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This week's "Why the New Testament Was Written" vlog (part 10) is about why Luke wrote Acts (if you couldn't tell by the title). We also delve into the importance of Acts in apologetics...Luke's writings vividly detail his historical environment, which is crucial to verifying the truth of Christianity.Why Luke Wrote ActsVideo clocks in at 12:41. Three critical sources: "The Untold Story of the New Testament" by Frank Viola, "Cold Case Christianity" by J Warner Wallace, and "I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist" by Frank Turek and Norman Geisler.

It’s Not About You: A Meditation on the Abrupt End of the Acts of the Apostles Msgr. Charles Pope • May 26, 2016 • Last week as we finished the Easter Cycle and crowned it with Pentecost. We also finished the lengthy reading of the Acts of the Apostles. There are two parts of the Acts of the Apostles: The Acts of Peter and those of Paul. But to be honest, the book has an unfinished quality to it. Let’s consider that.First, a quick summary: The second part of Acts is focused on the evangelical mission of St. Paul...

A Look at the Early Catholic Church from the Acts of the Apostles Msgr. Charles Pope • April 26, 2016 • The second reading from last Sunday’s Mass (5th Sunday of Easter) is very Catholic, and too informative to merely pass up. It presents the Church as rather highly organized and possessed of some of the structures we know today in full form. Granted, some of these structures are in seminal form, but they are there.We will also notice qualities of the original kerygma that are at variance with what some modern thinkers declare should be the methodology of...

A Brief Directive for Church Leaders from the Acts of the Apostles By: Msgr. Charles PopeThe second reading from today’s Mass is very Catholic and too informative to let pass without comment. It presents a highly organized Church, possessing some of the structures we know today in full form. Granted, some of these structures are in seminal (seed) form, but they are there.We will also notice qualities of the original kerygma that are at variance with what some modern thinkers declare should be the methodology of the Church. The soft, cross-less Christianity of many today, who replace the cross with a pillow and...

The Papacy in Scripture – More Than Matthew 16 In an earlier blog post, I made the point that the role of St. Peter and his successors is made remarkably clear in Matthew 16:18-19 and its immediate context:And I tell you, you are Peter (Gr.—petros—‘rock’), and on this rock (Gr.—petra—‘rock’) I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Jesus...

Featured Term (selected at random):ANANIAS A member of the early Christian community with his wife, Sapphira. In obedience to the ideal that the community owned everything in common, Ananias sold his property but connived with his wife to turn over to the Apostles only part of the proceeds. Peter rebuked him for his deception: "It is not to men you have lied but to God." Ananias dropped dead. His wife arrived later and, not knowing her husband's fate, repeated the lie. She, too, died on the spot. This incident originated the familiar use of the name Ananias to represent a...

Understanding the Book of Acts--Part 3: More Similarities Between Luke and Acts Be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2. Continuing our walk through the book of Acts, we can note the following similarities between what happened to Jesus in the Gospel of Luke and what happens in the life of the Church in Acts. A centurion. . . A centurion, well-spoken of by the Jews, sends servants to Jesus to ask him to come to his house (Luke 7:1–10). A centurion, well-spoken of by the Jewish people, sends men to Peter, asking him to come to his house...

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 Understanding the Book of Acts: Part 2--Acts of Jesus & Acts of the Apostles In the first post of this series I highlighted the unity of Luke-Acts. I emphasized that the two books seem to show us that the ministry of Jesus is continued through his Church. Now I want to begin to move closely through the narrative, highlighting the way this theological truth is underscored.Indeed, for the reader who knows the Gospel of Luke, Acts is a sort of déjà vu experience. The narrative in Acts virtually replicates what is found in Luke. In sum,...

Monday, April 25, 2011 Understanding the Book of Acts: Part 1--"Why Do You Persecute Me?" As we begin the Easter season, the liturgy--particularly the lectionary readings--turn our attention to the Book of Acts. Here then I thought I'd return to some material I've touched upon here in the past, namely, the link between the Acts of the Apostles and the life of Christ in the Gospel of Luke. Indeed, once you see how the ministry of the Church in Acts is linked to that of Christ's in the Gospels--and the parallels are striking--you can never look at either book the...

ST. STEPHEN the Martyr Also known asStephen the Deacon Memorial26 DecemberProfileFirst Christian Martyr. Deacon. Preacher. All we know of him is related in the Acts of the Apostles. While preaching the Gospel in the streets, angry Jews who believed his message to be blasphemy dragged him outside the city, and stoned him to death. In the crowd, on the side of the mob, was a man who would later be known as Saint Paul. BornunknownDiedstoned to death c.33CanonizedPre-CongregationName MeaningcrownPatronagecasket makers; coffin makers; deacons; headaches; horses; Kessel, Germany; masons; diocese of Owensboro Kentucky; Passau, Germany; Prato, Italy; stone masonsRepresentation deacon carrying a pile of rocks; deacon with rocks...

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II FOR LENT 2003 Dear Brothers and Sisters!1. Lent is a season of intense prayer, fasting and concern for those in need. It offers all Christians an opportunity to prepare for Easter by serious discernment about their lives, with particular attention to the word of God which enlightens the daily journey of all who believe.This year, as a guide for our Lenten meditation, I would offer a phrase taken from the Acts of the Apostles: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). What we have here is not simply...