A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on The Acts of the Apostles. Vol. 1: Preliminary Introduction and Commentary on Acts I-XIV

Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Mar 1998 by Larkin, William J Jr

In the end, Luke has only sources with scanty information (pp. 50-52) and is possessed of a temperament and outlook of a historian/theologian. This does not permit him to distinguish critically between the views of his subjects, the apostles and those of the Church in his day (p. 132). He cannot seem to avoid inaccuracies as he develops his idealistic edifying picture of the early Church (p. 258). He lacks the profundity of a Paul when it comes to articulating the great truths of the Christian faith (p. 132). It appears to me that this picture owes more to the historical-critical method s skepticism and limits that the commentator has embraced than to the character of Acts internal evidence.

This commentary is now the premier technical-exegetical and critical-commentary on Acts in English. It supersedes F. F. Bruce's The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text for documentation of primary sources. It is the first summary in English of the historical-critical discussion of Acts through the mid-1980s. Other critical commentaries-Haenchen, Conzelmann (Hermeneia), and Luke Timothy Johnson (Sacra Pagina)-will be challenged by the more moderate approach taken to historical matters. The challenge to conservative evangelicals is to assess and respond to the arguments and negative judgments concerning Acts historical accuracy and the authenticity of reported events. The value of Luke as a theologian is also in need of rehabilitation. I hope that Ward Gasque (NIGTC), Scott Bartchy (WBC) and Darrell Bock (Baker Exegetical Commentary) are not too far along in their commentary projects in Acts to interact with it.

WilliAm J. Larkin, Jr. Columbia Biblical Seminary and Graduate School of Missions, Columbia, SC