Acts of the Apostles in Smiths Bible Dictionary
the fifth book in the New testament and the second treatise
by the author of the third Gospel, traditionally known as
Luke. The book commences with an inscription to one
Theophilus, who was probably a man of birth and station. The
readers were evidently intended to be the members of the
Christian Church, whether Jews or Gentiles; for its contents
are such as are of the utmost consequence to the whole
Church. They are the fulfillment of the promise of the
Father by the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the results of
that outpouring by the dispersion of the gospel among the
Jews and Gentiles. Under these leading heads all the
personal and subordinate details may be arranged. First St.
Peter becomes the prime actor under God int he founding of
the Church. He is the centre of the first group of sayings
and doings. The opening of the door to Jews, ch. 2, and
Gentiles, ch. 10, is his office, and by him, in good time,
is accomplished. Then the preparation of Saul of Tarsus for
the work to be done, the progress, in his hand, of that
work, his journeyings, preachings and perils, his stripes
and imprisonments, his testifying in Jerusalem and being
brought to testify in Rome, --these are the subjects of the
latter half of the book, of which the great central figure
is the apostle Paul. The history given in the Acts occupies
about 33 years, and the reigns of the Roman emperors
Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero. It seems most
probable that the place of writing was Roma, and the time
about two years from the date of St. Paul's arrival there,
as related in Ac 28:30 This would give us fro the
publication about 63 A.D.
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