Acts

Question 1

What are the internal evidence of a Lukan authorship?

Answer 1

• same for both Luke and Acts: same style and language; same addressee; the ‘we-passages’ confirm that Luke was there (e.g., 16:10–17)
• Paul’s companion, and a good source for what happened:
  
  • he was there
  • he knew people who were
  • his historical ambition
  • knows many details to show that he was present and was careful to gather information
• against the ‘we-passages’ as evidence for Luke: could be rhetorical (but why is not the whole book written in that way then?) or a source of another person
• but: the simplest solution is that this is Luke and presents the parts of the trips where he was present; no stylistic shift

Question 2

What is the external Evidence for Lukan authorship?

Answer 2

• Strong tradition for Luke’s authorship:
  
  • the Muratorian Canon (end of the 2nd cent),
  • main Church fathers

External and internal evidence is clear: Luke wrote it!

Question 3

What is the tension in comparing Paul’s letters with Acts?

Answer 3

• A common issue of dispute: Differences between Paul’s letters and Acts, e.g.,:
  
  • ”natural theology”
  • Christology and eschatology
• But these can be due to that they really are independent,
• Just as the synoptics have some differences; some things due to the historical context;
• it is possible to explain the apparent differences

Question 4

What date is most probable for the writing of Acts?

What are the arguments against an early date?

Answer 4

• early sixties, before 64, supported by:
  
  • the abrupt ending and that he does not mention Paul’s or Peter’s death, nor Nero’s persecution
  • no mention in a historical work of the destruction of the temple (on which Luke is used to focus) and other events (However, argument from silence)
  • Judaism is intact
  • no mention or use of Paul’s epistles
• against: Luke is before and Luke must be after 70, built on the same questionable argument as for Luke, 21:20, that Jesus could not prophecy
• we believe in prophecy – it’s not against sound epistemology
• And if Luke knew of the destruction, he surely would have reported on it

Question 5

What are the purpose of writing Acts? 6 things

Answer 5

• Continue the program in Luke 1:1–4, writing the history as far as he knew it
• Acts 1:1–2 “what Jesus began to do”—Acts is like a continuation of the work of Jesus!
• The spreading of the Gospel, see 1:1–8 and compare with Rome 28:28
• Follow Peter and Paul on their triumphal procession through the world
• Missions! To follow how the Gospel spreads.
• Show how the Spirit has worked all these things
  
  • The Spirit is always at the center.

Question 6

How is it with the Historical Accuracy of Acts? With whom came the shift in attutde towards the matter?

Answer 6

• W.M. Ramsay (A shift came whit his work. He checked the historical accuracy):
• Luke is well informed, exact, e.g. nautical terms (boat), judicial matters (how de procedures were in different courts of law)
• Signs of historical accuracy:
• Gallio correctly presented as proconsul, and other titles, names of provinces etc., Acts 18:12, 23:26

Question 7

What about Codex Bezæ? What speaks for and againts it?

Answer 7

• Codex Bezæ (D), called the Western text is 10% longer; normally considered less important than Sinatiticus and Vaticanus
  
  • More Semitisms in this text
    
    • Hebrew concepts and expressions shines through the Greek text.
• Why?
• Other source material? Aramaic source (Torrey)?
• This text clarifies ambiguities, corrects grammar, add references to Christ, insert historical details (this can be said against the text of D, but the semitisms are not usual for late texts)

Question 8

Talk a bit about the content of Acts.
What is chapter 6 about?

In what chapter is the Church thrown out from Judea?
What major issue does chapter 10-11 contain?

What is chapter 13 about?

What is chapter 15 about?

What is the remaining part aobut?

Answer 8

• Pentecost (very central)
• Birth of the Church
• Life in the Church
• Ministry in Judæa until the church was thrown out (but the apostles remained (Acts 8)
• Growth Problems in the Church (hellenists and Hebrews), Acts 6
• Ministry in Samaria, on the way to the gentiles
• The first step towards the gentiles Acts 10–11—a major issue
• Breakthrough for Gentile Missions (Paul’s) from 13 onwards
• Strategic meeting about Gentile missions in Acts 15 (council of Jerusalem).
• The remaining part: Paul’ ministry—to the ends of the earth; to Rome
• But why does it not tell of the trip to Spain (Rom 15:24, 28)? Ancient sources confirm that he went to Spain after having been released. Then he was imprisoned and executed, probably 67