The writer F.F. Bruce is a professor of Biblical unfavorable judgment and Exegesis at the University of Manchester, England. His revised survey on the book of Acts is a part to the New International Commentary on the New Testament. He wrote legion commentaries and books and served as the general editor of the New International Commentary on the New Testament series from 1962-1990.

Chapter 1

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The Birth of the Church ( Acts 1:1- 5:41 )

The writer makes a brief commentary of how Jesus appeared to his followings for about 40 yearss between his Resurrection and Ascension learning them about his land, that he was truly alive once more and lift from the dead. He moves rapidly to the topic of the spread of the Gospel and growing of the church, after the spring of the Holy Spirit on the twenty-four hours of Pentecost ( Acts 2: 1-3 ) the adherents spoke with diverse linguas as the Holy Spirit gives them vocalization. To Him, it was a godly rapture recognised by people of all states. The Church harmonizing to the writer grew as a consequence of Peter ‘s powerful discourse in Acts 2:14-12 and the daring of Peter and John ( Acts 3:4 ) . The content of the apostolic sermon and learning about Jesus ‘ bodily Resurrection did non bode good with the spiritual swayers whom because of their ain selfish involvement collaborated with the Roman governments. The greatest error made by the Judaic leaders with respects to the new religious order was the apprehension and blink of an eye released of the apostles when they were arrested. This gives them strength and adds to their Numberss. ( Acts 4:32-35, and Acts 2:43-47 ) .

Chapter 2

Persecution and Expansion ( Acts 6:1- 9:31 )

The decease of Stephen made trusters to fly from Jerusalem particularly the Hellenists in the church ( the group in which Stephen was their leader ) , doing the Jerusalem church preponderantly Hebrew. The persecution and the scattering harmonizing to the writer brought about the fulfillment of Jesus committee to his adherents ( Act 8:4, 1:8 ) . The premier agent in this inhibitory run against the trusters was Saul of Tarsus who was converted on his manner to Damascus ( Act9: 1-9 ) described as a chosen instrument in God ‘s manus fitted for the work of the Gentiles ‘ evangelism. The writer said that the transition of Paul and His committee was to formalize his Godhead call and committee against those who questioned it and besides to set up that Peter and the remainder of the apostles were the true apostles of Jesus Christ which the Marcinites denied.

Chapter 3

The Acts of Peter and Beginning of Gentile Christianity ( acts 9:32 – 12:42 )

As community of trusters began to turn and distribute, many converts were pouring in from surprising backgrounds. The Non Jews began to react to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But the spiritual struggle between the Jewish and Gentile made it impossible even for believing Jew to tie in with the heathens. Therefore God told Peter to take the good intelligence to the heathen, since the good intelligence was for everyone ( acts 1:8 ) . To make this, the writer narrates how Peter and Cornelius have airy brush at the same clip. Cornelius was a heathen and a believer of Israel attracted to Judaism by the simple monotheism of the Jewish. Such heathens were God fearers since he was non circumcised. It was such God fearers who subsequently formed the karyon of Christian community in one metropolis after the other in Paul ‘s missional activity. Persecution started once more when Herod killed James and imprisoned Peter.

Chapter 4

Church Extension from Antioch and Apostolic Decree at Jerusalem ( Acts 12:25 -18:35 )

From here the focal point of the writer was to Paul ‘s ministry. Paul and Barnabas were commissioned by the Antioch church for a missional circuit ( Act 13 ; 1-3 ) . Paul and Barnabas took the Gospel to Cyprus and south Galatia with great success. Furthermore the Judaic and the Gentile struggle contention smouldered and threatened to split the church. So a council met in Jerusalem council where missionaries to the heathens were legitimized and we saw Peter ‘s last work. After the council, Paul and Silas preached in Antioch. Then they left for Syria and Cilicia as Barnabas and Mark sailed for Cyprus ( Acts 15:35 -4 ) . It was at Pisdian Antioch that the writer gives a elaborate image of how service is being conducted at the beginning of Jesus populace and after the church ‘s scattering. The Jews opposed the Gospel because they see no usage in Redemption that is Open to heathens on the same term with them.

Chapter 5

Paul leaves Antioch and moves to the Aegaean World ( Acts 15:36 – 19:20 )

After the council at Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas decided to revisit all the churches. The crisp dissension between the two over Mark shows that the two were human existences with feelings like any other individual. To him, Luke does non associate the difference to set Paul in the right and Barnabas in the incorrect but wants the reader to name the incrimination. Paul took Silas and travelled through Cilicia set uping churches in Philippi, Thessalonians, Berea, Corinth and Ephesus before retiring to Antioch ( Acts 16 – 18:22 ) . It was on Paul ‘s 2nd missional Journey at Lystra that Timothy whom he wrote Pastoral Epistles to who was of assorted parenthood joined him.

Chapter Six

Towards the tail terminal of Paul ‘s ministry, he decided to see Rome from Antioch and Paul embarked on his 3rd missional journey to Aegan church. He travelled through Galatia, Phygia, Macedonia and Achaia encouraging and learning trusters. ( Acts 19: 1 – 21 ) . Back at Jerusalem, the church seniors were glad to cognize that Paul was non learning the Judaic people to abandon their hereditary imposts. The public violence that broke out at Jerusalem that led to Paul ‘s apprehension was given a better account by the writer. It was the presence of Trophimus whom the Asiatic Jews proverb with Paul at the temple that annoyed them. The Jews believed that the heathens should remain at the tribunal of the heathens and non the interior tribunal. He was put into detention and because of his entreaty to Caesar as a Roman citizen he was sent to Rome for concluding hearing of his instance.

Evaluation:

The book is a critical orthodox commentary. It gives background commentary to all the events put together by Luke the writer of the book of the Acts. The writer from its wealth of experience as a theologian explains the function played by history, geographics and political relations in determining the events in the book. The writer ‘s usage of Old Testament text to explicate or set up some of his point is applaudable. Furthermore I did non hold with him where he said speech production in linguas was a godly enraptured address that draws many people to God on the twenty-four hours of Pentecost. Talking in linguas is a supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit, a spirit divine vocalizations.

Decision:

The book is good ; it opens my eyes to some outstanding events that took topographic point at the early church. It besides clears my uncertainty on some inquiries that does come to my head during my personal survey.

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