The Acts of the Apostles

THE SOURCES AND THEIR VALUE 195
St. Luke, is a question which cannot be definitely
settled. The former alternative is to me the more
probable. At all events the outlook upon the Gentile
world—again, of course, not logically and courageously
developed—must have been present in the source;
for therein lies the point of the whole narrative
though at the same time we must make the reserva-
tion that St. Luke himself has drawn up the list of
nations according to his own discretion. It is, on
the other hand, very remarkable that in this account
the results of the " Outpouring " extend not to the
natives of Jerusalem but to the Jews of the Dispersion.
In this point we note its relationship with the Antio-
chean source. Unfortunately there is no evidence
that would help us to discover the person upon whose
authority this account rests. It probably first ap-
peared after the Gospel had been preached in the
Empire. It, however, certainly proceeded from Jeru-
salem or Palestine ; and we may also suitably connect
with it the account of the Ascension (i. 1-14); for
we may safely assume in St. Luke so much critical
sagacity as would prevent him from accepting such
stories concerning Jerusalem on foreign testimony
when he had so many opportunities of communication
with Palestinian Christians. In regard to the account
of the Ascension, it has been already shown above (pp.
155 ff.) that the legend originated in Palestine, though
not perhaps until after the destruction of Jerusalem.
Passing now to the Antiochean source, we may assign
to it a high historical value ; but here distinctions
must be made. As far as chap. xiii. 4 inclusive it lays
itself open to depreciatory criticism in a few details
;