Test Bank Chapter 11 Luke’s Second Volume: The Book of Acts

Chapter 11

Test Bank

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 01

1. The earliest account of the Christian church is _____.

a. The Gospel of Mark

b. The Gospel of Matthew

c. The Gospel of Luke

d. Acts of the Apostles

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 02

2. One of the most important ways ancient histories are different from ancient biographies is that _____.

a. histories are not true

b. histories, as opposed to biographies, are concerned with historical accuracy

c. histories focus on more than one character

d. histories are never written anonymously

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 03

3. Many ancient historians express a preference for _____.

a. oral sources over written ones

b. written sources over oral ones

c. biographies

d. dedicating their work to a Roman official

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 04

4. Speeches that are recorded in ancient histories _____.

a. are transcripts of actual speeches given

b. are usually made up

c. tend to be historically reliable in their details

d. are nonexistent

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 05

5. Acts is organized _____.

a. chronologically

b. thematically

c. to coincide with Paul’s letters

d. haphazardly

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 06

6. Which of the following is not representative of the Gospel of Luke and Acts?

a. They both focus primarily on Jesus.

b. They are both dedicated to Theophilus.

c. They both narrate Jesus’ ascension.

d. Peter is a major character in both.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 07

7. Both the Gospel of Luke and Acts highlight the significance of which of the following cities?

a. Nazareth

b. Bethlehem

c. Rome

d. Jerusalem

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 08

8. One similarity between Jesus in the Gospel of Luke and the apostles in Acts is _____.

a. they are all rejected

b. they are all called sons of God

c. they all receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

d. they all ascend to heaven

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 09

9. The book of Acts focuses on _____.

a. the preaching of the gospel exclusively to Jews

b. the spread of the gospel to Gentiles

c. the preaching of the gospel only in Jerusalem

d. the actions of all twelve apostles

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 10

10. In the Gospel of Luke and in Acts, the end of the world is expected _____.

a. immediately

b. within the disciples’ lifetime

c. never

d. after the gospel has been spread throughout the world

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 11

11. The most significant convert in Acts is _____.

a. Peter

b. Paul

c. Thecla

d. Theophilus

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 12

12. Acts ends with _____.

a. Paul preaching in Spain

b. Peter in Jerusalem

c. Paul under arrest

d. Jesus’ return

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 13

13. Paul’s mission is primarily to _____.

a. Jews

b. Samaritans

c. Gentiles

d. Peter

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 14

14. Which of the following is not a central character in Acts?

a. God/the Holy Spirit

b. Paul

c. Peter

d. Mary Magdalene

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 15

15. The speeches in Acts are delivered to all but which of the following?

a. Christian believers

b. the Pharisees

c. the Jerusalem Council

d. the crowd present at Pentecost

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 16

16. In Acts, the disciples elect a new member of “the twelve” to replace _____.

a. Judas

b. Peter

c. Paul

d. Jesus

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 17

17. The new disciple in Acts was chosen by _____.

a. Peter

b. Paul

c. a vote

d. casting lots

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 18

18. The new disciple in Acts is _____.

a. Peter

b. Paul

c. Matthias

d. Luke

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 19

19. According to Acts, which of the following can be described as the most important director of the Christian movement?

a. Peter

b. God

c. Luke

d. Matthias

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 20

20. The author of Acts _____.

a. sometimes uses a first-person narrative

b. claims to be Paul’s companion Luke

c. claims to be an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry

d. says that Paul never preached to Jews

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 21

21. According to Acts, Paul is converted by _____.

a. Jesus

b. Peter

c. Judas

d. The Gospel of Luke

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 22

22. According to Luke, _____.

a. God does not recognize a difference between Jews and Gentiles

b. Gentiles must become Jews

c. Gentiles must be circumcised and follow all the dietary laws

d. the Jews always accept the disciples’ teachings

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 23

23. At Pentecost, the disciples _____.

a. are drunk

b. speak in the native languages of those gathered

c. hide for fear of arrest

d. eat the Passover meal with Jesus

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 24

24. Peter’s speech at Pentecost causes the crowd _____.

a. to repent

b. to try to kill him

c. to ignore him

d. to convert to Judaism

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 25

25. In Acts, Luke depicts Jesus’ death as _____.

a. deserved

b. a miscarriage of justice

c. an atonement for sin

d. as fundamentally unimportant

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 26

26. The first martyr in Christian history is _____.

a. Paul

b. Peter

c. Stephen

d. Matthias

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 27

27. The final third of Acts focuses on all the following except _____.

a. Paul’s trial and arrest

