THE “SPEECHES” IN ACTS

THE “SPEECHES” IN ACTS

Virgil Warren, PhD

                     Besides historical narrative in The Acts, Luke includes significant verbal presentation from conversations, prayers, letters, and sermons. Below in order of appearance are the major examples of spoken material.

               Selection of Matthias                              1:16-22                    Peter

               Sermon on Pentecost                              2:14-26, 38-39         Peter

               Sermon at Gate Beautiful                      3:12-26                    Peter

               First Defense to the Sanhedrin              4:8-12, 19-20           Peter

               Prayer                                                        4:24-30                     Jerusalem Christians

               (Ananias and Sapphira)                            (5:3-4, 8-9)               (Peter)

               Second Defense to the Sanhedrin          5:29-32                    Peter

               Gamaliel’s Speech                                  5:35-39                    Gamaliel

               Ministration to the Widows                   6:2-4                        The “twelve”

               Stephen’s Speech                                    7:2-53, 56                Stephen

               Denunciation of Simon the                       8:20-23                     Peter

                    Sorcerer

               Sermon to Cornelius’ Household          10:34-43                  Peter

               Sermon to the Jerusalem Elders           11:5-17                    Peter

               Sermon at Antioch of Pisidia                 13:16-41                  Paul

                     "         "        "         "       "                   13:46-47                   Paul

               Sermon at Lystra                                    14:15-17                  Paul

               Conference on Circumcision                 15:6-11                    Peter

               Conference on Circumcision                 15:14-21                  James

               Letter to the Gentiles                                15:23-29                  

               Sermon on the Areopagus                      17:22-31                  Paul

               Speech to the Ephesian Silversmiths        19:25-27                   Demetrius

               Speech to the Ephesian Mob                 19:35-40                  the town clerk

               Sermon to the Ephesian Elders             20:18-35                  Paul

               James’ Proposal to Paul in                       21:20-25                   James

                    Jerusalem

               Sermon to the Jerusalem Mob              22:1-21                    Paul

               (Defense Before the Sanhedrin)               (23:1, 3, 5, 6)           (Paul)

               Letter to Felix                                           23:26-30                   Claudius Lysias

               Accusation of Paul Before Felix            24:2-8                      Tertullus

               Paul’s Defense Before Felix                   24:10-21                  Paul

               Inquiry Regarding Paul’s Case                 24:14-21                   Festus

               Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa             26:2-23                    Paul

            Observations on this data include the following. (1) Most, if not all, the sermons are surely condensations. The sermon on Pentecost, for example, lasts only about two and a half minutes. The two letters preserved in The Acts could be complete since their length is appropriate to their purposes. Since the presentations by Paul and Tertullus in Caesarea occurred in official courtroom settings, Luke may have had access to stenographic records of what transpired. Nevertheless, they, too, are not apt to provide full accounts of accusation and defense.  

            (2) The several presentations of the gospel to first-time hearers maintain good variety. There is little repetition of Old Testament background, testimony from personal experience, or the form of polemic. Even the three accounts of Paul’s conversion vary significantly despite being condensations. 

            (3) Besides being informative, these discourse sections serve a rhetorical purpose: they heighten interest by creating variety, realism, and focus. They are to the narrative in The Acts what the logia (“sayings”) are to Luke’s gospel.

            (4) Each speech fits its audience. The earlier sermons in Palestine are natural for Jewish hearers. Paul’s presentation to pagan philosophers in Athens follows a pattern they could appreciate. Similarly, his urgent words to the heathen worshipers in Lystra offer an interpretation of nature and experience rather than presuppose a knowledge of Old Testament revelation. There is respect in the way both Tertullus and Paul present themselves before Felix. The same demeanor is evident in Paul’s defense before Agrippa. Tertullus, an orator, has an especially flowery statement of accusation against Paul. Paul’s characteristic boldness shines through in his appeal to Agrippa right during the court proceedings (26:27).

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