"In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that
Jesus began to do and teach"
(Acts 1:1)
The early
church developed and circulated two collections of New Testament writings: the
four Gospels and the letters of the Apostle Paul. However, with the appearance
of early Christological heresies in the second century, the value of this
second letter from Luke to his beloved friend Theophilus became obvious. This
sequel to Luke’s Gospel reveals the content and purpose of the Apostles’
preaching and the amazing results of the gospel. This widely circulated letter
originally had no title (like Luke's Gospel), but the Greek words praxeis, praxis,
used in titles assigned to early copies of the letter mean acts, ways,
behavior, deeds, and/or practice, and reflect an ancient Mediterranean
literary genre which describes the lives and actions of famous or influential
people.
So, what we
have here in what we call the Acts of the Apostles is a Holy
Spirit inspired record of the message and action of the Apostles. Luke
introduces the letter by highlighting an important principle… “In the
first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and
teach,” (Acts 1:1). We note that Luke’s emphasis on the
indispensable bond between preaching and practice reflects the pattern of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who taught us to love our enemies and then demonstrated this
lesson on the cross, when he prayed for those who were crucifying him… “Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The message
and actions of the Apostles recorded for us here in the Book of Acts
challenge us to share our faith in both words and deeds and inspire us to grow
up into Christ by imitating them as they imitated Christ.
As a fellow disciple of Jesus Christ, I
am blessed to share this journey of growth in Christ with you. As a pastor, I
pray that the truth God has revealed here through His Word will help you to be
built up and equipped as part of His body, the Church. And as a schoolmaster, I
pray that the truth shared here will help you come to know and become more like
Jesus Christ, “in whom are hidden all
the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).
