In 8* the second stage of progress is entered upon. The word spreads to Samaria (8*-'^). The extension of the gospel is suggested by the story of the Ethiopian eunuch (S^e-"). In 9'-*' comes Saul's conversion, an event of extreme importance for the writer's purpo.se. In 9^' is given another summary of the progress of the Church — by this time throughout all Judsa and Galilee and Sam- aria. A scries of incidents relating to the mis- sionary work of St. Peter now follows (9'--ll'*), selected as containing the first definite signs of the extension of the gospel to the Gentiles, "Apa Kal
T0?5 (OvftTiv 6 8chs TTJV jueraroiai' (ts ^oiijtJ ebuKff. In
11'' we reach a further stage. The word is preached in I'htenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, and the Church of Antioch is founded — the word being preached there to those who are not Jews. In 12'-< again the spread of the word is dwelt on. Another stage in the narrative is ended.
We get in 13' or 12-^ what is clearly intended to be a new departure. The amount of preparation shows us the importance that the author attaches to the first .setting out of Paul and Barnabas to- gether, and from this time onwards the narrative proceeds very definitely forward until the time when St. Paul reaches Home. We may again mark stages in tlie narrative — 13*-14-'' — commonly called the first missionary journey of St. Paul ; in which we notice the emphasis laid on the exhibition of Siva^ns on the part of the apostle. In lo'--"^ comes the apostolic council ; then 15*- 21"> the further missionary enterprise of St. Paul. Here we notice how it is always tlie points of departure which are dwelt on, as, for example, the first preaching in Europe and in great and im- portant towns. Then 21 "-28"' the series of events which ultimately lead St. Paul to Home. Here the great fulness of detail arises partly from the better knowledge of the author, partly from the important character of the events, — St. Paul preaches before rulers and kings, Lk 21'2, — partly
because they are all events which help in taking the go.spel to Rome. There the author leaves St. Paul preaching, because he has then accomplished the purpose of his narrative. Home is typical of the ends of the earth. A definite point is reached, and the narrative is definitely concluded. (For arguments in favour of the definite conclusion of the work, see Lightfoot in Smith's Vli- i. 27, as against Ramsay, St. Paul, p 23.)
The above sketch of the plan of the work has, at any rate, the merit of being an attempt to discover the author's purpose by an examination of his own language. The fault of other views is that they exaggerate points of minor importance. A series of writers from Schneckenburger (1841) onwards have seen in the work a book of conciliating tendency, based on the parallelism between St. Peter and St. Paul ; and this view in a more or less modified form has been the prevailing one. It has, as will be suggested, this much truth, that the writer would pa.ss over for the most part incidents of a less creditable character; he did not, however, do .so, as this theory implies, because he wished to con- ceal anything (he gives us quite sufficient hints of the existence of difference of opinion, 15'- •'"''■ 21-J''), but because they did not help in the aim of his work. He looks upon Christianity as a polity or society, and it is the growth of this society he depicts. The internal history is looked at in so far as it leads to external growth. The view of Pfleiderer and some others is that the book was written from an apologetic point of view to defend Christianity against Judaism and paganism. With this object, like the later Chris- tian apologists, the writer depicts the Roman authorities as, on the whole, favourable to Chris- tianity, while he represents the attacks as coming from the Jews. There is no doubt that he does so ; but the obvious reason for doing so was the fact that the author was narrating things as they happened, while he gives no hint that his work is intended to be apologetic. It is addressed to a believing Chris- tian, not to any outsider.
vi. AX.\LYSIS. — A certain amount of discussion has taken place as to whether the Acts should be divided into two or three main parts. All such discussions are thoroughly fruitless. There are quite clearly definite stages in the narrative, and the writer is systematic. We must observe the structure, but we are at liberty to make such divi- sions as seem convenient — rememliering that the divisions are not the writer's, but our own. The following is sugge.sted as a convenient analysis on the lines of the previous summary. The speeches are italicised: —
Introduction.
1'-". The Apostolic Commission. ECU IN Jerusalem. The Dames of tlie apostles and the completion of
their number. Speech or' Peter. The gift of the Holy Spirit. Speech of Peter. Increase of the disciples.
Healing of the impotent man. Speech of Peter. Imprisonment of I'eterand John. Spee&i of Peter
before the Sanhedrin. Prayer of' the CUiirch on ttieir release. Communism of the early Church — Barnabas,
Ananias and Sapphira. Second imprisonment of Peter and John. Speech