THE BOOK OF ACTS
STUDY GUIDE 1.1
Lesson 1: The Background of Acts
Section 1: Authorship


OUTLINE FOR NOTES

Introduction

I. Authorship

A. Gospel of Luke

  1. Explicit

  2. Implicit

B. Early Church

  1. Manuscripts

  2. Early church leaders

C. New Testament

  1. Anonymous Author

  2. Luke


REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Why do the passages Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1:1 point to the fact that Luke wrote both the gospel and the Book of Acts?

2. What conclusion does Dr. Bayer draw from the order, length, and number of years covered by the gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts? 

3. What is the name of the early manuscript containing portions of Luke and John, probably copied between AD 175 and AD 200, and found in Egypt in 1952?

4. What is the name of the earliest known document listing the New Testament books that the Church considered canonical?

5. Summarize the evidence from the early Church about the authorship of Acts.

6. Was Luke an apostle?

7. What was Luke's profession?

8. What does the lesson mention about the style of Greek used in Luke and Acts?

9. What change do we observe in the form of narrating events, beginning in Acts 16:10?

10. According to Dr. Bayer, what conclusion can we draw about the person of Luke from the fact that Luke 1:1-2 speaks of things learned from "...those who were eyewitnesses"?

11. In what missionary journey did Luke begin travelling with Paul?

12. According to Dr. Bayer, when was Luke probably converted?

13. Indicate the evidence that each of these three manuscripts gives to support the Lucan authorship of Acts: Papyrus 75, the Muratorian Fragment, and the Anti-Marcionite Prologue.


APPLICATION QUESTIONS


1. Why is it important to identify the author of the book of Acts?


2. Is there anything you can learn from the person and life of Luke that is a good example for you?