Product Description
The Acts of the Apostles is unique among the books of the New Testament. Of the four men who wrote an account of the ministry, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, only one—Luke—continued the story into the decades which followed. Without his book, we would be unable to explain how the still-frightened band of disciples, seen behind closed doors at the close of the Gospels, became the boldly expanding movement seen in the rest of the New Testament.
Dennis Johnson has taught the book of Acts to seminary students for over twenty years. Here he leads the reader with clarity and insight through the amazing process by which Jesus’ words were fulfilled: ‘You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8)
- Accessible: Each volume in the Let’s Study series mines the Scriptures to get to the root of the text, but is written in an approachable and friendly, tone, making them an excellent resource for the layperson.
- Practical: The warm, pastoral explanation of the text is coupled with concise, practical, helpful application.
- Designed for group study: Each volume in the Let’s Study series includes a Group Study Guide in the back of the book to help facilitate discussion—an excellent tool for leading family worship or small groups.
Paperback, 400 pages
Publication Date: June 2003
Table of Contents
Publisher’s Preface
Acknowledgements and Dedication
Introduction
Outline of the Book of Acts
Part 1: The Lord’s Word in Jerusalem (1:1–7:60)
1 The Risen Lord Commissions His Witnesses (1:1–11)
2 The Apostolic Number Restored (1:12–26)
3 The Lord Comes to His Temple (2:1–13)
4 The Rejected, Risen Christ Pours Out the Spirit (2:14–36)
5 Showers of the Spirit Bear Fruit (2:37–47)
6 The Lame Leaps (3:1–10)
7 The Glorified Servant Bestows Blessing (3:11–26)
8 The Name That Saves (4:1–22)
9 Scripture-Formed, Christ-Centred Prayer (4:23–31)
10 Witness in Word and Deed (4:32–35)
11 The Spirit’s Dangerous Holiness (4:36–5:11)
12 The Terrifying Power That Makes Us Whole (5:12–16)
13 Obey God Rather than Men (5:17–32)
14 Worthy to Suffer Dishonour (5:33–42)
15 Ministry of the Word and of Tables (6:1–7)
16 Witness in the Wisdom of the Spirit (6:8–15)
17 Promise, Rejection and Deliverance (7:1–16)
18 Moses, the Rejected Redeemer (7:17–43)
19 Murderers of the Righteous One (7:44–53)
20 A Witness to the Death (7:54–60)
Part 2: The Lord’s Word Dispersed to Judea and Samaria (8:1–12:25)
21 The Word Scattered as Seed (8:1–13)
22 The Free Gift of the Spirit (8:14–25)
23 Scripture and Grace Opened to an Outcast (8:26–40)
24 From Persecutor to Apostle (9:1–19a)
25 God’s Tale of Two Cities (9:19b–31)
26 Jesus Raises the Helpless (9:32–43)
27 God Speaks to a Gentile (10:1–8)
28 God Cleanses the Defiled (10:9–23a)
29 Peace to All Peoples through the Lord of All (10:23b–43)
30 The Gentile Pentecost (10:44–48)
31 Peter Answers Objections (11:1–18)
32 God’s Gift Exchange Unites Jews and Greeks (11:19–30)
33 Death and Deliverance (12:1–19a)
34 God Defends His Glory and Grows His Word (12:19b–25)
Part 3: The Lord’s Word to the End of the Earth
I: Asia and Greece (13:1–20:38)
35 Darkness and Daybreak (13:1–12)
36 Paul’s ‘Inaugural’ Sermon (13:13–43)
37 Jewish Rejection and Gentile Joy (13:44–52)
38 A City Divided (14:1–7)
39 The Living God Calls Pagans to Turn Around (14:8–20)
40 Mission Accomplished! (14:21–28)
41 Not Circumcision, But Faith (15:1–11)
42 James Cites Prophecies of the Gentiles’ Inclusion (15:12–21)
43 Encouragement for the Gentiles (15:22–35)
44 A Traumatic Argument (15:36–41)
45 The Gospel Crosses the Aegean (16:1–15)
46 Christ’s Prisoners Set Others Free (16:16–40)
47 Disturbers of the Peace (17:1–15)
48 Making Known the Unknown God (17:16–34)
49 Christianity at the Crossroads (18:1–17)
50 Travels and Teachers (18:18–28)
51 Christ’s Power Pierces Pagan Darkness (19:1–22)
52 The Camp of the Goddess Confounded (19:23–41)
53 Reunions and Farewells (20:1–12)
54 Charge to Watchmen and Shepherds (20:13–38)
II: Rome (21:1–28:31)
55 Paul’s Face Fixed Toward Jerusalem (21:1–16)
56 Chains in Jerusalem (21:17–36)
57 Paul’s Defense to the People of Israel (21:37–22:21)
58 The Rights of a Roman Citizen (22:22–29)
59 Paul’s Defense to the Leaders of Israel (22:30–23:11)
60 Assassins Thwarted (23:12–35)
61 Paul’s Defense to Governor Felix (24:1–27)
62 Paul Appeals to Caesar (25:1–12)
63 An Expert Consultant (25:13–27)
64 Paul’s Defense to King Agrippa (26:1–23)
65 The King’s Verdict (26:24–32)
66 Good Advice Ignored (27:1–12)
67 Hope Amid the Storm (27:13–26)
68 Shipwreck and Salvation (27:27–44)
69 Snakebite and Hospitality (28:1–10)
70 Paul’s Unhindered Witness in Caesar’s City (28:11–31)
Group Study Guide
For Further Reading
Endorsement
‘The whole unfolding Let’s Study series is a must for every Christian home that is serious about getting to know the Word.’ — COVENANTER WITNESS
Author
Dennis E. Johnson is Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Escondido, California. He is a graduate of Westmont College (B.A.), Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div., Th.M.), and Fuller Theological Seminary (Ph.D.), and has taught at Westminster Seminary California since 1982.
