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The Word Biblical Commentary
The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship.
Table of Contents
Introduction
A. What Kind of Commentary Is This?
B. The Text of Acts
I. Beginning at the Beginnings (1–2)
A. Superscription (1:1–2)
B. Jesus Ascends to Heaven (1:3–11)
C. Between Jesus’s Ascension and the Spirit’s Coming (1:12–26)
D. The Spirit Comes at Pentecost (2:1–41)
E. The Life of the Early Community (2:42–47)
II. The Mission in Jerusalem (3:1–8:3)
A. Jesus Heals—And Its Consequences (3:1–4:31)
1. Jesus Heals the Man at the Beautiful Gate (3:1–10)
2. Peter’s Speech and Differing Responses (3:11–4:4)
3. God Equips Peter and John in a Sanhedrin Hearing (4:5–22)
4. The Believers Turn to God under Pressure and Receive Power (4:23–31)
B. The Assembly Sharing (4:32–5:16)
1. The Assembly’s Shared Life (4:32–35)
2. Barnabas: A Positive Example (4:36–37)
3. Ananias and Sapphira: A Negative Example (5:1–11)
4. God Acts through the Assembly’s Shared Life (5:12–16)
C. God Comes First: The Apostles before the Sanhedrin (5:17–42)
D. Growth and Conflict (6:1–7)
E. The Ministry of Stephen and Its Consequences (6:8–8:3)
1. God Works in and through Stephen (6:8–8:1a)
2. Persecution: The Believers Are Scattered (8:1b–3)
III. Mission in Samaria and Syria-Palestine (8:4–12:25)
A. Philip’s Divinely Guided Ministry (8:4–40)
1. God Acts through Philip in Samaria (8:4–25)
2. God Arranges for Philip to Meet an Ethiopian Eunuch (8:26–40)
B. Saul Meets the Exalted Jesus (9:1–31)
C. God Continues to Act in Syria-Palestine (9:32–12:24)
1. God Works through Peter in Western Palestine (9:32–42)
About the Author
Steve Walton (PhD, University of Sheffield) is senior research fellow in New Testament at Trinity College, Bristol and a former secretary of the British New Testament Society. A member of the Society for New Testament Studies, he co-chairs their seminar on ‘God in the New Testament.’ He is the coauthor of Exploring the New Testament, vol. 1: The Gospels and Acts, and author of Reading Acts Theologically and Leadership and Lifestyle: The Portrait of Paul in the Miletus Speech and 1 Thessalonians.
Praise for Acts 1-9:42, Volume 37A
"A few decades after the tried and tested commentaries by F. F. Bruce and of C. K. Barrett, Walton provides an excellent, fresh commentary on the book of Acts in the best British tradition: detailed and erudite explanation of the Greek text (that is, commentary on the actual text, rather than on research old and new) and a balanced focus on history and theology in Acts. Walton stresses the way in which God acted in all of the events and the responses he sought (and still seeks!) from people. In addition, the commentary possesses a clarity in style, a warm faith perspective, and inspiring reflections on the meaning of the text for our day and age. Read, learn, enjoy, and serve!"
—Christoph W. Stenschke, Department of New Testament and Related Literature, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, South Africa
"The first volume of Steve Walton’s Word commentary on Acts is a long-awaited publishing achievement. With his accustomed clarity and charity, Walton invites us to sit around the table with the Greek text of Acts in the center, engaging in conversation with a wealth of scholarship old and new. Walton explains the Greek text clearly (with "intermediate" Greek students in mind), threading his way expertly through the intricacies of Acts interpretation but never losing sight of the message of the text about the way God acts in the world and its importance for readers today."
—Loveday Alexander, professor emerita, University of Sheffield; author, Acts in its Ancient Literary Context
"Steve Walton's commentary is a long-awaited event in the study of Acts of the Apostles. Walton is rightly known for his mastery of the scholarly literature, and he puts that knowledge to admirable use in his reading of the text. Scholars, pastors, teachers, and students will all benefit from Walton's exposition."
—C. Kavin Rowe, George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Duke University
"With critical attention to history and theology and to literary and cultural contexts alike, Steve Walton invites us to read Acts in all its complexity so that Luke’s storytelling can continue to nurture faithful communities today. This commentary will quickly become a vital resource on Acts for both scholars and preachers."
—Eric Barreto, Weyerhaeuser Associate Professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary
"Steve Walton is one of the leading scholars of the Acts of the Apostles of this generation. With this thorough commentary, we have the benefit of sitting at the feet of a master interpreter of Acts and learning what he has to say about the entire corpus of Acts. You are in for a feast!"
—Osvaldo Padilla, professor of divinity and New Testament, Beeson Divinity School
"This wonderful commentary reflects decades of detailed study of the text of the Acts of the Apostles. It is a remarkable achievement: a commentary on the Greek text, fully informed by recent scholarship, which discusses all the important dimensions of the text of Acts and is rich in theological depth and insight. It will be a treasured resource for decades to come, assisting scholars and students alike to interpret the message of Acts."
—Paul Trebilco, professor of New Testament studies, University of Otago, New Zealand
"Steve Walton has dedicated decades to studying Acts and scholarship about this intriguing piece of scripture. His detailed exposition of Acts consistently keeps the biblical text in the center of the discussion. A storehouse loaded with knowledge and insight to feed scholars, ministry leaders, and students, Walton's commentary is no small achievement!"
—Matthew L. Skinner, Asher O. and Carrie Nasby Professor of New Testament, Luther Seminary
"I welcome this eclectic, traditional, and conservative reading of this commentary based on the Greek text of Acts (1 -9). The variety of reading approaches allows the reader to gain a better understanding of the overall salvific message for all, rather than just the opinions of scholars. Expectantly, I await the culmination of the project. I plan to use the commentary in my classes."
—Ruben Muñoz-Larrondo, associate professor of biblical studies, Andrews University
"In this first volume of three, Steve Walton’s expertise on the book of Acts is supremely evident. Careful and thorough, Walton’s commentary keeps our eyes firmly fixed on the text of Acts, while illuminating key historical and theological matters, as well as the text’s richly Jewish context. In doing so, Walton has provided an invaluable resource to students, scholars, and pastors alike for many years to come."
—Brittany E. Wilson, associate professor of New Testament, Duke University
"Steve Walton is a master of exegetical conversation with rich detail and a teacher’s voice. This volume is a valuable contribution to Luke-Acts scholarship and will be needed on the shelves of pastors, teachers, scholars and students."
—Sarah Harris, research fellow, Carey Baptist College, New Zealand