Commentary on Acts: From The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary

By David W. Pao

Comprehensive, accessible, and fully illustrated--this commentary on Acts is a must-have resource.

You want a deeper understanding of the Scriptures, but the notes in your study Bible don't give you enough depth or insight. This commentary was created with you in mind.

Each volume of The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary is a nontechnical, section-by-section commentary on one book or section of the Bible that provides reliable and readable interpretations of the Scriptures from leading evangelical scholars. This information-packed commentary will help you gain a deeper understanding of the Bible in your own personal study or in preparation for teaching. It tackles problematic questions, calls attention to the spiritual and personal aspects of the biblical message, and brings out important points of biblical theology, making it invaluable to anyone seeking to get the most out of their Bible study.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Oct 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781493424672

David W. Pao

David W. Pao (PhD Harvard University) is Professor of New Testament and Chair of the New Testament Department at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His publications include Acts and the Isaianic New Exodus, Thanksgiving: An Investigation of a Pauline Theme, Early Christian Voices: In Texts, Traditions, and Symbols (coeditor), Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, and After Imperialism: Christian Identity in China and the Global Evangelical Movement (coeditor).   

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© 2012 by Baker Publishing Group

Published by Baker Books

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Ebook short created 2019

Previously published in The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary edited by Gary M. Burge and Andrew E. Hill in 2012

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ISBN 978-1-4934-2467-2

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

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Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Abbreviations

Introduction

Commentary

1. Ascension and Commission (1:1–11)

2. Restoration of God’s People in Jerusalem (1:12–7:60)

A. Fulfillment of the Twelve (1:12–26)

B. Descent of the Spirit (2:1–47)

C. Opposition to the Apostles by Jewish Leadership (3:1–4:31)

D. Unity and Division in the Early Church: Ananias and Sapphira (4:32–5:11)

E. Continuing Opposition to the Apostles by Jewish Leadership (5:12–42)

F. Unity and Division in the Early Church: Appointing the Seven (6:1–7)

G. Stephen and the Preparation for Missions beyond Judea (6:8–7:60)

3. Reunification of God’s People in Judea and Samaria (8:1–12:25)

A. Saul and the Persecution of the Church (8:1–4)

B. Ministries of Philip (8:5–40)

C. Conversion and Call of Paul (9:1–31)

D. Ministries of Peter (9:32–11:18)

E. Church at Antioch (11:19–30)

F. Persecution in Jerusalem (12:1–25)

4. Mission to the Gentiles (13:1–21:16)

A. Paul’s First Missionary Journey (13:1–14:28)

B. Jerusalem Council and the Identity of Gentile Believers (15:1–35)

C. Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (15:36–18:22)

D. Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (18:23–21:16)

5. Appeal to Caesar and the Proclamation of God’s Kingdom (21:17–28:31)

A. Paul’s Arrest and Imprisonment in Jerusalem (21:17–23:35)

B. Paul’s Imprisonment in Caesarea (24:1–26:32)

C. Paul’s Voyage to Rome (27:1–28:16)

D. Paul’s Proclamation of God’s Kingdom in Rome (28:17–31)

Time Lines

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Abbreviations

Acts

David W. Pao

Introduction

According to the modern versions of the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles follows the four Gospels. This arrangement highlights the fact that Acts provides an account of the period following the life of Jesus the Messiah. As the second volume of the writings of Luke, however, Acts does not simply provide the historical account of growth of the church. It also testifies to the work of God through the apostles of Jesus, who continue to witness the power of the gospel as it fulfills the ancient promises made to Israel. In other words, instead of simply an appendix to the work of Jesus, this work points to yet another phase in the fulfillment of salvation history.

[Copyright © Baker Photo Archive. Courtesy of the Holyland Hotel, Jerusalem, 2001. Reproduction of the City of Jerusalem at the time of the Second Temple presently located at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. ]

The Unity of Luke-Acts

Since the work of Henry Cadbury in the 1920s (The Making of Luke-Acts), most scholars recognize that Luke-Acts has to be read as two parts of a single work. This affirmation of the unity of Luke-Acts not only points to the need to interpret any one passage within the literary context of this wider narrative but also allows the reader to notice the numerous parallels between the two parts of the narrative. These parallels in turn reveal the theological emphases of the author, and these emphases often serve to address the needs of the church. In his Gospel, for example, Luke emphasizes the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus as he began his ministries on earth (Luke 3:21–22). In Acts, Luke likewise draws attention to the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles as they began their ministries (Acts 2:1–13). Such parallelism addresses a practical concern of the church: Luke encourages the early Christians that, although Jesus is no longer with them in person, the Spirit, who works behind him, is the one who is working behind the church that bears his name.

Although some (e.g., Mikeal Parsons and Richard Pervo, Rethinking the Unity of Luke and Acts) have continued to question the unity of Luke-Acts, most see this as the basic assumption behind any informed reading of the Lukan writings. In terms of genre, these two works are not simply representatives of the ancient biographies and histories; together they point to the faithful God who fulfills his promises to Israel. In terms of narrative flow, several themes introduced in Luke (e.g., Holy Spirit, Gentiles, repentance, Samaria/Samaritans, temple, rejection of the prophet) are fully developed only in Acts; therefore, to read only one part would provide a partial picture. In terms of theological framework, one finds the same emphases on significant theological topics: identity of Jesus, the mission of the apostles, the progression of the kingdom of God, the universal relevance of the gospel message. In terms of the use of Old Testament paradigms, both works also draw from one prophetic tradition in the description of the climactic work of God at the dawn of the eschatological era.

The recognition of the unity of Luke-Acts also affects our consideration of several significant background issues for the reading of Acts: authorship, audience/recipients, date of writing, purpose, and literary structure.

Authorship

Who wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts? Overwhelming external evidence points to Luke, the companion of Paul, as the author. The oldest manuscript (late second century AD) of the Gospel identifies Luke in the attached title. The roughly contemporary Muratorian Canon, as well as early church fathers beginning with Irenaeus, supports this identification. The internal evidence in the Lukan writings supports this. The we-passages in Acts, where the narrator includes himself in the story (16:10–17; 20:5–15; 21:1–18; 27:1–28:16), most naturally point to the author as a companion of Paul. According to the Pauline tradition, Luke was indeed a co-worker of Paul (Col. 4:14; Philem. 24; 2 Tim. 4:11).

Since Luke is identified as a medical doctor in Colossians 4:14, scholars in the nineteenth century sought to show that the medical language in Luke-Acts is sufficient to prove that the author is indeed a physician. Recent scholars, however, have noted that such medical language falls short of technical medical jargon. Nevertheless, features in the Lukan writings are consistent with the fact that the author is a medical doctor. First, the preface (Luke 1:1–4) reflects the affinity of this work with scientific writings (see Loveday Alexander, The Preface to Luke’s Gospel). This indirectly points to an author who is aware of the scientific literature. Second, ancient documents testify to the fact that physicians had the need and luxury to travel extensively. This again can explain Luke’s interest in the journey motif in both his Gospel (Luke 9–19) and Acts (Acts 8–28).

According to early traditions, Luke was a resident of Antioch. Noting that the we-passages begin

Reviews for Commentary on Acts

[hongkong kwok · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Though brief in content, it is very insightful and helpful for pastors.