Bible Commentaries
Acts

I

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS

ACTS

That Luke is the author of this book appears from its first sentence (Acts 1:1), making it a continuation of his Gospel, and from the use of the personal pronoun, first person, in some chapters, showing that he was a companion of Paul, as in Acts 16:10-16; Acts 20:5; Acts 28:16. The book was probably written at Rome, during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30), Luke being then with him (Acts 28:16), and as we also see from the references in Philemon 1:24 and Colossians 4:14. Its date was about A.D. 63. The person addressed was Theophilus (Arts Acts 1:1), to whom his Gospel was dedicated (Luke 1:1).

There are several New Testament references to the author. We learn from Colossians 4:14 that he was (1) a physician; (2) a Gentile Christian, probably one of Paul’s converts; (3) the author of two New Testament books (see Luke 1:1; Acts 1:1); (4) a companion and fellow worker with Paul from whom he received many of the facts, given both in his Gospel and in Acts; (5) he first appears in the story at Troas (Acts 16:10-11) and again at Philippi (Acts 20:5) and so continues with him to end of the book, and (6) he was with Paul in both of his Roman imprisonments. In the first imprisonment we have the testimony of Philemon 1:23; Colossians 4:14; Acts 28:16; and in the second Roman imprisonment we have the testimony of Paul in 2 Timothy 4:11.

The title of the book is, as the manuscripts say, "Acts of the Apostles" or, without the article, simply, Acts. Two of the general limits of the book are (1) the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem, the Jewish capital, to Rome, the capital of the world; (2) the time period, AD. 33 to A.D. 63, i.e., thirty years. Many commentaries contest the propriety of its title, "Acts of the Apostles", but that propriety is supported by the following considerations: (1) It does give some of the acts of all the apostles, i.e., it recites the names of eleven of the original twelve, and of their place of meeting in an upper chamber (Acts 1:13); (2) it gives the history of the filling of the place of Judas by Matthias (Acts 1:15-26) ; (3) it gives an account of the baptism of all of them in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4) ; and subsequently of the teaching of all of them (Acts 2:42) ; (4) it gives an account of their great prayer meeting (Acts 4:23-31); (5) it teaches us that they all wrought miracles (Acts 5:12), and were all imprisoned in the Sadducean persecution (Acts 5:18), and were all delivered by an angel of the Lord (Acts 5:19), and were all beaten with stripes (Acts 5:40), and that they continued their teaching (Acts 5:42) ; (6) it shows that they all participated in the ordination of the deacons (Acts 6:2-6); (7) they all remained in Jerusalem when the disciples were scattered abroad by the Pharisee persecution led by Saul (Acts 8:1); (8) it shows that they all participated in sending Peter and John to confer the power of the Spirit on Philip’s converts in Samaria (Acts 8:14); (9) it shows that some of them received Paul when he was introduced by Barabbas (Acts 9:27); (10) they all received and justified Peter’s account of the conversion of the Gentile, Cornelius (Acts 11:1-18); (II) it shows that they all participated in sending Barabbas to Antioch to look into the preaching unto the Greeks there (Acts 11:20-22); (12) they were all suffering under the Herodian persecution, one of them, James, the brother of John, being killed (Acts 12:9-24), and Peter imprisoned; (13) they all participated, including Paul, in the decision of the great question – the greatest of the apostolic times – whether Gentiles must become Jews in order to be saved (Acts 15:1-21), and joined in the decree to the churches officially settling this great question (Acts 15:22-30; Acts 16:4) ; (14) there was also full and official recognition of Paul’s independent apostleship and of the division of labor – Paul and Barabbas to go to the Gentiles, and the others to the circumcision (this we learn from Galatians 2:1-10); (15) from chapter 13 to the end of the book we have the acts of the Apostle to the Gentiles. From these fifteen particulars, the propriety of the title is sufficiently evident. It must be observed that the title in the manuscripts is without the article, and hence makes no claim to record all the acts of all the apostles. Indeed, its first beginnings at Jerusalem, then in Samaria, then among the Romans at Caesarea, then the Greeks at Antioch and various Greek cities of Asia Minor and in Europe, and finally at Rome.

Another important matter is settled by the book, viz.: that the apostles, though inspired, illumined, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, were "set in the church." We find the church, the whole 120, participating in the selection of Matthias; we find the church participating in the baptism of the Spirit, in the institution of the office of deacon, and in every detail of the worldwide character of the gospel. For example, the action of the church in the case of the Samaritans receiving the gospel, the action of the church in the case of the Greeks getting it, and in the great judicial decision of Acts 15, as set forth in Acts 15:2; Acts 15:6-7; Acts 15:11-12; Acts 15:15. This is a very important matter – to know that even inspired, illumined and Spirit-empowered apostles were set in the church and worked through the churches.

