Bible Dictionaries

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

Acts of the Apostles

The name of the book in the New Testament which follows the Gospels. It narrates some the important acts of Saints Peter and Paul, and mentions more briefly acts of Saints John, James the Less, James the Greater, and Barnabas. Of the 28 chapters, 12 mainly concern Saint Peter, and the others Saint Paul. The author is Saint Luke, who was physician, artist, and competent historian. As an eyewitness, he wrote an authentic account of the origins of Christianity. The Ascension of Christ into Heaven, the Descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles, Peter's first sermon and conversions, Paul's converions, missions, and journeyings are all told as historical events. The Acts were written about A.D. 63 in Greek, and very likely when the writer was in Rome.