Between History and Spirit: The Apostolic Witness of the Book of Acts

by Craig Keener

Publisher:

Cascade

, 2020

Overview

Craig Keener is known for his meticulous work on New Testament backgrounds, but especially his detailed work on the book of Acts. Now, for the first time in book form, Cascade presents his key essays on Acts, with special focus on historical questions and matters related to God’s Spirit.

Key Features

• Covers a range of time and topics related to Acts
• Focuses on historical questions and matters related to God’s Spirit
• Explores related topics including postcolonialism, Pentecostal theology, and African history

Contents

Part 1: A Question of History

• Luke-Acts and the Historical Jesus
• First-Person Claims in Acts and in Ancient History
• Paul and Sedition: Pauline Apologetic in Acts
• The Church’s Disputed Growth Rate in Acts (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 21:20)
• A Novel Official in Acts 8:27? Comparing Acts and Ancient Novels
• Were Troops Really Stationed in Caesarea During Agrippa’s Rule?
• Dionysius or Stephanas: Did Paul Reach Athenians?

Part 2: A Question of Context

• Interethnic Marriages in Acts 7:29 and 16:1–3
• Irony and Figurative Language: Inverted Guilt in Acts 7:55–60 and Paul’s Vote in Acts 26:10
• Turning from Idols in Acts 14:15–17
• Between Asia and Europe: Postcolonial Mission in Acts 16:8–10
• How were Asiarchs Paul’s friends (Acts 19:31)?
• One New Temple: Acts 21 as the backdrop for Eph 2:11–22
• Some Rhetorical Techniques in Acts 24:2–21
• Insanity, Inspiration or Intellect: Paul’s Madness in Acts 26:24–25
• Fever and Dysentery in Acts 28:8 and Ancient Medicine

Part 3: A Question of Spirit

• Miracles and History in Acts and the Jesus Tradition
• Power of Pentecost: Luke’s Missiology in Acts 1–2
• Tongues as Evidence of the Character of Spirit’s Empowerment in Acts 2:4
• Acts 16:16–18, 19:12–16, and Spirit Possession in Modern Anthropology
• A Spirit-Filled Teaching Ministry in Acts 19:9
• Anticipating Ancient African Christianity
• Reviews of Some Acts-focused Works

Top Highlights

“Historians also recognized that sources closer in time to the events reported were likelier accurate than reports about the distant past;⁶⁴ this criterion is relevant to Luke, who writes at the remove of only perhaps half a century after the primary events of his Gospel,⁶⁵ and much closer to the conclusion of Acts.” (Page 10)

“Historians and biographers could employ clear narrative asides to articulate their perspectives.³⁸ Jewish historiography likewise valued the interpretive element.³⁹ Ancient historiography generally included the epideictic practice of assigning praise and blame.” (Pages 7–8)

“Basic education in antiquity stressed memorization,⁸⁴ although at an advanced level paraphrase was also expected.” (Page 13)

“psychological and social memory usually preserve what they retain in gist rather than verbatim form” (Page 13)

“Alone among the Gospels, Luke offers what appears very much like the prefaces found in histories” (Page 12)

Endorsements

In recent years, Craig Keener has become a respected expert on Acts. In this volume he offers probing explorations into various interesting historical, exegetical, and theological questions and concerns. Few scholars that I know can wear so comfortably the hats of judicious historian, incisive exegete, and inspiring theologian.

—Nijay K. Gupta, Associate Professor of New Testament, Portland Seminary

Whether Keener delves into his favorite topics such as socio-historical contexts, matters of historical reliability, or Luke’s theology of signs and wonders, these hidden gems are now available in a convenient volume on Acts that encompasses two decades of research by a top-tier Lukan scholar.

—Martin Mittelstadt, Professor of New Testament, Evangel University

Craig Keener is a scholar who refuses the separation of history, theology, and experience. This collected volume of prior essays showcases Keener’s deep investment in each of these realms over the years, and reading through them is, for those who know Keener’s work, like visiting a group of old friends. Come and join the reunion; it is rich indeed.

—Holly Beers, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Westmont College

Product Details

• Title: Between History and Spirit: The Apostolic Witness of the Book of Acts
• Author: Craig Keener
• Publisher: Cascade
• Print Publication Date: 2020
• Logos Release Date: 2020
• Pages: 468
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. N.T. Acts › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Bible. N.T. Acts › Theology; Holy Spirit
• ISBNs: 9781532684104, 9781532684111, 9781532684128, 153268410X, 1532684118, 1532684126
• Resource ID: LLS:BTWNHISTSPIRIT
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:23:17Z

About Craig Keener

Dr. Craig S. Keener (PhD, Duke University) is professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, and is the author of 17 books, four of which have won book awards in Christianity Today. One, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, has sold more than half a million copies. He has authored scholarly commentaries on Matthew, John (two volumes), Acts (four volumes), and more briefly on Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Revelation. Dr. Keener is married to Dr. Médine Moussounga Keener, who spent 18 months as a refugee in her nation of Congo before their marriage.