Historians have recently been viewing Acts more like a novel rather than general history. In the Greco-Roman world, novels such as Chaereas and Callirhoe by Chariton and Luecippe and Cleitophon by Achilles Tatius were fictionalized narratives written for entertainment. These tales told of lovers separated by misfortune and the trials they experienced to become reunited. One of the themes that is found throughout these books is the persecution and oppression of the main characters, who are innocent of wrongdoing. Within these novels, travel narratives, shipwreck scenes, dialogues, speeches, and private letters; all of which are found in the book of Acts.

Not all scholars are persuaded by this theory. Acts is not about separated lovers. Unlike every known Greek or Roman novel, there is no romance in Acts. Additionally, Acts does not focus on the exploits of the main character (Paul) as novels do. Paul does not come enter Acts until one-third through the narrative. And it does not appear that the author, Luke, wrote Acts for entertainment. There may be fictional elements in Acts, though, but judging on the subject matter, the spread of the Christian Church, many conclude that Luke was writing history of early Christianity, not a novel. Through Tradition, as well, all of the ancient Christian authors who refer to the book appear to have understood it this way.

But telling a story is central to Acts. The narrative is entertaining and continues to hold an audience today.

(Adopted from Bart D. Ehrman's The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, Fourth Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.)

See Peculiarities Of The Gospels