b. Jewish opposition to Paul

c. Peter

d. Paul’s apologetic speeches

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 28

28. Acts reports that on his journey to Rome, Paul _____.

a. is rescued by Peter

b. meets with Thecla

c. is involved in a shipwreck

d. converts thousands of Jews

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 29

29. According to Acts, Paul _____.

a. continued to follow Jewish customs

b. believed Judaism was evil

c. ignored Jewish customs

d. believed everyone, Jews and Gentiles, should follow the Jewish law

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 30

30. Who was/were Paul’s major opponent(s) in Acts?

a. Caesar

b. Festus

c. Jewish leaders

d. Peter

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 01

1. Most scholars believe that the same author wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts. What reasons are there for believing this? What continuities are there between these books?

Feedback: The writing style and themes of the two books are very similar. The author’s particular emphases can be traced through both books. Both volumes contain a formal preface and are dedicated to Theophilus. Like the Gospel, Acts begins in Jerusalem. The narrative reveals that just as the Jews rejected, persecuted, and executed Jesus, so many of his followers will likewise be rejected, persecuted, and executed. Jesus anticipated the inclusion of Gentiles into the kingdom, and this goal is accomplished in the book of Acts, particularly through Paul’s mission efforts. In the Gospel, Jesus performed miracles and preached the word of God; in Acts, the disciples perform miracles and preach Jesus’ message. Just as Luke insisted in the Gospel that some Jews believed in and followed Jesus (Simeon, Anna, his disciples), some Jews also accept Jesus’ teachings in Acts, most noticeably Paul who, before his conversion, persecuted the Christians. Jesus’ apocalyptic teachings were muted in the Gospel and apocalyptic expectations continue to be downplayed in Acts to emphasize the importance of spreading the gospel through the world.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 02

2. What role does the Holy Spirit play in the book of Acts? How does the guidance of the Holy Spirit pick up where Jesus leaves off in the lives of the apostles?

Feedback: The book of Acts is essentially about the movement of the Gospel from Jew to Gentile. Jesus leaves the apostles with the injunction not to dwell on when the kingdom of God will be ushered in but, rather, to focus on spreading the Gospel throughout the world. To assist in this mission, the Holy Spirit was sent to Pentecost for guidance and empowerment. Acts records many miracles being done on behalf of the apostles through the Holy Spirit.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 03

3. Discuss how Luke emphasizes a fundamental continuity between Judaism and Christianity? Why do you think it was important for Luke to insist on this point? That is, why does Luke situate Christianity firmly within Judaism?

Feedback: It is critical for Luke to situate Christianity firmly within Judaism because if Christianity represented a new religion or a completely new promise from God, God’s faithfulness could be questioned: Has God broken his covenant with the Jews? If so, why should Christians think he would not also break this new covenant? By affirming the continuity of Judaism and Christianity, Luke accomplishes at least two things: First, he underscores God’s faithfulness to his promise and to his people, and, second, he explains why Gentiles can be brought into the covenant. God has not broken his promise but has extended it to include all people.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 04

4. What are the primary themes of the book of Acts? Discuss specific instances in which these themes are conveyed.

Feedback: The primary themes of Acts include the following: (i) The message of God’s redemption is offered first to the Jews, who reject it; (ii) subsequently, it is offered to the Gentiles; (iii) this shift from Jew to Gentile is all part of God’s plan; (iv) it includes a geographic shift from Jerusalem, the heart of Judaism, to Rome, the capital of the Empire; (v) the end of the age will be delayed while the message of redemption is spread; and (vi) the apostles are guided by the Holy Spirit and in complete agreement. Students should include specific evidence of these themes.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 01

1. What kind of literature (or genre) is the book of Acts, and how does it relate, in terms of genre, to the Gospel of Luke?

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 02

2. What important themes of Acts are set forth in the opening account of 1:1–11?

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 03

3. What similarities are there between Peter in the first part of Acts and Paul in the second?

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 04

4. What similarities are there between the apostles in Acts and Jesus in Luke?

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 05

5. What different kinds of speeches are given in Acts, and what kinds of themes do they expound?

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 06

6. How would you summarize Acts in thirty words or less?

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 07

7. How does Acts account for the delay of Jesus’ return?

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 08

8. In what way might we consider Acts as an apologetic work?

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 09

9. How does Acts depict the relationship between Judaism and Christianity?

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 11 Question 10

10. In your opinion, were this book and its companion volume, the Gospel of Luke, written by Paul’s traveling companion Luke? Why or why not? Why, in brief, did this person write these two books?