Acts (IVP New Testament Commentary Series | IVPNTC)

by William J. Larkin

Publisher:

IVP Academic

, 1995

Overview

If ever there was a hostile environment for the gospel, it was the strife-torn ethnically diverse backwater of the Roman Empire known as Palestine following the ascension of Jesus. In the sequel to his Gospel, Luke tells how the Holy Spirit transformed a ragtag band of believers into a unified, world-engaging church. Beginning from Jerusalem, they made converts throughout Judea, Samaria and the rest of the known world.

Followers of Christ in our own increasingly postmodern, post-Christian culture can find here inspiration and insight that will aid them in their own witness to the unchanging Lord of life. In this engaging, pastorally oriented commentary, readers will find an introduction with background material concerning authorship, date and purpose, as well as a summary of important theological themes. A passage-by-passage exposition follows that focuses on understanding what Luke had to say to his original readers in order to see its relevance for the church today.

Contents

Top Highlights

“To be a witness (martys) is to speak from personal knowledge of facts and their significance.” (Acts 1:6–11)

“The outpouring of the Spirit produced not just momentary enthusiasm but four continuing commitments: to learn, to care, to fellowship and to worship. The apostles’ teaching probably included an account of Jesus’ life and ministry, his ethical and practical teachings, warnings about persecution and false teaching, and the christocentric Old Testament hermeneutic. But at its center was the gospel message. And so today, to devote oneself to the apostles’ teaching means evangelism as well as edification (4:2; 5:42; 15:35).” (Acts 2:42)

“what we do or do not do with our material possessions is an indicator of the Spirit’s presence or absence’” (Acts 2:44–47)

“This commission lays an obligation on all Christians…. The Christian church, according to Acts, is a missionary church that responds obediently to Jesus’ commission’” (Acts 1:6–11)

“Acts 1:8 sets out clearly what the church is to be doing until Jesus returns” (Acts 1:6–11)

Product Details

• Title: Acts
• Author: William J. Larkin
• Series: IVP New Testament Commentary
• Volume: 5
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Print Publication Date: 1995
• Logos Release Date: 2001
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. Acts › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9780830861330, 0830861335
• Resource ID: LLS:29.49.5
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-28T20:03:12Z

About William J. Larkin

William J. Larkin Jr. (1945–2014) (PhD, University of Durham) was a biblical studies professor and an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America. He joined the faculty of Columbia Biblical Seminary in 1975 after a year of pastoral ministry in Philadelphia and the completion of graduate study in England. His passion was preparing pastors and missionaries, through the study of the Greek New Testament, to communicate God’s Word accurately and effectively as a “missions document."

Dr. Larkin was a member of the Evangelical Missiological Society, the Evangelical Theological Society, the Institute for Biblical Research, and the Society of Biblical Literature. He has written articles and reviews for various periodicals including Bulletin of Biblical Research, Evangelical Missions Quarterly, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, and Themelios. He has contributed to The Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, The Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments, and The Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions. He is the author of several books, including Greek Is Great Gain, the IVP New Testament Commentary volume on Acts, and the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary volume on Luke and Acts.