The Book of Acts

The Most Honorable Theophilus

The New Living Translation

 

“In my first book* I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach....”- Acts 1:1

 

“I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.”-Luke 1:3-4

 

            Who is Theophilus? The name itself mean “friend of God”. While the Bible doesn’t tell us who he is, we can surmise that Theophilus was a relatively new convert, very possibly a Roman. It seems apparent that he was brought to salvation by Luke himself. The fact that he addresses him in the beginning of both his gospel and the Book of Acts lends credence to Luke’s being the author of both books. 

            Luke starts off by the telling of the promise of the advocate, the Holy Spirit, that would fall down upon them with the purpose of providing spiritual power, boldness and discernment to fulfill the mission Jesus had commissioned the Apostles to do.  Is this power and boldness still available today? Are we still supposed to fulfill the “great commission” to take the gospel to all the world? Has that been fulfilled? I see no evidence that it has, so  I’d have to say ‘yes’, the Holy Spirit that still dwells inside each born again believer is still providing believers with boldness and discernment to minister in the name of the Lord. 

            Next Luke speaks of Jesus ascending to His rightful place, seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for the saints. ^{(Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, I John 2:1)} After Jesus’ ascension, the Apostles went about replacing Judas, the betrayer, with another brother who was appointed thru prayer by God. Matthias was the one chosen.

            Luke takes the liberty of giving a graphic description of what took place when Judas died. Matthews account, found in Matthew 27:5, simply says that Judas hung himself. Tradition expands on that by saying that either the rope or the branch the rope was tied to broke causing Judas to fall, with his body bursting open, “spilling out all his intestines”. Perhaps this detail was given due to Luke profession as a physician prior to his conversion. It just seems interesting to me that he would go into such graphic detail when we see it nowhere else.

            Luke shares the account of the promised Holy Spirit; the in-filling of all the Apostles in the Upper Room and about Peter’s powerful sermon (Acts 2:14-42), which kicked off his ministry.

 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible. 

* Referencing his Gospel writing, aka, The Gospel according to Luke.