And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Revelation 21:5
And he [Jesus] said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:7, 8
Dear Friends,
Greetings in Christ!
In this post we embark on a journey through the history book of the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles. Bless our efforts, Father, and give us understanding in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The author of Acts is Luke, who Paul called the beloved physician. Like Paul, Dr Luke was highly educated. His skillful use of the Greek language is applauded by academia. It is thought that Dr Luke was possibly a slave, as some slaves were highly educated. While today a rich man may buy a Ferrari, in the first century a rich man might buy a doctor. As a doctor, Luke would have taken the Hippocratic Oath, which included swearing never to perform an abortion or practice euthanasia.
Dr Luke’s history of the early church is an example of an old custom which has recently fallen out of use — letter writing. Acts is a follow-up letter written to an individual named Theophilus. Dr Luke’s first letter to Theophilus is what we call the Gospel According to Luke. (Acts 1:1; cf Luke 1:3)
Theophilus means lover of God. It is formed from two Greek words, theós (God) and phílos (lover or friend). Theophilus could also mean friend of God and dear to God, but I prefer lover of God. Although we do not know who Theophilus was, it is likely he was a Roman official, since Dr Luke addressed him as ‘most excellent’ Theophilus. (Cf Acts 23:26; 24:3; 26:25)
Although Acts focuses mostly on Paul and, to a lesser extent, Peter, around this time the other apostles were engaged in missionary activities as well. According to Fox (who derived his history from Eusebius):
Andrew went to many Asiatic nations. At Edessa, Andrew was crucified on a cross rotated sideways like an X. Dr Halley says according to tradition Andrew also preached in Greece and Scythia.
Philip went to Upper Asia. He was crucified in Phrygia at Heliopolis.
Bartholomew (Nathaniel) went to several countries including India, where he was beaten and crucified.
Thomas preached in Parthia and then India, where he was thrust through with a spear.
Matthew went to Parthia and then Ethiopia, where he was martyred, being slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah.
James the son of Alphaeus went to Egypt. (Dr Halley)
Lebbaeus Thaddaeus (Judas not Iscariot) went to Syria, Arabia, and Mesopotamia. (Dr Halley) He was crucified at Edessa.
Simon the Canaanite, aka Zelotes, went to various places in Northern Africa, and eventually to Britain, where he was crucified.
James the son of Zebedee was thwarted from missions by Herod Agrippa who had him slain with the sword (Acts 12:2), ie beheaded.
Matthias, who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot, was stoned and beheaded in Jerusalem. It is not known whether he ever went out as a missionary.
John, the brother of James and the son of Zebedee, died in Ephesus after he was released from exile in Patmos. Having miraculously escaped a cauldron of boiling oil, John is the only apostle not to die a violent death.
The author of our Letter, Dr Luke, who traveled with Paul on his journeys, is said to have been hanged on an olive tree by pagan priests in Greece.
According to Acts 8:4, after the martyrdom of Stephen, believers were scattered abroad and went every where preaching the word. In Acts 11:19, they that were scattered abroad went preaching as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch. We read later in the New Testament that when people received the gospel as the result of missionary activities, they often became missionaries themselves. (I Thess 1:8)
These evangelistic efforts changed the world so drastically that it would be impossible to exaggerate their effects. What’s more, Acts is still being written. It is our honor and privilege as Christians to have a role in its composition. Except for James and III John, Acts is the only book in the New Testament that does not end with the word, Amen.
James’ general epistle may have been the first New Testament Book to be written. John ended his third epistle by telling Gaius he would see him shortly. It is therefore not too hard to see why these letters did not end with Amen, just as it makes sense that Acts does not, because the history of the church was far from finished.
Acts was written circa 63 AD, as the Book ends with Paul being under house arrest in Rome for two years. Just as the events in the Book of Acts changed the course of history in the decades following the death and resurrection of Christ, the major turning points that would follow in world history were a continuation of these things. The transition of the Roman world from a pagan empire to a quasi-Christian empire, the Reformation, and the birth of America are just a few examples. Around the mid-twentieth century, academics began asserting that the economy is what drives historical events, but this is a minority opinion compared to the many voices of previous generations. The record shows that religion and Christianity have affected history far more than anything else. Trade and commerce are factors, no doubt, especially considering that, according to the Bible, money is a god. Jesus said ye cannot serve God and mammon. Nevertheless, the unsung Hero of the Book of Acts and the rest of world history is the Holy Spirit, or in other words, Jesus.
I invite you to join me in this survey of Acts as we witness the birth of the church and travel alongside Paul and his companions, being led of the Spirit. Remember, just as Dr Luke had the honor of recording the beginning of church history, it is our honor to write the ending. Philippine national treasure, polymath, author, ophthalmologist, believer on Jesús Cristo, and martyr José Rizal said,
El que no sabe mirar atrás, de donde viene, nunca llegará a su destino.
He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.
In other words, if we are to be victorious Christians as we continue on our pilgrimage to the Celestial City, we do well to look back at where we came from. Meanwhile, let’s pray about how we can best contribute to the conclusion of church history. Father, draw us closer to your Son through the careful study of your word. Please give us the grace to add to the story of your church in a way that pleases You and your Son and your Spirit. Speak to our hearts on this matter as we make our way through the Book of Acts. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Hebrews 12:12-24
Prophecy Update: Readers of this blog will recall how, in our last study in John, my prophecy updates had a strong sense of urgency. During the age of COVID, there was a worldwide hysteria that was snatching away civil rights and personal freedoms. America fared better than most places in this regard, but even in America the sweeping changes that took place were like nothing we had ever seen before. Moving forward, we can thank God that we have been given a reprieve. I believe we must do our utmost to take advantage of whatever liberties God has granted us while we still can, remaining alert and cognizant of our position on the prophetic calendar. Our Lord said I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. Direct our paths, Father, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
