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JULY 24
the governor had read it, he asked what hear you when your accusers also have
province he was from. And when he under- come.” And he commanded him to be kept in
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stood that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will Herod’s Praetorium.
DAY 23: How can Luke’s authorship of Acts be defended
when his name is not mentioned in the book?

Lack of the author’s name is not an unusual challenge in establishing the authorship of a Bible
book.Many books of the Bible come to us without obvious human authorship.In most cases, how-
ever, internal and external clues lead us to reasonable confidence in identifying the author. One
benefit created by initial anonymity involves recognizing that the Bible books originated by the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It may take some effort to discover whom God used in writing one of
those books, but the original Author is not in question.
The Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles share numerous marks of common human
authorship.They are addressed to the same person—Theophilus (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1).They are par-
allel in style.The second book claims to be an extension of the first.
Luke was in a unique position to record Acts of the Apostles.He was Paul’s close friend,travel-
ing companion, and personal physician (Col. 4:14). His work indicates that he was a careful
researcher (Luke 1:1–4) and an accurate historian,displaying an intimate knowledge of Roman laws
and customs. His records of the geography of Palestine, Asia Minor, and Italy offer flawless details.
In writing Acts, Luke drew on written sources (15:23–29; 23:26–30). He, also, no doubt, inter-
viewed key figures, such as Peter, John, and others in the Jerusalem church. Paul’s 2-year imprison-
ment at Caesarea (24:27) gave Luke ample opportunity to interview Philip and his daughters
(important sources of information on the early days of the church). Finally, Luke’s frequent use of
the first person plural pronouns “we”and “us”(16:10–17;20:5–21:18;27:1–28:16) reveals that he was
an eyewitness to many of the events recorded in Acts.

July 24

Ezra 9:1–10:44
When these things were done, the leaders 9:1 When these things were done. This refers
9 came to me, saying, “The people of Israel to the implementation of the different trusts
and duties committed to him.priests…Levites.
and the priests and the Levites have not sepa- As was the case before the Assyrian and
rated themselves from the peoples of the Babylonian deportations, the spiritual leader-
lands, with respect to the abominations of the ship defaulted along with the people (Is. 24:2;
Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebu- Jer. 5:30,31; 6:13–15; Hos. 3:9; Mal. 2:1–9; 2 Tim.
sites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyp- 4:2–4). abominations. The reason for this
tians, and the Amorites. For they have taken exclusiveness was to keep the people pure. In
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some of their daughters as wives for them- the first settlement, Israel was warned not to
selves and their sons, so that the holy seed is make covenants with the nations, which
mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, would result in intermarriages and inevitably
the hand of the leaders and rulers has been the worship of foreign gods (Ex. 34:10–17;
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foremost in this trespass.” So when I heard Deut. 7:1–5). To a great extent, the continual
this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, violation of this precipitated the 70-year exile
and plucked out some of the hair of my head from which they had just returned. Ezra found
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and beard, and sat down astonished. Then out it had happened again and called for imme-
everyone who trembled at the words of the diate repentance. Nehemiah (Neh. 13:23–27)
God of Israel assembled to me, because of the and Malachi (Mal. 2:14–16) later encountered
transgression of those who had been carried the same sin. It is unthinkable that the Jews
away captive, and I sat astonished until the would so quickly go down the same disas-
evening sacrifice. trous path of idolatry.Neither wrath from God
5 At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fast- in the exile to Babylon nor grace from God in
ing; and having torn my garment and my robe, the return was enough to keep them from
I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to defecting again.
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the LORD my God. And I said: “O my God, I am
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