Acts, Vol. 2 (International Critical Commentary Series | ICC)

by C. K. Barrett

Publisher:

T&T Clark

, 1998

Overview

For over one hundred years, the International Critical Commentary series has held a special place among works on the Bible. It has sought to bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis—linguistic and textual no less than archaeological, historical, literary and theological—with a level of comprehension and quality of scholarship unmatched by any other series.

No attempt has been made to secure a uniform theological or critical approach to the biblical text: contributors have been invited for their scholarly distinction, not for their adherence to any one school of thought.

The depth of analysis found in the International Critical Commentary (ICC) Series has yet to be surpassed in any commentary collection. One of the best features of this series is the extensive amount of background information given in each volume's introduction, where all of the analysis is provided before the actual commentary begins. Each volume packs more information into the introduction than you will often find in the body of most commentaries! Also consider that with the electronic versions of each volume, you will never need to leaf through the hundreds of pages in each volume searching for the passage you are studying.

Editors at the Time of Publication: John Adney Emerton, Charles E. B. Cranfield, Graham Norman Stanton

Original Series Editors: Samuel Rolles Driver, Alfred Plummer, Charles Augustus Briggs

Add the entire   International Critical Commentary Series (53 Volumes) to your digital library.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Jews had long known that the temptation to idolatry came most often through the butcher’s shop and the brothel. Hence what is in effect the command to use only Jewish butchers, where one could be confident that no εἰδωλόθυτα, πνικτά, or αἷμα would be sold, and the prohibition of πορνεία. It should be noted that such commands, especially the prohibition of idolatry, would be necessary for salvation, and not merely in order to facilitate fellowship between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians.” (Pages 733–734)

“Acts thought that he was. Paul turned to the spirit, that is, to the girl possessed by the spirit; clearly Paul (Luke) understood the ventriloquial phenomenon to be the result of possession.” (Page 787)

“Thus Acts 15 supplies the key to the arrangement and movement of the book as a whole.” (Page 710)

“But would Paul have accepted and acted on such a desirability? Bornkamm’s negative answer is almost certainly right. As Schille (333) points out, circumcision that had nothing to do with gaining salvation would be senseless in Jewish thought at the time. Luke (not Paul) may have been preparing for 21:21—the charge is disproved before it is brought (Johnson 290).” (Page 762)

“This paragraph is rightly described as the centre of Acts. It is the best example of a pattern that occurs several times in Acts and represents the way in which Luke conceived the progress of Christianity. In this pattern a difficulty is encountered; steps are taken to deal with it; not only is the problem solved but a notable advance takes place as a result.” (Page 709)

Praise for the Print Edition

The second volume of this magisterial commentary on Acts covers chapters 15-28. Professor Barrett provides fresh translations, verse-by-verse commentary, and addresses all linguistic, historical and theological issues. This volume also contains the general introduction to the entire commentary - here Barrett considers, for example, the contribution of Acts to the whole history and theology of early Christianity - together with the general index to both volumes. A number of commentaries on the Acts of the Apostles have recently been published, especially in the U.S.; this one ranks among the best given the wealth of information it provides.

—Nouvelle Revue Theologique, July/September 2001

With this second volume, eminent British biblical scholar C. K. Barrett completes his contribution to the prestigious ICC series. As with the first volume published in 1994, Barrett's commentary on the Greek texts of Acts is thorough and lucid, addressing the literary, historical and theological dimensions of the text. This two-volume work will remain a classic source on Acts for serious students of the New Testament.

— Donald Senior C.P., The Bible Today

The commentary proper, which is on the Greek text, engages with a wide range of scholarship; readers will find much to argue with and - hesitantly - dissent from, but they will certainly find themselves indebted to its richness and clarity. This is essentially a work for the scholar's library, and institutions serious about New Testament study will ensure that they have it on their shelves.

—Peter Doble, University of Leeds, Theological Book Review

The discussion of textual variants is careful and detailed. Again and again, Barrett provides valuable insights on the grammar and syntax of Luke's Greek, and students who read Acts in intermediate or advanced Greek classes will have frequent occasion to bless the author for his help.

—Anvil

Product Details

• Title: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Volume 2
• Author: C. K. Barrett
• Series: International Critical Commentary
• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Print Publication Date: 1998
• Logos Release Date: 2005
• Pages: 1272
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. Acts › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9780567083951, 0567083950
• Resource ID: LLS:ICC_AC2
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-09-24T16:26:38Z

About C. K. Barrett

C. K. Barrett (1917–2011) was emeritus professor of divinity at the University of Durham in England, and a determined Methodist. His work is held in very high regard and is featured prominently in many contemporary publications.

C. K. (Charles Kingsley) Barrett first studied at Shebbear College but soon transferred to Pembroke College to study theology. Barrett then trained for the Methodist ministry at Wesley House in Cambridge. In 1945, he was appointed lecturer in divinity at the University of Durham where he was eventually elected professor in 1958.

Barrett was especially known for having authored numerous scholarly articles and books, including commentaries on The Epistle to the Romans, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, and The Second Epistle to the Corinthians in the Black’s New Testament Commentary (BNTC) series, as well as On Paul: Essays on His Life, Work, and Influence in the Early Church and the titles in Select Works of C. K. Barrett (7 vols.).