The book of acts is unique because it is the only book of church history in the new testament. Acts 4 commentary matthew henrys complete commentary on. The title of the book of acts comes from the greek word praxis, a word often used in early christian literature to describe the great deeds of the apostles or other significant believers. Second principle the second principle is to identify the literary units.
The book of the acts hardcover january 1, 1955 by f. Acts is a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. Bruces revised study on the book of acts is a contribution to the new international commentary on the new testament. The readers study of acts in the book of acts will bring new intimacy with the spirit and new joy in doing his will. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. Interpreters have no right to isolate one aspect of truth by excluding others.
There are a number of good commentaries on the book of acts. Although the author does not identify himself by name, scholars have ascribed the authorship of gospel of luke and the book of acts to luke, the companion of paul. Several questions can be answered from the first 2 verses. It opens with a greeting to theophilus, who was also the intended recipient of lukes gospel. Acts furnishes a ladder on which to place the epistles. A promise for the disciples now and a promise to return 1. But stephen reminded the jews that god was bigger than any temple. Luke mentioned the holy spirit 57 times in the book of acts, and according to schultz 2002. Commentary on the book of acts of the apostles by matthew. The account of the gospel spreading to the gentiles is the story of the roots of our faith. Now the second volume, acts, will detail jesus continuing work through his apostles that he had chosen and the work of the holy spirit who would be. It is intended to help you better understand some of the background and issues in lukes second volume.
The book begins with the ascension of jesus into heaven acts 1. Before each chapter of this book, portions of scripture will be sug gested to read. Therefore, christians have the acts of the apostles to provide a story of the establishment and growth of the christian church. Commentary on the book of james relevant bible teaching. Andrews expositional commentary series, are the result of years of careful preparation and weekly, biblecentered preaching. The present commentary, necessarily partaking of the character of the book which it is designed to illustrate, is more historical than doctrinal. Stephen said some words from the book by the prophet isaiah isaiah 66. The gospel of luke and the acts of the apostles make up a two volume work which. When the gospel went to samaria acts 8, people who. One story in two parts reformed theological college.
Bruce rylands professor of biblical criticism and exegesis, university of manchester, england introduces this exellcent commentary on the book of acts with a fitting discussion on the canonicity of the new testament, aptly noting that marcions canon did not compel them to create the canon of holy scripture which has ever since, with minor variations, been accepted by the church. Further, this volume also contains informative notes from the editor. One reason for concluding both books came from the same author is that both. The book of acts is the link between the gospels and the epistles. The beautiful, amazing, powerful, weak, dysfunctional church a chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 6 acts 1 50 days 1.
Stein, editors volumes now available luke darrell l. Pdf versions of past issue contents, and encourage them to request. Chapter 1 verse 1 establishes the fact that luke a gentile is the writer, the former treatise being his gospel lk. For the following reasons, luke is generally considered to be the inspired author of acts. Bock phd, university of aberdeen is research professor of. Without acts, the actions of the early church would be unknown to us except for a few facts we could glean from the writings of paul. The temple in this book called acts was the third temple.
Top 5 commentaries on the book of acts ligonier ministries. The following are the five that i have found to be the most helpful. It traces the first decades in the history of the church after the resurrection of christ, focusing in particular on the work of peter and paul. You can find the best commentary on acts for you using the tools on the right side. Luke had written to him before and had told him about the things that jesus did and taught. After rising from the dead, jesus met with his disciples and followers, giving convincing proofs that he was alive. Acts with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The message of acts is the church of jesus christ is divinely established and spiritually empowered to proclaim the gospel and plant believing communities locally, regionally, and globally. This bulletin has in recent years carried a lecture on thepaulinism of. One reason for concluding both books came from the.
Commentary on the book of james james 1 1james, a bondservant of god and of the lord jesus christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad. This bulletin has in recent years carried a lecture on the paulinism of acts2 and dr. The main issues revolve around whether he is a man perhaps a greek official for whom lukeacts is an apologetic for the gospel or a kind of generic. Peter wagner, phd, holds graduate degrees in theology, missiology, and religion from fuller theological seminary, princeton theological seminary. The author of acts had written a former account of jesus life. In this passage, luke is restating the great commission challenge jesus gave in luke 24. This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source with renderx xep formatter, version 3.
