A Selected Bibliography For The Book Of Acts

Books

Alexander, Joseph Addison. Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. New York: Scribner, Armstrong and Company, 1875. Reprint ed., Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing Company, n.d.

Barclay, William. The Acts of the Apostles. The Daily Bible Study. Second edition. Scotland: The Saint Andrew Press, 1955.

Barclay is a rationalist but writes with warmth. He is good for word studies, historical background (although he never cites sources) and application, however, one must read him with caution hermeneutically.

The Beginnings of Christianity. 5 Vols. Edited by F. J. Foakes Jackson and Kirsopp Lake. London: Macmillan and Company, n.d. Reprint ed., Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1965. Vol. 4: The Acts of the Apostles, English Translation and Commentary, by Kirsopp Lake and Henry J. Cadbury.

Brawley, Robert L. Luke-Acts and the Jews: Conflict, Apology, and Conciliation. Society of Biblical Literature Monograph Series. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1987.

______. “Paul in Acts: Lucan Apology and Conciliation.” In Luke-Acts: New Perspectives From the Society of Biblical Literature pp. 129-147. Edited by Charles H. Talbert. New York: Crossroad, 1984.

Bronkamm, Günther. “The Missionary Stance of Paul in I Corinthians 9 and in Acts.” In Studies in Luke-Acts, pp. 194-207. Edited by Leander E. Keck and J. Louis Martyn. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1966.

*Bruce, F. F. The Acts of the Apostles: Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary. Third revised and enlarged edition. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1952, 1990.

As the title suggests, this is a very technical commentary based upon interaction with the Greek text. Bruce is very concise throughout, but demonstrates enormous awareness of issues, and helpful bibliography throughout. A must for the serious student.

______. “The Apostolic Decree of Acts 15.” In Studien zum Text und zur Ethik des Neuen Testaments pp. 115-124. Edited by W. Schrage. 1986.

*______. Commentary on the Book of Acts. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Revised edition. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1954, 1988.

Analytical, conservative and excellent. Deals with the Greek text. The revision interacts with critical concerns. Bruce strongly defends the historicity of the text.

______. Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free. Grand Rapids: William Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977.

Cadbury, Henry J. The Book of Acts in History. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1955.

Calvin, John. The Acts of the Apostles: 1--13. Calvin’s Commentaries. Translated by John W. Fraser and W. J. G McDonald. Edited by David W. Torrance and Thomas F. Torrance. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1965 edition.

Conzelmann, Hans. Acts of the Apostles. Translated by James Limburg, A. Thomas Kraabel, and Donald H. Juel. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1987.

This work is very critical in its approach. Conzelmann is striving to explain Luke-Acts around the “delay in Christ’s return”. It is full of historical notes and bibliographic information.

Cook, Michael J. “The Mission to the Jews in Acts: Unraveling Luke’s ‘Myth of the “Myriads.”‘“ In Luke-Acts and the Jewish People: Eight Perspectives pp. 102-123. Edited by Joseph Tyson. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1988.

Danker, Frederick W. “Reciprocity in the Ancient World and in Acts 15:23-29.” In Political Issues in Luke-Acts pp. 49-58. Edited by Richard J. Cassidy, and Philip J. Scharper. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1983.

Dibelius, Martin. Studies in the Acts of the Apostles. Translated by Mary Ling. London: SCM Press, 1956.

Dunnett, Walter M. The Book of Acts. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981.

Ellison, H. L. “Paul and the Law--’All Things to All Men.’” In Apostolic History and the Gospel: Biblical and Historical Essays Presented to F. F. Bruce on His 60th Birthday pp. 195-202. Edited by W. Ward Gasque and Ralph P. Martin. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, The Paternoster Press, 1970.

Enslin, Morton Scott. Reapproaching Paul. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1972.

Filson, Floyd V. “The Journey Motif in Luke-Acts.” In Apostolic History and the Gospel: Biblical and Historical Essays Presented to F. F. Bruce on His 60th Birthday pp. 68-77. Edited by W. Ward Gasque and Ralph P. Martin. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, The Paternoster Press, 1970.

Gaston, Lloyd. “Anti-Judaism and the Passion Narrative in Luke and Acts.” In Anti-Judaism in Early Christianity: Volume 1: Paul and the Gospels pp. 127-153. Studies in Christianity and Judaism. Edited by Peter Richardson & David Granskou. Waterloo, Ontario: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 1986.

