Lesson 5: Introduction to Genre
NT Genres: Acts
Luke never intended Acts to stand alone. As Luke himself explicitly notes,
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen —Acts 1:1–2, emphasis mine
The “first book” is Luke’s Gospel, and there he recorded what Jesus began to do. Acts, the companion volume, is all about what Jesus continued to do and teach.¹ In Acts, we hear the testimony regarding the work of our risen, ascended, and reigning Lord Jesus.
Focused on Christ
Let's take a closer look at how Acts proclaims Christ and his ongoing work through his apostles. Note the apostles’ witness about Jesus in Acts 3:1–26.
One detail that stands clear in the apostles’ witness is that Jesus, now reigning from above, is the one who is at work building his kingdom, calling his people unto himself.
Keys to Interpreting Acts:
- Determine boundaries and interpret episodes.
- Look for the narrator’s commentary and/or summary statements and the end of an episode.
- Look for shifts in time, location, main character(s), and themes.
- Discern how this episode fits within the larger story.
- Look for the thematic threads that weave through several units, linking them together.
- Focus on Jesus.
- The Lord Jesus is always the main character.
- In Acts, he primarily works through his Holy Spirit in the witness of his apostolic representatives.
- Distinguish between descriptions and prescriptions.
- Note how the church grows.
- Note the apostles’ unique and exclusive role.
- Note the centrality of the gospel (Acts 2:42–47; 6:7; 12:24).
- Note the role of suffering.
- Summarize the main conflict.
- Does the conflict get resolved? How?
- How does the gospel advance?
- Summarize the main message.
- Look especially to the content of the sermons as well as the narrator’s summary statements.
- Be careful in taking behavioral clues from biblical characters. They are not always good role models!
- What does this episode tell us about God and his promises?