Jeff Ragan’s Reviews > The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament > Status Update

"The key point in salvation history is the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus. In the proclamation of the gospel, this cluster of significant events is the pivot point of history and the culmination of God's plan from long ago. This plan was commanded by God, predicted by the prophets, accomplished in Christ, and proclaimed by faithful witnesses" (433).

"...it is legitimate to see a theological unity throughout Luke-Acts. Theological unity can be embraced if the latter interprets or informs the former. As L. T. Johnson states, in Acts 'Luke provides the first authoritative interpretation of his Gospel'" (418).

"Ultimately, there is no substantial reason to doubt Luke's accuracy on empirical grounds. Where sources are available, Luke's information is shown to be reliable" (409)

"If the first generation of the Christian church proves anything, it is this: the power of God is infinitely greater than any human obstacles in its way. A humble Galilean craftsman, who suffered an untimely death and accumulated no earthly possession, wrote no books, and left behind nothing but a small band of disheartened followers, spawned a movement so powerful that it took the Roman Empire by storm" (397).