The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles

Luke wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Before moving forward, let us examine the contrasts between these two books.

(1) There is a contrast in the central locations: (a) In the Gospel of Luke, Jerusalem is the central location. Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again in Jerusalem. (b) In the Acts of the Apostles, Rome becomes the central location. The gospel spread from Jerusalem to Rome. Jesus Christ established His church in the capital of the Roman Empire.

(2) There is a contrast in the endings: (a) In the Gospel of Luke, the “passion” of Jesus is recorded in detail, especially the final week of His life. However, the Gospel of Luke does not end with Jesus’ death but with His resurrection. (b)) In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul’s “passion” is detailed, but it does not end with Paul’s death, rather with his new life in Rome. (c) The same can be said about Paul’s “passion,” as it concludes with his release, marking the end of his story of suffering. (d) Life does not end with death. Beyond death, the resurrection life awaits.

 Paul’s plan and God’s plan

(1) Regarding the plan to go to Rome: (a) It was God’s will for Paul to go to Rome and preach the gospel there. (b) Paul’s desire was also to minister in Rome. In this regard, God’s plan and Paul’s desire were aligned.

(2) Regarding the method of arriving in Rome: (a) The way Paul reached Rome differed from his expectations (he will go as a prisoner). God’s sovereignty transcends human desires, and ultimately, His will is accomplished. An example of this is the riot in Ephesus, which caused Paul to leave earlier than planned. (b) Paul was aware of the dangers of returning to Jerusalem. Even so, he was willing to go up to Jerusalem, undeterred by the risks.

 Lessons for us

Let’s look at Luke 8:22 (the region of the Gerasenes): “Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, ‘Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.’ So they launched out.” When Jesus says, “Let’s cross over to the other side,” you will surely reach the other side even if a storm arises along the way. That is what it means to believe in God’s promises. Paul’s ultimate long-term plan was to be with the Lord. Our long-term plan is the same.