Acts: The World’s Salvation Cannot be Stopped

Luke’s first volume to the Roman official Theophilus was all about how the world’s salvation, hoped for by generations of Israelites, had arrived in Jesus. Luke’s second volume continues the narrative, describing the many things Jesus continued to do and teach (Acts 1:1). This book especially highlights the many things that should have brought an end to the Jesus movement, were it not from God (Acts 5:38-39), not the least of which is the list of charges being brought by the Jewish leadership against the Apostle Paul (Acts 24:5-6).

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Literary Markers

Many have observed the structure of Acts to be based largely on geography, with Acts 1:8 delineating the sections: “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

So the book roughly gets divided accordingly (here is an example):

Jerusalem – Acts 1:1-8:3
Judea and Samaria – Acts 8:4-12:25
Ends of the earth – Acts 13-28
- Paul’s first missionary journey – Acts 13:1-15:35
- Pauls’ second missionary journey – Acts 15:36-18:22
- Paul’s third missionary journey – Acts 18:23-21:17
- Paul’s voyage to Rome – Acts 21:18-28:31

This geographical breakdown makes a lot of sense, and can certainly be helpful for visualizing the narrative. My chief concern with it is that it doesn’t follow closely on the literary markers. To give one clear example: The end of Paul’s second “journey” (Acts 18:22) and beginning of his third (Acts 18:23) has no literary fanfare whatsoever. No closure. No sense of climax and resolution. Nothing to signal the end of one unit of thought and the beginning of another. It’s as though Luke didn’t intend a break there, or a new section to begin at Acts 18:23.

I’ve been helped by the observation numerous other commentators (John Stott, William Taylor, etc.) have made, that the chief literary markers in the book of Acts are the narrative statements summarizing the Christian movement’s growth. There are seven such statements scattered through the book (Acts 2:47, 6:7, 9:31, 12:24, 16:5, 19:20, 28:30-31), and every one is accompanied by a tangible sense of narrative resolution, giving us good reason to see them as marking Luke’s main units of thought. (Here are two posts to help you identify units of thought in biblical literature.) Acts 5:14 appears at first to be another example of a narrative summary of growth, but it clearly falls within a narrative episode and isn’t accompanied by a clear narrative resolution.

These seven markers, summaries at the end of their units, divide the book into seven sections. (Daniel Wallace does a great job highlighting the value of both ways of structuring Acts—geographical divisions and narrative summary divisions—in this analysis.)

Walkthrough

Each of the book’s seven sections highlights a particular obstacle or state of affairs that threatens the fledgling Jesus movement. And the dramatic tension and climax of each section shows the movement overcoming the obstacle in such a way as to precipitate even further growth. This movement simply cannot be stopped.

The first section (Acts 1:1-2:47) highlights the absence of Jesus. Though he departs and ascends to heaven, he leaves them with the promises of a kingdom and his Spirit (Acts 1:3-5). They know they’ll need to refill their “twelveness” in order to live out their identity as a new kingdom, a new Israel (Acts 1:15-26). They then receive the Spirit and begin to proclaim the kingdom (Acts 2). Despite the absence of Jesus, God adds to their number daily (Acts 2:47).

The second section (Acts 3:1-6:7) highlights the pressure of pain, both internal and external. The external pain of persecution (Acts 3:1-4:31) yields to the internal pain of deceit and treachery (Acts 4:32-5:11). More external pain from persecution (Acts 5:12-42) leads into further internal pain of having to manage affairs within such a rapidly growing community (Acts 6:1-7). Despite the pain, both external and internal, the Word of God increases, and even priests obey the faith (Acts 6:7).

The third section (Acts 6:8-9:31) highlights the inconsistency of results. How might Luke speak into our preoccupation with ministry results in our day? Sometimes you face unjust martyrdom at the hands of stiff-necked religious resistance (Acts 6:8-8:3). And sometimes you’ll find unpredictable acclaim with true religious seekers (Acts 8:4-40). And yet other times, you’ll witness the most unlikely of conversions that show off the riches of grace and the perfection of Christ’s patience (Acts 9:1-31). Yet despite the inconsistency of results, peace and edification are available to those who fear the Lord and receive the Spirit’s comfort (Acts 9:31).

