The top of the argument is the reference to the preface to the Gospel of Luke (1:1), according to which Luke himself relies on the testimony of other eyewitnesses and speaks of himself (as if) only as a researcher and scribe of everything that is transmitted by others. But all this hostile argumentation, self-confident as it is, is nevertheless based solely and entirely on arbitrary exegesis. It will always be appropriate to counter these subjective philosophies with a different kind of conclusions of the New Tübingen school itself. Not long ago it itself was proved, on the basis of internal signs, that the book of the Acts of the Apostles is the work of one writer, and not only that, but even that the writer of the Acts of the Apostles is also the writer of the 3rd Gospel. At the same time, of course, in accordance with the entire view of the school, the origin of the book (as the work of some adherent of Paul from the Roman Church) is attributed to the first half of the 2nd century. The followers of the school themselves are confused in all these arguments, foundations, and results, and disagree with themselves. (Introduction to the New Testament Books of the Holy Scriptures, Guericke, translated from German under the editorship of Archim. Michael, Part 1, pp. 205-208, 212-217).

Inscription

Prot. Polotebnova.

Acts of the Holy Apostles.  — The great antiquity of this writing of the book is undoubted; even the teachers of the Church of the second half of the second century and the beginning of the third, Origen, Tertullian and St. Irenaeus, often mentioned it in their works (Tishendorfs App. 1870). Meanwhile, there were no indications of the origin of this inscription from the writer of the book "Acts" himself, or were not preserved in the monuments of the ancient fathers; nor is it possible to speak affirmatively about the origin of all the titles in the New Testament from the inspired writers themselves, with the exception of the word εύαγγέλιον in the inscriptions of the Gospels. It must be thought that the binding inscription "Acts of the Holy Apostles" was unanimously established by the Church of the first centuries, and precisely at the time when the representatives of the Church, impelled by the need to defend the Holy Scriptures against heresies that had already developed, were concerned about the gathering into one composition and everywhere the uniform canonical preservation of the Apostolic Writings; — the time of St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Origen and Tertullian. The book, so entitled in our sacred canon, constitutes an account or stories of what the apostles did to form and establish the Christian Church, and therefore constitutes a book of the acts (πράξεις, Acta) of the apostles of the saints. However, it is worth noting that this narrative contains only the deeds of Peter and Paul predominantly. The names of the other Holy Apostles are sometimes found in the Book of Acts; but neither about their labors outside Judea, nor about their death, except for the Apostle James (Acts 12:2), the holy historian tells anything. The Apostle Peter was appointed to open the doors of the Church of Christ to all in general, Jews and Gentiles (cf. Matthew 16:18, 19), while the Apostle Paul was chosen to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ primarily in the midst of the Gentile world and to bring the Gospel of our Lord to all the ends of the world. These two great of the apostles of Christ labored with greater glory than the others in the creation of the one universal Church. That is why it pleased the Holy Spirit to write a narrative about the deeds of these great pillars of the Church of Christ (Galatians 2:9), "primarily about the deeds of Paul, who labored more than anyone else" (Chrysostom), and to leave this history of the memory and teaching of the entire Church for all ages, in our sacred New Testament canon. At the same time, St. Luke, in recounting the history of Peter and Paul, can be said to pass on to posterity the image and character of the activities of all the apostles – the teachings and deeds – were naturally completely dependent on the actions of the representatives of the apostles, chosen for this purpose by the Lord Himself. (Public interpretation, Reading on the Book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles, Issue 1, pp. 1-3).

About the same

St. Zlatoust.

Does not the inscription of the book of the Acts of the Apostles seem clear, known, and obvious to all? But look carefully into the words and you will see what depth there is in this inscription. For why is it not said: Miracles of the Apostles? Why is the book not inscribed: the Signs of the Apostles, or the Powers and Wonderworkings of the Apostles, but the Acts of the Apostles? For deeds and signs are not the same, works and wonders are not the same; There is a great difference between the two. An act is a matter of one's own diligence, and a miracle is a gift of Divine grace. Do you see what a distance there is between deeds and miracles? An act is the fruit of one's own labors, and a miracle is a manifestation of Divine generosity; the deed derives its beginning from our intention, the miracle has its source in the grace of God; the latter is the work of heavenly help, and the former is the work of human volition. An act is composed of both, from our diligence and from Divine grace; but a miracle manifests only heavenly grace, and does not need our labors in the least. Deeds include being meek, chaste, moderate, restraining anger, conquering lust, giving alms, showing love for mankind, striving in every virtue. This is what our work consists in, and our work and sweat. And the miracle consists in driving out demons, opening the eyes of the blind, cleansing the bodies of lepers, pulling together paralytic limbs, raising the dead, and doing other things like this supernaturally. Do you see what a distance there is between deeds and miracles, life and signs, our diligence and God's Grace!

Good conduct alone can save those who have it. For this reason the blessed, valiant, and wondrous Luke wrote his book: The Acts of the Apostles, and not: The Miracles of the Apostles. Although the Apostles also performed miracles, miracles had their time, and ceased; Deeds at all times must be manifested in themselves by all who desire to receive salvation. Thus, since it is not miracles that are supposed to be for our competition, but the acts of the Apostles, Luke wrote his book in this way. For whatever you say, or better than what the lazy say, when we exhort them to imitate the Apostles, and say, Imitate Peter, be jealous of Paul, walk like John, follow James; so that they do not say: "We cannot, we do not have such strength; The apostles raised the dead, cleansed lepers," curbing such a shameless excuse, be silent, he says, dumb: it is not miracles, but a good life that leads into the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, be zealous for the life of the Apostles, and you will have no less than the Apostles: for it was not miracles that made them Apostles, but a pure life. (Christ. Thu. 1846. P., pp. 175-177. 181-182).

A review of the Book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles in chapter order, compiled according to the guidance of the Holy Apostles. Athanasius of Alexandria

This book is so called because it contains the Acts of the Apostles. Luke the Evangelist, who wrote this book, tells about them. He traveled with the other Apostles, and especially with Paul, and in this book he recorded the events of which he had accurate information. It contains the following:

Chapter I. Jesus Christ, having gathered His Apostles on the Mount of Olives, commands them to wait in Jerusalem for the sending of the Holy Spirit promised by Him. The Spirit by which they must bear witness to Him even in the farthest countries of the earth. After the ascension of Jesus Christ, the Apostles received a command from two angels to return to Jerusalem and await His second coming. They return and remain in prayer unceasingly. Their names are as follows: the first is Simon, otherwise Peter, then James, the son of Zebedee, John, his brother, Andrew, the brother of Peter, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James of Alpheus, Simon the Zealot, Judas of James, who is also Thaddeus, Judas Iscariot, and the betrayer of the Lord.