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ACTS
APOSTLES
17
OF THE
Peter benefits from the liberal
Paul benefits from the liberal
Gamaliel (5).
Gallio (18).
Peter communicates holy spirit
Paul communicates holy spirit
by laying on of hands (8).
by laying on of hands (19).
Peter condemns Simon Magus
Paul condemns Bar-Jesus (13).
(8).
Peter raises Dorcas from the dead
Paul raises Eutychus from the
(9).
dead (20).
Peter's first Gentile convert had a
Paul's first Gentile convert had
Latin name (10).
a Latin name (13).
Peter at mid-day has a vision and
Paul at mid-day has a vision
hears a voice (10).
and hears a voice (9).
Peter is almost worshipped by
Paul is almost worshipped by
Cornelius (10).
Lycaonians (14).
Peter is delivered from prison by
Paul is delivered from prison
an angel (12).
by an earthquake (16).
Peter goes immediately to the
Paul goes immediately to the
house of Mary (12).
house of Lydia (16).
Paul said he was ready for
Peter said he was ready for
prison and death for the Lord's
prison and death for the Lord's
sake (Luke 22:33).
sake (21:13).
Peter was not taught by flesh and
Paul conferred not with flesh
blood (Matt. 16).
and blood (Gal. 1:16).
Peter goes to Babylon (1 Pet.
Paul goes to Rome (Acts
5:13).
28:16).
This set of comparisons, when taken together with the teaching of the epistles on the subject, provides
irresistible evidence that the writer of the Acts, Luke, Paul's valued helper, intended to settle the question of the
absolute equality and independent apostleship of Paul once for all. (For a further comparison of the life and words
of Paul with those of his Lord, see The Apostle of the Reconciliation, chapter 3).
Peter dominates the first twelve chapters of the Acts, and then `goes to another place' (12:17) reappearing
mainly to confirm the call and commission of Paul.
Paul enters the arena in Acts 8 (being converted and commissioned in Acts 9), and his ministry is the theme of
the greater half of the book.
The disposition of the subject matter of the Acts, and a clear index of the dispensational changes that take place
within its bounds, can be rendered visible by the employment of one or two aids to interpretation.
(1) The Geographical Aid. When we are dealing with the kingdom of Israel, or with any developments of
teaching that are connected with Israel, we must expect to find that geographical terms provide an index. Jerusalem
is the city of the Great King, and covers the first twelve chapters. The scene then moves to Antioch, a city midway
between Jerusalem and the great Gentile world, and in the last chapter, on the frontier of a new revelation, Paul
arrives at Rome. We can therefore indicate the dispensational movement of the Acts thus:
1 to 12
13 to 14
28
JERUSALEM
ANTIOCH
ROME
(2) The Ethnographical Aid. People are associated with lands and cities, and these as they appear in the Acts
provide an index too.