Page 65 - Homiletics I Student Textbook

Observation of Acts 1:8

B. Interpretation

Recall that interpretation answers the question, “What does this mean?”

Applying skills of interpretation that were learned in your study of hermeneutics, carefully
determine the meaning of the text by working through the six steps of the exegetical method.

1. Context Study

a. Historical-cultural Context

(1) This verse is found in the book of Acts which was written by Luke, the same
writer of the Gospel according the Luke.
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(a) Luke was a companion of the Apostle Paul. (cf.Co.4:12-14; 2Ti.4:11)
(b) Early Church fathers affirmed Luke as the author.
(c) Luke was a well-educated physician.
(d) He was a Gentile who assisted in many of Paul’s church-planting efforts.
(e) Luke’s writing comprises approximately 25% of the New Testament. It
appears that Luke wrote from Rome at the end of Paul’s ministry in A.D. 63.
This is after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ but
before the widespread persecution of Christians under Nero in A.D. 64.

86 Paul N. Benware, Survey of the New Testament (Chicago: Moody, 1990), 128-130.
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