Muratorian Fragment
Early canon list supporting Lukan authorship (Quiz 1.1 Q2 correct answer).
Lesson 1 · Course 60
Introduction: Luke and the Book of Acts
Luke’s two-volume work — authorship evidence, setting (~60–62), and the kingdom advancing through the gospel.
At a glance
Summary
Acts is Luke’s second volume to Theophilus (and a wider church), written about 60–62 AD. Early testimony, manuscripts (including Papyrus 75), and we-passages support Lukan authorship even though Luke was not an apostle or eyewitness of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The kingdom expands as God grants salvation through the gospel — including Gentile blessing promised to Abraham.
Lesson 1: Quiz 1.1 90% · 1.2 100% · 1.3 100% · Cumulative 95% (19/20). One attempt each. No essays. Misses: 1.1 Q2 (Muratorian Fragment); Cumulative Q2 (kingdom comes slowly/in stages).
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Luke–Acts is a two-volume work (Theophilus + Acts as second document).
- Early writers attribute Luke/Acts to Luke; nobody seriously suggests another author.
- Evidence includes Anti-Marcionite Prologue, Muratorian Fragment, Papyrus 75, and first-person plural “we” passages.
- Luke was not an apostle / not an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry; converted after the ascension; physician; sophisticated Greek.
- Acts written ~60–62 AD into the Roman Empire’s complex tolerance/oppression of Jews and Christians.
- Kingdom expands as God grants salvation to believers in Jesus; apostles spread the kingdom by preaching the gospel.
- OT prophecy: Gentiles blessed through Abraham — Acts records fulfillment.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Papyrus 75
Important early manuscript witness connected to Luke in this lesson’s evidence set.
Anti-Marcionite Prologue
Early prologue evidence for Luke’s authorship.
We-passages
First-person plural sections suggesting the author traveled with Paul.
Theophilus
Named recipient; Acts is the second document in Luke’s two-volume project.
Kingdom of God (Acts)
Expands as God grants salvation; spread by gospel preaching.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Authorship evidence for Luke–Acts
- Date, audience, and Roman setting (~60–62)
- Moses, creation, and kingdom themes connecting OT and Acts
- Cumulative review of Lesson 1
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz 1.1 | 90% — miss Q2 Muratorian Fragment (chose Papyrus 75) |
|---|---|
| Quiz 1.2 / 1.3 | 100% / 100% |
| Cumulative | 95% (19/20) — miss Q2 kingdom comes slowly/in stages |
| Date | ~60–62 AD |
| Audience | Theophilus + broader church |
| Author | Luke — physician; not apostle/eyewitness; after ascension |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Authorship evidence (Lesson 1.1)
- Anti-Marcionite Prologue
- Muratorian Fragment
- Papyrus 75
- We-passages / first-person plural
- Key writers attribute Luke; no rival author tradition
Kingdom timing (Cumulative miss)
- Missed: “When it begins, it will come quickly… distant future”
- Correct: “It will come slowly and in stages.”
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Preach Acts as volume two — same author, same Theophilus, same gospel advancing.
- The kingdom grows by salvation granted and gospel preached, not by political conquest alone.
- Gentile inclusion fulfills Abraham’s promise — Acts is OT hope arriving.
- Flag the misses: Muratorian Fragment for authorship evidence; kingdom comes slowly and in stages.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 50 items
Some stems summarized from Jaira’s attempt-review notes when full Moodle wording was abbreviated in the pack.
Quiz 1.1 · 90% · 1 attempt
1. Luke openly names himself as the author inside the text of Acts.
FalseAuthorship is established by testimony and evidence, not a self-naming line in Acts (stem summarized from review; Moodle False).
2. Which early witness is especially cited for Lukan authorship in this item?
Muratorian FragmentMiss / partialMiss: chose Papyrus 75; Moodle Muratorian Fragment.
3. Select early evidence connected to Luke’s authorship (as graded).
Anti-Marcionite Prologue; Muratorian Fragment; Papyrus 75Multi-select authorship evidence from the attempt review.
4. What narrative feature supports the author’s presence with Paul?
First-person plural (“we”) passagesWe-passages.
5. Which manuscript is named among the authorship/text witnesses in this quiz?
Papyrus 75Papyrus 75.
6. How do early writers treat Luke’s authorship?
Several key writers attribute Luke and nobody suggests another authorStrong early attribution to Luke.
7. How does Acts relate to Luke’s first volume?
Theophilus plus Acts as the second documentTwo-volume project to Theophilus.
8. What similarities support Luke–Acts as a pair?
Similar order, length, and yearsPaired volumes.
9. What limitation of Luke is affirmed?
Luke was not an apostle / not an eyewitnessNot an apostle or eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry.
