THE BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY
The Acts of the Apostles is a communication between two friends. Addressed to a Greek named
Theophilus, a sophisticated and well-educated man, Acts is an account of the beginnings of
Christianity. Having already received Luke’s Gospel account regarding what “Jesus began to do and to teach” (Acts 1:1), Theophilus receives Acts, the continuation of the Gospel narrative.
The title Acts of the Apostles can be misleading for two reasons. First, the author does not describe the missionary activities of all of the apostles; rather, he mostly focuses on the actions of Peter and Paul. Second, without the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit, the efforts of man could not have brought about the spread of the gospel and the growth of the church. Therefore, it would be entirely appropriate to call this book the Acts of the Holy Spirit.