The book of Acts is really the second volume in Luke’s account of redemptive history. Luke dedicates both parts to Theophilus, who may have been his benefactor or patron. His goal is to establish in the mind of Theophilus, and in the minds of all his readers, the absolute certainty of all that has happened. The book of Luke essentially deals with the story of redemption accomplished in the life and death of Jesus Christ, while the book of Acts relates the account of redemption applied to people through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives and teaching of those sent to proclaim the gospel. Jesus foretells at the conclusion of the book of Luke that they shall be his witnesses in “Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The book of Acts explains to us how that occurs in terms of conversions of individuals and in the life of the church, the Christian community.

The book was probably written before the death of Paul, thought to be around A.D. 68, and before the beginning of Roman persecution, about A.D. 64. It is a carefully researched and written history, resting upon reliable sources, filled with good detailed accounts, but, at the same time, as all books of the Bible, verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit.

The first part of the book, chapters 1 to 12, deal with the ministry of Peter, James, Philip, and Stephen, with Peter being predominant. The preaching of Peter in several sermons is recorded, with a strong emphasis on what God has done in Christ, and how God raised Christ from the dead according to his predetermined purpose to declare that forgiveness of sins is now a reality for God’s people. Peter is chosen to bring the gospel to the Jews at Pentecost and later to the first Gentile, a Roman centurion named Cornelius.

Stephen is presented as a brilliant, well-educated preacher who effectively convinces the Jewish people of the truth of Christ, but his preaching is so clear and straightforward that he arouses the fury of the unbelieving Jews who stone him to death. He dies as the first Christian martyr.

These early chapters also reveal much about the life of the early church: their problems in caring for their members, how they shall deal with Gentile converts, and from sin arising from within the church, and also their wonderful joy and fellowship together, their sense of community and caring for one another, their praise of God and the respect accorded them by those outside. But these chapters also reveal that as Jesus had provoked the indignation and hatred of the religious establishment, so the church, as Christ’s body, would inherit that bitter opposition, and we see persecution becoming organized and systematic.

However, Luke tells us how God had chosen the Christians’ arch-enemy, the very instigator of an organized attempt to exterminate the new community of believers, Saul of Tarsus, to be his instrument to bring the light of truth to the Gentile world. We read of Saul’s dramatic conversion in chapter 9, and the entire second half of the book, chapters 13-28, relate the ministry of the Apostle Paul, as he was known. Paul went out on three occasions from the dynamic church of Antioch, a center of Christian learning and instruction, to carry the good news of Christ to Cyprus, Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and Italy. Several of his sermons are included, including his message to the Athenian council of the Areopagus, the only recorded full sermon in Scripture delivered to a pagan audience.

The book of Acts illustrates very well that it is God the Holy Spirit who opens hearts and turns people to the Father, and thus it should be called “the Acts of the Holy Spirit.” It is a book designed to bring glory to God by telling the story of how God works effectively to bring people to faith in Christ, repentance and a life of obedience.