The book of Acts is the fifth canonical book of the New Testament, written by Luke, as a continuation of his Gospel and as a history of the early church. It is believed it was written around 63 AD, (Lk.1: 1-4, Acts.1: 1). For the precise location where Luke wrote the book of Acts, it has been a little difficult for me to find a precise place of origin. Up to this point, I had only found speculations that included Antioch, Ephesus, and Rome.
However, my personal inclination is for the last place mentioned since Luke was with Paul in Rome (Acts 28:16, Col 4:14, Philem. 1:24). In his Gospel, Luke described the foundation of Christianity, fulfilled by what Christ worked, taught and suffered; in Acts it was proposed to show how its diffusion had been verified, and to that end he chose the most appropriate to show how the Holy Spirit guided and blessed the first disciples of Christ in the building of his Church. In Acts, Luke resumes the relationship in which he had left it in his Gospel, beginning with the Savior’s ascension, and the behavior observed for such reason by the disciples followed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to the promise of Christ (Jn 15 : 26). Acts is an accurate historical report of the early church.
It is also a theological book, with lessons and living examples of the work of the Holy Spirit, the relationships and organization of the church, the implications of grace and the law of love. Acts is also an apologetic work that builds a strong framework for the validity of the claims and promises of Christ. The book of Acts begins with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This evangelization inspired by the Spirit originates in Jerusalem and ultimately spreads to Rome, encompassing much of the Roman Empire. The Gospel goes first to the Jews; but these, as a nation, rejected it. The continuous rejection of the Gospel by the immense majority of the Jews favored the development of the proclamation of it among the Gentiles. This was according to Jesus’ plan: the Gospel went from Jerusalem to Judea, to Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). In a way, this is the pattern that the narrative of Acts follows.
The glorious proclamation begins in Jerusalem (chapters 1-7), goes to Judea and Samaria (chapters 8 and following) and to the countries beyond Judea (11.19; 13.4 and until the end of Acts). The second part of the narrative deals with the conversion and vocation of the Apostle Paul; of his missionary zeal, his labors, and sufferings, particularly among the Gentiles. He, with his companions, first brought the gospel to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Some Jews believed, and many Gentiles received the good news with joy, new congregations were founded and new believers began to grow in the Christian life. The book of Acts ends with the two years of imprisonment that the Apostle Paul had in Rome.
In conclusion, when it comes to the major themes around which the book of Acts is centered, there are three main themes. First, the Holy Spirit, which empowers the church to expand the kingdom of God. Second, the apostles, who were called to testify of Christ, and authorized to lead and serve the church of Christ. Third, the church established by the apostles with the aim of making sure that the Gospel and the kingdom will continue to expand throughout history.