The fourth section (Acts 9:32-12:24) highlights the ubiquity of prejudice. Even the most effective Christ-imitating leaders (Acts 9:32-43) must root out their own prejudices (Acts 10:1-48) and help others do the same (Acts 11:1-18). Those who do, in fact, root it out experience uncanny unity and remarkable reputation (Acts 11:19-30). Those who do not join the fellowship of worms (Acts 12:1-24). Despite the ubiquity of prejudice, the word of God still increases and multiplies (Acts 12:24).

The fifth section (Acts 12:25-16:5) highlights the weakness of leadership. The Spirit of God appoints and commissions those whom he wills to further his mission (Acts 12:25-13:4). They proclaim the word, not as innovators, but as simply building on those who came before (Acts 13:5-52, compare with Peter’s sermon in Acts 2). They learn boldness, but are continuously beat down through much tribulation (Acts 14:1-28). They don’t have all the answers, but often disagree and have to work with others to solve thorny issues (Acts 15:1-35). And sometimes they can’t even work out their problems and must separate (Acts 15:36-16:5). Yet it’s uncanny: Despite the extensive and visible weakness of our leaders, the churches are strengthened in faith and increase in numbers daily (Acts 16:5).

The sixth section (Acts 16:6-19:20) highlights the opposition of the world (perhaps the rise of cancel culture?). We’ve already seen opposition in this book (especially in sections two and five), but here it takes center stage. Though God is preparing people who want the help of the gospel (Acts 16:6-10), many more will still feel threatened by it, whether on account of the cost (Acts 16:16-24), the embarrassment (Acts 16:35-40), the jealousy (Acts 17:1-15), the perceived lack of intellectual sophistication (Acts 17:16-34), the violation of sacred tradition (Acts 18:1-17), the stubbornness of unbelief (Acts 19:8-10), or the seduction of counterfeits (Acts 19:11-20). Yet despite the world’s onslaught of opposition, there remain many who receive the word, which prevails mightily (Acts 19:20).

The seventh section (Acts 19:21-28:31) is the lengthiest, perhaps because Luke really homes in on Paul’s innocence and defense in these chapters. This section highlights the utter failure of politics and politicians, including religious politicians. Paul resolves to go to Rome (Acts 19:21), though he knows not yet what it will cost him. The Ephesian town clerks fail to prevent a riot or vindicate Paul’s innocence in the matter (Acts 19:23-41). Paul makes preparations for leaders to lead in his absence (Acts 20:17-38). His friends along the way to Jerusalem cannot understand his mission or calling to Rome (Acts 21:1-16). The plan of the Jerusalem elders backfires (Acts 21:17-36). Paul makes five defenses—before the Jerusalem crowd (Acts 22), the Sanhedrin (Acts 23), Governor Felix (Acts 24), Governor Festus (Acts 25), and King Herod Agrippa (Acts 26). Though Paul is clearly innocent of the charges (Acts 24:5-6), and the leaders repeatedly declare him to be so, not one of them has the courage, will, or cunning to actually release him. Yet despite the ineptitude and failure of politics and politicians, the kingdom of God continues to be preached with all boldness and without hindrance (Acts 28:31).

Conclusion

The book of Acts is a masterpiece. Luke’s probable goal of exonerating Paul does not preclude an alternative purpose of winning readers to Christ. If this was on Paul’s mind, even while having to defend himself legally (Acts 26:29), why couldn’t it also be on Luke’s? At the same time, this book serves as a tremendous encouragement to all who have cast their lot with this Jesus movement. The challenges of today are not all that different from the challenges our brothers and sisters of old had to face. And if the world’s salvation delivered through the gospel of Christ’s kingdom could not be stopped then…