Acts: Witnesses to Him

by Bruce Milne

Overview

Acts is an exciting story of church growth despite inner problems and outward conflict. The Book of Acts describes the spread of the gospel throughout the known world of the first century and the establishment of Christian churches in many different places. As the gospel entered new places, its preachers often faced opposition from followers of other religions, and sometimes this opposition extended to include political persecution. Nevertheless, within a generation the gospel had spread from Jerusalem to Rome and beyond. While Luke, the writer of Acts was a historian, Acts is not merely historical but also provide principles and lessons for contemporary churches to imitate as they continue to spread the apostolic gospel today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781845505073
Publisher:	Christian Focus Publications
Publication date:	05/20/2010
Series:	Focus on the Bible
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	544
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Bruce Milne is a well-respected pastor and theologian who pastored of First Baptist Church, Vancouver, Canada, for eighteen years until he retired in 2001.

Table of Contents

Preface 7

Outline 13

Time-Line 16

Abbreviations 16

Warning 17

1 Anointed Witnesses (1:1-26) 19

2 Pentecost-the Birthing of the Mission (2:1-47) 53

3 Witnesses in Jerusalem (3:1-5:42) 93

4 The Ministry of Stephen (6:1-8:1a) 137

5 Witnesses in Judea and Samaria (8:1b-9:31) 177

6 Peter and Antioch (9:32-12:25) 227

7 Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth (I) (13:1-14:28) 279

8 The Consultation at Jerusalem (15:1-35) 311

9 Paul's Second Mission Journey (15:36-18:22) 325

10 Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth (II) (18:23-21:16) 373

1 Paul the Prisoner: Rome at Last! (21:17-28:31) 413

Appendices 497

1 The Authorship of Acts 497

2 The Date of Acts 502

3 Acts & History 505

4 The Source of Acts 511

5 The Speeches of Acts 513

Bibliography 519

Scripture Inde 521

Subject Index 527

Editorial Reviews

I was greatly blessed and challenged by your commentary. It was a great encouragement to read such a solid, biblically based commentary. Right up to the Appendices yoru passion for Mission because of your love for the Lord was a great stimulus to me. Thank you so much for the many hours of hard work and prayer that you dedicated to writing the book. May the Lord make it a blessing for all who read it.

This year I decided to read Acts with your help, making my way through your commentary. My dear brother! What a gift you have given to the church! And to me! Your work is truly anointed by the Spirit Who inspired the Acts. The Lord has given you such keen insight and then the ability to articulately, winsomely, powerfully open the text for us. As you know, I have read widely. But no one makes sense of the "sermon" by Stephen the way you do. No one keeps the "big picture" - the spreading of the Word of God - before us the way you do.

Darrell Johnson

As a pastor I initially turned to Bruce Milne's commentary on Acts for help with a difficult passage that I planned to preach on. I received a lot more than I bargained for. Not only were my textual questions answers but my mind was enriched. In addition I found nourishment for my own soul. Later in the day when dealing with a difficult counselling situation I was able to pass on some of the biblical wisdom I had gained from Bruce Milne. I have 30 commentaries on Acts on my study shelves. Some have become good friends over the years but I have found Milne's work to be the most helpful. It comes from a man who is a pastor-scholar with a warm heart for Christ and a deep love for his church.

C. John Steer

I was greatly blessed and challenged by your commentary. It was a great encouragement to read such a solid, biblically based commentary. Right up to the Appendices yoru passion for Mission because of your love for the Lord was a great stimulus to me. Thank you so much for the many hours of hard work and prayer that you dedicated to writing the book. May the Lord make it a blessing for all who read it.

Tony Schmidt