Westminster Bible Companion: Acts
Overview
In this book, Paul Walaskay discusses Luke's description of the early church, its leadership, and its struggles as a people of God amid competing religious claims. He helps the reader understand Luke and his contemporaries and examines the first-century church's situation in light of today's issues.
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- Provides a thorough introduction to and a critical reading of Acts
- Unfolds the various contexts and principles found in Scripture
- Helps prepare pastors, students, and laity relay the Bible's teaching in a clear way
- From Jerusalem to the Ends of the Earth
- Jerusalem: The Birth of the Christian Community
- Jerusalem and Samaria: The Church Reaches Out to Hellenistic Jews and to Samaritans
- The Church Reaches Out to Gentiles
- Mission and Persecution
- Paul’s First Missionary Journey
- The First Christian Council
- Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
- Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
- Paul on Trial (I)
- Paul on Trial (II)
- Paul on Trial (III)
- Paul on Trial (IV)
- Paul’s Odyssey to Rome
Top Highlights
“Luke records that on that birthday of the church, that first Christian Pentecost, ‘about three thousand persons were added’ to the community (v. 41).” (Page 46)
“The coming of the Holy Spirit as a fulfillment of Jesus’ promise (1:5) is perhaps the most important event in the life of the early church. Luke knew that the significance of this event could not be overstated. It stands as proof to all the world (‘Jews from every nation’; 2:5) that God Almighty, the God of the patriarchs and matriarchs of Israel, the God of the kings and prophets of Judah, the one who created all that is, is at work among this small band of people. This same God, who breathed the creative breath of life over the face of the deep, has again breathed the divine breath of creation into these Galilean Jews. This is a major theological theme for Luke (one is tempted to say the major theme; see the Introduction).” (Pages 33–34)
“Yes, some of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem may have been in league with the Roman procurator out of fear that Jesus was a threat to their positions of power. But to suggest as Peter or Luke does that ‘the Jews’ crucified Jesus is an exaggeration that is not historically accurate.” (Page 42)
“By the first century c.e., the Day of Pentecost had become primarily a celebration of God’s gift of the law of Moses to Israel.” (Page 34)
“In Jesus’ final statement to his apostles he promises that they will receive power—not to rule, but to witness.” (Page 28)
This commentary admirably succeeds in meeting its goals of providing a guided journey for the historical imagination of the laity.
—Robert K. McIver, Review of Biblical Literature
- Title: Acts
- Author: Paul W. Walaskay
- Series: Westminster Bible Companion
- Publisher: Westminster John Knox
- Print Publication Date: 1998
- Logos Release Date: 2013
- Pages: 250
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible. N.T. Acts › Commentaries
- Resource ID: LLS:WBCS65AC
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-10-05T17:25:45Z
