We have next to consider an argument of great importance derived from the Acts of the Apostles. This book is universally admitted to be by the same writer as the Third Gospel, as is indeed obvious from the manner in which both are addressed to Theophilus, from the _former treatise_ being mentioned in the opening verse of the Acts, and from the perfect agreement in style and language. Hence arguments for or against the antiquity of the Acts affect the Third Gospel also, and therefore, to some extent, the First and Second as well. So we will consider first its _accuracy_, then its _authorship_, and lastly its _date_. (_A._) ITS ACCURACY. Now, this book, unlike the Gospels, deals with a large number of public men and places, many of which are well known from secular history, while inscriptions referring to others have been recently discovered. It is thus liable to be detected at every step if inaccurate; yet, with the doubtful exception of the date of the rebellion of Theudas, and some details as to the death of Herod Agrippa, no error can be discovered. As this is practically undisputed, we need not discuss the evidence in detail, but will give three examples. (1.) _The titles of different rulers._ We will commence with the _titles_ given to different rulers. As is well known, the Roman provinces were of two kinds, some belonging to the Emperor, and some to the Senate. The former were governed by _proprætors_, or when less important by _procurators_, and the latter by _proconsuls_, though they frequently changed hands. Moreover, individual places had often special names for their rulers; yet in every case the writer of the Acts uses the proper title. For example, the ruler at Cyprus is rightly called _proconsul_.[238] This used to be thought a mistake, but we now know that it is correct; for though Cyprus had previously belonged to the Emperor, it had been exchanged with the Senate for another province before the time in question. And an inscription[239] found there at Soli has the words in Greek, _Paulus proconsul_, probably the Sergius Paulus of the Acts. Cyprus, it may be added, subsequently changed hands again. [Footnote 238: Acts. 13. 7.] [Footnote 239: Cyprus, by Cesnola (London, 1877), p. 425.]