Apostolic Doctrine in Matthew Through Acts
The book of Acts, traditionally attributed to Luke, serves as a continuation of his Gospel, addressed to Theophilus [6, 15]. It details the early spread of Christianity following Christ's ascension, focusing primarily on the ministries of Peter and Paul, rather than a comprehensive account of all the apostles [5]. The "apostolic doctrine" within Matthew and Acts encompasses core tenets concerning Christ's identity, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the nature of salvation.
A central theme in both books is the authority of Jesus Christ. In Matthew, Jesus declares, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). This assertion of Christ's supreme authority is echoed in Acts, where Peter proclaims that God has made Jesus "both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36) [3]. This declaration underscores the apostles' understanding of Jesus's divine sovereignty.
Another key aspect of apostolic doctrine is the emphasis on the Holy Spirit. In Matthew, Jesus promises his disciples that he will be with them "always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Acts then records the fulfillment of this promise through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which empowers the apostles for their mission [6, 9]. The Spirit guides the apostles in their ministry, as seen when the Spirit instructs Peter to go with the men sent by Cornelius (Acts 11:12) [2]. The Spirit's role is crucial for the effectiveness of the preached Word [9].
The doctrine of justification by faith is also prominent. Matthew records Jesus's teaching on purity of heart, stating, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). In Acts, Peter affirms that God "made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:9) [1]. This aligns with the broader apostolic teaching that faith, rather than adherence to human traditions or works of the law, is the means by which individuals are made righteous before God [11, 12]. Charles Hodge, one theologian, emphasizes that justification is based solely on "what Christ is and has done," imputed to the believer [14].
The apostles faced significant opposition as they proclaimed this doctrine [7, 10, 13]. Despite persecution, they remained resolute in their mission to preach Christ and the resurrection [4, 7]. The office of the apostles, characterized by supernatural revelation and infallibility in communicating truth, was unique and not transmissible to subsequent generations [8].
Sources
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Matt.5.8 → Acts.15.9 (confidence: 28 votes)”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Acts 11:12 cross-references: Matthew 1:20, John 16:13, Acts 8:29, Acts 10:19, Acts 10:23, Acts 10:45, Acts 13:2, Acts 13:4, Acts 15:7, Acts 15:9, Acts 16:6, Romans 3:22, 2 Thessalonians 2:2, Revelation 22:17”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Matt.28.18 → Acts.2.36 (confidence: 14 votes)”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Matt.16.24 → Acts.14.22 (confidence: 30 votes)”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Acts of the Apostles — The title now given to the fifth and last of the historical books of the New Testament. The author styles it a "treatise" (1:1). It was early called "The Acts," "The Gospel of the Holy Ghost," and "The Gospel of the Resurrection." It contains properly no account of any of the apostles except Peter and Paul. John is noticed only three times; and all that is recorded of James, the son of Zebedee, is his execution by Herod. It is properly therefore not the history of the "Acts of the Apostles," a title which was given to the book at a later date, ”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Acts Of The Apostles — the fifth book in the New testament and the second treatise by the author of the third Gospel, traditionally known as Luke. The book commences with an inscription to one Theophilus, who was probably a man of birth and station. The readers were evidently intended to be the members of the Christian Church, whether Jews or Gentiles; for its contents are such as are of the utmost consequence to the whole Church. They are the fulfillment of the promise of the Father by the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the results of that outpouring by the dispersi”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 4:1: We have here the interests of the kingdom of heaven successfully carried on, and the powers of darkness appearing against them to put a stop to them. let Christ's servants be ever so resolute, Satan's agents will be spiteful; and therefore, let Satan's agents be ever so spiteful, Christ's servants ought to be resolute. I. The apostles, Peter and John, went on in their work, and did not labour in vain. The Spirit enabled the ministers to do their part, and the people theirs. 1. The preachers faithfully deliver the doctrine of Christ: They spoke unto the people, to all”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 38: The world has never seen or suffered a greater imposture than that weak, ignorant, and often immoral men, should claim the same authority to teach and rule that belonged to men to whom the truth was supernaturally revealed, who were confessedly infallible in its communication, and to whose divine mission God himself bore witness in signs and wonders, and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost. The office of the Apostles as described in the New Testament, was, therefore, from its nature incapable of being transmitted, and has not in f”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 137: plant, and Apollos water, but that God only can give the increase. 651 5. It assumes that the only power which God exercises in the conversion of sinners is that inherent in the Word, whereas the Scriptures abound with prayers for the gift of the Spirit to attend the Word and render it effectual; and such prayers are constantly offered, and ever have been offered, by the people of God. They would, however, be not only unnecessary but improper, if God had revealed his purpose not to grant any such influence, but to leave men to the unatte”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 4 (introduction): In going over the last two chapters, where we met with so many good things that the apostles did, I wondered what was become of the scribes and Pharisees, and chief priests, that they did not appear to contradict and oppose them, as they had used to treat Christ himself; surely they were so confounded at first with the pouring out of the Spirit that they were for a time struck dumb! But I find we have not lost them; their forces rally again, and here we have an encounter between them and the apostles; for from the beginning the gospel met with opposition”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 21 Thus, therefore, they have taught that by the observance of: 21 Thus, therefore, they have taught that by the observance of human traditions we cannot merit grace or be justified, and hence we must not think such observances necessary acts of worship. 22 They add hereunto testimonies of Scripture. Christ, Matt. 15:3, defends the Apostles who had not observed the usual tradition, which, however, evidently pertains to a matter not unlawful, but indifferent, and to have a certain affinity with the purifications of the Law, and says, Matt. 15:9, In vain do ”
- Galatians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Galatians 3:6: The apostle having reproved the Galatians for not obeying the truth, and endeavoured to impress them with a sense of their folly herein, in these verses he largely proves the doctrine which he had reproved them for rejecting, namely, that of justification by faith without the works of the law. This he does several ways. I. From the example of Abraham's justification. This argument the apostle uses, Rom. 4. Abraham believed God, and that was accounted to him for righteousness (Gal 3:6); that is, his faith fastened upon the word and promise of God, and upon his be”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 5 (introduction): In this chapter we have, I. The sin and punishment of Ananias and Sapphira, who, for lying to the Holy Ghost, were struck dead at the word of Peter (Act 5:1-11). II. The flourishing state of the church, in the power that went along with the preaching of the gospel (Act 5:12-16). III. The imprisonment of the apostles, and their miraculous discharge out of prison, with fresh orders to go on to preach the gospel, which they did, to the great vexation of their persecutors (Act 5:17-26). IV. Their arraignment before the great sanhedrim, and their justificatio”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 23: that it should not only be practically held by the people, but that it should also be clearly presented and maintained by the clergy. It is not what we do or are, but solely what Christ is and has done that can avail for our justification before the bar of God. Other Passages teaching the same Doctrine. 4. This doctrine of the imputation of the righteousness of Christ; or, in other words, that his righteousness is the judicial ground of the believer’s justification, is not only formally and argumentatively presented as in the passages cit”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 1 (introduction): The inspired historian begins his narrative of the Acts of the Apostles, I. With a reference to, and a brief recapitulation of, his gospel, or history of the life of Christ, inscribing this, as he had done that, to his friend Theophilus (Act 1:1, Act 1:2). II. With a summary of the proofs of Christ's resurrection, his conference with his disciples, and the instructions he gave them during the forty days, of his continuance on earth (Act 1:3-5). III. With a particular narrative of Christ's ascension into heaven, his disciples' discourse with him before he”