Acts 1:1

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
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Bede

AD 735
first discourse: That is, he says that in his Gospel he wrote about everything that Christ did and said. O Theophilus: because Theophilus means lover of God, or beloved of God. Therefore, anyone who is a lover of God may believe that this work was written for him, because the physician Luke wrote it in order that he might find health for his soul.
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George Leo Haydock

AD 1849
St. Luke, who was the author of this history, alludes, in this verse, to his gospel, which he calls his first discourse. In that he informs us, not only of the actions, but also the doctrines of our Saviour. These words, to do and to teach, are the abridgment of the whole gospel: here he gives us the Acts of the Apostles, that is, an history of their travels and preaching. In the beginning of this work he speaks of all the apostles, and what they did before their dispersion. As soon as he comes to the mention of St. Paul, he takes notice of no one else, but is entirely taken up with the narrative of his actions. He addresses his book to Theophilus, which signifies a friend of God, or one who loves God, as if he intended to dedicate it to all the faithful, who believed in, and loved God. But it is more probable that this was some distinct person, well known to St. Luke, and illustrious for his birth, because he gave him the title of kratiste, most excellent. (Calmet)

Hugh of Saint-Cher

AD 1263
that Jesus began to do and to teach: He has shown the pattern of the good teacher, who does what He teaches.
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Irenaeus of Lyons

AD 202
THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING . Knowing, my beloved Marcianus, your desire to walk in godliness, which alone leads man to life eternal, I rejoice with you and make myh prayer that you may preserve your faith entire and so be pleasing to God who made you. Would that it were possible for us to be always together, to help each other and to lighten the labour of our earthly life by continual discourse together on the things that profit. But, since at this present time we are parted from one another in the body, yet according to our power we will not fail to speak with you a little by writing, and to show forth in brief the preaching of the truth for the confirmation of your faith. We send you as it were a manual of essentials, that by little you may attain to much, learning in short space all the members of the body of the truth, and receiving in brief the | demonstration of the things of God. So shall it be fruitful to your own salvation, and you shall put to shame all w...
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Jerome

AD 420
O Theophilus: This bishop derives his name from his love to God.
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John Cassian

AD 435
O Theophilus: For our Lord taught us by His own example that we ought to keep to this order, as of Him it is said: “that Jesus began to do and to teach.
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John Chrysostom

AD 407
first discourse: but now, much more will you receive what concerns the Apostles.
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John Chrysostom

AD 407
To many persons this Book is so little known, both it and its author, that they are not even aware that there is such a book in existence. For this reason especially I have taken this narrative for my subject, that I may draw to it such as do not know it, and not let such a treasure as this remain hidden out of sight. For indeed it may profit us no less than even the Gospels; so replete is it with Christian wisdom and sound doctrine, especially in what is said concerning the Holy Ghost. Then let us not hastily pass by it, but examine it closely. Thus, the predictions which in the Gospels Christ utters, here we may see these actually come to pass; and note in the very facts the bright evidence of Truth which shines in them, and the mighty change which is taking place in the disciples now that the Spirit has come upon them. For example, they heard Christ say, "Whoso believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do" (John xiv. 12): and again...
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Richard Challoner

AD 1781
This Book, which, from the first ages, hath been called, THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, is not to be considered as a history of what was done by all the Apostles, who were dispersed into different nations; but only a short view of the first establishment of the Christian Church. A part of the preaching and action of St. Peter are related in the first twelve chapters; and a particular account of St. Paul's apostolical labours in the subsequent chapters. It was written by St. Luke the Evangelist, and the original in Greek. Its history commences from the Ascension of Christ our Lord and ends in the year sixty-three, being a brief account of the Church for the space of about thirty years.

Tertullian of Carthage

AD 220
. "Having, on the authority of a prophecy, which occurs in a psalm of David,
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Theophylact of Ochrid

AD 1107
O Theophilus: He writes to Theophilus, a man probably of some distinction, and a governor; for the form, "Most excellent" Lk 1:3, was not used except to rulers and governors. As for example, Paul says to Festus, Most excellent Festus.
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Thomas Aquinas

AD 1274
that Jesus began to do and to teach: Consequently, immediately after His baptism Christ adopted a strict form of life, in order to teach us the need of taming the flesh before passing on to the office of preaching.
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Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation - 2 Peter 1:20

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