Who did Luke write the Book of Acts to?

Luke wrote the Book of Acts to Theophilus.

Acts opens by addressing “Theophilus” and referring to an earlier work about Jesus’ life and teachings. That “former book” is traditionally identified as the Gospel of Luke, making Acts the second volume of a larger two-part account. Luke explains that his purpose was to continue the story of Jesus through the apostles and the growth of the early Christian movement.

Theophilus is often described as a person of status because Luke addresses him with the honorific “most excellent” in Luke 1:3. His exact identity is unknown. Some historians think he was a wealthy patron who supported the writing and publication of Luke’s work; others suggest the name may have had a broader symbolic meaning, since Theophilus means “friend of God.”

A common mix-up is thinking Acts was written directly to Paul, Peter, or all Christians as its named recipient. Although the book focuses heavily on Peter, Paul, and the spread of Christianity, Theophilus is the individual named in its opening dedication. Traditional Christian teaching identifies Luke as the author, while modern scholars sometimes refer more cautiously to the anonymous author of Luke–Acts.