The Utilization of the Old Testament in the Book of Acts of the Apostles

Abstract

The paper entitled “The Utilization of the Old Testament in the Book of Acts of the Apostles” arose from the need to contextualize the scripture in contemporary usage as it relates to Africans. The study examines the Book of Acts in perspective, the engagement of the Old Testament in Acts of the Apostles, and the implications of the usage of the Old Testament in the contextual delivery of the Gospel for theological enterprise on the African continent. The paper employed an analytical method with descriptive and comparative approaches to analyze the usage of the Old Testament in the New Testament document under study and utilized a contextual comparison of the references in the selected verses of the Book of Acts. Findings show that the usage of the Old Testament by the writer of Acts was unique. In the book of Acts of the Apostles, a number of portions engage with the Old Testament using historical, thematic, theological, cultural, and other elements. Examples include 1:20-21; 2:17-21; 4:25 and 7:49-50. Findings show that the engagement of the Old Testament by the author of Acts was quite systematic and exploratory. These findings have implications for African theological enterprise, particularly in Nigeria. The delivery of the Gospel should engage the elements of culture and sociological peculiarities. It is recommended that theological educators should make efforts to reach and develop the faith of Africans with the wealth of their cultural and social peculiarities without compromising the centrality of Christ in the gospel delivery as typified by the usage of the Old Testament in Acts of the Apostles. In conclusion, the usage of the Old Testament in Acts of the Apostles could be further explored in contextualizing theological knowledge.