Many special names, or ascriptions, have been given to this book, e.g.: Barnes calls it, The Gospel of the Holy Spirit. Chrysostom, the great Greek orator, The Demonstration of the Resurrection. Luther calls it, A Commentary on Paul’s Epistles. Eichorn, A History of Missions Propagating Christianity. Lekebusch, A Continuous Fulfillment of the Promise in Acts 1:8. Grotius, A Biographical Description of the Work of Peter and Paul. Baumgarten, The Teachings and Deeds of the Risen and Ascended Savior. Others, "An unfinished history of the church of the first century." Yet others, "The growth of the church, external and internal, from its foundation in Jerusalem, the center of Judaism, to its establishment in Rome, the center of heathendom." Canon Norris has named it, The Continued Action of the Risen Lord, Through the Spirit, in the Interval Between the Gospels and the Epistles. – (See the fine introduction by Professor Lindsay.)

Certain facts that justify somewhat the definitions of Barnes and Norris as given above are as follows: (1) Jesus gave his sentence limits the record to "beginnings." We have here worldwide commandment through the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:2; (2) they were to tarry until they were endued with that Spirit- power (Acts 1:4) ; (3) they received this power (Acts 2:1-4) ; (4) every advance toward a broader gospel was specifically Spirit-guided, viz.: the freer preaching of Stephen, the broader work of Philip, the still broader work of the reception of Cornelius, the preaching to the Greeks, the sending out of Paul and Barnabas, the recognition of their work, the great decision in Acts 15, the "Where-to-go," the "how-long-to-stay," the making of officers in the church, and the blessings on their work, all of the Holy Spirit.

The human heroes of the book are Peter, Stephen, Philip, and Paul.

We do well to trace on the map the missionary journeys of the book:

1. The Journeys of Philip: (1) From Jerusalem to Samaria; (2) From Samaria to the desert land between Jerusalem and Gaza; (3) Thence to Azotus, and thence to Caesarea.

II. The Journeys of Peter: (1) He first goes (with John) from Jerusalem to Samaria, and then returns; (2) he goes to Lydda; (3) to Joppa; (4) from Joppa to Caesarea; (5) thence to Jerusalem; (6) from Jerusalem he goes back to Caesarea, where he is left, so far as this history goes. (See, again, Professor Lindsay’s Acts of the Apostles.)

III. At the dispersion caused by Saul’s persecution we have the journeys of some unnamed brethren who (1) carried the gospel from Jerusalem to Phoenicia; (2) others to the island of Cyprus; (3) yet others to Antioch of Syria.

IV. The Journeys of Barnabas: (1) From Jerusalem to Antioch; (2) from Antioch to Tarsus after Paul; (3) from Tarsus back to Antioch with Paul; (4) from Antioch back to Jerusalem with Paul; (5) from Jerusalem back to Antioch with Paul; (6) from Antioch with Paul and Mark, on a long missionary tour and return; (7) from Antioch, with Paul, to the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) ; (8) back to Antioch; (9) from Antioch to Cyprus, with Mark, after the separation from Paul.

V. The Journeys of Paul: (1) As a persecutor from Jerusalem to Damascus; (2) after his conversion, from Damascus to Arabia and back to Damascus, three years; (3) from Damascus to Jerusalem to see Peter; (4) from Jerusalem to Tarsus, several years; (5) from Tarsus to Antioch, with Barnabas; (6) from Antioch with Barnabas to Jerusalem, carrying alms, about the time James was killed and Peter imprisoned by Herod (Acts 12); (7) from Jerusalem back to Antioch; (8) then follow his three great missionary tours, ending at Jerusalem (Acts 13:1-21:19); (9) being arrested at Jerusalem, he, with many vicissitudes, by land and sea, is carried to Rome (Acts 21:20-28:31).

We should note the contemporaneous history in the thirty years covered by Acts:

I. Roman Emperors: (1) Tiberius, under whom Christ was crucified; (2) Caligula, A.D. 37; (3) Claudius, A.D. 41, mentioned in Acts 18:2; (4) Nero, A.D. 54.

