Acts

Matthew L. Skinner is the Asher O. and Carrie Nasby Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul and the Scholar for Adult Education at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. An author of numerous books, including A Companion to the New Testament, Intrusive God, Disruptive Gospel: Encountering the Divine in the Book of Acts, and Acts: Catching Up with the Spirit, he also cohosts Sermon Brainwave, a weekly podcast that accompanies preachers in their craft as biblical interpreters.

"Matthew Skinner's commentary on Acts paints beautifully, capturing the subtle textures and colors of this monumental book. His eye for the details is stunning, and his theological sensibilities are rare for a biblical scholar. Among the many commentaries on the book of Acts, add this one to the categories of the most beautiful and most insightful. You must add it to your library."—Willie James Jennings, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies, Yale Divinity School"Scholar, teacher, preacher Matthew L. Skinner offers a thoughtful, insightful, critical, and faithful theological commentary on Acts. His biblical interpretation reveals that ultimately Acts is about a God who faithfully acts to turn the world upside down, then and now, and he connects historical narratives to pertinent contemporary theological, sociological, and anthropological issues such that ancient texts intersect with modern day contexts. Skinner interprets Acts in such an illuminating manner that he demonstrates the brilliance of biblical stories as a reflection of the light of Easter shining on humans today."—Luke A. Powery, Dean of Duke University Chapel and Professor of Homiletics, Duke University Divinity School"Skinner admires the book of Acts for 'inviting readers to theologize for themselves.' With this exciting new commentary, he issues the same invitation to his readers. Refusing to reduce the book of Acts to a list of doctrinal claims, Skinner offers historically sensitive interpretive possibilities. He draws us into the narrative with energy and verve, reminding us that the spirit of this ancient story brings hope and healing still today."—Michal Beth Dinkler, Associate Professor of New Testament, Yale Divinity School"With Acts: An Interpretation Bible Commentary, Matthew Skinner has given a remarkably insightful and highly useful commentary for interpreting the Acts of the Apostles. In the introduction, Skinner lays bare the basic outlook of the book: 'God, who proved faithful to the people of Israel through Jesus Christ and faithful to the first generations of believers through the Holy Spirit, remains faithful still, even as the church finds itself confronted by new challenges and opportunities.' With crisp prose, the commentary that follows explicates this outlook in its various dimensions. Skinner, while thoroughly familiar with the secondary literature, refuses to be distracted by those debates. He is relentlessly devoted to reading the text itself for its narrative shape and theological claims for contemporary Christ-followers. A go-to resource for anyone tasked with teaching or preaching Acts."—Mikeal C. Parsons, University Distinguished Professor and Macon Chair in Religion, Baylor University"Keeping the preacher in mind, Skinner synthesizes his passions as scholar and proclaimer in this careful, critical companion to Acts. In this volume, Skinner does not allow the colonized, incarcerated, and marginalized to fade into obscurity. He instead expertly leads interpreters to extract how the Spirit stimulates a vision that embraces diversity and is oriented to justice. Skinner powerfully reminds us that such a vision is still relevant, perhaps even more so, for contemporary Christians, especially those who preach."—Jeremy Williams, Assistant Professor of New Testament and Director of the Center for Theology and Justice, Brite Divinity School