Personal repentance and new life through baptism must lead to a committed group of believers who share their property and wealth, and take care of each other. The holy spirit is the author of this book, and god is a god of order, so its incumbent upon us to look for that order and understand it o the book of acts has several di. Purpose of the book as indicated previously, the original purpose of both the gospel and acts may have been to assist. Robertsons understanding takes us through a cast of characters, and. Toussaint, acts, in the bible knowledge commentary. A chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 6 acts 1 50 days 1. Read acts commentary using commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of god. If the book of acts were gone, there would be nothing to replace it howson. He cites an encyclopedia entry which he believes best represents the book.
The beheading of james and the imprisonment of peter. With bible gateway plus, you gain instant access to a digital bible study library, including complete notes from the niv cultural backgrounds study bible and the new bible commentary. Acts of the apostles 4 imprisonment in rome are 6062 a. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy. For this reason, this study guide commentary is designed to provide an introduction to each book of the bible. Commentary of the book of acts english text edition by f. If the book was just before or after pauls release, then it was likely written around 63 a. God gave them a sign of the acceptance of their prayers acts 4. His name being changed to paul, he is given special revelations from god as to the heavenly character of christianity, and these take the foremost place before the book of acts closes.
Prepared by some of the worlds leading scholars, the series provides an exposition of the new testament books that is thorough and fully abreast of modern scholarship yet faithful to the scriptures as the infallible word of god. The study of acts is a challenge partly because of its length. Acts of the apostles bible study notes, commentary, and comments. Written in the late 19th century, commentary on the acts of the apostles is a versebyverse look at acts, which mcgarvey believed many theologians had misunderstood before. The gospel according to luke also called the gospel of luke, or simply luke, is the third of the. Acts commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. When they had prayed perhaps many of them prayed successively, one by one, according to the rule 1 corinthians 14.
Readers will follow sproul as he preaches through the book of acts. Written by luke, the book of acts has a prominent missionary theme because it details the rapid growth of the early church and the first missionary efforts. Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of acts e. For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own conversion experience with those in acts.
Calvins commentary on acts should not be ignored by anyone interested in the book of acts or calvin himself. The offering sent by barnabas and saul to the jerusalem elders. Acts 1 the books is a special book in the new testament o its the historical account of the apostles and the spread of the church outward from jerusalem following jesus resurrection as many have noted, its probably misnamed its called the acts of the apostles, but it only covers the. Peter is not mentioned in acts after the account of the council. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. The first volume, the gospel of luke, shows as luke says, all that jesus began to do and teach. The holy spirit the holy spirit was a critical part of the organizational development of the early church. James takes the familiar identity of a bondservant in his greeting, evidencing his humility and obedience to his lord jesus christ.
The first principle is to note the historical setting in which a biblical book was. This title accurately reflects the contents of the book, which is a series of vignettes chronicling the lives of key apostles especially peter and paul in. Authorship it is generally held that luke, the physician and traveling companion of paul wrote both the gospel of luke and the book of acts. Study the bible online using commentary on acts and more. Interpretation through the exegesis of acts 1 and 2.
Mantey, a manual grammar of the greek new testament, pp. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. The new testament without the book of acts leaves a great yawning gap. Emeritus professor in the university of manchester the study of the acts of the apostles shows no signs of slackening.
There has been much debate as to the purpose of acts. Both the gospel of luke and the book of acts are addressed to theophilus. Baker exegetical commentary on the new testament robert w. This commentary is based upon my personal devotional notes and reflections on the book of acts. It is a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. But ye will receive power, the holy spirit having come upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses both in jerusalem and in all judaea and samaria and to the end of the earth. The books of acts and luke are both addressed to whom. Doughty southside christian church january 2014 introduction. The main issues revolve around whether he is a man perhaps a greek official for whom luke acts is an apologetic for the gospel or a kind of generic. The acts of the apostles is one of the most exciting and action packed books in the. Spirit is central to the book beginning on pentecost acts 2. We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early apostles and preachers 3.
Read acts commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible concise. The initial question regards the identity of theophilus, the one for whom the book is written. Its subject and intention is nicely summarised by the words of the lord in chapter 1. The unity of the spirit felt by the first christians when the. The design of luke, in writing acts, was to supply, by select and suitable instances, an. The new testament without acts leaves a great, yawning gap.