Page 66 - Homiletics I Student Textbook

(2) The book of Acts, like the Gospel according to Luke, was written to Theophilus,
perhaps a person by name or a symbolic reference to a group of God-fearers.
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(3) Many believe that Luke was in Rome at the time of this writing. Rome is the
political authority of the day. It is a time of unrest for the Jewish people in
general and for Christians in particular.

b. Literary Context

(1) The book of Acts is a historical account of events that took place in the lives of
the Apostles, those who were eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ.

(2) General Context

The book of Acts is in the New Testament and deals with events that took place
after the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, in particular His death, burial, and
resurrection. It is the sequel to a previous work written by the same author.
Both books were written to Theophilus (see above) for the purpose of setting
forth in order and affirming the things concerning Jesus Christ wherein
Theophilus had been instructed (cf.Lu.1:1-4; Ac.1:1-2). The book of Acts is a
continuation of the affirmation of these events with a focus on the resulting
ministry of those who followed Jesus, namely His disciples – those in particular
who were eyewitnesses of His resurrection.

The book of Acts is divided into two parts with chapters 1-9 emphasizing the
ministry of these apostles to the Jewish people living in and around Jerusalem
and chapters 10-28 emphasizing the ministry of an apostle (Paul) to the Gentile
people living outside Jerusalem beyond Jewish territory.

The message of these apostles is salvation through faith in the work of Jesus
Christ. This includes repentance from sin and believing in the death, burial, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ as the only means of forgiveness and restoration to
fellowship with God (cf.Ac.16:31).

Themes in the book include the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men, the
power of God’s indwelling Spirit, the world-wide proclamation of the Gospel, its
inclusivity, the faithfulness of those who declared it, and its triumph throughout
the known world.
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(3) Preceding Context

Luke reports that Jesus has shown Himself alive to His chosen apostles by many
infallible proofs and has taken time to speak to them concerning things
pertaining to the kingdom of God (cf.Ac.1:3). Jesus issued a command to these
men to remain in Jerusalem for the purpose of waiting for the promise of God’s

87 John B. Polhill, The New American Commentary: Acts (Nashville, Broadman, 1992), 56-57.
88 Polhill, 57-72.
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