An Introduction: Understanding Acts as a Defense

We have been admonished to always be ready to present a defense of the hope we have in Christ Jesus. I have heard it suggested that Acts is Luke’s defense of Paul to be presented together with other evidence at trial. Unless Theophilus is a judge, which has never been proposed, then this book is no defense of Paul. It could be used that way, but the book was written for successive generations, not a limited judicial audience—as I hope the previous lenses we have examined will bear out. The Book of Acts is more than utilitarian.

I would agree that we can look at this as a defense—as another lens through which to understand what Luke is writing and why. But a defense of whom or what? I would also agree that the Book of Acts is evidence, weighty evidence, to be considered by reasonable minds, and hearts. But evidence of what or whom?

You tell me.

Here is where we should start: the first chapter. Luke portrays, documents, records, and avers that Jesus is risen, has appeared to many, has ascended into the heavens, and is coming back. Luke had previously in his Gospel quite deliberately portrayed Jesus in the most human of terms. In Acts, this Son of Man has a remarkably transformed state of being, transformed , by resurrection. He is alive having shed death and the grave and having been adorned with a garment of praise. What would be the impact of that?

On the one hand, Luke of course gives us the ripples of that seminal event in human history—and we can certainly look at Acts that way. But, there’s more to it than that. The signs and wonders and miracles upon lame and dead, as well as the irrevocable changed lives of men, women, and households of Jews, Greeks, Macedonians, Romans, Turks, Cypriots, Syrians, Samaritans, Ethiopians, and others, of towns people, city folk, soldiers, former religious leaders, friends of politicians, sellers of purple, tanners, and tent makers, all represent a tapestry of redeemed humanity whose weaver could only be God upon whose loom could only be Christ’s cross.

The common thread in all this human activity in salvation is Jesus’ resurrection, according to Luke. Only His resurrection explains all he records. By raising Jesus from the dead, He has made him both Lord and Christ. The multi-colored, warp and weft of this tremendous fabric of salvation and righteousness in Christ Jesus (namely, us) is Luke’s defense of the truth of Jesus Christ.