10. When does Luke’s story connection to Jesus’ earthly ministry sit relative to the ascension?
After Jesus’ ascensionLuke’s conversion/connection after the ascension (as graded).
Quiz 1.2 · 100% · 1 attempt
1. How did the Roman Empire relate to Judaism and Christianity in Acts’ setting?
Tolerated Judaism and Christianity but oppressed believersTolerance mixed with oppression of believers.
2. To whom was Acts written?
Written specifically to Theophilus and also a broader audienceTheophilus + wider church.
3. Acts addresses real pressures facing the early church.
TrueTrue (as graded).
4. How did Christians relate to Jewish leaders’ commands?
Christians respected Jewish leaders but would not obey commands contrary to GodRespect with God-first obedience.
5. Approximate date of Acts?
60–62 AD~60–62 AD.
6. Select challenges reflected in Acts (as graded).
Persecution and imprisonment; Strife between Church and government; Doctrinal errors of false teachersMulti-select pressures.
7. Acts is useful for understanding the church’s public witness under empire.
TrueTrue (as graded).
8. Which Jewish historian is referenced in this lesson’s background?
JosephusJosephus.
9. What was a central Jewish response to Jesus in this framing?
Jews rejected Jesus as MessiahMessiah rejected.
10. The historical setting of Acts matters for reading its narrative.
TrueTrue (as graded).
Quiz 1.3 · 100% · 1 attempt
1. Moses’ promise of a coming figure is phrased as…
“prophet like me”Prophet like Moses.
2. How does Acts treat Moses in argumentation?
Moses as a source of authorityMosaic authority.
3. What doctrine is taught from the beginning of Scripture in this lesson’s link?
CreationCreation.
4. What do Luke–Acts and the OT share in the big story?
Both teach creation, Fall, and redemptionCreation, Fall, redemption.
5. Messianic hope is tied to…
David’s sonDavidic son.
6. A false claim about the kingdom (as graded False item).
FalseFalse item in the attempt review (exact stem abbreviated in pack).
7. How does the kingdom expand in Acts?
Kingdom expands as God grants salvation to believers in JesusSalvation granted → kingdom expands.
8. What kingdom is in view?
Kingdom of GodKingdom of God.
9. How do the apostles spread the kingdom?
Apostles spread the kingdom by preaching the gospelGospel preaching.
10. How do Abraham’s promise and Acts relate?
OT prophecy that Gentiles would be blessed through Abraham and Acts records fulfillmentGentile blessing fulfilled.
Cumulative Lesson 1 · 95% · 1 attempt
1. Groups with different Messiah expectations (as matched/reviewed).
Zealots; Pharisees & Sadducees; ApocalypticMessiah-expectation groups from the attempt review.
2. How will the kingdom come (timing/manner)?
It will come slowly and in stages.Miss / partialMiss: chose “When it begins, it will come quickly, but will not begin until a date in the distant future”; Moodle “It will come slowly and in stages.”
3. Moses functions as…
A source of authorityMoses authority.
4. Athens / creation theme (as graded).
CreationCreation preaching link (Athens).
5. When did Luke join Paul’s story?
Luke joined Paul laterJoined later (we-passages).
6. Background streams compared (as graded).
Jewish theology / Early Christian / John the BaptistBackground comparison from review.
7. When was Luke converted relative to Jesus’ ministry?
Luke converted after ascensionAfter the ascension.
8. Luke’s vocation?
PhysicianPhysician.
9. Luke’s Greek style?
Sophisticated GreekSophisticated Greek.
10. How do apostles spread the kingdom?
Apostles spread the kingdom through the gospelGospel preaching.
11. A True item affirming Lesson 1 teaching (as graded).
TrueTrue (stem abbreviated in pack).
12. How is David’s kingdom related to the Church’s expansion?
David’s kingdom restored through Church expansionDavidic hope and church expansion.
13. Does early Church evidence support Luke?
Early Church evidence supports LukeSupports Lukan authorship.
14. Select pressures on the church (as graded).
Doctrinal errors; persecution; strifeMulti-select from review.
15. Kingdom expansion is tied to…
Salvation of believersSalvation of believers.
16. Luke’s addressee and volume structure?
Theophilus + second documentTwo volumes.
17. Key OT figures in the lesson’s argument?
Abraham / David / MosesAbraham, David, Moses.
18. Jewish response to Jesus as Messiah?
Jews rejected JesusRejection of Jesus as Messiah.
19. Shared biblical storyline?
Both teach creation, Fall, and redemptionCreation, Fall, redemption.
20. Final True/affirmation item in the cumulative (as graded).
TrueTrue (stem abbreviated in pack).