| Appreciating
What We Have in Luke and Acts LUKE
1:1-4 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things
that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning
were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it
seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time
past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that
you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. ACTS 1:1-3 In the first book, O
Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the
day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit
to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after
his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and
speaking about the kingdom of God.
In The Gospel According to Luke We Have: Þ An orderly narrative
(diēgēsis) Þ Compiled by Luke, a Gentile physician (Col. 4:14; Philem 23-24;
2 Tim. 4:11) Þ Concerning things that Jesus did, taught, and accomplished
(Luke 3:4-6; 4:16-21; 7:22-23, 48-50; 8:25, 54-55; 9:35; Acts 2:22-24; Luke
24:18, 26-27, 44-47; 22:69) Þ Delivered by the earliest eyewitnesses (24:48)
and ministers of the word (24:49) Þ Written for “most excellent Theophilus”—a
Gentile, probably a man of wealth and social standing (Acts 23:26; 24:2;
26:25) Þ So that he could have certainty concerning the things he had been
taught In The Acts of the Apostles We
Have: Þ A second book by the same author, now an eyewitness companion of the
apostle Paul (16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16) to the same recipient Þ
Documenting what the chosen apostles did after receiving commands through the
Holy Spirit (1:4-5, 8; 2:32-33, 36, 42-47; 8:4; 10:34-35; 13:1-3; 14:23;
28:30-31) Þ Built on the truth that Jesus had presented himself to a great
many people alive by many proofs over the course of 40 days (Acts 26:26) Þ
Revolving around the kingdom of God (Luke 9:27; Acts 13:32–39; 28:31) Þ
Promising that this same Jesus will return (Luke 18:8; Acts 1:6-11) |
