The New Testament begins with five books - the four Gospels and the Book of Acts. The word "gospel" originally referred to the message of salvation through Christ. Later, it also came to be used to designate the written accounts of the life of Christ. The Book of Acts is a continuation of the Gospels, focusing on the actions of some of the apostles as they labored to fulfill the Great Commission.

Because they are so similar in style, arrangement, and content, the first three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are sometimes referred to as the "Synoptic Gospels." Although there are a few incidents that are peculiar to each Gospel, much of the material is common to all three accounts. John, on the other hand, is vastly different from the Synoptics in both style and in content.

One might ask why there are four accounts of the life of Christ, and why three of them are so similar. In the First Century, there were three different audience types - Jewish, Roman, and Greek. The four gospels were written to accommodate these different audiences. This being the case, one might expect each account to emphasize different things about the person and work of Christ. Instead of having four identical accounts, we have four books that supplement each other. Together, they provide a complete portrait of Jesus Christ.

Matthew. The first Gospel was written by a Jew for a Jewish audience. Several things about Matthew's Gospel indicate this to be the case. First, Matthew begins by tying Jesus to both Abraham and David. "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham" (Matt. 1:1). This introduction is significant because the Jews were looking for the fulfillment of two promises - the Seed promise that was made to Abraham and the Son promise that was made to David. Second, Matthew focuses upon the events in Jesus' life that fulfill Old Testament prophecies. The word "fulfilled" appears 16 times in Matthew's Gospel (KJV). He cites about 40 passages that are fulfilled in the life of Jesus. The one who reads this Gospel cannot help seeing that its writer is establishing a case for Jesus as the anticipated Messiah.

Mark. The Gospel of Mark was written for a Roman audience. The Romans were men of action and authority, and the book's first verse would have appealed to both of these interests: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." The shortest of the four accounts, Mark's gospel reads quickly and smoothly, telling the story without making comments, allowing the reader to make up his own mind about Jesus' identity.

The words "immediately" and "straightway" appear 36 times in Mark, emphasizing this Gospel's fast pace. Mark emphasizes action rather than dialogue. He records 18 miracles that Jesus performed, and 23 different times, he notes the reactions of those who witnessed His miracles.

Luke. The third gospel was written by a Greek to a Greek audience. Luke addresses his gospel (as well as the book of Acts) to a man that he refers to as "most excellent Theophilus." "Theophilus" is a Greek name, and the phrase "most excellent" was used to address Roman officials (Acts 23:26). While his exact identity is unknown, it is likely that Theophilus was a Roman official who was somewhat familiar with Christianity. Luke's purpose in writing his Gospel is to set forth an orderly account so that his reader can have confidence in the accuracy of his knowledge of Christianity.

God chose an educated man (Luke was a doctor - Col. 4:14) to write a Gospel that would interest the Greeks. Luke's gospel, a literary masterpiece, uses good Greek grammar. He gives his Gospel a historical time and setting (Luke 1:5, 2:1, 3:1-2). Although he records some of Jesus' miracles, Luke stresses doctrine and discourse, which would have appealed to the Greek mind.

Luke is the Gospel of inclusion. While the Jews were known to be an exclusive race, Luke goes out of his way to show that Jesus is the Savior of the world, not just the Messiah of the Jews. At Jesus' birth, the shepherds received "good tidings of great joy which will be to all people" (2:10, emphasis mine, HR). Luke alone records the sparing of the Samaritan village (9:51-56), the parable of the Good Samaritan (10:25-37), and the lone grateful Samaritan (17:11-19). Luke's genealogy of Jesus goes all the way back to Adam (3:23-38), not just to Abraham. Luke also emphasizes those who were often overlooked - women and children, the poor and outcast.

John. The purpose of the Gospel of John is stated more clearly than the purpose of the Synoptics.

John's Gospel can be called "the Gospel of Belief." In John, the word "believe" appears 52 times; "believed" appears 23 times; and "believes" appears 15 times (KJV).

Readers will quickly note that John' Gospel does not cover the same material as is found in the Synoptics. John's style is to cover fewer incidents than do Matthew, Mark, and Luke; but he covers them in much greater detail. John only records seven miracles that Jesus performed; but gives greater attention to the teaching that resulted from these miracles.

Many presume that John wrote his Gospel several years after Matthew, Mark, and Luke wrote theirs. That it was written to a Gentile audience is made clear by the fact that John takes the time to explain Jewish practices and customs (Jn. 2:13, 4:9, 19:31).

John emphasizes the person of Christ more than the kingdom that He came to establish. He presents Jesus as God's Son who is able to provide all of man's spiritual need. Throughout John's Gospel, he contrasts the Lord's ability and desire to save man with the Jew's unwillingness to believe. "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him" (John 1:10-11).

Acts. The Book of Acts is, in reality, the continuation of the Gospel of Luke. Luke wrote both books to Theophilus. In Acts 1:1, he mentions the Gospel of Luke ("the former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach"). It is likely that the two books were originally circulated as one volume, but were separated from each other as the Canon of the New Testament began to take shape.

One should understand that just as the Gospels do not claim to be exhaustive records of the life of Christ, neither does the Book of Acts claim to be an exhaustive record of First Century Christianity. Although there is no doubt that the gospel spread in all directions from Jerusalem and Judea, Luke confines his account to Christianity's westward spread to the city of Rome.

The Book of Acts is essential for Christians today. It records both the gospel message preached and the responses of those who heard it. These responses establish a pattern, showing what people today must do in order to be saved.

The Book of Acts is an inspired record of the original church, documenting the establishment of the Lord's church (Acts 2), as well as its authorized beliefs and practices. These teachings make it easier to identify the Lord's true church amid the sea of counterfeits offered by modern-day denominationalism.

Not only does the Book of Acts serve as a continuation of the gospels, it also provides the framework for the rest of the New Testament. The epistles of Romans, First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and First and Second Thessalonians were written to churches in places mentioned in Acts. First and Second Timothy were written to a man who is introduced in Acts.