*Haenchen, Ernst. The Acts of the Apostles: A Commentary. Translated by Bernard Noble and Gerald Shinn. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1971.

Although liberal in bent, it is filled with scholarly details. It is analytical in its approach. A standard scholarly reference.

Hare, Douglas R. A. “The Rejection of the Jews in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts.” In Antisemitism and the Foundations of Christianity pp. 27-47. Edited by Alan Davies. New York: Paulist Press, 1979.

Harnack, Adolph. The Acts of the Apostles. Translated by J. R. Wilkinson. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1909.

*Harrison, Everett F. Acts of the Apostles. Chicago: Moody Press, 1975.

Hemer, Colin J. “Observations on Paualine Chronology.” In Pauline Studies: Essays Presented to Professor F. F. Bruce on His 70th Birthday pp. 3-18. Edited by Donald A. Hagner and Murray J. Harris. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1980.

Hiebert, D. Edmond. Personalities around Paul. Chicago: Moody Press, 1973.

Jensen, Irving L. Acts: An Independent Study: A Manual on Bible-Study-in-Depth. Chicago: Moody Press, 1968.

This volume is a study guide full of helpful charts. He provides some background information, but it is primarily designed for helping a student work on his own with the Bible.

Jervell, Jacob. Luke and the People of God: A New Look at Luke-Acts. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1972.

______. “The Church of Jews and Godfearers.” In Luke-Acts and the Jewish People: Eight Perspectives pp. 11-20. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1988.

Kent, Homer A., Jr. Jerusalem to Rome: Studies in the Book of Acts. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1972.

Knox, John. “Acts and the Pauline Letter Corpus.” In Essays Presented in Honor of Paul Shubert: Buckingham Professor of New Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale University: Studies in Luke-Acts:, pp. 279-287. Edited by Leander.E. Keck, and J. Louis Martyn. Nashville/New York; Abingdon, 1966.

Longenecker, Richard N. “The Acts of the Apostles.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 9: 207-573. Edited by Frank Gaebelein. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981.

A good treatment of the theology and Jewish backgrounds for the book of Acts. The “notes” sections offer some analytic observations, but overall Longenecker is working with the thought within each unit of the book.

Lumby, J. Rawson. The Acts of the Apostles. Cambridge: At the University Press, 1882.

Maddox, Robert. The Purpose of Luke-Acts. Studies of the New Testament and its World. Edited by John Richers. Edinburgh. T. & T. Clark, 1982.

While one may not agree with all of Maddox’s conclusions, he is must reading for grappling with the theological design of the doublework of Luke-Acts.

*Marshall, I. Howard. The Acts of the Apostles: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1980.

This is not a technical commentary. Marshall holds to the historicity of the text and emphasizes the theology of Acts throughout. As with most British scholars, Marshall is amillennial.

______. Luke: Historian and Theologian. Enlarged edition. Grand Rapids: Academie Books, 1970, 1989.

Matill, Andrew J. “A Spectrum of Opinion on the Value of Acts as a Source for the Reconstruction of the Life and Thought of Paul: Tradition and Redaction in the Pauline Portions of Acts,” In Society of Biblical Literature: 1984 Seminar Papers pp. 63-88. Volume II. Edited by George MacRae. Cambridge: Society of Biblical Literature, 1974.

______. “The Purpose of Acts: Schneckenburger Reconsidered.” In Apostolic History and the Gospel: Biblical and Historical Essays Presented to F. F. Bruce on His 60th Birthday pp. 108-122. Edited by W. Ward Gasque and Ralph P. Martin. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Paternoster Press, 1970.

Mitton C. Leslie. The Formation of the Pauline Corpus of Letters. Longdon: The Epworth Press, 1955.

Morgan, G. Campbell. The Acts of the Apostles. New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1924.

Neil, William. Acts. New Century Bible Commentary Series. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1981.

*Rackham, Richard B. The Acts of the Apostles. Reprint ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1964.

Richard, Earl. “The Divine Purpose: the Jews and the Gentile Mission (Acts 15).” In Luke-Acts: New Perspectives from the Society of Biblical Literature Seminar pp. 188-209. Edited by C. Talbert. New York: Crossroad, 1984.

*Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. The Acts of the Apostles. Everyman’s Bible Commentary. Chicago: Moody Press, 1961.

This brief work is a good synthetic approach to the book and its argument.

Salmon, Marilyn. “Insider or Outsider? Luke’s Relationship with Judaism,” In Luke-Acts and the Jewish People: Eight Perspectives, pp. 76-82. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1988.

Sanders, Jack T. “The Jewish People in Luke-Acts.” In Luke-Acts and the Jewish People: Eight Perspectives pp. 51-75. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1988.

______. “The Salvation of the Jews in Luke-Acts.” In Luke-Acts: New Perspectives From the Society of Biblical Literature 104-128. Edited by Charles H. Talbert. New York: Crossroad, 1984.

Talbert, Charles H. Literary Patterns, Theological Themes, and the Genre of Luke-Acts. Missoula, Montana: Society of Biblical Literature and Scholars Press, 1974.

Talbert is very interested in analyzing Luke-Acts from a literary approach. Many of his observations concerning the parallels in Luke and Acts are extremely helpful. This work is out of print, but is available in the library.

*Tannehill Robert C. The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts: A Literary Interpretation: Volume Two: The Acts of the Apostles. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1990.

Although Tannehill does not hold to the historicity of the text, his literary approach to the theology of Acts is excellent and thus must reading.

______. “Rejection by Jews and Turning to Gentiles: the Pattern of Paul’s Mission in Acts.” In Luke-Acts and the Jewish People: Eight Perspectives pp. 83-101. Edited by Joseph Tyson. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1988.

Thomas, W. H. Griffith. Outline Studies in the Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1956.

Tiede, David L. “The Exaltation of Jesus and the Restoration of Israel in Acts 1.” In Christians Among Jews & Gentiles: Essays in Honor of Drister Stendahl on His Sixty-fifth Birthday pp. 278-286. Edited by George W. E. Nicklesburg with George W. MacRae. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1986.

______. “Glory to Thy People Israel: Luke-Acts and the Jews.” In Luke-Acts and the Jewish People: Eight Perspectives, pp. 21-34. Edited by Joseph Tyson. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1988.

*Toussaint, Stanley D. “Acts.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty, pp. 349-432. Edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1983.

Although this is necessarily a brief commentary, there are many helpful discussions of problem passages, and theological matters.

Trompf, G. W. “On Why Luke Declined to Recount the Death of Paul: Acts 27-28 and Beyond.” In Luke-Acts: New Perspectives from the Society of Biblical Literature Siminar, pp. 225-239. Edited by Charles H. Talbert. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1984.

Tyson, Joseph B. “Scripture, Torah, and Sabbath in Luke-Acts.” In Jesus, the Gospels, and the Church: Essays in Honor of William R. Farmer pp. 89-104. Edited by E. P. Sanders. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 1987.

_______. “The Problem of Jewish Rejection in Acts.” In Luke-Acts and the Jewish People: Eight Perspectives pp. 124-137. Edited by Joseph Tyson. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1988.

Wilson, Stephen G. “The Jews and the Death of Jesus in Acts.” Anti-Judaism in Early Christianity: Volume 1: Paul and the Gospels pp. 155-164. Studies in Christianity and Judaism. Edited by Peter Richardson & David Granskou. Waterloo, Ontario: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 1986.

______. “Law and Judaism in Acts.” Society of Biblical Literature: 1980 Seminar Papers pp 251-265. Chico, California: Scholars Press, 1980.

______. Luke and the Law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1969.

Periodicals

Barrett, Charles K. “Acts and the Pauline Corpus.” The Expository Times 88 (October 1976): 2-5.

______. “Apostles in Council and in Conflict.” Australian Biblical Review 31 (October 1983): 14-32.

______. “The Apostolic Decree of Acts 15:29.” Australian Biblical Review 35 (1987): 50-59.

______. “Things Sacrificed to Idols,” New Testament Studies 11 (1964-65): 138-153.

Bruce. F. F. “The Acts of the Apostles: Historical Record or Theological Reconstruction?” In Aufstieg Und NiedergangDer Römischen Welt. II.25.3, pp. 2569-2603. Edited by Hildegard Temporini and Wolfgang Haase. Berlin/New York: Walter De Gruyter, 1985.

______. “Is the Paul of Acts the Real Paul?” Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library 58 (1976): 282-305.

