For I have not found your works perfect before my God.
Hastings
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
1. Summary of contents.
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Inasmuch as many took it in hand to present a history concerning these things which have been fulfilled among us,
it seemed good to me also, having followed carefully all things from the beginning, to write unto thee consecutively, O most noble Theophilus,
And in the fifteenth year in the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother, tetrarch of Ituria and the Trachonitis country, and Lusanius tetrarch of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas
And when you may see Jerusalem shut up by the armies, then know that her desolation is nigh.
And He spoke this, signifying by what death he shall glorify God. And having spoken this, He says to him, Follow me.
Truly, I made the first history, O Theophilus, concerning all things which Jesus began both to do and to teach,
Truly, I made the first history, O Theophilus, concerning all things which Jesus began both to do and to teach,
They were all persevering of one accord in prayer along with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.
which indeed was known to all those dwelling at Jerusalem, so that field, in their own dialect, is called Acheldamach; that is, field of blood.
Then indeed having received his word they were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added unto them;
And they praying, the place in which they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
And during those days, the disciples multiplying, there was a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, that their widows were being neglected in the daily ministration.
But Saul was laying waste the church, entering into the houses, and arresting men and women, he committed them to prison.
and Philip, having gone down to the city of Samaria, was preaching Christ to them,
But when they believed Philip preaching the gospel concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
asked from him letters to Damascus against the synagogues, in order that if he should find any being of the way, both men and women, he might lead them bound to Jerusalem.
And the brethren, taking cognizance, led him to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.
And one of them by name Agabus, standing up, signified through the Spirit that there is about to be a great famine throughout the whole world: which took place under the reign of Claudius.
And one of them by name Agabus, standing up, signified through the Spirit that there is about to be a great famine throughout the whole world: which took place under the reign of Claudius.
But at this time king Herod reached forth his hands to persecute some of those from the church.
And there were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch; Barnabas, and Symeon called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenean, and Manahem, the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
And being in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they also had John as their helper. And having gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician, a Jewish false prophet, to whom was the name of Bar-Jesus: read more. who was with Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, an intelligent man. He, having called Barnabas and Saul, sought to hear the word of God; but Elymas the magician (for thus his name is interpreted) opposed them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.
And those around Paul having sailed from Paphos, came into Perge of Pamphylia: and John having departed from them returned to Jerusalem.
And those around Paul having sailed from Paphos, came into Perge of Pamphylia: and John having departed from them returned to Jerusalem. And they having come from Perge, arrived into Picidian Antioch, and having come into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, they sat down.
and having deposed him, he raised up to them David for a king; to whom witnessing he also said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man according to my own heart, who will do all my wishes.
And the Jews stirred up the noble godly women, and the first men of the city, and they raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their borders.
And the Jews stirred up the noble godly women, and the first men of the city, and they raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their borders.
And it came to pass in Iconium at this time, they came together into the synagogue of the Jews, and spoke in such a manner, that a great multitude both of the Jews and Greeks believed.
and there they preached the gospel.
And the multitudes seeing what Paul did, lifted up their voice, in Lycaonic, saying, The gods having assumed the likeness of men have come down to us:
And the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, hearing, rending their garments, rushed into the crowd, crying out, and saying,
and preaching the gospel to that city, and making many disciples, they returned into Lystra, and into Iconium, and into Antioch,
And there being no small contention and disputation to Paul and Barnabas against them, they delegated Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this question.
to abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which keeping yourselves, you will do well. Fare ye well.
And they traveled through Phrygia and the Galatian country, being prohibited by the Holy Ghost from speaking the word in Asia. And having come opposite Mysia, they were endeavoring to go on into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; read more. and having come through Mysia they descended into Troas. And a vision was seen by Paul during the night: Some Macedonian man was standing and entreating him and saying, Having come over into Macedonia, help us. And when he saw the vision, we immediately sought to depart into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
And when he saw the vision, we immediately sought to depart into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
and thence into Philippi, which is the first city of the Macedonian region, a colony. And we were in that city spending some days. And on the Sabbath day we went out from the gate by the river, where we were accustomed that prayer should be, and having sat down, we spoke to the women having assembled.
And on the Sabbath day we went out from the gate by the river, where we were accustomed that prayer should be, and having sat down, we spoke to the women having assembled. And a certain woman Lydia by name, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, worshiping God, was hearing us: whose heart the Lord opened to give attention to the words spoken by Paul. read more. And when she and her household were baptized, she entreated us, saying, If you have found me to be faithful to the Lord, having come into my house, abide: and she constrained us.
