Like Ben Witherington's previous commentary Conflict and Community in Corinth, this commentary breaks fresh ground in providing a detailed social and rhetorical analysis of the book of Acts.
Like Ben Witherington's previous commentary Conflict and Community in Corinth, this commentary breaks fresh ground in providing a detailed social and rhetorical analysis of the book of Acts.
Written in a readable style, with more detailed interaction with scholarly discussion found in the various excursuses, this commentary draws on the best new insights from a number of disciplines (narratological studies of Luke-Acts, archaeological and social scientific study of the New Testament, rhetorical analysis of Acts, comparative studies in ancient historiography) to provide the reader with the benefits of recent innovative ways of analyzing the text of Acts.
In addition there is detailed attention to major theological and historical issues, including the question of the relationship of Acts to the Pauline letters, the question of early Christian history and how the church grew and developed, the relationship between early Judaism and early Christianity, and the relationship between Christianity and the officials of the Roman Empire.
Acts is seen as a historical monograph with affinities with the approaches of serious Greek historians such as Thucydides and Polybius in terms of methodology, and affinities with some forms of Jewish historiography (including Old Testament history) in terms of content or subject matter.
The book is illustrated with various pictures and charts, which help to bring to light the character and setting of these narratives.
Andrews University Seminary Studies
"There is much that is praiseworthy in this commentary. The helpful 'Closer Look' discussions, references, and extensive bibliography (35 pages of sources), and various discussions of opposing positions, make the work a worthwhile addition to the NT scholar's library. . . This commentary on Acts is a piece of exciting writing and loaded with great alliteration. While its nine-hundred-plus pages do not make it a convenient document to carry around for in-between reading, scholars, seminary students, pastors, and educated laypersons would do well to have a copy on their library shelves."
Currents in Theology and Mission
"An excellent commentary for extended personal or classroom study of Luke as a rhetorician and historian and for detailed analysis of Acts."
Internationale Zeitschriftenschau für Bibelwissenschaft und Grenzgebiete (IZBG)
"This is the most complete and up-to-date commentary on the book of Acts currently available."
The Bible Today
"Massive and richly documented. . . The reader will find here a wealth of information and a cogent and well-balanced commentary on the text, including its theological significance. . . Students of the New Testament and the informed lay reader will benefit greatly from this illuminating commentary."
Themelios
"An outstanding summary of scholarship on Acts. . . Theological students who want a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of Acts research from an evangelical perspective will find it here."
Biblica
"This impressive commentary on the Acts of the Apostles exemplifies Professor Witherington's usual close and cautious reading of the biblical text with careful research in and response to relevant secondary literature. Overall, it is thorough, thoughtful, and balanced, though grounded without apology in his Christian faith perspective on the issues raised by the text."
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Ben Witherington III is Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky, and is on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University, Scotland. Witherington has twice won the
Christianity Today best Biblical Studies book-of-the-year award, and his many books include
We Have Seen His Glory: A Vision of Kingdom Worship and socio-rhetorical commentaries on Mark, Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. He writes a
blog at patheos.com and can also be found on the web at
benwitherington.com.
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