One Author & Two Volumes, But One Message of Truth
“The first account I composed, Theophilus,
(The Acts of the Apostles 1: 1-2 NASB)
about all that Jesus began to do and teach,
until the day when He was taken up to heaven,
after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders
to the apostles
whom He had chosen.”
Quick. Name the book in the Bible that is foremost about Jesus, about His character, about His actions, about His teachings, about His commission to take the gospel, about the movement of His Spirit following His ascension back to heaven, and about His promised return?
For the past few months, I have participated in the study of The Acts of the Apostles each Wednesday night during a small group study and every Sunday morning in Sunday School. One would think that after all that time spent studying a particular book, the participant in the study (I mean me) would have studied the author of the book.
How many times have I encouraged my students to read the bio BEFORE they read the book?! Nevertheless, I have just demonstrated how I am my worst possible student, for I did not learn from my own instruction.
Amazing, right?!
I thought so too.
The Acts of the Apostles is volume two (book 2) by Dr. Luke, meaning, there had to be a volume one (a book 1), and we only need to look at the four Gospels to find Dr. Luke’s first writing to Theophilus.
“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,
(The Gospel According to Luke 1: 1-4 NASB)
[referring to Dr. Luke & the Apostle Paul]
just as they were handed down to us by those
[meaning Jesus’ chosen apostles]
who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
[of the gospel].
“it seemed fitting for me as well,
having investigated everything carefully from the beginning,
to write it out for you in consecutive order,
[as a physician, Dr. Luke was a researcher, a scientist, an investigator of FACTS]
most excellent Theophilus;
so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.”
What this really means is that Dr. Luke was not an apostle chosen by Jesus, but Luke was a man chosen by God to serve an important part in God’s eternal narrative.
“Jesus summoned His twelve disciples
(The Gospel According to Matthew 10: 1-4 NASB)
and gave them authority over unclean spirits,
to cast them out,
and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:
The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and
Andrew his brother; and
James the son of Zebedee, and
John his brother;
Philip and
Bartholomew;
Thomas and
Matthew the tax collector;
James the son of Alphaeus, and
Thaddaeus;
Simon the Zealot, and
Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him [Jesus, the Son of God].”
In volume one, Dr. Luke identifies the main subject—the LORD JESUS CHRIST—who came from heaven and wore His own humanity in human flesh.
In volume two, Dr. Luke names the person—the LORD JESUS CHRIST—in the activities of His followers who had been redeemed by His blood and filled with His Holy Spirit.
Both volumes were composed, not by a Jewish man but a Gentile man.
- Both volumes were composed, not by an eyewitness or an apostle but by a man who was part of the early church.
- Both volumes were composed, not by Dr. Luke who was present when the apostle Paul was executed in Rome, a physician who wrote about the later events of The Acts of the Apostles (through the power of the Holy Spirit) before the events occurred.
Maybe (like me) you are scratching your head and wondering: How could this be so?
How could there be—One Author & Two Volumes, But One Message of Truth?
The answer is really quite simple.
“it seemed fitting for me as well,
(The Gospel According to Luke 1: 3-4 NASB)
having investigated everything carefully from the beginning,
to write it out for you in consecutive order,
[Luke was an investigator of FACTS!]
most excellent Theophilus,
so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.”
- The Word of God is NOT fiction but FACT!
- The Bible must be taken as FACT and not as something made up, as fiction.
Because if the Holy Scripture is anything less than the TRUTH, then—
Mary was just an immoral and promiscuous young girl.
BUT SHE WAS NOT!
&
Jesus was an illegitimate boy, born as all humans, under the curse of sin.
BUT HE WAS NOT!
&
Then Genesis 3: 15 is false & Matthew 1: 21 is a lie.
BUT THEY ARE BOTH 100% TRUTH!
Satan, the deceiver, would have defeated Jesus.
BUT HE DID NOT!
&
We would still remain in our sin once we believed in Jesus Christ the Messiah & Redeemer.
BUT WE DO NOT!
Yes, within God’s Holy Word, we find—One Author & Two Volumes, But we also find—One Message of Truth!
“She will bear a Son;
(The Gospel According to Matthew 1: 21 NASB)
and you shall call His name Jesus,
for He will save His people from their sins.”
&
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
(The Gospel According to Luke 1: 37 NASB)