The College Press NIV Commentary: Acts

by Dennis Gaertner

Publisher:

College Press

, 1995

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Overview

The book of Acts is pivotal not only in our understanding of the events which established the Church of Jesus Christ, but also for providing a connecting link between the four Gospels and the Epistles of the New Testament. Without this record our knowledge of how the message of Jesus Christ came to be a missionary plea to the whole world would be severely weakened. Acts opens with a statement from Jesus which seems to set the tone for the entire work. Jesus promises the Apostles that they will receive power in the form of the Holy Spirit. He then tells them that they will be his "witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (NIV). This theme of being a witness for the Gospel is carried throughout the book of Acts. As the witnesses for Christ carried the Gospel toward the far reaches of the world, the church advanced everywhere. This theme is also important in Acts. The expansion of the church is presented in a historical context. While Acts emphasizes the power of the Spirit (1:8), it also emphasizes how they used this power. They faithfully bore witness for Christ. In this commentary our approach is to appreciate the theological motivations of Luke's work while not rejecting this record as the most valuable source we have regarding the developing church. Our confidence does not rest entirely on the fact that Luke's abilities as a historian have the promise of the Lord to direct his servant into all truth.

Top Highlights

“What was experienced is recorded is some detail. The Holy Spirit was poured out from heaven (v. 17). He arrived in a mannerthat was both seen and heard.⁵ A sound suddenly filled the room, which reminded them of a powerful, roaring wind from heaven. Flames (‘tongues;’ γλῶσσαι, glōssai) of fire appeared which seemed to shoot out and hover above the head of each one there.” (Acts 2:1–4)

“The prophecy foretold the giving of the Spirit to all believers. Phrases such as ‘on all people,’ ‘sons and daughters,’ and ‘both men and women,’ vividly make the point. Even the term ‘pour out’ (εκχεῶ, ekcheō) implies that God intends for a universal reception of the Holy Spirit in the new age. The wide extent of the reception of the Spirit was just the opposite of the restricted ministry of the Spirit in the Old Testament.” (Acts 2:14–21)

“Joel’s words were directed toward God’s people at a time when God’s judgment was being felt. A plague of locusts had ruined the land. Joel called upon the people to repent of their sins and to look expectantly for the restoration of prosperity and the coming age of the Messiah when the Spirit would be poured out upon everybody.” (Acts 2:14–21)

“The emphasis on the dawning of the age of the Messiah, the universal appeal of the gospel, and the hope of restoration by a merciful God are themes which appear again and again.” (Acts 2:14–21)

“The term ‘scattering’ (διασπείρω, diaspeirō) is a word used of the scattering of seeds. Believers were distributed in all directions from Jerusalem.” (Acts 8:1b–3)