Project 119: Introduction to Acts
| Project 119 | Amy Hirsch
The book of Acts is unlike anything else we have in the New Testament, isn’t it? It’s not quite like a gospel, and it’s definitely not written in the epistolary style of the Pauline letters. The book combines a recording of the history of the early church with speeches, accounts of miraculous events, and action-packed scenes of persecution and triumph. The full title of the book of Acts is actually “The Acts of the Apostles,” which is appropriate because, in some ways, Acts gives us the history of the early church through the faithful witness of several significant apostles. For instance, in the book of Acts, we meet the first Christian martyr, Stephen, and the former persecutor of the church turned apostle, Paul, whose writings make up much of the New Testament.
The book of Acts actually began as a letter, written by the gospel writer Luke, to Theophilus. (Luke had also written the gospel of Luke to Theophilus.) It’s likely that the letter was written in the 60s, possibly in 62 AD. And Luke didn’t write as a third-party observer; many scholars believe that the references to “we” in the second half of Acts are references to Luke and that he was one of Paul’s companions at some point on his journeys.
But Acts isn’t just about the acts of these apostles. Ultimately, Acts tells us the story of the Holy Spirit, poured out on the apostles on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, labored through the Lord’s human instruments, and we see the gospel proclaimed despite intense opposition. Acts is the story of the early church, which, by the power of God, overcame persecution and danger. And in Acts, we see the gospel go forth—to the Jews, to the Gentiles, and ultimately, to the ends of the earth. Our hope and prayer is that, as you begin this Acts study during the Easter season, you would be encouraged by this reminder of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, and that you would be convicted to boldly share the gospel wherever you go, for His glory.