IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

PROLEGOMENA.

We have finished the historical books which treat of our Savior Jesus Christ himself. For all four Evangelists aim at this goal, that they may explain the things done by Christ on earth: although one treats this subject differently than another. Concerning which matter, it has been spoken of in its proper place.

Now it remains that we add the other part of the historical books, in which the concern is not with the person of Christ, but with the fortune of the Apostles and the infancy of the early Church. And as in the former ones, the praxeis acts/deeds of the Lord Christ were set forth: so here the praxeis acts/deeds of the holy Apostles are proposed. That is, what they accomplished in the name of Christ, with the Holy Spirit dictating.

To this history, it behooves us to bring listening ears and understanding souls. For we shall hear here what the face of the early Church was, what its growth was, what the doctrine of the Apostles was, with how much faith they bore testimony to Christ, what the fruit of those teaching was, what the power of the preached word was, what the difference is between true and false doctrine, what kind of true and false teachers there are, with what fortune the Apostles were received, with what effort the wicked opposed themselves, what kind of peace was given to the Church, what persecutions disturbed the same, how it is everywhere preserved and promoted by divine help. In sum, we shall see here the idea of true piety.

So that we may understand all these things more rightly, we shall briefly explain the places of the subject. And first, very few words concerning the author of this writing.

Concerning the author of this book, I see that everyone agrees. For all the Latins make Luke the author, such as Augustine, Jerome, and the rest. Among the Greeks, there is the same consensus. Epiphanius makes Luke the author and testifies that this book was written in Hebrew, preserved at one time in the treasuries of the Jews in Tiberias. Nicephorus, book 2, chapter 43 and 45, affirms that Luke wrote the Acts. The Greek scholia of Oecumenius testify to the same. Chrysostom alone says that in his time, it was doubted not only about the author but whether such a history even existed. Which Erasmus rightly understands as being about the common people or the laity, not the learned. For that the learned did not doubt, Chrysostom himself is a rich witness, who calls it a treasure and judged it worthy of explanation. And therefore, it is likely that he spoke about his own hearers. For they were more intent on doctrine and the miracles of Christ: and sermons were accustomed to be proposed from the Gospels and the Epistles of the Apostles, a custom which later crept into the Latin Church as well. Let it therefore be undoubted among us that Luke the Evangelist is the author of this writing: which the phraseology sufficiently declares, as well as the purity of the style, the custom of the preface, and the name of Theophilus, to whom the history is dedicated.

Furthermore, who Luke was, we have sufficiently explained in the preface to the Gospel of Saint Luke: and therefore I refer you there.

The occasion for him was most full for writing this history. For first, he not only heard Christ teaching in the flesh autoprosōpōs in person/face-to-face: but he was also the constant companion of the Apostle Paul, and a participant in all his journeys, a fellow traveler. That can be gathered from the whole history. For he joins himself throughout to the journeys, as in chapter 20, speaking about the companions of Paul, he says, "Who when they had gone ahead, waited for us at Troas." And chapter 21, "We set sail, having been torn away from them, we came by a straight course to Cos." And chapter 27, "When it was decided that we should sail into Italy." And 2 Timothy 4, the Apostle testifies that Luke alone is with him. Therefore, no one could more happily and aptly weave together this history than Luke himself: and therefore it deserves greater faith, since we know that he was an eyewitness of all things that he is about to narrate here. Added to this is that which approved authors bring forward here, namely that at the request of Paul, Luke performed this, as is found in Nicephorus, book 2, chapter 43 and 45, which Jerome and others also hold. And if that is true, the disciple could not deny to such a great teacher a task so useful and necessary for posterity.

Let us also add that which especially pertains to the occasion. The Holy Spirit wished by a singular counsel that a certain and undoubted history of the early Church should exist: and therefore for writing this, he chose a most apt instrument. For posterity had to be most certain that the promises were fulfilled to the letter, not only concerning the article of the ascension but concerning the communicated Holy Spirit, concerning the testimony propagated by the Apostles, concerning the dangers which the witnesses of Christ encountered, so that it might be evident that they were truly sent as sheep among wolves. Which things how could we have known, unless this history existed? Furthermore, the Holy Spirit wished to distinguish the kingdom of Christ from political empires, lest we dream—which we shall hear below that the Apostles also did—that Christ administers kingdoms in these lands: but that this whole thing pertains to the salvation of souls...