The unity of the Church in Acts in its literary setting

This study examines the theme of unity in Acts in conjunction with the theme of disunity and within the broader context of discussions of unity and disunity in Greco-Roman and Jewish literature to better understand Luke's literary and theological aims.;Greco-Roman and Jewish discussions of unity emphasize the combination of the themes of unity and kingship and the themes of unity and law. The theme of unity was frequently associated with evaluations of rulers and kings, claims for the Roman emperor, and hopes for a coming king. The combination of the themes of unity and law frequently contributed to claims for the "best constitution" and for the true people of God.;The emphasis on the kingship of Jesus in Acts is also placed in cotexts where the unity of his people under his reign is emphasized. Thus Lukan Christological claims are combined with his ecclesiological argument so that Jesus is seen to be the true king who brings true unity. The Lukan description of the outworking of common submission to the lordship of Jesus in relational unity is also described in cotexts where the law is fulfilled and aspects of the law are changed. The unity of the Christian community under the leadership of Christ's apostles contributes to the claim that they are the true people of God.;Greco-Roman and Jewish discussions of unity also emphasize the contrasting effects of unity and disunity in accounts of victory and defeat and describe the devastating effects of disunity in terms of the destruction of cities. The theme of the conquest of the word in the face of opposition in Acts is also characterized by descriptions of disunity and confusion among those opposed to the Christian community. The contrasting descriptions of the unity of the Christian community, however, reinforces the claim that the Christian community, as the community of the word, is the true people of God.;Luke argues that true unity is found among those in common allegiance to the one Lord Jesus. His interest is not in the theme of unity as an abstract ideal and he does not advocate uniformity.