The Book of Acts was written by Dr. Luke. Like the Gospel of Luke, it was addressed to Theophilus.
The prologue of Luke’s Gospel reads: “Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed” (Luke 1:1–4).
The Book of Acts, a sequel to Luke’s Gospel, opens with this: “I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:1–3).
Theophilus is a personal name meaning “friend of God.” Who was he? No one knows.
Maybe Theophilus was just a generic “friend of God.” If so, then Luke wrote for every Christian… every friend of God.
Maybe Theophilus was a benefactor, one that bankrolled the historian’s efforts. It’s quite possible that Theophilus was a pseudonym, and the identity of the wealthy and prominent “friend of God” was hidden to protect the individual from persecution. It’s also possible that Theophilus was an unsaved man, and that Luke wrote to persuade him to trust in Jesus for salvation.
Regardless, I’d like to spend the next several days reading the Book of Acts to examine the lives of the individuals recorded on its pages. Each person played a part in the epic saga of the Gospel’s spread across the Roman Empire. Each was a friend of God.
Why? “So that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed (Luke 1:4) and review the “many convincing proofs” (Acts 1:3) of the Spirit’s power and of Christ’s glory and grace.
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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