Robert C Tannehill

The book of Acts, the fifth book of the New Testament, chronicles the establishment of the Christian Church and the dissemination of its message throughout the Roman Empire. It forms a cohesive two-volume narrative with the Gospel of Luke, a work referred to by scholars as Luke-Acts. While tradition points to Luke the Evangelist, a physician associated with Paul the Apostle, as the author, the text itself does not name its creator, and scholarly opinions on this attribution are divided.

Most scholars view Acts as a historical account, though the focus is on the author's intent rather than strict historical verification. The work is generally dated between 80-90 AD. Luke-Acts explores the transition of Christianity from its Jewish roots to a predominantly Gentile following, explaining this shift as a consequence of Jewish rejection of the Messiah. It also addresses the legal standing of the Jesus movement within the Roman Empire and its relationship with Jewish law and customs, presenting early Christians as a Jewish sect deserving legal protection while acknowledging the complex interactions with Jewish identity and the Messiah's reception.

The work known as Luke-Acts, comprising the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, is attributed by tradition to Luke the Evangelist, a companion of Paul the Apostle. However, the text does not explicitly name its author, a common practice in ancient historical and biographical writings. Scholarly consensus on the authorship is not unanimous; while some modern interpretations find theological compatibility between Luke-Acts and Pauline epistles, many scholars have historically questioned the traditional attribution to Luke the physician. The author is generally considered educated, likely of means, and possibly urban, with a respect for manual labor, which may have informed his portrayal of the early church. The dating of Luke-Acts is typically placed between 80-90 AD, based on its use of Mark as a source and its retrospective view of Jerusalem's destruction. Earlier or later dates have been proposed, but face counterarguments.

The title "Acts of the Apostles" was not given by the author, who described his work as an "orderly account." Scholars compare Luke-Acts to ancient histories, such as those by Dionysius of Halicarnassus and Josephus, noting its structured narrative that begins with the founder's birth and follows his teachings and post-resurrection appearances. While specific sources for Acts are unidentified, the author likely utilized the Septuagint and the Gospel of Mark. The "we" passages are often interpreted as indicating eyewitness accounts, though this view is debated. The historicity of Acts has been a subject of intense scholarly discussion, with varying perspectives ranging from viewing it as a reliable historical record to considering it imaginative religious literature with ideological aims. Contemporary scholarship often prioritizes understanding the author's theological program over establishing strict historical accuracy, though some scholars find it relatively reliable by the standards of Hellenistic historiography.

The author of Luke-Acts aimed to provide an "ordered account" to encourage faith and understanding in his audience, rather than simply offering historical justification. The Gospel of Luke was likely intended to be read aloud to gatherings of Jesus-followers. The author addresses an educated, Greek-speaking audience, focusing on Christian concerns. The entire Luke-Acts work is seen as intended for "edification," demonstrating the superiority of virtue over vice. It also grapples with the theological implications of the Messiah's message reaching Gentiles after Jewish rejection, and it defends the early Jesus movement as a legitimate Jewish sect entitled to legal protection. The author navigates the complex relationship between Jewish identity and the burgeoning Christian movement, highlighting Jewish rejection of Jesus while affirming his Jewish heritage.