Jensens survey of the old testament adam 423
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B. AUTHOR
Most authorities agree that Luke was the
writer of Acts. Extant ancient witnesses,
dating as early as A.D. 170, are practically
unanimous about that. The strongest
internal evidence for Lucan authorship is the
fact that Acts and the third gospel are both
addressed to Theophilus, and Acts refers to a
“ rst account,” which obviously was the
gospel. (Compare Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1:15.)
Other internal evidences for Lucan
authorship of Acts, based on a comparison
with the gospel, include (1) the similar style
and language of the two writings; (2) the
natural connection between the ending of
the gospel and the beginning of Acts; (3)
similarities such as the prominent place of
women in both narratives. Further, the
writer of Acts accompanied Paul on many of
his travels (as the “we” sections of Acts
reveal: 16:10-17; 20:5—21:18; 27:1—
28.16),2 and of the number of close
associates of Paul, Luke is most clearly
identified as that fellow-traveler.3
The writing style of Acts is as clear and
organized as that of Luke’s gospel. Blaiklock
describes it further: “Vivid, rapid in its
movement, sure and purposeful in brief
summary or leisurely report, amazingly
evocative of atmosphere, economical of
words, but never drab in colour, the book
holds the reader from its dedication to the
end.”4
For biographical information on Luke,
refer back to those descriptions given in
Chapter 6.
C. DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING
Luke probably wrote Acts while in Rome,
toward the end of Paul’s two-year
imprisonment there, or about A.D. 61. He
could not have completed his writing earlier
than that, since Acts records that
imprisonment (Acts 28:30), which is dated
around A.D. 59-61. The Holy Spirit’s design
was not to include any more of Paul’s life or
of the church’s experience in this book, and
so He inspired Luke to write at that time.
That Luke did not write Acts at a later
date is obvious from the following:
1. The Jewish war of A.D. 66-70, climaxing
in the holocaust of the destruction of
Jerusalem (A.D. 70), is not even alluded to.
2. Nero’s anti-Christian policy, following
the great re of Rome (A.D. 64), nds no
place in the account.
3. Though Paul was in prison at the close
of Acts, there is no suggestion in the
narrative that his death was imminent. Very
likely he was soon released. After traveling
for a few years in evangelistic work, even as
far as Spain, Paul probably was arrested
again and placed in the execution cell at
Rome, where he wrote 2 Timothy, his
“dying letter,” and then nally was executed
shortly before Nero’s suicide. (Date of the
latter was June 8, A.D. 68.)
D. SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Luke the master writer was also the
master researcher. For his gospel he needed
to interview many witnesses for their
rsthand accounts of the life of Jesus.
Research of oral and written sources also
was required for Acts, but he had personally
seen and heard much of its history or had
learned about it from his intimate
