Page 30 - New Testament Survey Student Textbook

It looks like there were many teachings and false stories about Jesus
and the Christians, circulating in Luke’s days. Some people were
afraid that Christians wanted to make trouble (Acts 17:6). However,
some true stories from the eye witnesses were circulating too (Acts
8:4; 11:19, 20). Luke was very careful about what he wrote. He
knew that some things were true, and he wrote only those things
[of course under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit]. At the beginning
of his Gospel, he wrote this, “You have heard many things, I am
writing this account so that you will know the truth about them” (Luke 1:4). In Acts, he continued with
this sense.

Luke wanted the Roman rulers to know that the accusations against Christians were not true. Christians
helped other people to behave well. He wanted to show to the rulers that Christianity was good for the
Roman government. This seems to be the reason Luke included Paul’s trails before the Roman rulers
who all claimed not to have found Paul guilty.

Luke also wanted to show to the Jews that the Christian faith was not a false separate religion as some
claimed. Instead, it made Judaism complete, because Jesus is the Jewish Messiah who is also the
foundation and the cornerstone for the Church. This is evident in the sermons of Peter and Paul.

Along with the reasons above, Luke as a historian, wanted to keep an account of how the good news
about Jesus had travelled from Jerusalem to Rome. Luke wanted to record how that happened. Rome
was the most important city in the world. Luke showed that the gospel was for all people in every
nation. It was for Jews and it was also for Gentiles.

Highlights: key passages

Key passages
• The readiness of the church for ministry - Acts 1:1-2:13.
• The preaching ministry of the gospel begins in Jerusalem - Acts 2:14-5:42.
• The testimony of Jesus spreads beyond Jerusalem - Acts 6:1-12:25.
o The focus shifts here from Peter's ministry to Paul's.
• The gospel reaches Cyprus and Southern Galatia - Acts 13:1-14:28.
• The council in Jerusalem - Acts 15:1-35.
• The gospel touches Greece - Acts 15:36-18:22.
• The witness reaches Ephesus - Acts 18:23-21:16.
• Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem - Acts 21:17-23:35.
• The gospel reaches Caesarea - Acts 24:1-26:32.
• Finally Paul’s ministry in Rome - Acts 27:1-28:31.
•

Key verses
• Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
• Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to
men by which we must be saved.” But only that of Jesus! (My words in italics added).

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