The details of the establishment of the church Jesus promised to build are recorded in Acts chapter two. The rest of that book is a record of the preaching of the gospel and the establishment of churches (congregations of the church) during the first thirty years of her history. Documents in the first century began with the writer identifying himself at the beginning of the document. Luke is the writer of Acts, but only identifies himself indirectly at the beginning of this book. Acts begins with these words, “The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach” (Acts 1:1). He implied that he had written another letter to a man named Theophilus. That letter is the Gospel according to Luke.
That Gospel begins, “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:1-4).
Notice that Luke wrote from the investigation he had done. Notice also, that others who had been at the beginning had handed down what they had seen as eyewitnesses. Luke was not an apostle, therefore he did not get his information as an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry nor at the time the apostles received their information, but because he wrote Scripture, he was guided by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Just because he gained information by investigation does not mean his information is inferior to what the apostles wrote. He was guided by the Holy Spirit to write just as they were.
Not only did he write from his investigation, but he also wrote about the spread of the gospel because he was there when much of it happened. In the book of Acts notice the “we” verses. When personal pronouns are used it indicates that the writer was present when those events occurred. The first “we” verse is recorded in Acts 16:9-10. Here Paul and his traveling companions arrived in Troas and Paul had a vision of a man wanting him to come to Macedonian to preach. Luke records, “Immediately we sought to go into Macedonia” (Acts 16:10). Paul’s mission team arrived in Philippi, but when they left, Luke stayed behind. Acts 17:1 speaks of the group leaving Philippi but says, “Now when they had traveled…” (Luke was not with them). He does not join Paul’s team again until six or eight years later when he returns with Paul to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4-5).
Notice also the details that Luke gave are recorded in a chronological order (Luke 1). The other three Gospels are not recorded in chronological order. Because of this, Luke is a good book to begin studying the Life of Jesus because one can follow His life chronologically. It would also appear that Acts is also in chronological order since it is a history of the spread of the gospel. (More Facts from Acts later).
Wayne Burger
