Background Notes on the Book of Acts
The following notes provide key background and overview information that will help you study the Book of Acts more effectively.
I. Investigating the Background
A. The author was Luke.
1. Two lines of evidence support this.
- The same person wrote the Gospel of Luke (Lk 1:1-3, Acts 1:1-2).
- Evidence indicates that he is present in the “we” passages (Acts 16:10-17, 20:6-21:18, 27:1-28:16).
2. He was exceptionally qualified for this project.
- He utilized historical material from written records (Lk 1:1).
- He travelled with Paul and was an eyewitness to many things (see “we” passages above).
- He interacted with and gathered perspective from other believers throughout the Roman Empire.
B. It was probably written at about 59-61 A.D.
1. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D.
2. Jews revolted against Rome in 66 A.D.
3. Rome burned in 64 A.D.
Since Acts neither mentions nor reflects any of these significant historical developments, then we can date this book shortly before these events occurred.
II. Determining the Purpose
A. Luke wrote with a historical purpose, to chronicle the start of the church and verify its authenticity as a factual and historical work of God.
B. Luke wrote with a discipleship purpose, to build the faith of Theophilus (Lk 1:1) and show the church in action as a genuine, spiritual work of God.
III. Identifying the Thematic Threads
A. Acts highlights numerous “firsts” for the church.
1. Luke records the first sermon of the church era (2:14-40). Peter preached to the crowds that gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost.
2. Luke records the first conversions of the church era (2:41) Three-thousand people converted as a result of Peter’s sermon.
3. Luke records the first persecution of the church (4:1-4). Peter and John were prosecuted by the Sanhedrin for healing a lame man in the name of Jesus.
4. Luke records the first divine judgment in the church (5:1-11). Ananias and Sapphira died as the consequence for their dishonesty about their financial contributions.
5. Luke records the first selection of deacons (6:1-7). The church chose seven men to administrate the practical functions of the church.
6. Luke records the first church martyrdom (7:54-60). Religious Jews killed Stephen by stoning, accusing him of blasphemy.
7. Luke records the first use of the term “Christian” (11:26). Local citizens called the believers at Antioch by this name, because of their testimony of allegiance and likeness to Christ.
8. Luke records the first missionary call (13:1-2). Paul travelled with Barnabas and Mark, preaching the gospel in the cities of Asia Minor.
9. Luke records the first gospel preaching in Europe (16:12-13). This occurred in Philippi during Paul’s second missionary journey.
B. Acts emphasizes the Holy Spirit.
1. He is mentioned over fifty times, more than in any other New Testament book.[1]
2. Luke carries this theme over from the Gospel of Luke.
The book of Acts is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke, and both are addressed to Theophilus. According to Acts 1:1, Luke’s gospel is written to recount all that Jesus “began to do and teach,” so the book of Acts recounts all that Jesus continued to do and teach.
3. The Holy Spirit is introduced to four groups of people.
- Jews (2:1-13) – ethnic Jews
- Samaritans (8:5-25) – partial Jews
- Gentiles (10:1-48) – non-Jews
- Disciples of John the Baptist (19:1-7)
C. Acts emphasizes prayer.
1. He highlights this in at least nineteen of the twenty-eight chapters.[2]
2. This is another theme that Luke carries over from the Gospel of Luke.
D. Acts emphasizes preaching.
1. Luke records four sermons by Peter.
- Day of Pentecost (2:14-21)
- To the Jews a Solomon’s Porch in the Temple complex (3:12-26)
- At the home of Cornelius in Caesarea (10:34-43)
- Before the apostle and elders in the Jerusalem Council (15:7-11)
2. He records six sermons by Paul.
- In the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia (13:34-43)
- To philosophers on Mars Hill (17:22-31)
- To the Ephesian elders at Miletus (20:17-38)
- To a hostile Jerusalem crowd (22:1-22)
- Before Felix, the Roman governor (24:10-21)
- Before Herod Agrippa II (26:1-24)
3. He records one sermon by Stephen, to hostile Jews (7:2-53).
4. He records one sermon by James, from the Jerusalem Council (15).
E. Acts highlights Spirit-filling.[3]
1. Spirit-filling is highlighted at least fourteen times.
2. It is regularly accompanied by bold witnessing.
Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ yielded to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. He also spent considerable time in prayer. His followers followed the same practice in the book of Acts.
F. Acts features intense Jewish hostility, mentioned at least eighteen times.[4]
1. Believers, especially Paul, frequently presented the gospel in synagogues.[5]
2. The Jews frequently rejected the message.
G. Acts documents extensive church expansion.[6]
From the beginning to the end of Acts, we see that the message of the gospel and the presence of the church expanded in ever-widening circles – from Jew to Gentile and from Jerusalem to the outlying regions of the world.
H. Acts repeatedly mentions money.[7]
It is possible that Theophilus, whom Luke calls “most excellent” (Lk. 1:3), was a wealthy person.
IV. Tracing the Outline
A. Chapters 1-12 focus on the leadership of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, with the church at Jerusalem serving as the center of operations.
B. Chapters 13-28 focus on the leadership of Paul as an apostle to the Gentiles, with the church at Antioch of Syria serving as the center of operations.
1. Paul’s first missionary journey (13-14)—into Asia Minor (modern day Turkey)
2. Paul’s second missionary journey (15-18)—through Asia Minor and into Eastern Europe (modern day Greece)
3. Paul’s third missionary journey (18-21)—spending significant time in Ephesus (western Asia Minor) then through Eastern Europe
4. Paul’s trials and imprisonments (22-28)—first in Caesarea and then in Rome
[1] See Lk. 1:15, 41, 67, 2:25, 3:16, 22, 4:1, 12:10, 12
[2] 1:14, 2:42, 3:1, 4:24, 6:4, 7:60, 8:15, 9:11, 10:2, 11:5, 12:5, 13:3, 14:23, 16:13, 20:36, 21:5, 22:17, 27:35, 28:15
[3] 2:2, 4, 3:10, 4:8, 31, 5:3, 17, 28, 9:17, 13:9, 45, 52, 14:17, 19:29
[4] 4:1-3, 21, 5:17-18, 40, 7:54, 58, 8:1-3, 9:23, 12:1-3, 13:50, 14:1-2, 19, 17:2-9, 13, 18:12, 19:33-41, 20:3, 21:31, 23:12, 26:31-32
[5] 13:5, 13:14-15, 42, 14:1, 17:17, 18:4, 18:19, 26, 19:8
[6] 2:41, 47, 4:4, 5:14, 6:7, 9:31, 11:21, 12:24, 16:5, 17:6, 19:20
[7] 1:18, 2:44-45, 3:2-6, 4:32-37, 5:1-5, 6:1-8, 6:11, 8:8-23, 8:27-40, 9:36-39, 10:4, 11:29-30, 12:20-23, 16:16-19, 17:9, 18:3, 19:18-20, 19:24-28, 20:4, 20:33-34, 20:35, 21:24, 22:28, 24:17, 24:26, 28:30
