Acts
Author: Luke
Eusebius identifies Luke as the author in Book 3, Chapter 4, Verse 1 and Verse 6 of Ecclesiastical History.
Date: Dr. Craig Keener's date of the early 70's, for Acts alone, could be correct since it seems likely that there was a gap in time between the writing of the gospel of Luke and Acts. (1)
Language: Greek, literary Greek.
Place: Like the book of Luke, it could have been written when Paul was in prison in Caesarea, yet I think that would have been too early for "Volume 2."
Purpose: Acts 1:8
What kind of book?: Ancient historical narrative.
Reflection: In 1996, when I was still a young Christian, I was in a singles group at The Falls Church (Anglican) in Virginia. Rev. Bill Haley was our leader, and we were studying Acts. Bible reading on the subway was a staple for me, and the time came when I read Chapter 10 from Acts. In that passage, God gave Peter the vision of animals on a sheet which He had made "clean." I did not get that whole thing. I remember praying on the subway, telling God that I did not understand.
A few days later, I was listening to a Christian radio interview with Stan Telchin. (His book Betrayed is a classic.) Crazy enough, he talked about how that passage in Scripture had been one of the key passages which helped him to understand the purpose of the Messiah. I realized I needed to understand the Mosaic Law context, and even the personal Hebrew context, in order to understand the passage.
As we discussed in our New Testament Survey class once, which I will not forget since I was the one blessed to be able to answer Professor Tafoya's question, Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Law!
Hunter Irvine
(1) Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 1993.)
