Theophilus was the person to whom the evangelist Luke addressed both his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. His title "most excellent" (Greek: kratistos) suggests that he may have been a high-ranking Roman official or a wealthy patron. He likely played an important role as the recipient and possibly the sponsor for the two most significant historical works in the New Testament.
Nyckelhändelser
Luke Addresses His Gospel to Theophilus
Luke dedicates his Gospel to "most excellent Theophilus" and explains that he has carefully investigated everything from the beginning to provide an orderly account, so that Theophilus may be certain of the reliability of what he has been taught.
3Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the start, it seemed good to me also to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
In the introduction to Acts, Luke again addresses Theophilus and refers to his "first book" (the Gospel of Luke), in which he told about all that Jesus began to do and teach.
Theophilus Receives the Account of Jesus' Ascension
As the recipient of Acts, Theophilus received the detailed account of Jesus' ascension and the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit, which forms the foundation for the history of the early church.
3After his suffering he showed himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4While he was eating with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised: "This is what you have heard me speak about."
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Through Luke's writing to him, Theophilus received the detailed account of the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and the birth of the early church in Jerusalem.
Theophilus learns about Paul's missionary journeys
As the recipient of the Acts of the Apostles, Theophilus received the detailed account of the apostle Paul's missionary journeys and the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome.