narrative, the parable of the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus, and the account of the widow’s gift of two small coins.101 In Acts, Peter and John healed a lame beggar at the temple, the church administrated the feeding of widows, and Paul and Barnabas brought a financial gift for the famine-stricken Palestinian church from the church at Antioch.
The Kingdom of God—Luke’s Gospel opens with Gabriel’s promise to Mary that her Son would, “reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.” (Luke 1:33) Jesus began His ministry by proclaiming the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom message was one that Jesus regularly proclaimed.102 Acts opens with the disciples asking if the resurrected Jesus was going to restore the kingdom to Israel.103 Peter’s Pentecost message emphasized the fact that Jesus had fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies, especially regarding David’s unending kingdom. Peter’s sermon at Cornelius’ house characterizes Jesus’ revelation of the kingdom in Acts 10:38: the healing and deliverance of those who were under the power of the Devil.104 Acts closes with Paul, “testifying about the kingdom of God” to a group of Roman Jews. As the Anointed One in Luke, Jesus exercised His authority over the kingdom of Satan. In Acts, the apostles proclaimed Jesus as the Anointed One who was still wreaking havoc on the kingdom of darkness.105
It appears that Luke used the same literary template for both of his books. They have a similar structure and it appears that Luke designed the Gospel and Acts to be parallel parts to the story that he was telling.106 Below are examples of a few of these parallels.107
1. In Luke 3:21, Jesus is shown praying at His baptism. In Acts 1:14, the disciples are shown in prayer as they await their baptism with the Holy Spirit.
2. Luke 3:22 tells of the Holy Spirit coming upon Jesus as He prayed.108 Acts 2:1-13 shows the Holy Spirit filling all of those in the upper room as they were praying.109
3. Luke 4:16-30 describes the opening of Jesus’ ministry with a sermon that focused on Him as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophets and then ended with Him being rejected by those who heard it.110 It appears that Jesus was rejected because He challenged the idea of Jewish exclusivism by recounting God’s dealings with the Zarephathite widow and Naaman the Syrian.111 Acts 7 shows Stephen preaching a message that traced God’s dealings with the nation of Israel but also challenged the notion of Jewish exclusivism. Stephen pointed out that Abraham was called out of Mesopotamia, Joseph was used mightily by God in Egypt, and God’s call of Moses came while he was living in Midian.112 Stephen’s message was rejected and he was stoned to death. Luke goes to great lengths in both the Gospel and in Acts to emphasize the universality of God’s salvation.113
4. In Luke 10:1-12, Jesus sent the 70 out on a missionary trip to preach, heal, and cast out demons.114 Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:8 that they would be His witnesses, “to the ends of the earth.” The first half of Acts shows Peter and Philip, in particular, begin this process. In Acts 13–20, Paul and others went on several mission trips, eventually taking the Gospel all the way to Rome.115
5. In Luke 9:51—19:28, Jesus made a final journey to Jerusalem. It was done under divine prompting and not understood by the disciples.116 Paul made a final visit to Jerusalem in Acts 19:21—21:17. It also was done under divine prompting and not understood by Paul’s friends and co-workers.117
6. Luke 22:54 shows a mob seizing Jesus. Acts 21:30 shows a mob seizing Paul.118
7. In Luke 24:45-49, Jesus’ ministry ended on the note of the fulfillment of Scripture. In Acts 28: 25-31, Paul’s ministry ended on the note of the fulfillment of Scripture.
These parallels between the Gospel of Luke and Acts give some idea of what Luke thought was important. They also serve to develop a clear picture of Luke’s theology. Marshall says that Luke should not be labeled as only a “historian,” or as only a “theologian.” He is both, and according to Marshall, should be called “evangelist,” for that term encompasses both of the others.119 Martin also sees strong pastoral concerns in Luke’s writings, specifically in the area of discipleship.120 This aspect of discipleship is paralleled in both the Gospel and in Acts. Luke’s use of parallels will be seen even more clearly when the study focuses more specifically on the apostolic ministries of Peter and Paul.
The Purpose of Luke-Acts
As with the study of any Biblical writing, it is important to understand the purpose behind the author’s work. Unlike the other Evangelists, Luke provides the reader with some idea of why he was writing:121
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the Word have handed them down to us, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1-4)
The prologue found in Acts refers back to the Gospel and is also written to Theophilus, tying the two works together.
The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3)
It appears that the preface for the gospel applied to the work as a whole. The shorter preface in Acts was more like a chapter heading referring the reader back to the earlier preface.122
Aside from the obvious aspect of linking the Gospel of Luke and Acts together, the two prologues provide much insight into what the author was trying to accomplish through his writings. One first notices that both books are addressed to the enigmatic Theophilus. It has been generally assumed that each of the gospels was written to a different Christian community to provide needed spiritual instruction.123 Luke, however, says that he is writing to an individual. Other scholars have discussed in-depth who this Theophilus might be. What is important to us is the fact that Luke tells Theophilus what his goal is in writing. Luke says that he wants Theophilus to, “know the exact truth about the things he has been taught.” Many scholars believe that Theophilus was a new believer and that Luke was writing to provide him
