1. Grasp the text in their town. What did the text mean to the biblical audience?
Luke is the author of the book of Acts, in which he continues his writing to inform Theophilus of the work of Jesus as well as the advance of the Gospel through the church empowered by the Holy Spirit. Theophilus was most likely a convert to Christianity and perhaps funded Luke’s project. Although he is not an Apostle, his credibility for his gospel and the book of Acts comes from Peter—one of the twelve, and the Apostle Paul. Most likely he was a brilliant doctor turned historian and knew well the Greek-Roman world. Furthermore, the book of Acts was written as early as 70AD but no later than 62AD. Luke was one of Paul’s traveling companions; therefore, he would have had a first had view of the Gospel spreading across the Roman Empire. Finally, Luke’s primary reason for writing is to show the advance of the Gospel from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, particularly moving from a Jewish audience to Gentiles. Acts is written with an ever-widening circle of the Gospel spreading. This being his purpose, Acts 15 marks a pivotal moment of the early church shifting their acceptance of the Gospel among Gentiles. Also, Chapter 15 is a major shift because Antioch becomes the home base for the rest of Acts as the story follows Paul rather than Peter.
2. Measure the width of the river to cross. What are the differences between the biblical audience and us?
There is 2000 years of
Luke is the author of the book of Acts, in which he continues his writing to inform Theophilus of the work of Jesus as well as the advance of the Gospel through the church empowered by the Holy Spirit. Theophilus was most likely a convert to Christianity and perhaps funded Luke’s project. Although he is not an Apostle, his credibility for his gospel and the book of Acts comes from Peter—one of the twelve, and the Apostle Paul. Most likely he was a brilliant doctor turned historian and knew well the Greek-Roman world. Furthermore, the book of Acts was written as early as 70AD but no later than 62AD. Luke was one of Paul’s traveling companions; therefore, he would have had a first had view of the Gospel spreading across the Roman Empire. Finally, Luke’s primary reason for writing is to show the advance of the Gospel from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, particularly moving from a Jewish audience to Gentiles. Acts is written with an ever-widening circle of the Gospel spreading. This being his purpose, Acts 15 marks a pivotal moment of the early church shifting their acceptance of the Gospel among Gentiles. Also, Chapter 15 is a major shift because Antioch becomes the home base for the rest of Acts as the story follows Paul rather than Peter.
2. Measure the width of the river to cross. What are the differences between the biblical audience and us?
There is 2000 years of