The Acts of the Apostles
Acts is the second volume of a two-volume set (the first being the Gospel According to Luke). It was probably written about the same time as Luke (ca. 80-90 CE), and it is by the same author. The name, "Acts of the Apostles," may not be entirely appropriate, since there are really only two major figures in Acts, Peter and Paul. Some scholars have opted to call this work the "Acts of Peter and Paul."
The first half of Acts deals with the rapid spread of the church and the initiation of the Gentile mission, whereas the second half deals mainly with Paul's missionary journeys. Acts continues several of Lk's themes, such as the church as the new Israel, the understanding of Jesus primarily as a prophet, and the work of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, as in Lk, Jerusalem plays a central role in the narrative. Whereas in Lk the events of the narrative progressed toward Jerusalem, in Acts the we read of the outward progression of the church from Jerusalem into gentile territories.
The first half of Acts deals with the rapid spread of the church and the initiation of the Gentile mission, whereas the second half deals mainly with Paul's missionary journeys. Acts continues several of Lk's themes, such as the church as the new Israel, the understanding of Jesus primarily as a prophet, and the work of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, as in Lk, Jerusalem plays a central role in the narrative. Whereas in Lk the events of the narrative progressed toward Jerusalem, in Acts the we read of the outward progression of the church from Jerusalem into gentile territories.
