INTRODUCTION: EXTERNAL EVIDENCE FOR THE RECEPTION OF ACTS

The date of the earliest external evidence for the use of the Acts of the Apostles remains debated, but there is widespread agreement that it is to be found at some point in the second century. This need not mean that Acts was not read, let alone not written before the earliest date at which it is securely attested. It does mean, however (provided that there is no compelling internal evidence to date it to the first century) that a second-century date for its composition cannot be excluded and that any evidence for such a date should be considered with the utmost care (Gregory 2003: 353). In this essay, my focus is on reading Acts alongside the second-century writings of Justin Martyr. This does not require me to date Acts in either the first century (still the majority position) or in the second (a date now increasingly favored); it demands only that I read it in conjunction with the writings of Justin martyr, and note what differences or similarities may be found. Such results may then be used to raise the question of whether Acts might be thought to reflect a similar outlook to that of Justin and, if it does, whether such similarity might support a date in the second century rather than in the first.