THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

According to Church tradition, the author of the Gospel of Luke was also responsible for the Book of 'Acts of the Apostles', and this suggestion is widely accepted. There are obvious stylistic similarities between the two works. What's more, both works appear to have been commissioned by the same patron, a man named Theophilus.

The purpose of 'Acts' is to describe the development of the early Christian Church after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus into heaven. As such, the Book offers a near-seamless continuation of the events chronicled in the Gospel of Luke. This suggests that the book was written shortly after the Gospel of Luke, sometime between 80 and 100 CE; however this is not certain.

'Acts' opens with the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, followed by the coming of the Holy Spirit which emboldens the apostles to break out of hiding and proclaim the 'good news' of the Risen Christ. The book ends with Paul's final stay in Rome, just before Paul will meet with a martyr's death. The Book thus covers the very first stage of the development of Christianity as it sought to grow not only among the Jewish community of Palestine but also among the Gentiles of the Mediterranean basin of the Roman Empire.

As a composition, 'Acts' is unique in the NT. It combines elements of a travel journal with biographical material as well as discourses and sermons. It is, however, likely that 'Luke' had access to several primary sources, since many events are described in great historical and geographical detail. These may include several letters or traditions related to Paul, for this Saint figures very prominently as one of the leading protagonists of 'Acts.'