Historical and Cultural Context of Acts

The Author and his Book

The Author

• Luke
• Mentioned several times in NT: Col. 4:14, Phil. 24, Tim. 4:11
• Generally thought of as a Gentile
• Doctor (see references above): educated and well-cultured
• Companion of Paul
• Accompanied Paul several times
• Tradition connects him with Antioch (Anti-Marcionite prologue to Luke)
• Apparently died at the age of 84 unmarried and childless! (as above)
• Interested in the growth from Judaism to Gentile Christianity
   

The Book 

• Written as part two
• Addressed to Theophilus as was gospel of Luke
• Dont know who Theophilus was
• Extends from AD30-60
• Not an exhaustive account
• May have been written at intervals with the final being issued around AD70
• A purpose in writing was to instruct the reader in the certainty of the gospel (Acts 1:4) and how the gospel reached Rome. From the heart of the Jewish world to the heart of the Gentile world.
   

In the sweep of history

Timeline

• Creation, Adam & Eve
• Noah & the flood
• Abraham & the covenant (c. 2166B.C.)
• Moses & the exodus (exodus c. 1446B.C.)
• Joshua & the conquest (1300sB.C.)
• Samuel & the judges (1300 - 1000sB.C.)
• David & the kings (1050B.C. onwards)
• Rise of the Assyrians (950B.C.) & Babylonians (612B.C. Babylon became nt)
• Prophets & Captivity (721B.C. & 597B.C.)
• Rise of the Medes and Persians (Cyrus the great 539B.C.)
• Return to Jerusalem
• Rise of the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great (finally defeated the Persians in 333B.C.)
• Rise of the Roman Empire (400B.C. onwards, Judea conquered 63B.C.)
• Rumours of angels...
• Pentecost
   

Between the Testaments

• No prophets etc. in Israel for 400yrs
• Jews mainly leading revolts during this time. A lot of unrest. One conqueror after another.
• Idea of Messiah still alive.
• Last revolt in spring 66A.D. under Nero. Jerusalem captured 70AD, temple destroyed, inhabitants sold into slavery of killed.
   

Roman culture and the Jews

Political

EMPEROR

• Head of the Roman empire
• Worshipped as a god
• Augustus 27BC-AD14
• Tiberius AD14-37
• Caligula 37-41
• Claudius 41-54

LAW AND ORDER

• Senate
• Provinces divided into two categories:
• Those who were peaceful were left in control of proconsuls and responsible to the Senate,
• Those who were not were under the authority of the emperor had their governors (or prefects) chosen by Rome. Pontius Pilate was a prefect. Judea was not considered peaceful

ARMY AND CONQUEST

• Commander-in-chief was the Emperor
• Disciplined fighting force
• Slaves and wealth 
   

INFRASTRUCTURE

• Roads
• Aqueducts

Social

RELIGION

• Emperor worship
• Pantheon of gods
• Philosophies Platonism, etc. 

EVERYDAY LIFE

• Still strong influence of Greekhellenist culture e.g. architecture. language, gods
• Latin official language
• Literature & theatres - Pliny the elder (died A.D.79), farces and mime
• The arena
• Trade markets, silks, spices etc.
• Large slave population
• Homeless population but had vote
• Education took place mainly in the home by slaves then in private schools

Life for Jews

POLITICAL

• Although conquered by Rome, the real controlling power came from the priests. The High Priest had supreme authority in the state under the Romans. He acted as advisor to the Roman prefect.
• Council of elders, the Sanhedrin
• Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots

JEWISH SOCIETY

• Wealthy aristocracy
• Most people fairly poor
• Trade: farmers, artisans, fishermen
• Greek mainly spoken as well as Aramaic and Hebrew
• Education: Boys learnt to read and write from the OT. Synagogue schools

Because life was dictated by their religion, it was life as normal, everyday. Clashes came over emperor worship and through their idea of the Messiah.