II. Civil Rulers in Judea: (1) Pontius Pilate, Roman procurator until A.D. 36; (2) Herod Agrippa I, the Herod of Acts 12. Under Caligula, the Roman Emperor, he obtains, first, Gaulonitis, then Galilee and Perea. Under Claudius he gets Samaria and Judea, and so rules all Palestine until his death, A.D. 44. (3) Cuspus Fadus, at the death of Herod, becomes Roman procurator. (4) Herod Agrippa II, the King Agrippa of Acts 26, was king, but not of Judea. (5) Felix was made procurator by the Emperor Claudius. He is the Felix who trembled under Paul’s preaching, but left him a prisoner (Acts 23:24). (6) Festus was made procurator by the Emperor Nero. He is the Festus before whom Paul appeared (Acts 25).

III. The High Priesthood, which underwent many changes: (1) Caiaphas, before whom Christ appeared; (2) Jonathan, son of Annas, A.D. 37; (3) Theophilus, son of Annas, A.D. 38; (4) Simon Cantherus, A.D. 41; (5) Matthias, son of Annas, A.D. 42; (6) Elionacus, son of Cantherus, A.D. 45; (7) Ananias, A.D. 47; (8) Ishmael, son of Phabi, A.D. 59.

The divine purpose of the book appears in its relation to the Gospel by the same author, and the relation of both to the glorious person of our Lord. This book must be considered primarily as a continuation of Luke’s Gospel concerning the one glorious person, our Lord Jesus Christ, in his saving relation to the whole human race – the Gospel telling us what Jesus began to do and teach until his ascension and exaltation to his mediatorial throne; Acts telling us what this glorious King continued to do and teach until his kingdom had extended from Jerusalem, the center of Judaism, to imperial Rome, the capital and center of the heathen world. The Gospel gives an account of the earth life of Jesus, while Acts gives an account of his heaven life.

The stress in both books is on the humanity of our Lord in his relation to the whole race of man, the Gospel, unlike Matthew, tracing his genealogy beyond Abraham, and even Noah, back to Adam; and unlike John, stressing less his antecedent deity, while Acts shows the risen, ascended man made both Lord and Christ, and reigning in heaven to carry out on earth and for all nations the purposes of his sacrificial death in Jerusalem, beginning, indeed, at Jerusalem, but extending to all nations.

We miss the mark in interpreting the book if we do not see this aim of the two books, set forth so plainly in Luke 24:44-48. "And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures; and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Ye are witnesses of these things."

It is reaffirmed in Acts 1:6-8. "They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within his own authority. But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." It is repeated in Peter’s Pentecostal sermon: "For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him" (Acts 2:39), and abundantly evidenced in the freer preaching of Stephen, the wider work of Philip, and the startling commission to Paul at his conversion (Acts 9:15; Acts 22:14-21; Acts 26:16-18), and in the vision of the ark to Peter, followed by the reception of Cornelius, and in the preaching to the Greeks at Antioch: "But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord" (Acts 11:20-21) ; in the sending out of Barabbas and Saul to the Gentile world (Acts 13:1-4) ; in the decision of the great question of salvation in Acts 15, preceded by the solemn giving of the hand of fellowship to the Gentile workers (Galatians 2:1-10); in the side-light settlement of an involved social question just after (Galatians 2:11-21); and in the devotion of the greater part of the book to the labors of the great Apostle to the Gentiles.

The divine superintendence in all the transactions recorded in the book appears from the evident reluctance of the human agents to follow the broader lines of salvation, on equal terms for all men. Every forward step was questioned, investigated, contested, and reluctantly taken. The Jewish prejudice fought hard and long. If Philip preaches to Samaritans, as our Lord did, that matter must be investigated (Acts 8:14). To even our Lord himself, urging the open door to Gentiles, Peter characteristically replied, "Not so, Lord" (Acts 10) ; and when Peter was convinced himself, he had to explain to a questioning church (Acts II); and so long as the disciples, scattered abroad by Saul’s persecution, preached to Jews only, it was all right, but when some of them preached to Greeks, a deputation was sent to look into the matter (Acts 11:19-23).

What a solemn time they had over the great question decided in the council at Jerusalem! How strange that Peter, who so successfully justified himself when believers of the circumcision arraigned him for "going in to men uncircumcised and eating with them" (Acts 11:2-4), in the case of Cornelius, should allow himself to be browbeaten into dissimulation by the same men on precisely the same point, but a little while after, at Antioch (Galatians 2:11-21). How fiercely the same narrow-minded element obstructed every step of Paul’s advance toward a worldwide gospel! And how stubbornly even Paul himself insisted on being a home missionary to the Jews, instead of going far hence to the Gentiles! (Acts 22:17-21.)

