Written by Luke the physician to a certain “Theophilus,” (a name meaning “God-lover”) the book of Acts chronicles the growth of the early church. While Acts is undeniably exhilarating and inspiring, it is important to recognize that the purpose of Acts was not to detail the church in its perfection, but rather to detail the church in its infancy. In Jesus’ parting words to his followers, He informs them that they will now be His witnesses “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”