THE BOOK OF ACTS AS A HISTORIOGRAPHY

THE BOOK OF ACTS AS A HISTORIOGRAPHY

 

 

 

* The Author: Luke

1) Paul's royal friend and helper (2 Tim 4:11)

2) a Hellenistic christian: the only Gentile biblical author

3) a well-educated physician (high Greek and literary style)

 

 

* To Theophilus

1) all beloved people of God 2) a real name (a Roman officer)

 

 

* Oral tradition and Eye Witness

The sources until chapter 15

"We" passage since 16:10 (2nd mission trip)

 

* Luke's Purpose: Acts as a historiography (emphasis and omission)

1) How the gospel goes to the gentiles

2) not a biographical focus but the process of gentile mission

3) apologetic of the gentile mission to the Jewish Christians and Romans

4) how has the spirit lead the process since the Pentecost

5) Major sermons: single focus on "Jesus, the Christ!"

 

# No emphasis on

1) 12 apostles and other Jewish christians

2) The structure and development of the Primitive church

3) Other Christian regions (focused only on the path from Jerusalem to Romans)

 

 

* Key verse: Acts 1:8

 

 

* The Six panels

1) 1:1-6:7 The church at Jerusalem (focusing on Peter)

2) 6:8-9:31 All Judea to Samaria (and Rise of Paul)

3) 9:32-12:24 Church of Antioch and Conelius

4) 12:25-15:35 1st Trip to Asian minor and Galatia

5) 15:36-19:41 2nd and 3rd Trip to Euroup, The church of Ephesus

6) 20:1-28:31 Paul to Rome

 

 

* Paul's Acts as the Acts of the Holy Spirit

Prelude: Peter and Primitive Church

Development: Beginning of Paul's ministry and his mission trips

Grand ending (Unfinished ending)

 

 

* Tensions

with the Jews

with the Greeks and Romans

with Jewish Christians (Key text: Jerusalem council of chapter 15)

 

 

* The Gospel of Luke and Acts: two volumes of a single composition

interpreting the Gospel through Acts

Gospel of Luke: Jesus, a Religious revolutionary against the orthodoxy

stories focusing on the non-orthodox and the marginalized

 

 

* "After completing his gospel, Luke continued the story of the Christian church in the book of

Acts. He did not do this out of mere antiquation curiosity, but rather out of some important

theological considerations." .... "Like has left two books, the first on the deeds of Jesus, and the

second on the deeds of the Spirit." (Gonzalez, xv-xvi)