The marked difference between this book and the Gospel by the same author appears from two facts: (1) While the purpose of Acts is to show a continuation of the Gospel account of what Jesus "began to do and teach," in the Gospel, Jesus acts immediately in his own person, but in Acts he works mediately through the Holy Spirit. Hence Acts has been aptly styled "The Gospel of the Spirit." When in his lifetime he had said, "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you," and when in the great church commission he says, "Lo, I am with you all the days," the meaning is this: "I will come by the Holy Spirit; I will be present by the Holy Spirit." This omnipresence by the Spirit was far more expedient and profitable to them than a limited presence in the flesh. (2) While Acts is a continuation of Luke’s Gospel account of what Jesus began to do and teach, the Gospel tells of what he did and taught on earth – Acts, what he did and taught from his throne in heaven. In both, the stress is on the humanity of our Lord in his saving relation to the whole race. This purpose overrides the prejudices of all the Jewish subagents.

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

I commend to you as fine, clear, and simple, Dr. A. T. Robertson’s "Outline" as it appears in his Student’s Chronological New Testament:

I. Jerusalem as the Center (Acts 1-12).

1. Waiting for the promise of the Father (Acts 1).

2. The promise fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2).

3. An incident in the work of Peter and John, and opposition encountered from the Sadducees (Acts 3:1-4:31).

4. Wrestling with a social problem in church life (Acts 4:32-5:11).

5. Outward prosperity and renewed hostility from the Sadducees (Acts 5:12-42).

6. Meeting a crisis in church administration (Acts 6:1-7).

7. The Pharisees aroused by the preaching of Stephen, and his consequent death (Acts 6:8-8:1a).

8. The forced expansion of Christian effort in Judea, Samaria and the surrounding countries, as illustrated in the career of Philip (Acts 8:1-40).

9. The complete change in the affairs of Christianity wrought by the conversion of Saul the persecutor (Acts 9:1-31).

10. The door opened to the Gentiles (Acts 9:32-11:30).

11. The new persecution from the civil government – Herod Agrippa 1 (Acts 12).

II. Antioch as the Center (Acts 13:1-21:14).

1. The formal entrance of Barnabas and Saul upon the missionary enterprise (Acts 13:1-3).

2. The first great mission tour of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13: Acts 4-14:28).

3. The conference at Jerusalem over question of Gentile freedom from Jewish ceremonialism (Acts 15:1-35; cf. Galatians 2:1-10).

4. Paul’s second great mission tour (Acts 15:36-18:22).

5. Paul’s third great mission tour (Acts 18:23-21:14).

III. Paul in the hands of his enemies (Acts 21:15-28:31).

1. In the toils at Jerusalem (Acts 21:15-23:30).

2. Before Roman Court at Caesarea (Acts 23:31-26:32).

3. To Rome with appeal to Nero (Acts 27:1-28:15).

4. For two years awaiting Nero’s pleasure (Acts 28:16-31).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

There are many good commentaries on Acts available for English Bible students who know no Greek. As examples I name:

(1) Professor Lindsay; publishers, T. and T. Clark. This, in two parts, is small, portable, clear, and simple. Any country preacher without knowledge of Greek can easily understand it.

(2) Hackett on Acts – American Commentary. This is critical and classical, but cold. One never reaches the revival spirit through Hackett. From some of its critical statements and interpretations we dissent.

(3) As an old, but warm, spiritual commentary, Barnes on Acts is good.

QUESTIONS

1. Who wrote the book of Acts, and what is the internal proof?

2. Where was the book written?

3. When was it written?

4. To whom was it written?

5. What are the chief New Testament references to the author?

6. What is the title of the book?

7. What are some of the general limits of the book?

8. What may we say of the propriety of its title, Acts of the Apostles, which has been so generally contested by the commentators?

9. What great matters touching the kingdom were thus settled, not by one apostle, but by the body of apostles?

10. What other important matter is settled by the book?

11. Mention some special names, or ascriptions, men have given to this book.

12. Cite some facts which justify somewhat the definitions of Barnes and Norris.

13. Who were the human heroes of the book?

14. Give the missionary journeys of the book.

15. What contemporaneous history in the thirty years covered by Acts?

16. What is the relation of Acts to the Gospel of Luke, as to time, and how are these books related, as to the glorious person of our Lord?

17. What is the stress of each of these books?

18. What is the aim of the book, and its bearing on the interpretation?

19. What is the evidence of the divine purpose of the book?

20. What are the marked differences between this book and Luke?

21. What outline commended, and what the main points of this outline?

22. What books are commended on Acts?