Narrative Structure and Purpose in the Book of Acts
The narrative structure of a work is the way in which the sequence of its events is organized and arranged. To understand how it works, one must analyze the connection between each part of the story and the purpose it serves. Biblical writers used different narrative structures to communicate their purposes and intentions. Acts is no exception. The book is divided into two general, asymmetrical parts (chapters 1-12 and 13-28), and although some scholars like Kummel[1] believe this division was not intentional, it certainly allows us to appreciate some of the author's purposes.
To begin with, this division isolates the book’s two main characters. Thus, one could title the first part ‘The Acts of Peter’ (chapters 1-12) and the second ‘The Acts of Paul’ (chapters 13-21), without neglecting the role played by other secondary protagonists such as the apostle John, Stephen, Philip, Barnabas, James—the Lord’s brother—Silas, Aquila and Priscilla, Timothy, among others. In fact, Luke uses this structure to establish a parallel between the ministries of Peter and Paul, perhaps to dispel doubts regarding the validity of the latter’s apostleship (2 Corinthians 11:5-6). Both -‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ (4:8; 5:9; 9:17; 13:9)- proclaimed the gospel with a great display of miraculous power (3:1-10; 13:10-11; 16:18; 19:11-12). What Peter did, Paul did as well.
On the other hand, this general division of Acts shows the racial focus of each apostle's ministry. Peter went primarily to the Jews while Paul went to the Gentiles. Until chapter 7, the church was exclusively Jewish. Chapters 8 through 12 serve as a transition. Chapter 8 narrates the conversion of Samaritans and an Ethiopian eunuch, probably a ‘God-fearing.’ In chapter 10, Peter is sent to preach to a Roman official named Cornelius. While Peter was still preaching, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those present, as upon the apostles at the beginning, and Cornelius and his family were baptized. Beginning with chapter 13, Luke focuses on Paul’s ministry to gentiles in Asia Minor and Europe (chapters 13-20).
The narrative structure of Acts also allows us to appreciate the role of Jerusalem and Antioch in Syria as the main centers of missionary operations during the first thirty years of Christianity and the progressive movement of Christian witness from Jerusalem to Rome. After its beginnings in Jerusalem, the mother church grew, strengthened and became visible to the Jewish leaders. Peter and John were imprisoned and tried by the Jewish Council, which ordered them to stop teaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 4). The apostles refused to obey, and persecution was inevitable.
Stephen, one of the most outstanding disciples, was falsely accused of blasphemy before the Council. Stephen's defense was actually an accusation against Israel’s leaders, of whom he said were stiff-necked like their fathers who had once killed the prophets. Stephen was taken outside the city to be stoned, thus becoming the first Christian martyr. His death unleashed a fierce persecution orchestrated by Saul of Tarsus that forced many Christians to flee Jerusalem. Saul followed them and on the road to Damascus had a dramatic encounter with Jesus that changed his life and transformed him into the apostle Paul (Acts 9).
The church, which was initially scattered throughout Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, reached Antioch in Syria, where it grew amazingly fast and within a very short time they had ‘prophets and teachers’ (12:1). The Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit, who is presented in the book as the source of power for the preaching of the gospel and as the one who sets the direction of the Christian mission- (Acts 1:8; 2:4; 5:9, 32; 10:45; 13:2; 16:6, etc.)- set Barnabas and Saul apart for missionary work (13:2), and they set out on an initial missionary expedition that took them through Asia Minor, where they established numerous churches. Later, Paul, accompanied by other helpers, made two more expeditions from Antioch in Syria, and the church spread to Europe.
Chapter 15 is a parenthesis that narrates the journey of Paul, Barnabas, and other brothers from Antioch to Jerusalem to clarify the terms under which Gentile believers should be accepted into communion. In the final chapters (21-28), Paul’s defense becomes Luke’s almost exclusive focus: his trip to Jerusalem, his arrest, and his transfer to Caesarea (21-23); his stay there; his speeches in self-defense before Felix, Festus, Agrippa II, and Bernice (24-26); and, finally, his trip to Rome, his arrival at the capital of the empire, and his two-year stay (27-28). Neither Felix, Festus, nor Agrippa found evidence of guilt in Paul, nor did they see in Christianity a political threat to the Roman Empire. In this way, Luke makes clear his innocence as well as the harmlessness of the Christian movement.
Throughout the narrative, the author pauses the plot to report on the progress and growth of the church (2:47; 5:14; 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:30-31), which becomes a proclamation of victory for the gospel of Christ. Despite the persecutions, false accusations and abuses suffered, the Christian movement was unstoppable. The narrative structure of Acts can be seen graphically as follows:
