The Acts Of The Apostles An Introduction And Study Guide

The book of Acts opens with the dramatic story of tongues of flame descending upon believers at Pentecost and the prophecy of an egalitarian dispensation of the Spirit being fulfilled. Yet, as the narrative unfolds, we become aware of a tension between the socially egalitarian promise of the Pentecost story and the author's underlying concern to provide reassurance for his elite patron Theophilus that Jesus followers do not disturb the existing social order. In this guide, Acts is read as a struggle to tame the tongues of fire. Acts mutes the egalitarian promise of the Spirit through presenting an 'orderly account' (as its author calls it) of the Jesus movement that appeals to elite sensibilities. And, at the same time, the narrative contains contradictions, gaps and fissures that suggest the outlines of a more complex, and even subversive, religious movement.

There are lots of Bible commentaries on the Acts of the Apostles, but BookCaps offers one of the first electronic Bible Commentaries for the modern reader. This commentary includes an introduction to the Acts of the Apostles (including the history of the text, the structure, and the themes), a chapter by chapter summary, and discussion questions. BookCaps Bible Commentaries are nondenominational study guides for people who are just getting into the Bible for the first time, or who just want to know a little more. To find out more about this series and other BookCaps books, visit: BookCaps.com.

A complete survey of the Acts of the Apostles covering each chapter in detail, with introductory material detailing the background, authorship, date written and theme. It serves as a textbook for Bible Colleges and is intended for, the student, busy minister and layperson alike layperson. Simple. Easy to read and non-technical.

Marshall's commentary on the Book of Acts is a contribution to the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, a popular study aid designed to help the general Bible reader understand clearly what the text actually says and what it means without going into scholarly technicalities.

The book of Acts is a remarkable fusion of the historical and theological, and its account of the early church has fascinated theologians and biblical scholars for centuries. Just who was the author of this work? And what kind of book did he write? How do we classify its genre? The Acts of the Apostles provides an advanced introduction to the study of Acts, covering important questions about authorship, genre, history and theology. Osvaldo Padilla explores fresh avenues of understanding by examining the text in light of the most recent research on the book of Acts itself, philosophical hermeneutics, genre theory and historiography. In addition, Padilla opens a conversation between the text of Acts and postliberal theology, seeking a fully-orbed engagement with Acts that is equally attuned to questions of interpretation, history and theology.

This guide is designed to support a small group study of Acts that will enrich the faith of devout followers and, at the same time, be very accessible to people new, or simply interested in, the faith. The guide provides rich background history to help the student understand better the life and times of the early first century as well as brief biographies of each of the apostles who so actively participated in the early growth of the Church. The interconnections between Acts and the other books of the Bible are made known to the student, demonstrating how each book mutually supports the messages of the others. Through this, the student will learn to see that God has provided us a consistent narrative of His love. Through insightful questions, the student will develop an understanding of the theological challenges faced by the early church and the efforts of the apostles and other disciples to bridge these gaps in order to maintain unity of spirit. At the same time, it prompts the student to reflect on their own challenges to the faith with questions designed to transform these issues into engaging discussions within a small group setting.

The book of Joshua, with its memorable images of the crossing of the River Jordan and the miraculous conquest of the city of Jericho, plays an important part in the Old Testament's narrative and theology of God's promise and gift of the land of Canaan to Israel. In this guide, Gordon McConville considers the various aspects of interpreting Joshua, including questions of its origins and occasion, its literary formation and its theology. He also looks squarely at the difficulties it poses to the modern reader, and the dangers of simplistic interpretations, especially when allied with power systems. Yet, among the possible approaches to Joshua, certain readings suggest unexpected messages, and with the book's memorable central image of crossing a river in an escape from tyranny into new life, it can prompt fruitful reflection on other 'crossings', perhaps helping us to overcome the deepest human hostilities.

This study guide to Amos is divided into three parts. The first sets out to describe the genre, style, shape and aim of the text, along with its leading ideas, with the help of recent scholarship on the Hebrew Bible in general and the prophets in particular. Special note is taken of the many images of violence in Amos, along with its denunciations of injustice, and its overwhelming emphasis on the ineluctable destruction awaiting Israel. The second part sets the book in its historical and social context, with particular focus on the social context of the injustices denounced by Amos. Houston also provides an overview of the various proposals made in the last 50 years for how the book has assumed its present shape. The final part outlines the ways in which the book has been read over the centuries, with an emphasis on the modern period, in which it has become a rallying call for those concerned with injustice in their own world.