The Acts of the Apostles breaks fresh ground in providing a detailed social and rhetorical analysis of the book of Acts. This commentary interacts with the scholarly discussion found in the various excursuses in the book, draws on the best new insights from a number of disciplines (narratological studies of Luke-Acts, archaeological and social scientific study of the New Testament, rhetorical analysis of Acts, comparative studies in ancient historiography) to provide the reader with the benefits of recent innovative ways of analyzing the text of Acts.

Acts stands as one of the most important books in the New Testament. It records the actions of the Church and serves as a textbook example for the Church today. It records the promise and delivery of the Holy Spirit, and the effect of that supernatural power on the spread of the gospel. Ajith Fernando gives us a masterful commentary that discusses the importance of Acts and its benefits for us today.

In Acts, the third of eighteen volumes in the Paideia commentary series, leading biblical scholar Mikeal Parsons gleans fresh theological insight into Acts by attending carefully to the cultural and educational context from which it emerges. Parsons see Acts as a charter document explaining and legitimating Christian identity for a general audience of early Christians living in the ancient Mediterranean world. Pastors, graduate and seminary students, and professors will benefit from this readable commentary, as will theological libraries. The Paideia commentaries are designed to be read through and used, not shelved and referenced. The main text is supplemented with maps, sidebars, and photographs. Indexes and reference lists help readers locate discussions in the commentary and in other secondary literature.