Acts 1:1
King James Version (KJV)
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Translations
Acts 1:1 - Amplified Bible
IN THE former account [which I prepared], O Theophilus, I made [a continuous report] dealing with all the things which Jesus began to do and to teach
Acts 1:1 - American Standard Version
The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
Acts 1:1 - Bible in Basic English
I have given an earlier account, O Theophilus, of all the things which Jesus did, and of his teaching from the first,
Acts 1:1 - Darby Bible
I composed the first discourse, O Theophilus, concerning all things which Jesus began both to do and to teach,
Acts 1:1 - English Standard Version
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
Acts 1:1 - King James Version
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Acts 1:1 - La Biblia de las Americas
El primer relato que escribì, Teòfilo, tratò de todo lo que Jesùs comenzò a hacer y a enseñar,
Acts 1:1 - The Message
Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon."
Acts 1:1 - New American Standard Bible
The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,
Acts 1:1 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy
En el primer relato, estimado Teòfilo, escribì acerca de todo lo que Jesùs comenzò a hacer y a enseñar,
Acts 1:1 - World English Bible
The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
Acts 1:1 - Young's Living Translation
The former account, indeed, I made concerning all things, O Theophilus, that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
Acts 1:1 - Additional Comments
This book describes the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, the early church, i.e. life without Jesus. What a hole in history and our understanding of Christ would be if we did not have this book!
As water reflects the face, as an image of the object, the acts of the apostles reflect the acts of Jesus. Jesus did His works by the Holy Spirit (verse 2), which is how we are enabled to do the works of God.
The gospel of Luke ("the former account") was also addressed to Theophilus (Luke 1:3). Even though it was addressed to a particular individual, it was written as though to every person as an individual, so you may consider this book written to you.
Luke, when writing Luke and Acts, was describing what he saw firsthand. Think of all the amazing things Jesus taught and did - how difficult it must have been to scale that volume down to what was written. John acknowledged this (John 21:24-25).
Luke, although he produced the great work of his gospel, did not consider his work for Christ complete, but continued with this book. We should never consider our work for God complete - we should never retire from the work God asks us to do. (E.g. Miss Nell.)
Luke refers to Jesus as both one who taught with words and actions, for both were a constant sermon. Our life must be the same - we are to show who Jesus is by our life, and we are to tell about Jesus with our mouth. For so He commanded (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8).
The dating of the book of Acts is important because Acts was written after Luke. If Acts was written in, say, 60 A.D., this would mean the Gospel of Luke was written before that period and would add credence to the claim that the gospels were written early, close to the events, by the eyewitnesses.
Here is evidence for Acts being written before 70 A.D., and possibly no later than 62 A.D.
1. Internal evidence that the writer was a companion of Paul
2. 70 A.D. No mention of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 21:20).
3. 64 A.D. No mention of the horrendous persecution of Nero in 64 A.D.
4. 64 A.D. No Roman persecution of the Church mentioned.
5. A.D. 62. No mention of the death of the apostle Paul, which has been dated anywhere between 62-68 AD.
6. A.D. 62. No mention of the death of James (Acts 12:17). James was a very important figure in the early church who was martyred around 62 A.D. It was Luke's procedure to record the deaths of martyrs (Acts 7:55-60; 12:2). (See http://www.carm.org/bible/acts_date.htm)
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