The second half of Luke's history of the church, which was commissioned by Theophilus. It covers the actions of the Apostles from Christ's ascension to heaven to Paul's imprisonment in Rome.
2
votes
1answer
19 views
How does Peter fit the events of Acts 2 into the apocalyptic imagery of Joel?
In Act 2, the disciples of Jesus were gathered in the upper room when something extraordinary occurred which caused a stir in Jerusalem. Luke gives Peter a chance to explain in the first extended ...
9
votes
5answers
3k views
Why did the witnesses lay their coats at Paul's feet?
During the stoning of Stephen, according to the book of Acts, "the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul," who later converted to Christianity and took the name Paul.
...
7
votes
3answers
366 views
Why did Stephen give such a long speech?
Before he was stoned, Stephen gives a huge speech (Acts 7) going over Israeli history, from Abraham through Moses to David.
I really don't understand the purpose of it. What is the overall message? ...
6
votes
3answers
146 views
Upon whom do we call? Reconciling OT & NT
This question was spurred on by my interaction with another related question on BHSE
It appears as though two different names being called upon for Salvation; yet, there is only one whereby we may ...
4
votes
2answers
79 views
Where did the idea that the law was administered through angels come from?
The idea that the law was given through angels seems common enough in the first century literature:
Galatians 3:19
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring ...
7
votes
2answers
82 views
What language(s) would the Jewish Christians in the various Macedonian cities have spoken?
In Acts 16-18, Paul is shown moving from city to city in Macedonia - e.g. Phillipi, Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth - many of to whom he would later write letters. Acts 17:2 explains that it was his ...
5
votes
2answers
51 views
Locations of the graves of the Patriarchs
The Book of Acts at 7:16-17 states that Jacob died and was "carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem."
But Genesis ...
3
votes
1answer
28 views
Did 70 or 75 Hebrews go down to Egypt with Jacob?
Acts 7:14 states that "Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all." This seems to contradict Deut. 10:22, Ex. 1:5; and Gen. 46:27 ...
4
votes
1answer
77 views
Was Jesus unaware of Joel 2:32?
Matthew records Jesus saying:
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
What does “break bread” mean in Acts 20:7 and 11?
These are the verses:
7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 ...
7
votes
2answers
101 views
Did Abraham leave Haran before or after his father died?
Genesis 11:31-12-1 appears to indicate that Abram left Haran after his father Terah had died. (The author of the New Testament book of Acts certainly saw it that way.)
Terah took his son Abram and ...
6
votes
1answer
121 views
How did Judas die?
In fact, there are multiple discrepancies between these two verses, what did really happen?
Matthew 27:5-8
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged ...
9
votes
6answers
1k views
Why does Paul get annoyed with the slave girl in Acts 16?
The story in Acts 16 of the demon-possessed slave girl is a curious story to me for many reasons. If it's better to break up my questions into several, I can do so; but for now I'd like to keep them ...
7
votes
1answer
147 views
Jesus and the adulterous woman: was stoning a practical possiblity?
In John 8:5, the Pharisees ask Jesus:
In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? (NIV)
Was stoning a woman for adultery often/sometimes done during Jesus' days, or ...
2
votes
1answer
29 views
Was casting the lot in Acts 1:26 a vote or a lottery?
When choosing a replacement for Judas, there are two candidates, and in Acts 1:26, we read (ESV):
And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven ...
5
votes
2answers
138 views
Is “calling on the name of the Lord” in Acts 9 literal or figurative?
How did Paul fetch out the followers of Jesus in Acts 9?
I've always thought that it was simply their practice of calling on the name of the Lord (precisely "Jesus") aloud as the phrase "calling on ...
0
votes
3answers
123 views
Under a Christian exegesis, is the promise of 'a future Prophet', Christ, or all prophets culminating in Christ?
In Deuteronomy, Moses promised that God will raise up 'a prophet':
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers —it is to him you shall listen ...
3
votes
1answer
93 views
Is there a link between the Jewish expectation of a literal Messianic kingdom and the command to witness to the ends of the earth in Acts 1?
In Acts Chapter one we find:
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or ...
5
votes
1answer
47 views
Does Luke put the Twelve in a negative light in Acts 6?
In Acts 6:1-7, there is a dispute among the Hebraic and Hellenistic Jews in the church concerning the care of widows. The Twelve gather together and decide that seven people should be appointed for ...
5
votes
2answers
59 views
Do Peter and the author of Hebrews intend different meanings of ἀρχηγὸν?
When members of the early Jerusalem chuch were arrested, they defended their actions thusly:
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised ...
4
votes
2answers
391 views
Did Luke use Josephus as a source?
Richard Carrier summarizes an argument made by Steve Mason in his book Josephus and the New Testament that Luke knew of Josephus' Jewish War (79 CE) and Jewish Antiquities (94 CE). At it's core, the ...
4
votes
2answers
3k views
Who were the Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews of Acts 6:1?
In Acts, it talks about a division in Judaism that I had not heard of before:
Acts 6:1 (NIV)
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained ...
7
votes
4answers
293 views
Who/what is Peter's angel?
In Acts 12, Peter is miraculously released from prison when an angel visits him at night. Peter escapes and returns to the house where a group is gathered praying. A servant girl, Rhoda goes to answer ...
4
votes
1answer
75 views
Is Acts 1:14 describing something like 24/7 prayer?
Acts 1:14 (NIV)
14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
My NLT Bible has "continually" in place ...
3
votes
1answer
83 views
Did the Jerusalem Council intend to replace the Torah?
When Paul and Barnabas when down to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles about whether Gentiles ought to be compelled to be circumcised, the final word comes from James:
Therefore my judgment is ...
8
votes
1answer
142 views
Who believes, is baptized, and is saved in Acts 16?
Acts 16 tells two accounts of Philippians being saved under the preaching of Paul. First is a woman named Lydia:
One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of ...
3
votes
1answer
99 views
Acts 1:19: “that field is called in their proper tongue” - spoken by Peter or by Luke?
Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of
the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an
hundred and twenty,)
Acts 1:16 Men [and] brethren, this ...
0
votes
1answer
97 views
What day of the week was the Pentecost in Acts 2?
What day of the week was the day of Pentecost falling on in Acts 2? Was it Saturday or Sunday? Or some other day?
6
votes
1answer
185 views
Signficance of name change from Saul to Paul
Acts 13:9 appears to record the moment Saul's name changes to Paul:
Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said...
(Prior to this time, ...
6
votes
1answer
469 views
Did Jesus not heal the crippled beggar at the gate Beautiful?
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was ...
9
votes
1answer
125 views
Who received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost?
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Acts 2:1
Is there any way to tell from the text who they were? Was it The New Twelve (as evidenced by Acts 2:14) or a larger ...
6
votes
2answers
122 views
Brothers *and sisters* in modern translations
In the New Century Version, passages in the New Testament that were addressed to "brothers" are now "brothers and sisters". For example:
"Brothers and sisters, in the Scriptures the Holy Spirit ...
8
votes
1answer
185 views
Does Luke's supposed profession matter when interpreting his work as an author?
Paul makes reference to a physician named Luke:
Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.—Colossians 4:14 (ESV)
Tradition also assigns Luke as author of the gospel that bears ...
6
votes
1answer
101 views
Women and chief men stirred up - Acts 13:50
Acts 13:50 says in part that the Jews "stirred up the devout and prominent women AND the chief men of the city" raising up persecution against Paul and Barnabus, causing them to be expelled from the ...
4
votes
1answer
88 views
Separation of Luke-Acts
Does anyone know of any recent Biblical scholars who advocate for a position that separates Luke and Acts (from an interpretive point of view)?
edit:
Many scholars view Luke and Acts as an ...
5
votes
1answer
95 views
Was it typical to cast lots like in Acts 1:26?
At the beginning of Acts, the eleven decide that it is appropriate to replace Judas. To do so, they narrow down the list of candidates to two men: Joseph and Matthias. Then they pray, "Show us which ...
6
votes
1answer
176 views
Peter's Psalm quotations in Acts 1:20
In Acts 1:20, Peter quotes Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8:
20“For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’;
and
“‘Let ...
8
votes
1answer
554 views
Is Paul's visit to Jerusalem detailed in Galatians 2 the Jerusalem Council?
Paul details a meeting with Peter, James and John in Galatians 2:1-10 (ESV):
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of ...
