Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Luke, Acts (CBC)
Overview
The Gospel of Luke, which has been described by Ernest Renan as “the most beautiful book in the world” is the first part of a 2-volume work devoted to the life of Jesus and the opening years of the Christian church. In Luke’s Gospel, we are introduced to “everything Jesus began to do and teach” prior to his ascension. In the second volume, the book of Acts, Luke picks up the story of the years following the Ascension, showing the growth of the Christian movement and noting the stages of its expansion from Jerusalem to Rome. Luke’s perspective on the life of Jesus and the early Christian movement is vitally important for gaining a grasp of the overall message of the New Testament, and the commentary by William J. Larking and Allison A. Trites guides readers through.
Top Highlights
“In any case, the circumstances point to Jesus’ birth as taking place in poverty, obscurity, and possibly rebuff and rejection (cf. John 1:11). Thus, the lowly Son of Man entered this world in a most unpretentious way. The presence of the shepherds in Luke’s nativity account is noteworthy (2:8, 15). They were considered dishonest (b. Sanhedrin 25b) and were viewed as ‘unclean according to the standards of the law. They represent the outcasts and sinners for whom Jesus came [Luke 19:10]. Such outcasts were the first recipients of the good news’ (Stein 1992:108).” (Page 54)
“The dialogue between Jesus and the lawyer is illuminating. It ‘illustrates the difference between the ethics of law and the ethics of love. To the lawyer, eternal life is a prize to be won by the meticulous observance of religious rules; to Jesus, love to God and neighbour is in itself the life of the heavenly kingdom, already begun on earth. The lawyer wants moral duties limited and defined with a rabbinical thoroughness; Jesus declines to set any limits to the obligations of love. Religion to the one is a set of restrictive regulations, to the other a boundless series of opportunities’ (Caird 1963:148).” (Page 172)
“The form of the question seems to indicate a concept of salvation that depends upon works rather than on the grace of God (cf. Eph 2:8–9; Titus 3:5). The emphasis appears to be on what is required of human beings rather than on what God gives to those who reach out to him with a sense of need (cf. 18:13–14). However, the fact that Jesus commended him for this answer points to the conclusion that gift and demand must always be kept in balance. Salvation is a gracious gift of God, but a proper response must be forthcoming in grateful, loving service to God, expressed in keeping his commandments (6:46–49; cf. Matt 7:21).” (Page 169)
- Title: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Luke, Acts
- Authors: William J. Larkin and Allison A. Trites
- Publisher: Tyndale
- Publication Date: 2007
- Pages: 688
William J. Larkin is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and has an active ministry in adult Christian education, particularly Bible teaching. He holds a B.A. from Wheaton College, a B.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from the University of Durham, England, and has served in various pastorates as well as being on faculty at Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Missions since 1975. He also served on the Bible Translation Committee for the NLT. He is also the author of the commentary on Acts in the IVP New Testament Commentary Series.
Allison A. Trites served as professor of Greek and New Testament at the Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, for thirty-seven years. He has also provided leadership beyond the walls of the college, having served as president of the United Baptist Convention of the Atlantic Provinces, chair of the Deacon's Board of the Wolfville Baptist Church, Baptist representative on the Canadian Council for Theological Education, as well as countless other volunteer positions.