Notes
on Acts, The Assembly
Bible School
(1970). Palmer Ave. Kelston.
Prepared
by L.H.Brough.
Literature: The Inter Varsity Bible Dictionary. (B.D). Especially recommended.
Among
commentaries we commend:
* On
Acts :-
Blaiklock
in Tyndales Series. Historical. (Delightful reading).
Bruce, in London Series. (Much larger, one of the best commentaries).
Radkham in
Westminister Series. (Older, but
probably the best ever).
Walker. Original
Indian Church
Series. (The Best missionary
Commentary).
F.F.Bruce
on the Greek Text. (Invaluable for the Greek Student).
* On
Paul's Epistles:-
During the
first missionary journey. 46-47.A.D.
Galatians. B-D.
477.
Cole in
Tyndale.
Hogg and
Vine. (Outstanding).
Ridderbos. (Helpful).
The second
missionary journey. 48-51 A.D.
Thessalonians. B-D. 1270.
Leon Morris
in Tyndale. (Much better still in the
London Series).
London Series.
Hogg and
Vine. (Outstanding).
Hendrikson.
The third
missionary journey. 52-55 (6). A.D.
First
Corinthians. B-D. 252.
Leon Morris
in Tyndale Series.
W.E.Vine.
St. John Parry.
Grosheide.
Second
Corinthians. B-D. 252.
Hughes in London Series. (Splendid).
Talker in
Tyndale.
Romans. B-D. 1101.
Griffith Thomas. Nygren.
W.E.Vine. Sanday and
Headlam.
Moule. Leehnhardt.
Stifler. W.Kelly.
Murray. Cranfield.
The Prison
Epistles.
Ephesians. B-D. 379.
F.F.Bruce.
(Simple).
Simpson,
with Bruce on Colossians.
An author
in Tyndale Series.
J.Armitidge
Robinson. (Is much better for the serious student).
E.F.Scott.
Philippians. B-D. 985.
Martin in
Tyndale.
Bear. (Liberal, but possessing insight).
Hendrikson.
Colossians. B-D. 243.
F.F.Bruce.
London Series. (Excellent).
A.T.Robertson,
"Paul and the Intellectuals.
Radford. (Very full).
Carson in Tyndale Series.
C.F.D.Moule
(For readers of Greek).
Philemon. B-D. 983.
Epistles
written during Paul's release from prison.
First
Timothy and Titus. B-D. 1280.
Guthrie in
Tyndale.
Hendrikson.
J.N.D.Kelly
in Blacks Series.
Simpson. (Hsa great value for the Greek Student.
During
Paul's final imprisonment.
Second
Timothy.
Guthrie.
Hendrikson.
J.N.D.Kelly.
Hebrews. It is generally agreed that Hebrews is not from
Paul. It may be from
Apollos. But for completeness, we shall include it.
A.B.Davidson.
F.F.Bruce.
Griffith-Thomas. (Fine for beginners).
Hewitt in
Tyndale.
Helpful
also for Acts is, "The Spreading Flame." by F.F.Bruce.
We also
recommend:-
Tenney.
"New Testament Survey."
(Excellent).
Sauer's
three books: Dawn of World
Redemption.
The
Triumph of the Crucified.
From
Eternity to Eternity.
Hammond. "In Understanding be Men."
Introduction to Acts.
B-D. 10.
The Gospel of Luke and Acts, were written by the same
author. The Acts is the continuation of
the earlier book. It continues the story
and forms the second part. Both books
are addressed to Theophilus. The Acts
begins with a reference to the former treatise, and takes up the story where
the third Gospel ends. Both books show
considerable literary skill, and many resemblances.
Unity of authorship
is beyond dispute. Both books have
similar interests and characteristics, e.g. esteem for women; that poverty is
more conducive to a devout life; emphasis is placed on prayer, praise and
repentance. The author of Acts was a
companion and fellow-traveller with Paul.
This is reasonably inferred from those passages known as the
"we" passages. (16:10-17; 20:5-21; 27:1; 28:16).
The evidence from Acts itself makes possible a process of
elimination of the different companions of Paul, leaving only Luke, who is not
named in the Acts, but Paul's epistles indicate his presence with Paul during
his imprisonment. (Col.4:14; Philemon v.24; 2nd.Tim.4:11). B-D. 755.
Early tradition supports the view that Luke was the
author. Luke and Acts have indications
that the writer was a medical man. Hobart's famous book may
have exaggerated the evidence for this, but a reasonable case can be made for
it. Paul calls him, "the beloved
physician." (Col.4:14).
