The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-09-13
DECISIONS OF
BIBL ICAL COMMISSION
MATTERS OF HISTORICAL TRUTH
CONSIDERED AND QUES-
TloNS ANSWERED.,

MATTERS OF HISTORICAL TRUTH
CONSIDERED AND QUES-
TIoNs ANSWERED. 49,.
The following decisions Of the Pom.
tifical Biblical Commission have re.
Gently been made public:
Concerning the author, time Of COM
position and historical truth Of the
Acts of the Apostles, the Pontifcal
Biblical Commission has decided that
the following questions laid before it
are to be answered thus:
/. Whether, considering especially
the tradition of the universal Church
going back to the earliest ecclesiasti-
cal writer's and the internal reasons
supplied by the book Of the Acts both
in themselves and in their relation to
the third Gospel and particularly the
mutual affinity and connection of the
prologues of each (Luke i:1-4; Acts
i:1-2) it is to be held as certain that
the volume entitled 1.-THE Acts Of the
Apostles" or "Praxeis Apostolon," has
the Evangelist Luke for its author.
Answer: In the affirmative.
2. Whether it can be proved by
critical reasons drawn from the Ian.
guage and style, the method of nara
ton, and the unity of scope and doc.
trine, that the book Of the Acts of the
Apostles is to be attributed to one sim
gle author; and that, therefore, the
opinion Of recent writer's that Luke is
not the sole author Of it must be
admitted, is without foundation? !.
Answer: In the affirmative in each
part. "
8. Whether, in particular, those
we'll known passages in the Acts in
which the use of the third person is
laid aside and the first person plural
(Wirstuche) introduced, weaken the
unity Of composition and the anthem
ITCHY; or whether. these passages
considered historically and philologi-
cally must rather be said to confirm
the unity Of composition and the au-
thenticity?
Answer: In the negative to the first
part; in the affirmative to the second.
4. Whether from the fact that, the
book itself, after barely mentioning
the two years Of the first Roman cap.
tivity of Paul, abruptly closes. it is
lawful to infer that the author either
wrote another volume which has been
lost, or intended to write one, and that
the date of composition Of the book
can therefore be assigned to a time far
later it is rightly and properly to be
held that Luke finished the book at
the end of the first Roman captivity
of the Apostle Paul?
Answer: In the negative to the first
part; in the affirmative to the second.
5. Whether, If we consider at 61tce
the frequent and easy relations which
Luke undoubtedly had with the first
and chief founders Of the Church Of
Palestine, as well as with Paul, Apos-
tie Of the Gentiles, to whom he was
an assistant in his evangelical preach
ing and companion in his journeys;
Luke's customary industry and dill
gence in examining witnesses and in
seeing things for himself; and finally
the evident and most remarkable
(mirabilis) agreement Of the Acts OF
the Apostles with the Epistles of Pau
and with the more genuine (sincer,o-
ribus) historical records; it is to be
held for certain that Luke had in his
hands most trustworthy sources and
that he used them accurately, honest
ly and faithfully so that complete his.
tor,cal authority may Justly be claim.
ed for him? .
Answer: In the Affirmative.
8. Whether the difficulties COM
monty alleged from the supernatural
facts narrated by Luke; from his &C,
count Of certain discourses (sermon-
ann which, being given summarily,
are considered as made up (c6nfcti
and adapted to circumstances; from
certain passages which are at least ap:
parently in conflict with profane or
Biblical history; and, finally, from
certain variations which seem to be
in opposition with the author of the
Acts himself or with other sacred
writer's; are Of a kind to render
doubtful or at least In some way to
lessen the historical authority Of the
Acts? s 20,
Answer: In the negative. a..
Concerning the author, integrity and
time of composition of the pastoral
epistles of the Apostle Paul, the Pom
tifical Biblical Commission has decid-
ed that the following questions like
wise laid before it are to be answered
thus: =
Whefhor TAXING arco,1nf NJ tho