ISG 48: A Commentary on Acts

Yon Gyong Kwon

• Publisher: SPCK Publishing
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9780281064090
• eBook ISBN: 9780281066865
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

The book of Acts recounts the birth of the Church and the ministry of the earliest disciples. It is arguably one of the most exciting books in the New Testament; it tells of a shipwreck, a prison escape and political squabbles.

The book of Acts also occupies a place of critical importance in the New Testament. The Gospels tell us about the earthly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth while Acts continues the story of the people who believed in him. It thus bridges the gap between the Jesus of history and the Jesus of faith. It is an immensely valuable historical record of the early Church, a rich source of theological wisdom and a powerful testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

In this helpful guide, the section-by-section commentary draws out the historical, theological and pastoral significance of the biblical text. There are also four theological essays that highlight the relevance of the book of Acts today. Clear and helpful maps and study suggestions at the end of each chapter make A Commentary on Acts ideal for students on Biblical Study courses, and for anyone wishing to learn more about this thrilling New Testament book.

A Commentary on Acts

Contents

Contributors

The SPCK International Study Guides

Acknowledgements

Using this Commentary

Further reading

Maps

Introduction

1.1–11: Forty days with the risen Jesus

1.12–26: Waiting and preparation

2.1–13: The disciples are filled with the Spirit

2.14–41: Peter’s first witness to the risen Jesus

2.42–47: The fellowship of the believers

3.1–26: The name of Jesus heals a crippled beggar

Theological essay 1: Mission and healing in Acts

Emmanuel Anim

4.1–31: Peter and John before the Sanhedrin

4.32—5.16: The Church overcomes a danger from within

Theological essay 2: Communal sharing and poverty

The Revd Dr Andrea Zaki Stephanous

5.17–42: The apostles before the Sanhedrin

6.1–15: A new leadership emerges

7.1—8.1a: Stephen’s speech

8.1b–40: Witnessing in all Judea and Samaria

9.1–30: The conversion of Saul

10.1—11.18: Opening the door: Peter and Cornelius

11.19–30: The church in Antioch

12.1–25: Herod persecutes the Church

13.1–12: Mission to Cyprus

13.13–52: Mission in Antioch of Pisidia

14.1–28: The mission to Iconium and Lystra and back

15.1–35: The Jerusalem Council

15.36—16.10: The gospel spreads to Macedonia

16.11—17.15: Paul in Macedonia

17.16–34: Paul in Athens

18.1–28: Paul in Corinth

Theological essay 3: Women in Acts and in Oceania

Mercy Ah Siu-Maliko

19.1–44: Paul in Ephesus

20.1–38: Paul begins his journey to Jerusalem

Theological essay 4: Leadership in the Early Church and today

Víctor Hernández-Ramírez

21.1–36: Paul’s arrival and arrest

22.1–29: Paul defends himself before the crowd

22.30—23.35: Paul before the Sanhedrin and the plot to kill him

24.1–27: Paul before Felix

25.1–27: Paul before Festus and Agrippa

26.1–32: Paul’s defence before Agrippa

27.1—28.16: Paul sails for Rome

28.17–31: Paul in Rome

Key to study suggestions

Search terms

Contributors

Yon Gyong Kwon is a Professor of New Testament at Soongsil University, Korea. His scholarly interest is the ethical and futuristic dimension of Paul’s gospel. He has published Eschatology in Galatians: Rethinking Paul’s Response to the Crisis in Galatia with Mohr Siebeck, Germany, as well as several other books in Korean. He is also very active in preaching and teaching in local churches, especially in the area of biblical interpretation. He is married to Inhwa and they have a daughter, Sarah.

Emmanuel Anim is Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Mission, Pentecost University College, Accra, and Associate Pastor, Pentecost International Worship Centre, Accra, Ghana. Dr Anim is also Visiting Lecturer at All Nations Christian College, UK, and a member of the Translations Committee of the Bible Society of Ghana. He is married to Emily Ama Ofeibea and they have two children, Edna and Kweku.

Mercy Ah Siu-Maliko studied in Auckland, New Zealand, and Fiji. For a number of years, she lectured at the National University of Samoa, and from Fiji coordinated the Weavers (women in theological education) Program of the South Pacific Association of Theological Schools. She is currently the Country Coordinator for Manahine Pasefika (Association of Oceanian Women Theologians) and a freelance consultant on women and gender issues.

Víctor Hernández-Ramírez is a pastor of the Evangelical Church Betlem (Spanish Evangelical Church) in Barcelona and also works as a psychologist. He studied theology at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Mexico and studied psychology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He is a doctoral candidate in social psychology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a member of the Latin American Theological Fraternity. Víctor is married to Gabriela Leal and they have two children, Laura and Emilio.

Andrea Zaki Stephanous gained a PhD from the University of Manchester in 2003. He is Vice-President of the Protestant Churches of Egypt, Director General of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services, Adjacent Professor of Cairo Evangelical Theological Seminary, and President of the Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches.

The SPCK International Study Guides

For over forty years, SPCK Worldwide’s International Study Guides have provided resources for students training for service across a wide range of church traditions. The series contains biblical commentaries, books on pastoral care, church history and theology, as well as those on contemporary issues such as HIV & AIDS, and each title includes resources for discussion and further reading. Primarily aimed at those for whom English is an alternative language, the Study Guides are clear and accessible resources designed to enable students to explore their own theologies and discern God’s mission in their own context. Many other Christians will also find the ISGs useful.

Today, with such plurality within the Church of God, the Study Guides draw upon the breadth of Christian experience across the globe. The contributors come from different countries and from a variety of church backgrounds. Most of them are theological educators. They bring their particular perspectives to bear as they demonstrate the influence of their contexts on the subjects they address. They provide a practical emphasis alongside contemporary scholarly reflection.

David Craig

Editor, International Study Guides

Acknowledgements

I first of all wish to thank the editors of the series, first Emma Wild-Wood, and then David Craig and Lauren Zimmerman. With confidence and unending patience, Emma guided virtually the whole process of preparing the manuscript, offering many perceptive suggestions as I went along. Both David and Lauren, who took over the project toward the end of the process, made sure that the book was brought to its expected destination. I thank all three for their expertise and hard work.

Writing a book is one of the surest ways of learning how much we are dependent upon others, their hard work, good will and willingness to sacrifice themselves. The writing of this Study Guide was no exception. This is especially true because this book does not purport to be an original contribution to Acts scholarship but is a basic guide for those who embark on a serious study of Acts, providing necessary information about the text and helpful reflections on various themes found within it. So I took the liberty of borrowing whatever I deemed helpful to readers from the works of others, including the earlier version of the Study Guide by John Hargreaves. It would be impossible to acknowledge all the debts that I have incurred to other scholars in the course of writing the book, but any expert on Acts who reads this Guide will immediately see what I mean. I also extend my gratitude to Emmanuel Anim, Mercy Ah Siu-Maliko, Víctor Hernández-Ramírez a...

Table of contents

• A Commentary on Acts