Volume IV
The Acts of the Apostles.
With John Brown’s marginal references, notes and reflections · Vol. IV, p. 254
The Gospel by Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are both dedicated to Theophilus; and as the author of 'The Acts' calls the Gospel his 'former treatise,' there is, therefore, internal evidence, with which all antiquity agrees, that the book of 'Acts' was written by Luke. As it continues to the second year of Paul's imprisonment, it could not have been finished earlier than A.D. 64 or 65. The object of the writer was, evidently, not a complete history of the Christian church during the period which his narrative embraces; for he passes over all the affairs of the church at Jerusalem subsequent to the conversion of Paul; furnishes few records of the labours of any other apostle; while some he never mentions at all. Nor was it his object to write a complete history even of Paul, his companion; for he passes over in silence some of the most remarkable events of his life, such as his journey into Arabia, three of his shipwrecks, and his exposure and perils among the robber hordes of the deserts. His objects were higher than these, however gratifying they might appear to a pious curiosity, and however instructive as examples of devotedness and zeal. The object of Luke was mainly to record the wonderful effusion of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost, thus teaching the church that, without the Spirit of God, all other qualifications are impotent; to furnish a few specimens of apostolic preaching; to record some of the principal miracles by which the gospel testimony was confirmed; and to bear witness to the admission of the Gentiles into the Christian community.
This being the last historical book of the Scriptures, it is worthy of remark, that not one of the sacred biographers, from Moses to Luke, ever attempts to produce 'a hero'—a man superior to all his contemporaries—the idol of historic worship! The Bible alone tells truth! Paul is introduced as a guilty murderer! and subsequently to his conversion—though the writer passes no opinion—he faithfully records the fact, and leaves us to judge for ourselves, whether Paul or Barnabas was in error in that 'sharp contention' that separated them in the work of the mission, ch. 15. 39. Yet the Bible produces really great characters! Men devoid of every ambition but to do good! Men capable of sacrificing every hour of ease, every prospect of emolument, and hope of honour; of undergoing every toil, of enduring every persecution, of repaying kindness for every injury, of rejoicing in tribulation, of hoping against hope, of enduring to the end; neither depressed by failure, nor rendered vain by success.—Self nothing—Jesus all! Such was Moses—such the prophets—such the apostles; and such, in some measure, must be every one who, 'through faith and patience, would inherit the promises.' C.