We do know he was a physician and the only gentile to write any part of the new testament. The date of the gospel must be in the early 60s due to the necessity of acts being completed by ad 64. The gospel of luke is anonymous as is the book of acts. Why is the gospel of luke and acts of the apostles composed as. Scholars believe that they were written by the same person. The gospel ends at the point where acts begins, with the ascension of our lord into heaven. Why is the gospel of luke and acts of the apostles. He was a greek and the only gentile christian writer of the new testament.
Pauls letter to the colossians draws a distinction between luke and other colleagues of the circumcision, meaning the jews colossians 4. Luke wrote the gospel according to luke and the book of the acts of the apostles the book of acts is a continuation of the record luke began in. Paul the apostle, and the most literary of the new. Luke recorded three rejections by the jews to peter and the apostles associated with him to the message of repentance and proclamation of the kingdom. Lukeacts has sometimes been presented as a single book in published bibles or new testaments. Lukeacts, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of biblical. The former account i made, o theophilus, of all that jesus began both to do and teach. Problems with thinking that luke wrote luke and acts. These same principles continue to be applicable until christ returns.
Yet another theory about the identity of theophilus is that he was the roman lawyer who defended paul during his trial in rome. Luke did not expect these works to be published or widely circulated. It appears that jesus used the phrase to clarify his mission as a spiritual one to. Since luke is an otherwise littleknown figure, there is no logical reason to attribute the authorship to him, unless he is in fact the author.
Both books are addressed to one named theophilus luke 1. The holy spirit chose luke, the beloved physician, to write one of the four records of the earthly ministry of the lord jesus christ. It is common knowledge that the former book luke mentions is what we call the gospel of luke and uncommon knowledge exactly who theophilus was. Luke would hold the educational background, the eyewitness access, the resources, and the training needed to construct both the third gospel and the book of acts. Those who hold this theory believe that lukes purpose in writing luke and acts was to write a defense of christianity, somewhat akin to a legal brief. If this theory is correct, lukes writings were designed to. Why is the gospel of luke and acts of the apostles composed as two books rather than one book in the new testament. Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the word of god in order to refocus ones mind and heart upon christ and his gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire bible in a year. Furthermore, there are linguistic and theological similarities between the gospel of luke and the book of acts. Lukeacts, theology of dictionary definition, verses and bible references on the. Lukeacts, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of. In acts we see basic principles being applied to specific situations in the context of problems and persecutions.
Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Acts 1 jesus ascends to heaven, a new apostle chosen a. In my former book making the connection between luke. Authorship of the book of acts is attributed to luke. The authorship of the gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles, collectively known as luke acts, is an important issue for biblical exegetes who are attempting to produce critical scholarship on the origins of the new testament. These books catalog the life and teachings of jesus christ, the savior to. Luke, also called saint luke the evangelist, flourished 1st century ce. Reading acts as a sequel to the fourfold gospel baylor university. Luke and acts, for example, are actually a twovolume historical study written by luke. The book of acts, also written by luke, continues telling the story where the book of. The gospel of luke and the book of acts are a twopart work, and an incredibly helpful way to see how early christians told the story of christianitys origins. The story of the storytellers the gospel of luke from.
The book of luke is still read today by the lovers of god because it is the mercy gospel, and everyone needs mercy. Acts leaders notes and all ten studies in one file. The christian who really desires to know the bible should diligently study lukes gospel a. He wrote two short works, for theophilus and the small group of christians who influenced him. Although his identity is not known, some have speculated that he was the patron who. Third, the early church writers attribute the third gospel and the book of acts to luke.
Luke had no way of knowing how long the church would continue on this earth, but as long as it pursues its course, the book of acts will be one of its major guides. The exclusion of the deaths of paul, peter and james the brother of jesus powerful evidences for the early dating of lukes work. Acts 1 in my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach. Little is known about luke, the author of the books of luke and acts in the bible. At the end, these 3 hermeneutical axioms describe the book. This phrasing indicates that theophilus was a roman official, and not merely a friend or associate of luke. Before he went, he talked to the apostles he had chosen. In my former book making the connection between luke and acts. In order to get the books full message, we to need read all the parts as a single work. He wrote more of the new testament than anyone elseeven the apostle paul luke wasnt an eyewitness to jesus ministry, but he lived during the first century, and according to his own writings, he carefully investigated everything from the beginning. It turns out to be a really sticky problem one of those that cant be solved simply. Thus, lukeacts is certainly early enough to have contained eyewitness testimony.