But it being day, the magistrates sent the lictors, saying, Send away these men.
But Paul said to them, Having beaten us publicly uncondemned, being Roman men, they cast us into prison, and now do they cast us out privately? for no; but having come themselves let them lead us out.
And having traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came into Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
And having traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came into Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
And certain ones of them were persuaded, and identified themselves with Paul and Silas, and of the pious Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
but not finding them, they dragged Jason and certain brethren to the rulers of the city, roaring that, These who have turned the world upside down are also come hither;
But the brethren immediately sent away both Paul and Silas to Berea by night, who coming into the synagogue of the Jews departed;
Then indeed many of them believed, and of the noble Greek women and men, not a few;
But having embarked Paul, they led him even to Athens: and receiving commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they departed from him. But Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, seeing the city devoted to idolatry.
But Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, seeing the city devoted to idolatry.
And taking him, they led him to the Areopagus, saying; Are we able to know what is this new teaching, spoken by thee?
But certain men, having adhered to him, believed; among whom was also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman Damarias by name, and others along with them.
And he spoke in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. And when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was straitened with the word, witnessing to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
But Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
But Gallio being proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of one accord arose up against Paul, and led him to the tribunal,
And they arrived in Ephesus, and he left them there: and himself, having gone into the synagogue, spoke to the Jews.
And it came to pass, while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul having come through the upper regions came down into Ephesus: and found certain disciples,
And having come into the synagogue, he preached boldly three months, expounding and persuading them as to the things concerning the kingdom of God.
and certain ones of the Asiatic rulers, also being friends to him, having sent to him, continued to entreat him not to give himself up into the theatre.
For Paul decided to sail by Ephesus, in order that it might not be necessary for him to spend the time in Asia: for he was hastening, if it might be possible for him to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
I have shown you all things, that it so behooveth you laboring to assist the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
being especially grieved at the word which he had spoken, that they were about to see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
who after this way persecuted unto death, binding and committing to prison both men and women;
And when they were extending him to the scourges, Paul said to the centurion standing by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?
But two years having passed away Felix received Porcius Festus as his successor: and Felix, wishing to confer on the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.
And when it was determined that we should sail away into Italy, they committed both Paul and certain other prisoners to the centurion, Julius by name, of the band of Augustus. And having embarked on an Adramyttium ship, about to sail to those places along Asia, we set sail; Aristarchus, the Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
And having embarked from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary:
And when it was the fourteenth night, we being borne along in the Adriatic Sea, about the middle of the night the sailors surmised that some country was coming to them.
but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, forbade them from their counsel; and commanded that those who were able to swim, having first thrown themselves overboard, to go to the land;
And the barbarians extended no small philanthropy to us: for, having kindled a fire, they received us all to it, on account of the recent rain and cold.
But in the regions around about that place there were farms belonging to the chief man of the island, by name Publius: who, having received us, entertained us courteously three days.
And it came to pass, after three days, he called together those who were first of the Jews; and they having assembled, he said to them, I, men, brethren, having done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, was committed a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans;
And he spent a whole biennium in his own hired house, and received all those coming to him,
But now abide faith, hope, divine love, these three; but the greatest of these is divine love.
Then therefore you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow-citizens of the saints, and members of the household of God,
Only live worthily of the gospel of Christ: in order that, whether coming and seeing you or being absent, I hear those things concerning you, that you are standing in one spirit, with one soul contending for the faith of the gospel;
Aristarchus my fellow-soldier salutes you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas concerning whom you received commandments; if he may come to you, receive him;
For Demas has left me, having loved the present age, and is gone into Thessalonica; Crescents into Galatia, Titus into Dalmatia.
I know where you dwell, where the throne of Satan is: and you are holding fast my name, and did not deny my faith, in the days when Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.
And it was given unto him to give spirit to the image of the beast, in order that the image of the beast may indeed speak, and he may cause so many as will not worship the image of the beast that they should be killed.
Morish
The introduction to this book compared with the introduction to the gospel by Luke makes it plain that the two were written by the same person. The Acts ends with the two years' imprisonment of the apostle Paul at Rome: it could not therefore have been written before the end of that time, and was probably written very soon afterwards or it would have given the issue of Paul's trial. This would place the date about A.D. 63.
The 'Acts' forms a link between the Gospels and the Epistles, as the ascension of Christ formed a link between the Gospels and the Acts. It occupies a sort of transition time, for though the church was soon formed, the doctrine of the church was not made known until Paul's epistles. The title, 'Acts of the Apostles,' might have led us to expect a more general account of the labours of all the Twelve; but their mission in the ways of God is superseded by that of Paul, both as minister of the gospel of the glory of Christ, and of the church. A wise selection of the fruits of apostolic energy has been made, verifying some things stated in the Gospels, and forming an indispensable introduction to the Epistles.
