A question arose on Sunday that I didn't really know that answer to, so today, we "Ask the Pastor."
What is the Book of Acts? It's not listed as an epistle, nor is it listed as a gospel. What, specifically, is it?
In asking Pastor Hiner, he said that was a great question because there are four gospels, the three "synoptic gospels" (Matthew, Mark, Luke aligning closely) and the gospel of John. These are distinguished from the rest of the New Testament because they deal with the life of Christ. Then there are the epistles beginning with Paul's letters and then the remainder attributed to other disciples (or author not known such as Hebrews). The Book of Acts, then, is a continuation of the gospel of Luke, clearly written to Theophilus from Luke as he provides an account of the life of Christ first and then moves into the life after Christ - literally the Acts of the Apostles.
Pastor noted that there are those in the theological world who would consider Luke and Acts as both gospel, with the distinguishing factor being the gospels are attributed to the life of Christ. Yet in Luke we see a continuation of the ministry started by Christ with the Spirit actively involved in moving the disciples to a powerful level of delivering the Word of God to a world starved for the message.
So, the Book of Acts is a continuation Luke, separate from the gospel but very closely related.
Thanks for the question!
Hope Men's Ministry
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