Book of Acts as Story

by David R Bauer

A senior New Testament scholar and teacher helps students understand the historical, literary, and theological issues of the book of Acts and introduces key concepts in the field of narrative criticism. This volume captures the message of the book of Acts by taking seriously the book's essential character as a powerful story through which Luke communicates profound theological truth. While giving attention to historical background, its purpose is to lead readers through a close reading that yields fresh insights into passages throughout Acts.

Genres: Biblical Studies, New Testament

304 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2021

Reviews

[Lindsay John Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent survey of Acts! It did exactly what I hoped —it focused on the text as text with its own coherent message (not as a springboard to other issues or a window to reconstruct the past, etc).

I highly recommend this either for use in a survey of Acts or for use alongside a thorough commentary

[Kendall Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really excellent work. Bauer offers a concise and readable introduction both to the literary reading of Acts as well as offering a thorough walkthrough of the story itself. This is strongly reminiscent of Tannehill's famous Acts volume.

I could quibble with Bauer on a few details here and there, but he helpfully orients readers to reading Acts not as a repository of historical information or of the preaching of the early church, but as a narrative with a theological purpose.

[Benjamin Davenport · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very careful, very helpful textual study of Acts. No pastor preaching through Acts should neglect this incredibly helpful resource.