After the ascension of the Lord, and the choosing an apostle to fill the place of Judas, the first great event recorded is the day of Pentecost. The Lord had said, "I will build my church," Mt 16:18 ; and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost is the answer to the question, when did the incorporation of the church begin? 1Co 12:13 proves that it was by the gift of the Holy Spirit, though, as it has been said, the doctrine of the church was not revealed till afterwards.
Ananias was charged with lying to the Holy Spirit, by whom God was then dwelling in the church. Our Lord had promised that on His departure He would send them another Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to abide with and be in them. This also was fulfilled at Pentecost. Peter, Stephen, etc. were full of the Holy Spirit: cf. Ac 4:31.
After this another call was made to Israel to receive Jesus as the Christ. They had killed the Prince of life, but God had raised Him from the dead, and now in mercy and on the ground of their ignorance one more appeal was made to them to repent and be converted that their sins might be blotted out, and that God might send again Jesus Christ who was then in heaven. The rulers however were grieved that they preached by Jesus the resurrection from among the dead, and commanded Peter and John not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Stephen, being accused before the Sanhedrim, rehearsed the history of Israel from the beginning, and charged them with resisting the Holy Spirit, as their fathers had done. The indictment of Israel as man in the flesh, and the exposure of his enmity to God led to the final sin of rejecting the glorified Christ, expressed by the stoning of Stephen who calling upon the Lord not to lay the sin to their charge, exemplified the life of Christ in his body.
This ends the first phase of the acts of the Holy Spirit, and clears the way for the going out of the gospel and the revelation of the truth of the church. The persecution that followed led to the spread of the gospel. Philip preached Christ to the Samaritans and many believed. Peter went from Jerusalem, laid his hands upon them and they received the Holy Spirit. Peter was then used at Caesarea in opening the door to the Gentiles (answering to his having the keys of the kingdom committed to him, Mt 16:19), and they also received the Holy Spirit.
In the meantime Saul had been converted, and immediately preached that Jesus was the Son of God. The churches had rest, and walking in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied. Ac 9:31. Herod Agrippa however soon began to persecute the church; he killed James the brother of John, and put Peter into prison, who was however miraculously delivered. Herod died a miserable death; and the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts 12. This ends the phase of the church's history in connection with the remnant of Israel.
Antioch, instead of Jerusalem, now became a centre of evangelisation, independent of apostolic authority, yet without breaking the unity of the Spirit by forming a separate church. Barnabas and Saul are separated to the work by the Holy Spirit, and with John Mark take a missionary journey.
Certain persons from Judaea insisting at Antioch that the Gentile converts must be circumcised or they could not be saved, the question was referred to the church at Jerusalem. In their decision they could say, "It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves ye shall do well. Fare ye well." Ac 15:28-29.
Paul with Silas took a second missionary journey, extending to Europe and returned to Antioch. Ac 18:22. From thence Paul went a third journey. (For the particulars of these journeys and from whence Paul wrote some of his epistles, see the article PAUL.) It may be noted that while at Ephesus, because of the opposition of the Jews in the synagogues, Paul separated the disciples and they met in a building distinct from the synagogue, commencing a further development of the church's history. Ac 19:9.
At the close of the third missionary journey Paul, led by deep spiritual affection for his nation, but forbidden by the Spirit in whose energy the ministry entrusted to him had hitherto been carried out, went up to Jerusalem, where he was arrested. The rest of the book details his trials and danger from the Jews; his journey to Rome, where he calls together the chief of the Jews, to whom he preaches Jesus. We read no more of any of his labours, and the Acts leaves him a prisoner.
The book embraces a period of about thirty years: the mystery of the church, and the gospel of the glory committed to Paul, as well as the state of the assemblies must be gathered from the Epistles. During the above period Paul wrote the two epistles to the Thessalonians, the two to the Corinthians, to the Galatians, Romans, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians.
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And I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of the heavens: and whatsoever you may bind on the earth, shall be bound in the heavens; and whatsoever you may loose on earth shall be loosed in the heavens.
And they praying, the place in which they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Then indeed the church had peace throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, being edified and progressing in the fear of the Lord; and was being multiplied by the exhortation of the Holy Ghost.
