Introduction to the New Testament – No Class

There was no class tonight. In the Acts of the Apostles, the second volume of Luke's two-volume work, Luke continues his presentation of biblical history. He describes how the salvation promised to Israel in the Old Testament and accomplished by Jesus, was now being extended to the Gentiles under the guidance of the holy Spirit. Luke was preoccupied with the Christian community as the Spirit filled bearer of the word of salvation, and thus only the roles of Peter and Paul serve Luke's interest.

Luke provides a broad survey of the church's development from the resurrection of Jesus to Paul's first Roman imprisonment. In telling this story, Luke describes the emergence of Christianity from its origins in Judaism to its position as a religion of worldwide status and appeal. Originally a Jewish Christian community in Jerusalem, the church was placed in circumstances impelling it to include within its membership people of other cultures: the Samaritans, at first an occasional Gentile, and finally the Gentiles on principle. In tracing the emergence of Christianity from Judaism, Luke is insistent upon the prominence of Israel in the divine plan of salvation and that the extension of salvation to the Gentiles has been a part of the divine plan from the beginning.

In the development of the church from a Jewish Christian origin in Jerusalem, with its roots in Jewish religious tradition, to a series of Christian communities among the Gentiles of the Roman empire, Luke perceives the action of God in history. His approach to the history of the church is motivated by his theological interests, and his history of the apostolic church is the story of a Spirit-guided community and a Spirit-guided spread of the Word of God.

Finally, an apologetic concern is evident throughout Acts. By stressing the continuity between Judaism and Christianity, Luke argues that Christianity is deserving of the same toleration accorded Judaism by Rome. Part of Paul's defense before Roman authorities is to show that Christianity is not a disturber of the peace of the Roman Empire. Moreover, when he stands before Roman authorities, he is declared innocent of any crime against the empire. Luke tells his story with the hope that Christianity will be treated as fairly.