Luke was the only Gentile contributor to the New
Testament. Probably from Antioch, and a lover of Philippi. It has been suggested that he was the brother
whose praise was in the Gospel. (2.Cor.8:18).
Date:
Bruce favours an early date, 62.A.D. (A hand written extra note: Paul's martyrdom
is not mentioned in Acts. His letters
not used: written before Paul's epistles).
Aim
or Purpose:
Probably most scholars who have specialized in the study of
Acts, discern an apologetic aim. It is
regarded as an apology or defence of the Christian faith and movement. Nero falsely blamed the Christians for the
great fire at Rome
in 64 A.D. and to give his cruel persecution of Christians a pretention of
justice, he fostered legal investigations which made the Roman authorities
aware that Christianity was not a branch of Judaism. The Romans had given a legal status to
Judaism, and now the Church was shown to have no such status. Did then, Luke write his Gospel and the book
of Acts as an apology to the Roman authorities in defence of the Gospel?
It is more probably that Luke 1:1-4, is an introduction to
his two-volume book, and that we see his primary purpose in writing. He wrote to establish believers in the truths
of their salvation, but in doing this his work, exhibited a certain
"apologetic" (defensive) character.
Firstly: The
Church's relations to the old order as exemplified in Judaism.
* The central role of Jerusalem in the history of salvation is
underlined.
* It is demonstrated that the Church movement
is the fulfilment of O.T. Scriptures.
* The guilt of Judaism in rejecting the Gospel
is proved.
Secondly: The
relationship of the Church to the world-power, as exemplified in Romans.
* The State need have no fear of the Church as
a rival for political power.
* Church as the true and spiritual Israel, is
worthy of the legal protection that Judaism
enjoys.
* Christianity was not a nationalistic
religion or movement. It was a faith for
the world,
fully adequate
to meet the spiritual needs of a world-empire.
Its primary purpose is Didactic. The opening words of Luke chapter 1, informs
us concerning his primary purpose. He
desired that they should know the certainty and significance of those things fulfilled
among them.
* In the first book,
the Gospel, he writes how this salvation has appeared in Jesus Christ.
In the second volume, he shows how the proclamation of these
things is for the world.
* The basic concern
then, of the second volume, or Acts, is that the evangelism of the
Gentiles, is
the fulfilment of God's purposes. That
the purpose of God includes the
evangelism of
the Gentiles, is vindicated along three
lines:-
1/. It is the
fulfilment of the prophetic Scriptures.
This is a major argument in Acts.
That the Messiah must bring salvation to the Gentiles, fulfils the
prophecies of the Old
Testament.
(26:22-23).
2/. The risen Lord
commanded his apostles to engage upon such a witness. (24:44-49; Acts 1:8). The words of Acts 1:8, provide for Luke, the
plan of this book.
"Witnessing" is the key-idea in Acts.
3/. The Holy Spirit
by His presence, guidance and activity, initiates and establishes the new
movement. This new expansion of the
Gospel, could not have occurred without the guidance and power of the Holy
Spirit. Every new stage, was developed
under His leadership. The Acts, then,
justifies the world-mission of the Church, by the Old Testament Scriptures, the
command of the risen Lord, and the leading and directing power of the Holy
Spirit.
Luke's aim then, is theological. He sets forth God's great saving
purpose. He demonstrates the rightness
of this world-mission, by showing certain stages of its development. It is vital to observe the importance given
to the two cities, Jerusalem and Rome. The Gospel of Luke begins and ends in Jerusalem; the book of Acts begins at Jerusalem
and ends in Rome. It is Jerusalem
that dominates the first part of Acts, while the journey from Jerusalem
to Rome is the
theme of the final chapters.
Acts tells the story how that Jerusalem had not recognized the time of her
visitation, rejected the Gospel. How
that God's "chosen witness" to the nations, is brought to Rome and preaches the
Gospel in the centre of the Gentile world.
Jerusalem to
Luke, was not merely a geographical centre, but a theological idea. It was the "world-centre" of the
Jewish people, where the true God manifested His presence and glory, and the
centre of His worship. There, the
prophecies must be fulfilled, and there, the Jews fulfilled them, by crucifying
their Messiah. But there, repentance was
first preached, and from there, the world-wide witness to Christ begins. It was the centre from which all proceeded
forth.
The validity of this witness, is that it was accomplished in
the power of the Holy Spirit. The city
had a central role in the history of salvation; in the fulfilment of Scripture,
and as the centre of the witness to Christ, for there, He died and rose again.
