Inter-Varsity Press

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Contents

Editor’s Preface

Author’s Preface

INTRODUCTION

I. Authorship and Date

A. Authorship

B. Date

II. Genre

A. The Unity of Luke and Acts

B. Ancient Literary Models for Acts

1. Historical Monograph

2. Biography

3. Historical Novel

C. Acts and Biblical Histories

D. Conclusion about Genre

III. Sources, Rhetoric, and Historical Reliability

A. Sources

B. Rhetoric

C. Historical Reliability

IV. Character, Structure, and Purpose

A. Character

1. A Theological History

2. A Narrative Dominated by Speeches

3. A Narrative of Fulfillment

B. Structure

1. The Progress of ‘the Word’

2. Further Indications of Expansion and Church Growth

3. An Expositional Outline

C. Purpose

V. Interpretive Issues

A. Literary Approaches to Acts

B. Some Editorial Techniques with Thematic Implications

1. Editorial Summaries

2. Inclusions

3. Use of Key Terms

4. Use of Scripture

5. Speeches, with Patterns of Repetition

6. Narrative Repetition

7. Parallel Accounts

8. Contrasting Accounts

9. Some Significant Geographical, Cultural, and Social Indicators

C. Characterisation

VI. Textual Matters

THE THEOLOGY OF ACTS

I. God and His Plan

II. Jesus as Messiah and Lord

III. The Holy Spirit

IV. Salvation

V. The Gospel

VI. The Atoning Work of Jesus

VII. Witness and Mission

VIII. Miracles

IX. Magic and the Demonic

X. The Church

COMMENTARY

I. Introduction and Recapitulation:

The Mission Plan of the Risen Lord (1:1-14)

A. The Promise of the Spirit (1:1-5)

B. The Commissioning of the Apostles (1:6-8)

C. The Ascension of Christ and Its Aftermath (1:9-14)

II. The Word in Jerusalem (1:15–6:7)

A. Completion of the Apostolic Circle (1:15-26)

1. The Fate of Judas (1:15-20)

2. The Choice of Matthias (1:21-26) 126

B. The Restoration of Israel Begins (2:1-41)

1. The Coming of the Spirit (2:1-13)

2. Peter’s Interpretation of the Event (2:14-41)

a. The Gift of the Spirit Is a Sign That the Day of the Lord Is at Hand (2:14-21)

b. Jesus Is the Lord on Whom to Call for Salvation (2:22-36)

c. Calling upon Jesus Involves Repentance and Baptism in His Name (2:37-41)

C. The Community Created by the Spirit (2:42-47)

D. A Particular Sign of the Messianic Restoration (3:1-26)

1. Healing in the Name of Jesus (3:1-10)

2. Peter’s Interpretation of the Sign (3:11-26)

a. The Author of Life (3:11-16)

b. The Appointed Messiah (3:17-21)

c. The Prophet like Moses (3:22-26)

