Acts (Evangelical Press Study Commentary | EPSC)

by Guy Waters

Publisher:

Evangelical Press

, 2015

Overview

The Evangelical Press Study Commentary brings you the best in biblical exposition from some of the most notable evangelical Reformed scholars. This series is aimed at the minister, theologian, layman, and serious student alike. Though comprehensive in content, the volumes are practical and straightforward. Each author presents a careful analysis of the biblical text to grow your understanding of Scripture, and delivers simple applications to challenge that growth.

Key Features

• Provides a helpful guide for exposition of the text
• Includes section-by-section commentary and application
• Written from a Reformed perspective

Contents

• Introductory matters
  • Authorship of Acts
  • Date of Acts
  • Title of Acts
  • Genre of Acts
  • Purpose of Acts
  • Outline and Motifs of Acts
• Prelude to Pentecost (1:1–26)
• Pentecost (2:1–47)
• Power and preaching (3:1–26)
• Persecution and prayer (4:1–31)
• Attacked from within, attacked from without (4:32–5:42)
• Growing pains (6:1–7)
• Blood of the martyrs, seed of the church (6:8–8:1a)
• From Jerusalem and Judea to Samaria (8:1b–40)
• Grace abounding to the chief of sinners (9:1–31)
• The gospel to the Gentiles (9:32–11:18)
• Coda (11:19–12:25)
• The first missionary campaign (13:1–14:28)
• Conflict, council, consensus (15:1–35)
• The second missionary campaign (15:36–18:23a)
• The third missionary campaign (18:23b–20:38)
• To Jerusalem, to Caesarea (21:1–23:35)
• Caesarea (24:1–26:32)
• From Caesarea to Rome (27:1–28:31)

Top Highlights

“We are therefore to understand Acts as providing Jesus’ continuing works and teaching. On occasion in Acts we see Jesus speaking (Acts 9:4–6; 9:10–16; 18:9–10; 23:11) and acting (Acts 2:47; 14:3; 16:14).” (Page 27)

“church. This section is in two parts. The first part, 2:1–4,” (Page 65)

“The prologue of Acts serves at least two purposes. First, as we have noted, it connects Acts with Luke’s Gospel. Partly because John’s Gospel separates Luke and Acts in our canon, it can be easy to forget that Luke intended for us to read Luke and Acts together, as two instalments or volumes of a single enterprise. This conjunction is just one way that Luke tethers the ministry of the apostles to the ministry of Jesus Christ.” (Page 26)

“Pentecost is an epochal event in the history of redemption. It brings Old Testament expectation to its intended fulfilment. It represents the dawn of the ‘last days’ harvest of the Spirit. It is indissolubly linked to and on the order of the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Each of these points, we shall see, surfaces in Peter’s sermon in 2:14–36.” (Pages 67–68)

“The remarkable events of Pentecost have occasioned at least two different responses from Jews gathered in Jerusalem—sheer amazement and deep scepticism (2:11–13). In what follows, the apostle Peter will offer extended biblical explanation for these events, drawing a direct line from the outpouring of the Spirit upon earth to the exaltation of the crucified and risen Jesus in heaven.” (Page 76)

Endorsements

Guy Waters’s Study Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles is exegetically and theologically sound, cogently reasoned and clearly written. I highly recommend this commentary to pastors and teachers preparing to preach and teach Acts, and to anyone interested in a readable exposition of Luke’s unique account of the risen Lord Jesus’ words and deeds through his chosen witnesses.

—Dennis E. Johnson Ph.D., Professor of Practical Theology, Westminster Seminary California

In an age of multiplying commentaries, some of them very technical and some exceedingly popular, Guy Waters has contributed a mid- level work that is robustly theological, written in straightforward English, and designed to be edifying. This is a commentary that will make many friends among serious Bible readers.

—D. A. Carson Research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and co-founder (with Tim Keller) of The Gospel Coalition

Dr. Waters is the ideal commentator on Acts. Scholarly, pastoral, theological — all these and more combine in making this my first resource for Luke’s second volume. An outstanding contribution to the series and deserving of the appellation, “Essential”!

—Derek W. H. Thomas The Robert Strong Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology, RTS Atlanta; Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC

Product Details

• Title: Evangelical Press Study Commentary Series: Acts
• Author: Guy Prentiss Waters
• Editor: John D. Currid
• Series: Evangelical Press Study Commentary (EPSC)
• Publisher: Evangelical Press
• Publication Date: 2015
• Pages: 614
• Resource Type: Commentary
• Topic: Acts

About Guy Waters

Guy Waters is Associate Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary and a teaching elder of the Presbyterian Church of America. His teaching focus is the writing and theology of Paul.