"The First Account, O Theophilus," poetry

Revised Edition: LukivPress (Victoria, BC), 2022.

Introduction

Acts, written by Luke the physician, provides a detailed history of the Christian congregation and its growth from 33 to 61 CE. The book begins mostly with the apostle Peter's work as an evangelizer-not to mention his work as a healer backed by holy spirit (e.g., Acts 3:1-10). Later Acts focusses on the work and travels of the apostle and missionary Paul. One theme that highlights Christian zeal in the public ministry finds its essence in Peter and John's reply to angry members of the Sanhedrin: "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves. But as for us, we cannot stop speaking about the things we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20) Clearly, the book encourages Christians to preach to, and teach, anyone willing to learn about Jehovah, Christ, and the Kingdom of God.

An excerpt, based on chapter two

David-still in the dark grave,

Where he cannot walk,

In walled Hades,

Where no flames flail about,

In deep-bellied Sheol,

Where no maiden sings about

Her shepherd boy-

Asleep, like Lazarus-

The man he never met,

Loved by Martha and Mary

And a David of greater

Mind and heart-

For four days:

Part of three days:

This voice in your DNA,

David,

Silenced by all that had to be,

Did not "see" full-bellied worms

Consume the flesh that

Only Adam and his woman

Once had.

The author

Dan Lukiv, published in 19 countries, is a poet, novelist, columnist, short story and article writer, and independent education researcher (hermeneutic phenomenology). As a creative writer, he apprenticed with Canada's Professor Robert Harlow (recipient of the George Woodcock Achievement award for an outstanding literary career), the USA's Paul Bagdon (Spur Award finalist for Best Original Paperback), and England's D. M. Thomas (recipient of the Cheltenham Prize for Literature, Orwell Prize [biography], Los Angeles Fiction Prize, and Cholmondeley award for poetry). He attended The University of British Columbia (creative writing department), the acclaimed Humber School for Writers (poetry writing program), and Writer's Digest University (novel writing program).