To fulfil its true role in the history of salvation, the
nation must repent. But instead of
repenting, they became the enemies of the Gospel, especially of the mission to
the Gentiles. It was this hostility that
terminated the special role of the city and nation.
The preaching of the Gospel, must commence at Jerusalem and from there
extend to the ends of the earth. The
book of Acts is an account of the working-out of this task and a demonstration
of its Divine authenticity. Jerusalem had a central
role in the universal diffusion of the Gospel.
Towards the close of Acts, the city of Rome becomes prominent. Rome
was the great city of the Gentiles, and the centre of the nations. If the Gospel is established there, soon it
shall spread to all the Provinces. Therefore,
the chosen witness to the Gentiles, must bear witness in that city.
The movement of the Acts is from Jerusalem
to Rome. In the history of this movement is shown the
deliberate rejection of the Gospel by the Jews at every stage and in contrast
to the readiness of the Gentiles to receive the Gospel.
To
Whom Written.
Winn's view seems correct. A
great many of the first converts to Christianity were proselytes and
God-fearers. These people owed much to
the Synagogue. But now, everywhere, they
see the Jews becoming hostile to the Gospel and this rejection of the Gospel by
the Jews greatly puzzled them. Surely
the Kingdom must be fulfilled to Israel? Thus 1:6, expresses one of the main concerns
of the book.
Luke wrestles with the problem of Israel's rejection of the Kingdom
and how it came to pass. That these
things were fulfilled to Gentiles. This
explains why Luke so carefully, and fully establishes the new developments from
Old Testament Scriptures.
The readers who Luke addressed, having previously been
proselytes and God-fearers, would fully appreciate the reference to the Old
Testament. Theophilus is to be regarded as a representative of that group of
people, to whom it was important to prove that the coming of the Gospel, its
rejection by the Jews and its acceptance by the Gentiles, was the fulfilment of
the Old Testament.
Divisions
of Acts.
Knowling's held that 1:8 gave the key to the structure of
the book and it is sound. But the Acts
can also be divided along other lines.
Filson favours the outline of Turner, which is:-
1.st. Period. 1:1-6:7. The Church in Jerusalem.
6:7. Summary.
2nd. Period. 6:8-9:31. The extension of the Church
throughout Palestine.
9:31. Summary.
3rd. Period.. 9:32. The extension of the Church to Phoenieia, Cyprus,
and
Antioch in Syria.
12:24. Summary.
4th. Period. 12:25. The extension of the Church in
Southern and central
Asia Minor.
16:5. Summary.
5th. Period. 16:6. The extension of the Church in Europe, and Paul's
missionary
work in the great centres, such as,
Corinth and Ephesus.
28:30-31. Summary.
6th. Period. 19:21. The extension of the apostolic
witness to Rome.
Paul's
arrest in Jerusalem,
his long imprisonment
at
Caesarea, and journey to Rome.
28:30-31. Summary.
The general
outline of Winn is helpful.
1. Prelude to the witness. 1:1-26.
* Jesus' final promise and command. 1:1-14.
* The completion of the twelve. 1:15-26.
2. The witness in Jerusalem. 2:1-8:3.
* The Day of Pentecost. 2:1-42.
* The opposition from the authorities. 2:43-4:32.
* Greed dramatically punished. 4:32-5:11.
* Persecution by the authorities. 5:12-42.
* Disunity leads to organization. 6:1-6.
* Steven, the first martyr. 6:7-8:3.
3. The witness in Judaea and Samaria. 8:4-12:23.
* The ministry of Philip. 8:4-40.
* The conversion of Paul. 9:1-30.
* Peter opens the door to the Gentiles. 9:31-11:18.
* The Church at Antioch. 11:19-30.
* The persecutions under Herod. 12:1-23.
4. The witness to the end of the earth. 12:24-28:31.
* The mission to Galatia. 12:24-14:28.
* The debate over circumcision. 15:1-35.
* The mission to Macedonia
and Greece. 15:36-18:7.
* The mission to Ephesus. 18:8-19:20.
* The journey to Jerusalem. 19:21-21:14.
* Paul is made prisoner. 21:15-23:35.
* Paul before Felix. 24:1-27.
* Paul before Festus. 25:1-12.
* Paul before Agrippa. 25:13-26:32.
* The journey to Rome. 27:1-28:31.
Winn's outline
adequately brings out the idea of "Witnessing."
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