Understanding 'Word of God' in Acts

In the book of Acts, the phrase 'Word of God' is frequently used but does not always refer to the biblical Scripture as commonly understood. During the time of Acts, the New Testament did not exist as a compiled text; the early Christians expressed their faith through the oral proclamation of the message of salvation rather than citing specific verses. For instance, references to proclaiming the 'Word of God' in various contexts signify the overarching message about Jesus Christ being the Messiah, alive and crucified, rather than direct quotes from the New Testament. This distinction emphasizes that the early church was focused on conveying the transformative message of salvation rather than adhering strictly to a scripture-based discourse.