ACTS OF THE APOSTLES (ante), the name, generally, and, from a vtly early period, given to the fifth book of the New Testament, which is often quoted by the early Christian writers, and always as the work of Luke the evangelist. The introduction to it connects it with the third gospel as written by the same author and addressed to the same person. That both were from the same hand is also to be inferred from the similarity of style, idiom, and diction. In modern times some writers have attempted a criticism invalidating both the external testimony on this point arid the internal proba bilities and proofs. A single specimen may be given of the reasoning on which they rely for dislodging this book from its place in scripture, or at least for lowering the estimation in which it is held. "According to the gospel ascribed to Luke, all the events related of Jesus after the resurrection took place, or seem to have taken place. on the day of the resurrection, or they may possibly have extended into the next morning, but certainly not later. The A. on the contrary states that Jesus was seen by the disciples for forty days after the resurrection." This is a summary way of developing a contra diction where none exists. The account of these events in Luke's gospel is indeed brief and condensed, but it does not assert or imply that they all took place at once. Points in the narrative fairly admit, and rationally require, the supposition of intervals of time. The other gospels, also, declare or imply such intervals. The accounts of Matthew and Mark are more condensed than even Luke's. John's is much more extended. It marks off expressly several intervals, and says that one of them was a week long. All these accounts, therefore, taken together, prepare the way for the statement in the A. that the whole time between the resurrection and the ascension amounted to 40 days. The Greek title, it will be observed, does not indicate that the book contains a complete history of the apostles of Christ in their work of proclaiming the gospel. It is not "the
acts" (which indeed the English translation does make it), as if all were intended, but "acts" as only a part. This is in strict accordance with the contents. In the opening of the book, the names of the eleven apostles and of the twelfth (chosen to fill the place of Judas) having been given, the actions and words of Peter at once become prominent; then Peter and John arc mentioned together, and soon Peter's course only is given. After 12 chapters, of which the larger part of one relates to Paul's conversion, the rest of the book is filled chiefly with this last apostle's work and things connected with it. Jerusalem, the church, and the apostles there, scarcely appear except as connected with Paul.
The contents of the book may be noted as follows: I. An exhibition of the ever-present, controlling, and administrative agency of the Lord Jesus, from his exalted sphere at the right hand of God, putting forth the powers of his risen life and giving organization to his spiritual and everlasting kingdom. We have his commands to the apostles, his direction of the choice of Judas's successor, his sending down the holy spirit, his turning men from their sins and adding them to his church, his working of miracles by the instrumentality of the apostles, his sending Peter to open the door of faith to the Gentiles and Philip to guide the Ethiopian in his effort to under stand the scripture, his delivering Peter from prison and Paul from his mad career.
II. A record of the gift and operations of the Holy Spirit. The Saviour at the close of his work on earth promised that he would send from the Father the spirit of truth to abide with his disciples, to reveal the truth to them and to convince the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The A. records the fulfillment of the promise and exhibits the work of the holy spirit in the minds and hearts of men of various nations. It thus becomes the connecting link between the gospels and the epistles which describe the spirit's progressive work.