We have with an abundant satisfaction seen the foundation of our holy religion laid in the history of our blessed saviour, its great author, which was related and left upon record by four several inspired writers, who all agree in this sacred truth, and the incontestable proofs of it, that jesus is the christ, the son of the living god. In acts, he told how the good news about jesus christ spread. The original author had a purpose, a message to communicate. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. Beginning in jerusalem, acts shows us the road we believers have traveled to arrive at our present state. For a book which is as pivotal as acts to our practice of nt christianity, it is deplorable that. This seminarylevel study also retains its depth and uses an engaging interactive format.
We peer through the corridors of two millennia and see the still vivid foundations of our own faith. The following are the five that i have found to be the most helpful. The book begins with the ascension of jesus and goes on through pauls jail time in rome, which opens his ministry to the church at rome. Acts 16 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. This time, i would like to approach this matter from a slightly different perspective. Bock provides a substantive yet highly accessible commentary on acts in this latest addition to the acclaimed becnt series. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. The readers study of acts in the book of acts will bring new intimacy with the spirit and new joy in doing his will. Study acts using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. The message of acts is the church of jesus christ is divinely established and spiritually empowered to proclaim the gospel and plant believing communities locally, regionally, and globally.
Bruce rylands professor of biblical criticism and exegesis, university of manchester, england introduces this exellcent commentary on the book of acts with a fitting discussion on the canonicity of the new testament, aptly noting that marcions canon did not compel them to create the canon of holy scripture which has ever since, with minor variations, been accepted. Acts of the apostles bible study notes, commentary, and comments. Mcgarvey was a preacher who was easy to hear and hard to forget. It traces the first decades in the history of the church after the resurrection of christ, focusing in particular on the work of peter and paul. We do not recommend loose translations or oneman translations. Concerning the issues of his day, mcgarvey took a strong stand against instrumental music. If the book of acts were gone, there would be nothing to replace it the last recorded fact about jesus in the gospel of matthew is the resurrection. A commentary on the acts of the apostles by pastor galen l. This commentary has been through advanced checking. Therefore, when a church begins to dwindle, lose its power, and turn dull and drab in its witness, it needs desperately to get back into the spirit, expectation, knowledge and teaching of the book of acts. The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. Darrell bocks massive and outstanding twovolume commentary on the gospel of luke raised my expectations for his commentary on acts in.
Ed rickards commentary on acts is a work on several levels, designed to give the. You can find the best commentary on acts for you using the tools on the right side. Acts with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Peters activities are described at some length, and john and philip are mentioned, but more than half of the book is about paul and his connection with the christian movement. This blog began in 2008 when i was teaching through acts both at my church and in a semester class at grace. The presence and working of the holy spirit is the dominating mark of the book of acts. Read acts commentary using commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible. The book of acts grants readers a unique and fascinating glimpse into the world of the early church.
The gospels present the blessed person of the lord jesus christ and his great work of redemption. Introduction to the book of acts helpful tools for study the following tools will be helpful in this study. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own conversion experience with those in acts. Study the bible online using commentary on acts and more. A good study bible we recommend the following features. Since i have had the chance now to teach through acts several times, i have put together a huge collection of commentaries and other resources for studying the book of acts.
Study the bible online using commentary on acts 16 and more. Doughty southside christian church january 2014 introduction. The first principle is to note the historical setting in which a biblical book was written and the particular historical occasion for its authorship. It opens with a greeting to theophilus, who was also the intended recipient of lukes gospel. Peter wagner, phd, holds graduate degrees in theology, missiology, and religion from fuller theological seminary, princeton theological seminary, and the university of southern california.
This commentary is based upon my personal devotional notes and reflections on the book of acts. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of acts. The book has been called the acts of the apostles, really a misnomer because acts has very little to say concerning most of the original twelve apostles. Top 5 commentaries on the book of acts ligonier ministries. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of bible. He designed it to be read more as a narrative than simply as a reference book, and encourages readers to use it so.
Commentary on the book of acts of the apostles by matthew. Further, this volume also contains informative notes from the editor. Written in the late 19th century, commentary on the acts of the apostles is a versebyverse look at acts, which mcgarvey believed many theologians had misunderstood before. With extensive research and thoughtful chapterbychapter exegesis, bock leads readers through all aspects of the book of actssociological, historical, and theological.
Tim perrine ccel staff writer this volume contains commentary on the first chapters of acts. Bradd words in boldboldbold and underlined are the answers to the blanks on the acts study guides acts 1 the book of acts was written by luke to a man named theophilus. It is a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. The acts is an historical book, but it is not mere history. Luke had written to him before and had told him about the things that jesus did and taught. Commentary on the book of acts of the apostles by matthew henry. In this book, the principles of the exchanged life not i, but christ is. The book of acts also describes the work of the two apostles peter and paul. Commentary of the book of acts english text edition by f. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy. Acts baker exegetical commentary on the new testament.
Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. His favorite preaching method was to take a new testament text and illustrate it with an old testament story. His taking timothy into his acquaintance and under his tuition. Read acts 16 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. One thing designed in the book of the acts is to help us to understand pauls epistles, two of which are directed to timothy.
We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early apostles and preachers 3. There are a number of good commentaries on the book of acts. In this book we see the first mention of the dispensation of the holy spirit and jesus command to take his gospel to all the world. Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of acts e. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible. The book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our counselor. The acts is a continuation of the work of the lord jesus, but in his servants, by the power. Acts was designed to be gods training manual for christians. Acts commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. As readers of his major work, paul and the salvation of mankind. Book of acts matthew henrys bible commentary concise. Most can be obtained from a good religious bookstore.
He was a strong doctrinal preacher and enjoyed preaching from the book of acts. Text, mp3 and video lessons and sermons in 50 languages. Many scholars believe that in rome, luke wrote both the gospel of luke and the book of acts, also known as the acts of the apostles, to assist in pauls defense. This commentary may be downloaded for any usage except sales. The god of the bible study of the father, son, and holy spirit. Bob utley, retired professor of hermeneutics biblical interpretation table of contents. With bible gateway plus, you gain instant access to a digital bible study library, including complete notes from the niv cultural backgrounds study bible and the new bible commentary. Acts is the book that reveals the power of the church. Commenting on commentaries on acts gerald cowen criswell college, dallas, tx 75246 in preparation for a thorough study of the book of acts, it is worth while to take stock of the resources available. An immense amount of apostolic service is left unrecorded, and mention is made of just a few incidents which serve to show the way the spirit of god operated in bearing witness to the risen and exalted jesus, and in conducting the disciples into the fulness of christian blessing.
Authorship it is generally held that luke, the physician and traveling companion of paul wrote both the gospel of luke and the book of acts. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Read and study acts, including book summary, with the versebyverse bible commentary. Some of you will recognize that i have written on the book of acts before. It worked in the early church and it works in the postmodern world. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. In this passage, luke is restating the great commission challenge jesus gave in luke 24. The book of the acts new international commentary on the. Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and the surrounding world.
He cites an encyclopedia entry which he believes best. The new testament without the book of acts leaves a great yawning gap. Here is a summary and overview of the book of acts. A better title would be the acts or the workings of the holy spirit, because he is the real main character of the book. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. David guzik commentary on acts 1 describes the ascension of jesus into heaven and the appointing of matthias as a replacement for judas.