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)
Features
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.
Endorsements
‘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
Table of Contents
Publisher’s Preface ix
Acknowledgments and Dedication xi
Introduction xiii
Outline of the Book of Acts xxiii
Part 1: The Lord’s Word in Jerusalem (1:1–7:60)
1 The Risen Lord Commissions His Witnesses (1:1–11) 1
2 The Apostolic Number Restored (1:12–26) 5
3 The Lord Comes to His Temple (2:1–13) 10
4 The Rejected, Risen Christ Pours Out the Spirit (2:14–36) 14
5 Showers of the Spirit Bear Fruit (2:37–47) 19
6 The Lame Leaps (3:1–10) 23
7 The Glorified Servant Bestows Blessing (3:11–26) 27
8 The Name That Saves (4:1–22) 33
9 Scripture-Formed, Christ-Centred Prayer (4:23–31) 39
10 Witness in Word and Deed (4:32–35) 44
11 The Spirit’s Dangerous Holiness (4:36–5:11) 47
12 The Terrifying Power That Makes Us Whole (5:12–16) 52
13 Obey God Rather than Men (5:17–32) 55
14 Worthy to Suffer Dishonour (5:33–42) 61
15 Ministry of the Word and of Tables (6:1–7) 65
16 Witness in the Wisdom of the Spirit (6:8–15) 70
17 Promise, Rejection and Deliverance (7:1–16) 74
18 Moses, the Rejected Redeemer (7:17–43) 79
19 Murderers of the Righteous One (7:44–53) 86
20 A Witness to the Death (7:54–60) 91
Part 2: The Lord’s Word Dispersed to Judea and Samaria (8:1–12:25)
21 The Word Scattered as Seed (8:1–13) 96
22 The Free Gift of the Spirit (8:14–25) 100
23 Scripture and Grace Opened to an Outcast (8:26–40) 104
24 From Persecutor to Apostle (9:1–19a) 109
25 God’s Tale of Two Cities (9:19b–31) 115
26 Jesus raises the Helpless (9:32–43) 119
27 God Speaks to a Gentile (10:1–8) 123
28 God cleanses the Defiled (10:9–23a) 126
29 Peace to All Peoples through the Lord of All (10:23b–43) 130
30 The Gentile Pentecost (10:44–48) 136
31 Peter Answers Objections (11:1–18) 138
32 God’s Gift Exchange Unites Jews and Greeks (11:19–30) 143
33 Death and Deliverance (12:1–19a) 147
34 God Defends His Glory and Grows His Word (12:19b–25) 152
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) 155
36 Paul’s ‘Inaugural’ Sermon (13:13–43) 159
37 Jewish Rejection and Gentile Joy (13:44–52) 168
38 A City Divided (14:1–7) 171
39 The Living God Calls Pagans to Turn Around (14:8–20) 174
40 Mission Accomplished! (14:21–28) 179
41 Not Circumcision, But Faith (15:1–11) 182
42 James Cites Prophecies of the Gentiles’ Inclusion (15:12–21) 187
43 Encouragement for the Gentiles (15:22–35) 191
44 A Traumatic Argument (15:36–41) 195
45 The Gospel Crosses the Aegean (16:1–15) 198
46 Christ’s Prisoners Set Others Free (16:16–40) 204
47 Disturbers of the Peace (17:1–15) 211
48 Making Known the Unknown God (17:16–34) 216
49 Christianity at the Crossroads (18:1–17) 223
50 Travels and Teachers (18:18–28) 229
51 Christ’s Power Pierces Pagan Darkness (19:1–22) 233
52 The Camp of the Goddess Confounded (19:23–41) 240
53 Reunions and Farewells (20:1–12) 246
54 Charge to Watchmen and Shepherds (20:13–38) 250
II: Rome (21:1–28:31)
55 Paul’s Face Fixed Toward Jerusalem (21:1–16) 258
56 Chains in Jerusalem (21:17–36) 263
57 Paul’s Defense to the People of Israel (21:37–22:21) 269
58 The Rights of a Roman Citizen (22:22–29) 277
59 Paul’s Defense to the Leaders of Israel (22:30–23:11) 280
60 Assassins Thwarted (23:12–35) 285
61 Paul’s Defense to Governor Felix (24:1–27) 292
62 Paul Appeals to Caesar (25:1–12) 300
63 An Expert Consultant (25:13–27) 304
64 Paul’s Defense to King Agrippa (26:1–23) 310
65 The King’s Verdict (26:24–32) 318
66 Good Advice Ignored (27:1–12) 322
67 Hope Amid the Storm (27:13–26) 327
68 Shipwreck and Salvation (27:27–44) 332
69 Snakebite and Hospitality (28:1–10) 338
70 Paul’s Unhindered Witness in Caesar’s City (28:11–31) 342
Group Study Guide 351
For Further Reading 371
Product Details
Title: Let’s Study Acts
Author: Dennis E. Johnson
Publisher: Banner of Truth
Pages: 368
Binding: Paperback
Size: 21.5 x 13.7 x 2.0 cm
ISBN: 9780851518343
