Background Information

2. Background Information Who wrote the book? Luke When was it written? Probably between 60-62 A.D. What was it’s purpose? To record the history of the early churches What is the theme? The beginnings of the church and the expansion of the gospel to the gentiles

3. Why do we believe Luke was the author? • Tradition • Both the Gospel of Luke and The Acts had to written by the same author. Both books were written to Theophilus.

4. Who was Theophilus? Luke 1:3   It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, Acts 1:1   The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

5. Why do we believe Luke was the author? • Tradition • Both the Gospel of Luke and The Acts had to written by the same author. Both books were written to Theophilus. • First person accounts in The Acts mean the author had to be a companion of Paul. • The author of the gospel and of the Acts uses medical terms to describe things. When you consider all this evidence the author must be Luke.

6. Luke wrote more of the New Testament than any other author Paul wrote 37,330 words of the New Testament. (14 books) John wrote 28,092 words of the New Testament. (5 books) Luke wrote 37,933 words of the New Testament. (Two books)

7. Luke mentions in the bible Philemon 1:24   Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. Colossians 4:14   Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 2 Timothy 4:11   Only Luke is with me.

8. Luke as a fellowlabourer Philemon 1:23   There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; Philemon 1:24   Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. Philemon 1:25   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

9. Luke “The Beloved Physician” Colossians 4:14   Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

10. Luke is a Gentile Colossians 4:7-14   All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

11. Non Bible Obituary “Luke, a native of Antioch, by profession a physician. He had become a disciple of the apostle Paul and later followed Paul until his [Paul's] martyrdom. Having served the Lord continuously, unmarried and without children, filled with the Holy Spirit he died at the age of 84 years.” Anti-Marcionite Prologue to the Gospel of Luke

12. Luke is a historian It’s apparent that both Peter and Paul were hero’s to Luke and he records their great works. But he also records their weaknesses and faults.

13. "Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy...[he] should be placed along with the very greatest of historians." Archaeologist Sir William Ramsey

14. Luke has the Greek love for clarity and for truth. He has the physicians skill in diagnosis that will stand him in good stead as he dissects the data before him. He has traced the story of Jesus from its origin with historical insight and balanced judgment. He is already in possession of the evidence before he begins to write. He does not jot down scraps of information in a haphazard way as he gets hold of it. He has gotten ready to write before he begins to write. A.T. Robertson

15. "For accuracy of detail, and for evocation of atmosphere, Luke stands, in fact, with Thucydides. The Acts of the Apostles is not shoddy product of pious imagining, but a trustworthy record...it was the spadework of archaeology which first revealed the truth." Professor of classics at Auckland University, E.M. Blaiklock

16. Luke was called a painter by the ancients. Plummer states that the Empress Eudoxia found at Jerusalem a picture of Mary the mother of Jesus painted by Luke. There is at least, this much of truth in the legend. Luke has exerted a profound influence upon Christian art by his lifelike portrayals of character in the Gospel and the Acts. He painted with his pen, if not with his brush. His pictures are drawn to the life and glow with life. A.T. Robertson

17. Summary of Acts Chapter 1: • Christ’s 40 days after resurrection. • Great commission given to the apostles. • The ascension of Christ. • Selecting a replacement for Judas.

18. Summary of Acts Chapter 2: • The day of Pentecost. • The Holy Spirit descends upon them. • Peter explains to the people that prophecy is being fulfilled. • All Apostles and believers were gathered together in one place and had all things common.

19. Summary of Acts Chapter 3: • Peter and John heal a lame man. • They enter the temple and people marvel that the man is walking and praising God. • Peter preaches a message to them about how this man walks because of Jesus whom they crucified.

20. Summary of Acts Chapter 4: • 5,000 men become believers. • Peter and John are arrested. • They are brought before the high priests, and commanded to stop talking about Jesus. Peter rebukes them. • They are released because there is nothing to charge them with.

21. Summary of Acts Chapter 5: • The deception by Ananias and Saphira. • The Apostles are arrested, escaped & arrested again. • They are beaten, told never to speak of Christ again and released. • They immediately begin preaching Christ again.

