Articles and Notes
Acts 1:1 - Letters to Theophilus
Letters To Theophilus (1:1)
INTRODUCTION
1. The New Testament is a collection of 27 books...
a. Containing gospels, history, epistles, and prophecy
b. Some written to people at large, others to individual Christians
and churches
2. It may surprise some that over one fourth of the NT was written to
one individual...
a. Luke and Acts contains more than 27% of the total words in the NT
b. Both were addressed to a man named Theophilus - Lk 1:1-4; Ac
1:1-3
[With much of the New Testament written to just one man, it may be of
interest to further examine the relationship between the author and his
recipient, and the two letters between them...]
I. THE AUTHOR OF THE LETTERS
A. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE...
1. Though unnamed, church tradition supporting Luke as the author
is both early and unanimous - ESV Study Bible
2. Luke was a physician, thought to have been a Gentile, possibly
from Antioch - Co 4:14; cf. Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History,
3.4.7
B. THE BOOK OF ACTS...
1. Also unnamed, but obviously the same author as Luke's gospel
- cf. Ac 1:1 with Lk 2:1-4
2. The "we" sections require a companion of Paul, and Luke is
mentioned in Paul's epistles - Col 4:14; 2Ti 4:11; Phm 24
[The "beloved physician" who often accompanied Paul in his travels had
ample opportunity to collect the information shared in the gospel of Luke
and the book of Acts. As for...]
II. THE RECIPIENT OF THE LETTERS
A. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE...
1. Was written to "most excellent Theophilus" - Lk 1:3
2. Theophilus means "loved of God"
3. The appellation "most excellent" suggests a government
official - cf. Ac 23:26; 24:3; 26:25
B. THE BOOK OF ACTS...
1. Was written to "O Theophilus" - Ac 1:1
2. Note that the honorific title "most excellent" was dropped,
about which we will comment later
[Not much more is known about the identity of Theophilus, but what is
said about him has led to some interesting possibilities about...]
III. THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTERS
A. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE...
1. "that you may know the certainty of those things in which you
were instructed" - Lk 1:4
2. Theophilus had undoubted heard many things about Jesus and his
followers - Lk 1:1; cf. Ac 17:6-7; 28:22
3. There is evidence that Luke composed his work partially to
prove that neither Jesus nor his followers were politically
dangerous to the Roman government - ISBE, "Theophilus"
B. THE BOOK OF ACTS...
1. To continue the story begun in the gospel of Luke - Ac 1:4
2. Some have concluded that Theophilus was the magistrate who
heard Paul's case in Rome and that Acts (and Luke) was a legal
brief in Paul's defense - ISBE, "Theophilus"
3. The abrupt ending of Acts prior to Paul's trial before Caesar
lends support to the idea that it may have initially served as a
"legal brief" in Paul's behalf - cf. Ac 28:30-31
[Luke's purpose in writing these two letters to Theophilus was to inform
him about the life of Christ and the growth of the early church. How
were these letters received by Theophilus...?]
IV. THE EFFECT OF THE LETTERS
A. THEOPHILUS' CONVERSION...
1. We noted that Luke dropped the honorific title "most
excellent" in his second letter - Ac 1:1
2. This has led many to conclude that Luke's relation to
Theophilus had changed, that receiving Luke's gospel resulted in
Theophilus' conversion
3. For Christians did not use honorific titles to address one
another - cf. Mt 23:8-12
B. PAUL'S RELEASE...
1. There is evidence that Paul's first appearance before Caesar
led to his release
2. After which he had time to travel, according to his plans
written in his prison epistles - Php 2:24; Phm 22
3. During which he wrote his first epistle to Timothy, and the
one to Titus
[Even if the letters were originally intended for Theophilus, may have
even served as a "legal brief", their inspiration by the Spirit of God
has long been acknowledged. Leading one to inquire about...]
V. THE VALUE OF THE LETTERS
A. FOR CREATING FAITH IN CHRIST...
1. Many have used Luke's gospel to introduce people to Jesus
Christ
2. It is the most extensive of the four gospels, written in
chronological order - Lk 1:3
3. Penned by a professional man (physician), with a view toward
historical accuracy - Lk 1:4; 2:1-2; 3:1-2
B. FOR OBEYING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST...
1. Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of Acts
- e.g., Ac 2:36-41; 8:30-38
2. We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early
apostles and preachers
3. For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own
conversion experience with those in Acts; were we told the same
gospel, did we respond in the same way?
C. FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CHURCH OF CHRIST...
1. Acts contains the only record of the first thirty years of the
early church
2. It describes establishment, growth, organization, and worship
of the church - e.g., Ac 2:42; 14:23
3. Comparing Luke's record in Acts with the religious world
today, we can see how far people have drifted from following
Jesus as the Way
CONCLUSION
1. Two letters, written to one man, sometime in the early 60s A.D....
a. Who would have thought a simple correspondence would have the
impact it did
b. Of course it is due to their inspiration and preservation by the
Spirit of God!
2. Have you given yourself the opportunity to read these two letters?
Do so, and you...
a. Already have read one fourth of the New Testament!
b. Will have the opportunity to learn much about Jesus, His
salvation, and His church!
Along with the rest of the New Testament, you can "know the certainty of
those things in which you were instructed"...
Acts 1:1
[Act 1:1 NASB] 1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,