"THE BOOK OF ACTS" Letters To Theophilus (1:1)

 

 

"THE BOOK OF ACTS"

Letters To Theophilus (1:1)

INTRODUCTION

1. The New Testament is a collection of 27 books...
1. Containing gospels, history, epistles, and prophecy
2. Some written to people at large, others to individual Christians and churches
2. It may surprise some that over one fourth of the NT was written to one individual...
1. Luke and Acts contains more than 27% of the total words in the NT
2. Both were addressed to a man named Theophilus - Lk 1:1-4; Ac 1:1-3

[With much of the New Testament written to just one man, it may be of interest to further examine the relationship between the author and his recipient, and the two letters between them...]

1. THE AUTHOR OF THE LETTERS
1. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE...
1. Though unnamed, church tradition supporting Luke as the author is both early and unanimous - ESV Study Bible
2. Luke was a physician, thought to have been a Gentile, possibly from Antioch - Co 4:14; cf. Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History,
3. 4.7
2. THE BOOK OF ACTS...
1. Also unnamed, but obviously the same author as Luke's gospel - cf. Ac 1:1 with Lk 2:1-4
2. The "we" sections require a companion of Paul, and Luke is mentioned in Paul's epistles - Col 4:14; 2Ti 4:11; Phm 24

[The "beloved physician" who often accompanied Paul in his travels had ample opportunity to collect the information shared in the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. As for...]

2. THE RECIPIENT OF THE LETTERS
1. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE...
1. Was written to "most excellent Theophilus" - Lk 1:3
2. Theophilus means "loved of God"
3. The appellation "most excellent" suggests a government official - cf. Ac 23:26; 24:3; 26:25
2. THE BOOK OF ACTS...
1. Was written to "O Theophilus" - Ac 1:1
2. Note that the honorific title "most excellent" was dropped, about which we will comment later

[Not much more is known about the identity of Theophilus, but what is said about him has led to some interesting possibilities about...]

3. THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTERS
1. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE...
1. "that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed" - Lk 1:4
2. Theophilus had undoubted heard many things about Jesus and his followers - Lk 1:1; cf. Ac 17:6-7; 28:22
3. There is evidence that Luke composed his work partially to prove that neither Jesus nor his followers were politically dangerous to the Roman government - ISBE, "Theophilus"
2. THE BOOK OF ACTS...
1. To continue the story begun in the gospel of Luke - Ac 1:4
2. Some have concluded that Theophilus was the magistrate who heard Paul's case in Rome and that Acts (and Luke) was a legal brief in Paul's defense - ISBE, "Theophilus"
3. The abrupt ending of Acts prior to Paul's trial before Caesar lends support to the idea that it may have initially served as a "legal brief" in Paul's behalf - cf. Ac 28:30-31

[Luke's purpose in writing these two letters to Theophilus was to inform him about the life of Christ and the growth of the early church. How were these letters received by Theophilus...?]

4. THE EFFECT OF THE LETTERS
1. THEOPHILUS' CONVERSION...
1. We noted that Luke dropped the honorific title "most excellent" in his second letter - Ac 1:1
2. This has led many to conclude that Luke's relation to Theophilus had changed, that receiving Luke's gospel resulted in Theophilus' conversion
3. For Christians did not use honorific titles to address one another - cf. Mt 23:8-12
2. PAUL'S RELEASE...
1. There is evidence that Paul's first appearance before Caesar led to his release
2. After which he had time to travel, according to his plans written in his prison epistles - Php 2:24; Phm 22
3. During which he wrote his first epistle to Timothy, and the one to Titus

[Even if the letters were originally intended for Theophilus, may have even served as a "legal brief", their inspiration by the Spirit of God has long been acknowledged. Leading one to inquire about...]

5. THE VALUE OF THE LETTERS
1. FOR CREATING FAITH IN CHRIST...
1. Many have used Luke's gospel to introduce people to Jesus Christ
2. It is the most extensive of the four gospels, written in chronological order - Lk 1:3
3. Penned by a professional man (physician), with a view toward historical accuracy - Lk 1:4; 2:1-2; 3:1-2
2. FOR OBEYING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST...
1. Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of Acts - e.g., Ac 2:36-41; 8:30-38
2. We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early apostles and preachers
3. For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own conversion experience with those in Acts; were we told the same gospel, did we respond in the same way?
3. FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CHURCH OF CHRIST...
1. Acts contains the only record of the first thirty years of the early church
2. It describes establishment, growth, organization, and worship of the church - e.g., Ac 2:42; 14:23
3. Comparing Luke's record in Acts with the religious world today, we can see how far people have drifted from following Jesus as the Way

CONCLUSION

1. Two letters, written to one man, sometime in the early 60s A.D....
1. Who would have thought a simple correspondence would have the impact it did
2. Of course it is due to their inspiration and preservation by the Spirit of God!
2. Have you given yourself the opportunity to read these two letters? Do so, and you...
1. Already have read one fourth of the New Testament!
2. Will have the opportunity to learn much about Jesus, His salvation, and His church!

Along with the rest of the New Testament, you can "know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed"...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2021