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no more burden than these necessary things, to abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which keeping yourselves, you will do well. Fare ye well.
and having come into Caesarea, having gone up, and saluted the church, he came down to Antioch;
But when some were becoming hardened and disbelieving, speaking evil of the way in the presence of the multitude, departing from them he separated his disciples, daily expounding in the school of Tyrannus.
Smith
Acts of the Apostles,
the fifth book in the New testament and the second treatise by the author of the third Gospel, traditionally known as Luke. The book commences with an inscription to one Theophilus, who was probably a man of birth and station. The readers were evidently intended to be the members of the Christian Church, whether Jews or Gentiles; for its contents are such as are of the utmost consequence to the whole Church. They are the fulfillment of the promise of the Father by the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the results of that outpouring by the dispersion of the gospel among the Jews and Gentiles. Under these leading heads all the personal and subordinate details may be arranged. First St. Peter becomes the prime actor under God int he founding of the Church. He is the centre of the first group of sayings and doings. The opening of the door to Jews, ch. 2, and Gentiles, ch. 10, is his office, and by him, in good time, is accomplished. Then the preparation of Saul of Tarsus for the work to be done, the progress, in his hand, of that work, his journeyings, preachings and perils, his stripes and imprisonments, his testifying in Jerusalem and being brought to testify in Rome, --these are the subjects of the latter half of the book, of which the great central figure is the apostle Paul. The history given in the Acts occupies about 33 years, and the reigns of the Roman emperors Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero. It seems most probable that the place of writing was Roma, and the time about two years from the date of St. Paul's arrival there, as related in
This would give us fro the publication about 63 A.D.
Watsons
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. This book, in the very beginning, professes itself to be a continuation of the Gospel of St. Luke; and its style bespeaks it to be written by the same person. The external evidence is also very satisfactory; for besides allusions in earlier authors, and particularly in Clement of Rome, Polycarp, and Justin Martyr, the Acts of the Apostles are not only quoted by Irenaeus, as written by Luke the evangelist, but there are few things recorded in this book which are not mentioned by that ancient father. This strong testimony in favour of the genuineness of the Acts of the Apostles is supported by Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Jerome, Eusebius, Theodoret, and most of the later fathers. It may be added, that the name of St. Luke is prefixed to this book in several ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, and also in the old Syriac version.
2. This is the only inspired work which gives us any historical account of the progress of Christianity after our Saviour's ascension. It comprehends a period of about thirty years, but it by no means contains a general history of the church during that time. The principal facts recorded in it are, the choice of Matthias to be an Apostle in the room of the traitor Judas; the descent of the Holy Ghost on the day of pentecost; the preaching, miracles, and sufferings of the Apostles at Jerusalem; the death of Stephen, the first martyr; the persecution and dispersion of the Christians; the preaching of the Gospel in different parts of Palestine, especially in Samaria; the conversion of St. Paul; the call of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert; the persecution of the Christians by Herod Agrippa; the preaching of Paul and Barnabas to the Gentiles, by the express command of the Holy Ghost; the decree made at Jerusalem, declaring that circumcision, and a conformity to other Jewish rites and ceremonies, were not necessary in Gentile converts; and the latter part of the book is confined to the history of St. Paul, of whom St. Luke was the constant companion for several years.
3. As this account of St. Paul is not continued beyond his two years' imprisonment at Rome, it is probable that this book was written soon after his release, which happened in the year 63; we may therefore consider the Acts of the Apostles as written about the year 64.
4. The place of its publication is more doubtful. The probability appears to be in favour of Greece, though some contend for Alexandria in Egypt. This latter opinion rests upon the subscriptions at the end of some Greek manuscripts, and of the copies of the Syriac version; but the best critics think, that these subscriptions, which are also affixed to other books of the New Testament, deserve but little weight; and in this case they are not supported by any ancient authority.
5. It must have been of the utmost importance in the early times of the Gospel, and certainly not of less importance to every subsequent age, to have an authentic account of the promised descent of the Holy Ghost, and of the success which attended the first preachers of the Gospel both among the Jews and Gentiles. These great events completed the evidence of the divine mission of Christ, established the truth of the religion which he taught, and pointed out in the clearest manner the comprehensive nature of the redemption which he purchased by his death.
OEcumenius calls the Acts, the "Gospel of the Holy Ghost; and St. Chrysostom, the "Gospel of our Saviour's resurrection," or the Gospel of Jesus Christ risen from the dead. Here, in the lives and preaching of the Apostles, we have the most miraculous instances of the power of the Holy Ghost; and in the account of those who were the first believers, we have received the most excellent pattern of the true Christian life.