Lukan authorship:
Ignatius and Luke:
Doesn’t mention Paul’s death refutation:
Plural ‘procnsuls’ and Silanus:
Doesn’t mention Paul’s death refutation pt2:
Troftgruben shows that ancient works had a variety of endings. Suffice it to say, the notion that ancient writers would necessarily wrap up all the loose ends of a narrative is simply not supported by the data. What is especially striking is that ancient Christians found nothing at all surprising about the conclusion of Acts. Consider the following from Chrysostom:
- “But of [Paul’s] affairs after the two years [Acts 28:30] what shall we say? [Luke] leaves the hearer athirst for more; other authors do the same thing, for to know everything makes the reader dull and jaded.” (Hom. Act. 55 [NPNF1 11:326])
Troftgruben’s fine study has much more to offer. I will just say this: in light of all the evidence explored by Troftgruben, it seems to me that the argument that the ending of Acts points to a date of composition prior to the death of Paul is far less than convincing.