THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS AND ACTS | 1521
completed would have been just after Paul ’ s Roman imprisonment ( Ac 28:11 – 31 ) in the early 60s . Another view dates the writing of Luke – Acts to the 80s or 90s . This possibility rests mainly on the belief that its author was aware of the destruction of Jerusalem ( AD 70 ). Moreover , Luke ’ s Gospel appears to be an attempt to address early Chris tian anxieties over the so-called delay of the Parousia , or second coming of Christ ( see Mt 24:27 ). On the assumption that such anxieties presented themselves ( a debated issue ), they must have done so measurably later than the writing of Mark or even Matthew .
Luke – Acts have their own distinctive style and offer their own unique contribution to the New Testament . The texts contain very polished Greek ; their rich allusiveness ( to both pagan and Jewish sources ) and attention to historical detail ( such as in the travelogue of Paul ’ s journey to Rome in Ac 27 – 28 ) betray a well-educated author writing for a well-educated audience . Judging by the prologues ( Lk 1:1 – 4 ; Ac 1:1 – 2 ), which are modeled on the prologues of other serious Greek historical works , it can be concluded that the author wished to be understood as an equally serious historian . Addressing both the Gospel and Acts to one Theophilus ( Lk 1:3 ; Ac 1:1 ), Luke announces his intention of rooting the story of Jesus and the early church firmly within history . Thus , Luke – Acts as a whole not only carries out an apologetic function — confirming the factual validity of the church ’ s proclamation — but also offers a founding account of the identity of an expanding and increasingly diversified movement . The outworking of that story is consistently tied back to the sovereign purposes of God , the reign of the risen Christ , the activity of the Holy Spirit , and the character and mission of the church . In addition to these themes , the author of Luke – Acts maintains a distinctive interest in prayer , hospitality , the poor and salvation ( Lk 2:11 ; 4:21 ; 19:10 ; 23:43 ; Ac 1:14 ; 2:42 – 47 ; 4:12,32 – 35 ; 28:28 ).
THREE GOSPELS , ONE PORTRAIT
Together , the Synoptic Gospels offer a compelling and mutually enriching portrait of Jesus . Although readers have not always agreed on the meaning of the Gospels , all can agree that were it not for Matthew , Mark and Luke , we would know very little about the historical Jesus or his kingdom message . It is thus hardly by chance that the earliest compilers of the New Testament Canon chose to begin not with the earliest-written books but with those books that tell the lead story : the Synoptic Gospels .
Nicholas Perrin