22. Summary of Acts Chapter 6 & 7: • We are introduced to Stephen. • Stephen’s is full of the Holy Spirit in his preaching and many people are won to the Lord. • Stephen preaches at the High Priest. • Stephen is stoned.

23. Summary of Acts Chapter 8: • We are introduced to Saul. • Saul consented to Stephen’s death and goes house to house throwing Christians into prison. • We are introduced to Phillip and the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch

24. Summary of Acts Chapter 9: • The conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus. • The Jews try to kill Saul. • Barnabus brings Saul before the Apostles.

25. Summary of Acts Chapter 10: • Peter is given a vision from God that the gospel must also be spread to the gentiles. • Gentiles become believers and are baptized.

26. Summary of Acts Chapter 11: • Peter convinces the other Jews that the gospel must be spread to the gentiles. • Saul and Barnabus are sent to Antioch and spend one year preaching there. • So many were saved that they were first called Christians in Antioch.

27. Summary of Acts Chapter 12: • King Herod has James killed. • King Herod has Peter arrested and plans to kill him at a later time. • God sends and angel to deliver Peter out of prison. • God strikes Herod dead.

28. Summary of Acts Chapter 13: • Barnabus and Saul are called to be missionaries by God. • Saul’s name is changed to Paul. • The Jews reject Paul and Barnabus and so they begin ministering to the gentiles.

29. Summary of Acts Chapter 14: • Paul heals a crippled man. • Paul is stoned by the Jews and believed to be dead but as the disciples came round about him he raises up. • Paul travels all around and many gentiles become saved.

30. Summary of Acts Chapter 15: • The Jews rebuke Paul about circumcision. • Peter defends Paul. • Paul and Barnabus argue about Mark. • The contention is so sharp Barnabus leaves with Mark and Paul takes Silas with him.

31. Disagreement about Mark Acts 15:37   And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. Acts 15:38   But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. Acts 15:39   And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; Acts 15:40   And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

32. Mark eventually wins back Paul’s respect 2 Timothy 4:11   Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

33. Summary of Acts Chapter 16: • Timothy joins Paul and Silas. • Paul travels to Phrigia, Galatia, Mysia, Troas, Samothracia, Neapolis & Phillipi • The conversion of Lydia, a demon possessed girl & the Phillipian Jailer.

34. Summary of Acts Chapter 17 & 18: • Paul travels thru Amphipolis, Appollonia, Thessolonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Antioch & Ephesus. • Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla.

35. Summary of Acts Chapter 19 thru 21: • Paul in Ephesus, then Macedonia, Greece, Troas, Miletus, Tyre, Caesarea, and finally arives back at Jerusalem. • Many people are healed by Paul and many more are converted. • Finally Paul is arrested in Jerusalem.

36. Summary of Acts Chapter 22 thru 24: • Paul is put on trial. • He gives his testimony about his conversion on the road to Damascus. • Paul is brought before Felix the governor. • Felix keeps Paul bound but gives him liberty.

37. Summary of Acts Chapter 25 & 26: • Felix is replaced by Festus, and Paul requests to take his appeal to Caesar. • King Agrippa says he wants to hear Paul. • Paul gives his testimony to King Agrippa. • Agrippa says “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” • Agrippa says he would had freed Paul if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

38. Summary of Acts Chapter 27: • The set sail for Rome, even though Paul warns them that he perceives the ship will not make it. • Storms come and everyone aboard thinks that they are going to die. God reveals to Paul that the ship will sink but everyone will live. • Finally the ship wrecks and all 276 people on board survive and swim ashore.

39. Summary of Acts Chapter 28: • They find out they are on an island called Melita. • The people of the island build a fire for everyone to warm themselves. • Paul is bit by a venomous snake, but remains unharmed. • Finally Paul arrives in Rome and preaches the gospel from his prison home.

40. We should be like Luke 2 Timothy 4:6-11   For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

41. Everybody needs a Luke Luke as a hard worker “Lucas, my fellowlabourer” Luke as true friend “Luke, the beloved physician” Luke, loyal to the end “Only Luke is with me”