Deck 17: Lukes Second Volume: the Acts of the Apostles

Question 1

Modern historians recognize that history is never completely objective: all authors record stories that bolster their literary cause. How does Luke strengthen his theological emphases by using the conventions of ancient historiography?

Answer 1

1. Like many ancient histories, Acts focuses on several key characters. Although the book is called the Acts of the Apostles, after the first few chapters it narrows its scope to the acts of Peter and Paul. Paul, in particular, travels throughout the empire establishing churches and teaching Gentiles about Jesus. Both Peter and Paul deliver speeches to further their missionary efforts. In ancient histories, speeches were fabrications that were intended to fit the occasion; they were not historically accurate records of the words of the characters. Luke, then, follows the conventions of the genre by supplying speeches that are appropriate to the narrative audience and setting. Luke's use of these historiographic elements allows him to continue to emphasize the repeated rejection of Jesus and his teachings by the Jews and the inclusion of the Gentiles in the Kingdom of God. The travel narratives, as well as many of the speeches, present the apostles as appealing to the Jews first, as Jesus did, and then, once rejected, taking the gospel to the Gentiles. This emphasis, as we will see when we turn to look at Paul's writings, is particular to Luke's goals and does not seem to be historically accurate-Paul insists that he was appointed by Jesus to be the apostle to the Gentiles.

Question 2

Why do you think it was important for Luke to insist on the fundamental continuity between Judaism and Christianity? That is, why does Luke situate Christianity firmly within Judaism?

Answer 2

It is critical for Luke to situate Christianity firmly within Judaism because if Christianity represented a new religion, or a completely new promise from God, God's faithfulness could be questioned: Had God broken his covenant with the Jews? If so, why should Christians think he would not also break this new covenant? By affirming the continuity of Judaism and Christianity, Luke accomplishes at least two things: first, he underscores God's faithfulness to his promise and to his people; and second, he explains why Gentiles can be brought into the covenant. God has not broken his promise but has extended it to include all people.

Question 3

The author of Acts sometimes uses first-person narrative.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The author of Acts chose to remain anonymous.

Question 5

The final third of Acts focuses on Peter's ministry.

Question 6

One of the early speeches in Acts is delivered to the Pharisees.

Question 7

One similarity between Jesus in the Gospel of Luke and the apostles in Acts is that they are all rejected in Jerusalem.

Question 8

The book of Acts is probably best understood as:

A) A Greco-Roman biography
B) A Greco-Roman novel
C) A general history
D) An apocalypse

Question 9

Speeches that are recorded in ancient histories:

A) Are transcripts of actual speeches given
B) Are invented according to what seemed to fit the literary occasion and the characters involved
C) Tend to be shorter than actual speeches given by ancient rhetors
D) Are transcribed by those who heard them

Question 10

Which of the following would be the most difficult method to apply to Acts?

A) The thematic method
B) Genre criticism
C) The redactional method
D) None of these methods is applicable to Acts.

Question 11

The book of Acts focuses primarily on:

A) The deeds of the twelve original disciples
B) The resurrection of Jesus
C) The ministry of Jesus
D) The spread of the Christian religion

Question 12

Luke does not emphasize which of the following?

A) The continuity between Judaism and Jesus
B) The continuity between Judaism and Christianity
C) The continuity between Jesus and the church
D) The triumph of God's grace over and against works

Question 13

Luke presents the apostles as:

A) Disagreeing on the spread of the gospel
B) Returning to Galilee, as commanded by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew
C) In general agreement about the Christian mission
D) Divided over the relationship of Jews and Gentiles

Question 14

The first Christian martyr, as recounted in Acts, was:

A) Paul
B) Peter
C) Stephen
D) Matthias

Question 15

Paul believes he has the best chance for a fair hearing from:

A) The Jewish Sanhedrin
B) Felix
C) Porcius Festus
D) Caesar