The Acts of the Apostles: An Exposition
Overview
The book of Acts reveals the transition from Judaism to Christianity, from the prominence of the law to the expanse of grace. For Gaebelein, Acts represents the earliest moments whereby grace becomes the normative way by which we know God. Pay attention to Acts, he says, to understand grace.
Gaebelein approaches the book of Acts apart from what Ford C. Ottman calls “the yoke of traditional interpretation” and removed from “the feverish discontent with the supernatural.” In particular, Gaebelein has little tolerance for the higher critics, whose attempts to domesticate the work of the Spirit obfuscate the primary purpose of the book. Gaebelein’s approach brings the work of the Spirit to the fore—especially the Spirit’s role of fulfilling the promises of Jesus. He also explains the ongoing tensions between Jewish expressions of Christianity and a wholesale Gentile embrace of the Gospel. The book of Acts, says Gaebelein, exhorts us toward greater faithfulness and bolder preaching, because the message of the Holy Spirit’s comfort is needed in all times and places. The Acts of the Apostles: An Exposition also includes an introduction, which includes Gaebelein’s outline of the book and a brief discussion about authorship and historicity.
Top Highlights
“He addressed the Jews present as Israel, the covenant Name” (Page 242)
“In John 7:37–39 we read: ‘In the last, the great day of the feast, Jesus” (Page 29)
“In the next place we notice the language Peter uses in quoting Joel: ‘This is that which was spoken through the prophet Joel’; careless and superficial expositors have often stated that Peter said that all this happened in fulfillment of what was spoken by Joel. He did not use the word fulfilled at all. Had he spoken of a fulfillment then of Joel’s prophecy, he would have uttered something which was not true, for the great prophecy of Joel was not fulfilled on that day.” (Pages 52–53)
“From the little word ‘we’ in verse 6, we learn that Luke, the beloved physician, and the penman, used by the Holy Spirit to write this book, joined the Apostle. He had not been with Paul for about seven years. The last ‘we’ was found in Philippi (Acts 16:16) and here in Philippi it is used again. It is more than probable that Luke spent the greater part of his time in that city.” (Page 342)
“The Book of Acts, as a purely historical book, does not contain a single doctrine of the Holy Spirit;” (Page 30)
It is my privilege to commend to the people of God… the volumes of Mr. A. C. Gaebelein…
—C. I. Scofield
[These are] works of wide research…
—Westminster
His writings will never lose their timeliness—a valuable addition to any library.
—United Evangelical Action
- Title: The Acts of the Apostles: An Exposition
- Author: Arno Clemens Gaebelein
- Publisher: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
- Publication Date: 2009
- Pages: 429
Arno Gaebelein (1861–1945) is considered one of America’s truly great Bible teachers. His editorship of the unique Bible study magazine, Our Hope, and his authorship of scores of volumes gave him an international reputation.
He influenced many during his ministry over the last fifty years in many parts of the United States and Canada. A pioneer in the Bible conference movement, he was an original member of the editorial board that assisted Dr. C. I. Scofield in the preparation of the Scofield Reference Bible.
The Annotated Bible, published by Gaebelein, has been a standard reference work for most of a century. The Selected Words of A. C. Gaebelein includes thirteen valuable books and commentaries discuss the Bible’s relevance to world events.