Gods promised program, realized for all nations biblical theology of the new testament series kindle edition by bock, darrell l. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. One of the evidences in the book of acts that makes the omission of paul. In the latter portion of acts, luke recorded three rejections of the jews to pauls overtures of salvation. A special characteristic of the gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles is the general validity of the gospel of salvation for all men in the whole world compare luke 2.
Lukeacts, theology of the initial verses of both the gospel of luke and the book of acts indicate they were written to an otherwise unknown person named theophilus. Luke acts has sometimes been presented as a single book in published bibles or new testaments, for example, in the original new testament 1985 and the books of the bible 2007. Some editions of the bible, like the books of the bible, actually put the pieces back together in the text. This paper will show the connection between these two works, will explore each books general message and themes, and discover how acts builds upon luke as the second of the companion books. The story of luke, the author of acts, has to be pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle. The book of acts starts with the phrase, in my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach.
Oneonone teaching on lukes gospel and the book of acts from one of todays top new testament scholars. Some scholars believe that it was lukes intention to write two books from the beginning when he first penned the third gospel, 6 while some others will go so far as to say that they were originally a single unitone book 7. If we include the acts of the apostles luke has written the greatest part of the nt after the apostle paul. He was an educated man, and we learn in colossians 4. We have reunited the two volumes of lukeacts and placed them first because they provide an overview of the new testament period.
We know it because it always circulated as the work of one called luke. The book of acts bible study guide chapter 1 online. Gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles quizlet. There are several reasons why the books are divided into two. What is very similar between the gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles. I continue now with my discussion of whether one of pauls traveling companions wrote the account of his life in the book of acts, and thus, by association, the gospel of luke. Lukeacts are two books but one volume, and will satisfy any logical systematic thinker. One story in two parts reformed theological college. Acts 1 icb luke writes another book to bible gateway.
The title of lukes gospel and acts luke appears to have given neither his gospel, nor acts of the apostles, a title. Why didnt luke include the deaths of paul, peter and. The gospel of luke is addressed to theophilus with the expression. Luke with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
From a plurality of gospels would eventually emerge the notion of one. The initial verses of both the gospel of luke and the book of acts indicate. Who was theophilus at the beginning of luke and acts. Lukes involvement with the gospel of lukeacts is documented by justin martyr, irenaeus, papias, and others. Luke, having investigated everything from the beginning, presents his gospel of what jesus did and said, and then continues in acts presenting what the disciples did and said. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading a theology of luke and acts. The gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles together make up.
Darrell bock has written a few other books on luke and acts. Luke wrote two works, the third gospel, an account of the life and teachings of jesus, and the book of acts, which is an account of the growth and expansion of christianity after the death of. There is an interesting literary technique that luke uses so that references or parallels start at the beginning of acts. Saint luke, also known as luke the evangelist, is widely regarded as the author of both the gospel of luke and the book of acts. Sixth, because of the authors involvement with the book of acts, one can deduct from the we passages that the author was a close associate of. That luke and acts are companion books can be seen in many ways. The book of acts carries on from there to give an account of what happed after this. Although his identity is not known, some have speculated that he was the patron who sponsored the finances for the publication of lukes work.
That those who have plenty in this life must share with those who have less. We have reunited the two volumes of luke acts and placed them first because they provide an overview of the new testament period. Luke did indeed write both these books, apparently as two volumes of the same work see acts 1. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Rather than being called luke and acts, they could have been. Like the old testament books of samuel, kings and chronicles, they are one story in two parts.
In his writing, luke records the story of god working through jesus to usher in a new era of promise and spiritenablement so that the people of god can be gods people even in the midst of a hostile world. This groundbreaking work by darrell bock thoroughly explores the theology of lukes gospel and the book of acts. So far as i am concerned, i do not believe there are any other contenders. He wanted to assure followers of jesus that what theyd been taught about him was trustworthy.
Whether luke had acts in mind from the beginning or not, there is a strong case to be made that he was the author of. The purpose of the book of acts is governed by the jews response to peter and paul. Acts 1 easytoread version erv luke writes another book. Both the gospel of luke and acts of the apostles are addressed to this theophilus.