E. The Leadership of the New Israel (4:1-22)

1. Proclaiming in Jesus the Resurrection from the Dead (4:1-12)

2. Teaching the People in the Name of Jesus (4:13-22)

F. The Boldness and Generosity of the New Israel (4:23-37)

1. Their Prayer for Boldness (4:23-31)

2. Their Impressive Generosity (4:32-37)

G. The Awesome Presence of God (5:1-16)

1. Judgment in the Church (5:1-11)

2. Signs and Wonders among the People (5:12-16)

H. Conflict with the Authorities Again (5:17-42)

1. The Apostles Are Re-arrested (5:17-33)

2. The Moderating Influence of Gamaliel (5:34-40)

3. The Ministry of the Apostles Continues (5:41-42)

I. Resolution of a Significant Conflict in the Jerusalem Church (6:1-7)

III. The Word Goes Out from Jerusalem (6:8–9:31)

A. The Prophetic Ministry of Stephen (6:8-15)

B. Stephen’s ‘Defence’ (7:1-56)

1. The Foundational Promises to Abraham (7:2-8)

2. Joseph Blessed with Grace and Wisdom for the Salvation of God’s People (7:9-16)

3. Moses Blessed with Wisdom and Power, in Words and Deeds, for the Salvation of God’s People (7:17-38)

4. Jesus Rejected as Part of a Continuing Pattern of Disobedience to God (7:39-53)

5. Jesus as the Glorified Son of Man (7:54-56)

C. Stephen’s Martyrdom (7:57-60)

Additional Note: The Use of Scripture in Stephen’s Speech

D. Persecution Leads to Expansion (8:1-3)

E. The Word Goes to Samaria (8:4-25)

1. Some Samaritans Find Their True Deliverer (8:5-13)

2. Jerusalem Witnesses Samaria’s Reception of the Holy Spirit (8:14-17)

3. A Pretender Is Exposed (8:18-25)

F. The Word Goes to Ethiopia (8:26-40)

1. A Divinely Arranged Encounter (8:26-31)

2. Finding Christ in the Scriptures (8:32-38)

3. Philip’s Continuing Ministry (8:39-40)

G. Saul’s Conversion and Commissioning (9:1-19a)

1. Meeting the Ascended Lord (9:1-9)

2. Accepted into the Fellowship of the Persecuted Church (9:10-19a)

H. Saul Preaches in Damascus and Jerusalem (9:19b-31)

1. Proclaiming the Son of God in Damascus (9:19b-25)

2. Disputing with Hellenists in Jerusalem (9:26-31)

IV. The Word Advances in Judea and Syria (9:32–12:25)

A. Peter’s Pastoral and Evangelistic Ministry in Western Judea (9:32-43)

1. Healing Aeneas in Lydda (9:32-35)

2. Raising Tabitha/Dorcas in Joppa (9:36-43)

B. Peter’s Role in the Evangelisation of the Gentiles (10:1-48)

1. Two Significant Visions (10:1-16)

2. Two Significant Journeys (10:17-29)

3. Salvation for Gentiles in the Fellowship of the Spirit (10:30-48)

C. Peter’s Report to the Church in Jerusalem (11:1-18)

1. Peter Is Called to Account (11:1-3)

2. Peter Recalls God’s Direction and Control (11:4-17)

3. The Church Acknowledges God’s Leading (11:18)

D. The Word Goes to Antioch in Syria (11:19-30)

1. The Planting of a New Church (11:19-21)

2. The Encouraging Ministry of Barnabas and Saul (11:22-26)

3. Generosity in Ministry to Christians in Jerusalem (11:27-30)

E. Peter’s Deliverance in Jerusalem (12:1-25)

1. Persecution and Arrest (12:1-5)

2. Unexpected Deliverance (12:6-19)

3. Divine Judgment on Herod Agrippa I (12:20-23)

4. The Word Continues to Grow (12:24-25)

V. The Word Goes to Cyprus and Asia Minor (13:1–16:5) 372

A. The Release of Barnabas and Saul from Antioch

in Syria (13:1-3) 373

B. The Word in Cyprus (13:4-12) 377

C. The Word in Pisidian Antioch (13:13-52) 383

1. Ministry in the Synagogue (13:13-43) 384

a. The Election of Israel and the Election of David

(13:17-23) 387

b. Jesus the Fulfiller of the Promise to David (13:24-37)