Catchpole, David R. “Paul, James and the Apostolic Decree.” New Testament Studies: An International Journal 23 (July 1977): 428-444.

Davies, Philip R. “The Ending of Acts.” The Expository Times 94 (August 1983): 334-335.

Dickinson, Royce Jr. “The Theology of the Jerusalem Conference: Acts 15:1-35.” Restoration Quarterly 32: 2 (1990): 65-83.

Enslin, Morton Scott. “Once Again, Luke and Paul.” Zeitschrift für Die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft: Und Die Kunde Der Altern Kirche 61 (1970): 253-271.

Fee, Gordon D. “1 Corinthians 7:1 in the NIV.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 23 (1980): 307-314.

______. II Corinthians vi.14-vii.1 and Food Offered to Idols.” New Testament Studies 23 (1977) 140-161.

______. “Εἰδωλόθυτα Once Again: 1 Cor. 9-10.” Biblica 61 (1980): 172-197.

Finkelstein, Louis. “Some Examples of the Maccabean Halaka.” Journal of Biblical Literature 49 (1930): 20-42.

Goulder, Michael D. “Did Luke Know Any of the Pauline Letters?” Perspectives in Religious Studies 13 (1986): 97-112.

Hemer, Colin J. “The Speeches of Acts: I The Ephesian Elders at Miletus.” Tyndale Bulletin 40 (1989): 76-85.

Hunkin, J. W. “The Prohibitions of the Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15:28-29).” The Journal of Theological Studies 27 (April 1926): 272-283.

Kilgallen, John J. “The Function of Stephen’s Speech (Acts 7,2-53).” Biblica 70 (1989): 173-193.

Klijn, Albertus F. J. “Stephen’s Speech: Acts VII. 2-53.” New Testament Studies 4 (1957): 25-31.

King, George Brockwell. “The Negative Golden Rule.” The Journal of Religion 8 (April 1928): 268-279

Koivisto, Rex A. “Stephen’s Speech: A Theology of Errors?” Grace Theological Journal 8 (Spring 1987): 101-114.

Lock, Walter. “1 Corinthians 8:1-9: A Suggestion.” The Expositor 5:6 (1897): 65-74.

Mattill, Andrew J. “Date and Purpose of Luke-Acts: Rackham Reconsidered.” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 40 (1978): 335-350.

Moessner, David P. “‘The Christ Must Suffer’ New Light on the Jesus--Peter, Stephen, Paul Parallels in Luke-Acts.” Novum Testamentum 28 (July 1986): 220-256.

Polhill, “Paul: Theology Born of Mission.” Review and Expositor: A Baptist Theological Journal 78 (1981): 233-247.

Pope, A. M. “The Ethical Significance of the Apostolic Decree.” The Canadian Journal of Religious Thought 4 (May-June 1927): 201-209.

Schwartz, Daniel R. “The Futility of Preaching Moses (Acts 15:21).” Biblica 67:2 (1986): 276-281.

Simon, Marcel. “The Apostolic Decree and Its Setting in the Ancient Church.” Bulletin John Rylands Library 52:2 (Spring, 1970): 437-469.

______. “Saint Stephen and the Jerusalem Temple.” The Journal of Ecclesiastical History 2 (July-October 1951): 127-142

Sylva, Dennis D. “The Meaning and Function of Acts 7:46-50.” Journal of Biblical Literature 106 (June 1987): 261-275.

Vine, Victor E. “The Purpose and Date of Acts.” The Expository Times 96 (November 1984): 45-48.

Walker, William O. Jr. “Acts and the Pauline Corpus Reconsidered.” Journal for the Study of the New Testament 24 (1985): 3-23.

Wenham, David. “The Paulinism of Acts Again: Two Historical Clues in 1 Thessalonians.” Themelios: An International Journal for Theological Students 13 (January-February 1988): 53-55.

Unpublished Materials

Brindle, Wayne Allan. “The Apostolic Decree of Acts 15.” Th.M. thesis. Dallas Theological Seminary. Dallas Texas, 1973.

Fowler, William Arthur. “The Prohibition Against Blood In Acts 15.” Th.M thesis. Dallas Theological Seminary. Dallas Texas, 1982.

Pilkey, John Davis. “A Comparison of the Sermons In Acts 2 and 7.” Th.M. thesis. Dallas Theological Seminary, 1975.