THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of 1 all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the 2 day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the Apostles whom he had chosen to whom also 3 he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and

CHAPTER I

[1-14. JESUS, AFTER TEACHING HIS APOSTLES, ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN. THE APOSTLES RETURN TO JERUSALEM.]

1. The former treatise: "the Gospel according to St. Luke," which also commences with a formal inscription to Theophilus, Luke i. 1-4.

former: the Greek has "first," an inaccurate use of the superlative common in many languages.

Theophilus (="dear to God"): from the epithet "most excellent," which is applied to Felix twice, xxiii. 26, xxiv. 3; to Festus, xxvi. 25; and to Theophilus, Luke i. 4, it has been inferred that Theophilus held some high official position.

began both to do . . . : the work which Jesus "began on earth is regarded as continued by the Apostles with the aid of Jesus in heaven. Luke marks his second narrative as a natural and necessary sequel to his first.

3. shewed himself: e.g. on the mountain in Galilee, Matt. xxviii. 16; to the eleven as they sat at meat, Mark xvi. 14; at the Sea of Tiberias, John xxi. 1-23.

passion: see Glossary.

infallible proofs: R. V. "proofs," rightly. The Greek word