Acts of The Apostles: An Introduction and Study Guide

Shelly Matthews is Associate Professor of New Testament at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, Forth Worth, USA.

• 1. TRADITIONAL QUESTIONS IN ACTS SCHOLARSHIPLuke–Acts or Luke and Acts?The Lukan PrefaceActs and the Question of GenreActs among Ancient Historical NarrativesActs and the Pauline CorpusDating Acts2. NARRATIVE OVERVIEWThe Jerusalem Section, Acts 1.1–8.3Connecting Paul to the Jerusalem Apostles, Acts 8.4–12.25Paul’s Gentile Mission, 13.1–20.38Paul in Roman Custody, 21.1–28.313. ACTS AND EMPIRE: SECURITY IN ROMAN TERMSGullible Women and the Dregs of SocietyJabbering in CornersWorshiping the CrucifiedSpitting at the Gods and Scorning Public RobesWorse than the ‘Wretched Tribe’ of the Jews4. ACTS ON JEWS AND JUDAISM: VIOLENCE ‘TURNED INWARD’ UNDER EMPIREThe Nature of Intramural Polemic Roman Perspectives on Jews and JudaismActs’ Love of ‘Things Jewish’ First, to the JewsBeyond the PaleMaking Sense of Things5. THE PENTECOST The ‘Orderly Account’ of the Spirit’s Descent Reading against the GrainOther Readings of the PentecostImagining What Luke Attempts to Suppress

In spite of its brevity, the book is rich in content, informative, frequently challenging of cherished interpretations, and likely to open a reader’s eyes to otherwise overlooked intricacies of Acts.