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THE APOSTLE OF THE RECONCILIATION 13
2. That, however he received his information, whether (a) directly as an eye-witness, or (b) indirectly
through other eye-witnesses, all was recorded by inspiration received `from above'.
3. That, like the Gospel, the record of the Acts attends to the actual historical order of events.
Shall we not lift up our hearts to God as we think that in these days, when belief in the veracity of the Scriptures (to
say nothing of their Divine inspiration) is set aside as unthinkable and unscholarly, God has given us such scholarly
proofs, such critical tests, and such complete evidence of our faith?
CHAPTER 2
The Chronology of Acts.
We have already alluded to the importance of remembering the historic basis of our faith. It is our intention now
briefly to trace some of the points of contact between the Acts and secular history, to consider something of its
internal chronology, and then to proceed to the more important question, the chronological order of the epistles.
When applied to the epistles it will be seen that chronology ceases to be a mere fabrication of dates, and that it rises
into the higher plane of dispensational truth, and the progress of doctrine.
Let us approach the question in its broadest outline first. The reign of four Roman Emperors covers the period of
the Acts.
Just how far the scroll will extend when spread out is now the object of our enquiry.
While these four Emperors and their reigns more than cover the period of the Acts, we have no definite point of
contact recorded either in sacred or secular history where, in A.D. ... , Paul, or Peter, did so-and-so. We seek some
definite point of time where the scroll of the Acts can be pinned down to the calendar of the world. If the wider
range of Roman Emperors fails us here, a narrower and lesser dynasty supplies this need. There is one incident
recorded in the Acts, the date of which is known; that is the tragic death of Herod (Acts 12:20-23).
The history of Herod Agrippa I. is a chequered one. Josephus records (Ant. xix. 8,2) that Herod died in `the 7TH
year of his reign, and the 54TH year of his life'. Again he tells us (Bell. Jud. ii., xi. 6) that Agrippa died soon after
the completion of his third year as King over all Judaea. Now let us see whether we can arrive at the date by these
two items.
1. When did Herod begin his reign?
Secular history supplies the answer: `Not many days' after the accession of Gaius. When was that? `March 16th,
A.D. 37'. If we add A.D. 37 and 7 together, we have the date of Herod's death as A.D. 44.