O Theophilus Series

“O Theophilus”

Acts 1:1-3

As we embark on this new chapter in our lives I would like to examine the book of Acts.

There are 28 chapters and I have no idea how long this will take.

Our goal will not to rush through the book but rather to examine each week the Word of God to learn from it and to challenge each of us in our walk with the Lord.

Let’s begin with our human author, Luke, and his goal for this letter.

Written with the same design to furnish an authentic and full narrative of events concerning which there would be many accounts.

It is presumed that “Acts” was written sometime around 60-90 AD.

There is no description of the destruction of the Temple yet we see that there were activities in and around the Temple described in Acts.

It is referred to as “THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES”.

Albert Barns “Since these events pertained to the descent of the Spirit, to the spread of the gospel, to the kind of preaching by which the church was to be collected and organized, and as the facts in the case constituted a full proof of the truth of the Christian faith, and the conduct of the apostles would be a model for ministers and the church in all future times.”

It is of great importance that a fair and full narrative of these things should be preserved.

Luke was the companion of Paul in his travels, and was an eye-witness of no small part of the transactions recorded in this book.

We will witness that Acts is written in the 3rd person and one who is making observations.

To Theophilus

We know little about Theophilus only that his name seems to indicate his deep desire to know God and Luke was writing to him to strengthen his faith.

Early tradition says that Theophilus was the master of Luke and after his conversion set Luke free to travel with Paul.

Since we do not have that event recorded in the Bible we will set it aside as nice to know.

What we do know is that Luke wrote to Theophilus on 2 occasions and we know them as “Luke and Acts.”

We will need to start our journey in Luke 1:1-4

Luke 24:1-53 brings us to the conclusion of the first letter to Theophilus.

There seems to be one goal in these letters; Luke 1:4 “That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”

Acts1:1 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,”

The former treatise - The former book. The Gospel of Luke

Treatise - logos (log’-os) a word, uttered by a living voice, the sayings of God, doctrine, teaching

Theophilus - "friend of God"

Theos = God

Philos (fee’-los) = friend

Some believe that there is no person but that it was written to all that are friends of God.

When there is a statement we need not spiritualize or diminish what is written.

There is no indication that this was to anyone but “most excellent Theophilus.”

Theophilus was the person for whom Luke originally wrote his two books: the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles.

It is interesting to note that around 26% of the New Testament was written to Theophilus in Luke’s writings.

Luke’s desire was to prove to Theophilus the truth of Jesus the Messiah’s life, death and resurrection.

Then He would continue his letter by showing the walk of the Apostles’ after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

The name Theophilus appears in only two places in the Bible, Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1:1-3.

So as we study Acts we will read of the evidence that Luke had written to Theophilus.

“Of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,” -

As Luke wrote to his friend in the past it was to show him that Jesus was who He said He was, the Son of God (God in the flesh).

That was all of what we know as the book of Luke.

Acts 1:2 “Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:”

Until the day in which he was taken up – Luke wrote this record and it was complete through the Ascension.

Luke 24:50-53 “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”