Reading Acts

The approach of this commentary is to ask how ancient Mediterranean auditors would have heard Acts when it was read in their presence. To be successful Talbert divides this approach into two parts: how Acts would have been heard in its precanonical context and in its canonical context. He examines Acts thematically from the perspective of preparing for the church’s Mission to fulfilling the Mission. In the sections of fulfilling the Mission, Talbert concentrates on Pentecost, Philip’s Mission, Peter’s preaching, and Paul’s conversion and missionary journeys. Talbert includes two appendixes, focusing on the historicity of Acts and aspects of biography in Mediterranean antiquity.