The
book of Acts is about the mission of the church to bear witness to Jesus. This
theme is highlighted at the outset of the book in verse 1:8. The main emphasis
of the Christian witness was to proclaim the reality of the resurrection as
confirming Jesus as God’s Messiah and to call all people to repent and place
their faith in him as Lord. The spread of this message is the primary theme in
Acts.
The
“ends of the earth” are never reached in Acts (“ends of the earth” denotes the
limits of civilization). The mission goal is still to be completed.
2. The Providence of God
“The
story recorded in Acts is seen as standing
in continuity with the mighty acts of God recorded in the Old Testament and
with the ministry of Jesus” (I.H. Marshall, 23).
The
events in Acts are viewed as being brought about “by the will and purpose of God” (I.H. Marshall, 24).
The
entire “life of the church was regarded as taking place in fulfillment of Scripture [Old Testament prophecies]” (I.H. Marshall,
24).
The
“life of the church was directed by God
at crucial stages. Sometimes the Spirit directed the church what to do (e.g.,
13:2; 15:28; 16:6). At other times angels spoke to Christian missionaries
(5:19f.; 8:26; 27:23), or the messages were mediated by prophets (11:28;
20:11f.). On one occasion the Lord himself appeared to his servants (18:9;
23:11)” (I.H. Marshall, 24).
“the
power of God was seen in signs and
wonders which were performed by the name of Jesus (3:16; 14:3)” (I.H.
Marshall, 24).
“Luke
recognizes that, just as the way of Jesus took him through opposition
culminating in judicial murder, so too the path of the Word of God is beset by
opposition” (I.H. Marshall, 27).
The
structure of Acts is largely divided up according to the careers of Peter (1-12)
and Paul (13-28). There are parallels between the ministries of these two
apostles as well as parallels with the life of Christ.
4. The Role of Holy Spirit
Luke
stresses the importance of the Holy Spirit to the life of the church. Indeed,
F.F. Bruce suggested that the book should be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit.
The
church was born of the Spirit at Pentecost and the mission of the church is
accomplished through the ongoing guidance and empowerment of the Spirit.
5. The Church as the True People of God
In
the Book of Acts, Luke portrays Christians as the people of God or true Israel
(the people of God are not identical with the historical, ethnic Jewish
nation). God’s people are now the people of the Messiah – those who by faith
have accepted Jesus as the Christ. Christians are described as “believers” and
people of “the way.” Christians are in continuity with the people of the
promises.
Luke
also seems to have an apologetic purpose in depicting Christianity as the
fulfillment of Judaism; namely, that “from a Roman point of view Christianity
should be regarded as a legitimate development of Judaism, and should therefore
receive the same privileged position as a tolerated religion within the Empire”
(I.H. Marshall, 28).
6. Inclusive Gospel
Acts
shows how the gospel was meant for Gentiles as well as Jews. Inclusion in the
people of God is now open to both
Jews and Gentiles on the basis of faith in Jesus as the Christ. Chapters 6-15
cover this significant theme of racial inclusiveness.
Stephen’s
insight that God is not restricted to a dwelling made by hands (Acts 7).
Philip’s
outreach to the Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8).
Peter’s
vision and outreach to Cornelius (Acts 10).
The
outreach of the Antioch church to Gentiles (Acts 11:20).
Paul’s
mission to the Gentiles (Acts 13:47).
The
Jerusalem Council on the basis for Gentile inclusion (Acts 15).
The
gospel also crossed social, economic, and gender barriers.
7. Faithful Witnesses
True
disciples are faithful witnesses even unto death (Stephen and later Paul and
Peter). In fact, the Greek word for witness – martyr – came to have this
connotation in the later church.
Again,
like Jesus, the faithful witness should expect suffering and rejection. Numeric
success – significant numbers of people converting – may or may not accompany
faithful witness.
8. The Life and Organization of the Church
I.H.
Marshall says, “Luke is concerned to offer a picture of the life and worship of
the church no doubt as a pattern to provide guidance for the church in his own
time” (32).
As
noted earlier, Luke gives summary statements on the life of the church and the
spread of the gospel. He stresses the importance of being open to the Spirit’s
guidance in fulfilling the mission. He mentions elders in local churches, as
well as prophets, teachers, and missionaries. Within Luke’s travel accounts we
can find the principle of team work, since most of the missionaries went out in
groups of two or more (For instance, on numerous occasions Paul engaged in team
evangelism. In Acts 15:35 we read, “Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch,
where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.” And in Troas at least eight believers
accompanied Paul [Acts 20:4 says, “He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus
from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe,
Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia” and of
course, Luke]). We can also discern from his examples of various sermons the
way in which the core gospel message (kerygma) was contextualized for different
people.
9. How to Relate to the World
Luke
is aware of the harsh realities of living in this world. He gives a realistic
picture of how to relate to the political situation of the first century. Christians,
despite their innocence (e.g., Paul did not break any Roman law), still might become
victims of injustice.
John
B. Polhill suggests the following realistic political agenda based on Paul’s
example:
“give
no grounds for charges against you, use what legal rights you have, be willing
to suffer for your faith, and bear your witness where you can” (71).
10. Triumph of the Gospel
Despite
opposition, the Word of God triumphs and continues to spread to the ends of the
earth.
This
is not triumphalism, but realism:
Acts
depicts the triumphant progress of the Word of God, not the triumph of the
witnesses. The witnesses faced persecution and even death, but when they
faithfully followed the Spirit’s direction, the word of God flourished.
Sources
Bruce, F. F. The Book of the Acts
(NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.
Marshall,
I. Howard. The Acts of the Apostles (TNTC). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980
(Reprinted 1984).
Polhill, John B. Acts (NAC). Nashville: Broadman, 2001.
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