c. The Challenge Not to Miss Out on the Salvation

Available through Jesus (13:38-43) 393

2. Turning to the Gentiles: Fulfillling the Servant’s Role

(13:44-52) 396

Additional Note: A Gospel for the Jew First 400

D. The Word in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (14:1-20) 402

1. Concerted Opposition in Iconium (14:1-7) 403

2. Encountering Paganism in Lystra (14:8-20) 406

E. Revisiting the Churches (14:21-28) 412

F. The Jerusalem Council (15:1-35) 419

1. The Need for the Council (15:1-5) 419

2. The Proceedings of the Council (15:6-29) 423

a. Debate (15:6-21) 424

b. Resolution (15:22-29) 436

3. The Result of the Council (15:30-35) 440

Additional Note: The Meaning and Application

of the Council Narrative 442

G. Disagreement between Paul and Barnabas (15:36-41) 446

H. Revisiting the South Galatian Churches (16:1-5) 449

VI. The Word Goes to Europe (16:6–18:22) 452

A. Remarkable Guidance (16:6-10) 453

B. Salvation Comes to Philippi (16:11-34) 457

1. Lydia and Her Household (16:11-15) 458

2. A Fortune-Teller and Her Masters (16:16-24) 462

3. A Jailer and His Household (16:25-34) 467

C. Leaving Philippi Peacefully (16:35-40) 471

D. The Word in Thessalonica and Berea (17:1-15) 476

1. The Gospel Provokes Jealousy and Turmoil (17:1-9) 476

2. The Gospel Provokes an Eager Searching

of the Scriptures (17:10-15) 483

E. The Word in Athens (17:16-34) 486

1. Responding to Idolatry (17:16-21) 487

2. Establishing God’s Claim on All People (17:22-31) 493

a. The Truth about God (17:24-25) 495

b. The Truth about Humanity (17:26-29) 496

c. The Truth about Divine Judgment (17:30-31) 501

3. Founding a Church (17:32-34)

F. The Word in Corinth (18:1-17) 505

1. Jews Together in Corinth (18:1-4) 506

2. A New Centre for Ministry (18:5-8) 509

3. An Encouraging Vision (18:9-11) 513

4. Jews and Christians in Public Dispute (18:12-17) 515

G. Completion of the Second Missionary Journey (18:18-22) 519

VII. The Word in Ephesus: Climax of Paul’s Mission as a

Free Man (18:23–20:38) 522

A. Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos in Ephesus (18:23-28) 523

B. Twelve Disciples of John the Baptist

Become Christians (19:1-7) 527

C. Teaching and Mighty Works in Asia (19:8-20) 533

1. From Synagogue to Lecture Hall (19:8-10) 534

2. Miracles and Their Impact (19:11-20) 536

D. Provoking the Idolaters (19:21-40) 542

E. Encouraging the Churches in Macedonia, Greece,

and Troas (20:1-12) 554

F. Saying Farewell to the Ephesian Elders (20:13-38) 559

1. Gathering (20:13-17) 561

2. Recalling the Past (20:18-21) 563

3. Facing the Future (20:22-35) 565

a. Paul’s Future in Jerusalem (20:22-24) 565

b. Paul’s Confidence in Saying Farewell (20:25-27) 567

c. The Elders and the Future of the Ephesian Church

(20:32-35) 568

d. The Grounds for Confidence (20:32-35) 571

4. Departing (20:36-38) 574

VIII. Paul’s Final Journey: To Jerusalem and Rome (21:1–28:31) 574

A. Following the Way of Jesus (21:1-16) 576

1. From Miletus to Tyre (21:1-6) 577

2. From Tyre to Jerusalem (21:7-16) 578

B. Captured in Jerusalem (21:17-40) 583

1. A Well-Meaning Proposal (21:17-26) 583

2. Misrepresented and Attacked (21:27-32) 588

3. Arrested and Questioned (21:33-40) 591

C. Defending His Mission and His Gospel (22:1-21) 595

1. Paul’s Former Life in Judaism (22:3-5)

2. Paul’s Encounter with the Risen Jesus (22:6-11) 598

3. Ananias and the Redirection of Paul’s Life (22:12-16) 600

4. Paul’s Subsequent Vision in the Temple (22:17-21) 603

D. Claiming His Right as a Roman Citizen (22:22-30) 606

E. Appearing before the Sanhedrin (23:1-11) 611

F. Rescued from Death Again (23:12-35) 619

1. Hatching the Plot (23:12-15) 620

2. Exposing the Plot (23:16-22) 621

3. Preventing the Plot (23:23-35) 622

G. Appearing before Felix (24:1-27) 629

1. The Accusation of the Jews (24:1-9) 630

2. Paul’s Defence (24:10-23) 633

3. Challenging Felix and Drusilla Personally (24:24-27) 639

H. Appearing before Festus (25:1-22) 645

1. Festus Meets Paul’s Accusers (25:1-5) 645

2. Paul Appeals to Caesar (25:6-12) 646

3. Festus Consults Agrippa (25:13-22) 650

I. Before Agrippa (25:23–26:32) 654

1. Festus Initiates the Proceedings (25:23-27) 655

2. Paul’s Defence (26:1-23) 658

a. His Jewish Credentials (26:1-11) 659

b. His Calling and Mission (26:12-23) 664

3. Paul’s Personal Appeal and the Outcome (26:24-32) 672

J. Journeying to Rome (27:1–28:15) 678

1. From Caesarea to Malta (27:1-44) 680

a. Sailing into Danger (27:1-20) 681

b. Trusting God’s Word (27:21-38) 689

c. Experiencing God’s Deliverance (27:39-44) 694

Additional Note: Salvation Temporal and

Eternal 696

2. From Malta to Rome (28:1-15) 698

a. Hospitality from Pagans (28:1-10) 698

b. Hospitality from Christians (28:11-15) 703

K. Paul’s Ministry in the Imperial Capital (28:16-31) 706

1. Reporting to the Jewish Leaders (28:16-22) 707

2. Responding to Jewish Rejection (28:23-28[29]) 713

3. Welcoming All with the Gospel (28:30-31)