_________
ENDNOTES ACTS
Several sources I have cited here are from the electronic media, either from websites or from electronic research libraries. Thus in some of these sources it is not possible to cite page numbers. Instead, I have cited the verse or verses in Acts (e.g. v. verse 1:1 or vs. verses 1:5-6) about which the commentators speak.
INTRODUCTION
1 F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 3.
2 Bob Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts. Introduction. http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL03B/VOL03B.html
“The unanimous witness of the early church was that the author was Luke. a. the Muratorian Fragment (AD 180-200 from Rome says, ‘complied by Luke the physician’) b. the writings of Irenaeus (AD 130-200) c. the writings of Clement of Alexandria (AD 156-215) d. the writings of Tertullian (AD 160-200) e. the writings of Origen (AD 185-254).”
3 D. Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1970), p. 969.
4 I. Howard Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 1980), p. 38.
5 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 968.
6 John R. W. Stott, The Message of Acts (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1990), p. 24.
“Luke arrived in Jerusalem with Paul (21:17) and left with him on their voyage to Rome (27:1). In between was a period of more than two years, during which Paul was held a prisoner in Caesarea (24:27), while Luke was a free man. How did he use this time: It would be reasonable to guess that he travelled the length and breadth of Palestine [sic], gathering material for his Gospel and for the early Jerusalem-based chapters of the Acts…[He] will surely also have interviewed many eyewitnesses. Some of them will have known Jesus, including perhaps the now elderly Virgin Mary herself, since Luke’s birth and infancy narrative, including the intimacies of the Annunciation, is told from her viewpoint…So it is not surprising that the first half of the Acts has a ‘very noticeable Semitic coloring.’”
NOTE: Almost all Bible writers commonly refer to the Holy Land in the First Century as “Palestine.” It should be noted that the land was never called “Palestine” until after AD 135. It was at that point that the Romans in derision renamed the land after the ancient Philistines. They did so to remove all biblical references. We know in the New Testament that the land was called “Israel” in the First Century (Matt. 2:21).
7 Charles F. Pfeiffer & Everett F. Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), p. 1123.
8 Kenneth L. Barker & John R. Kohlenberger III, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), p. 378.
9 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts. Introduction.
CHAPTER 1
1 Ibid, v. 1:1.
2 Francis Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts (Downers Grove: Inter Varsity Press, 2006), p. 2.
3 James Burton Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament (Abilene, TX: Christian University Press, 1983-1999), vs. 1:1-5.
http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bcc/view.cgi?bk=43&ch=1.
4 William Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, 1956-1959, v. 1:1. http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/view.cgi?bk=43&ch=1.
5 Adam Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, 1832, v. 1:2. http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/view.cgi?bk=43&ch=1.
6 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1125.
7 Paul E. Kretzmann, Commentary on Acts, Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary, 1921-23, vs. 1:1-5. http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/kpc/view.cgi?bk=43&ch=13.
8 Peter Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, 2013, vs. 1:1-2. http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/pet/view.cgi?bk=43&ch=1. 2013.
9 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 3.
10 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, v. 1:1.
11 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1127.
12 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 1:5.
Pfeiffer and Harrison add: “This baptism of the Holy Spirit was never repeated. It was later extended to believers in Samaria (Acts 8), to the Gentiles (chs. 10; 11)…” (Pfeiffer & Harrison, p. 1127).
13 Ray Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 1:1-14. http://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/acts.
14 David Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, 1997-2003, vs. 1: 4-5. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/acts-1/
15 G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, Reprinted 1960), p. 74.
16 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 6.
17 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1125.
18 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 382.
“The concept of ‘witness’…is so prominent in Acts (the word in its various forms appears some thirty-nine times)…So as Luke begins his second book, he highlights this witness theme and insists it comes from the mandate of Jesus himself” (p. 381).
19 Albert Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, 1870, v. 1:8. http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/view.cgi?bk=43&ch=1.
20 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 48.
21 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 1:9-11.
22 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 382.
23 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 1:11.
24 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 51.
25 Ibid.
26 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 1:9-11.
27 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 1:12.
28 A. T. Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1932-33, Renewal, 1960), v. 1:13.
http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/rwp/view.cgi?bk=43&ch=1n
29 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 40.
30 James Burton Coffman, Commentary on Mark, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament (Abilene, TX: Christian University Press, 1983-99), vs. 3:16-19. http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bcc/view.cgi?bk=40&ch=1.
31 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 1:15.
“The term ‘Peter’ is a Greek term (petros) for a ‘detached rock.’ It is ‘Cephas’ or ‘bedrock’ in Aramaic (cf. Matt. 16:18).”
32 Coffman, Commentary on Mark, vs. 3:16-19.
33 J. Newton Davies, Mark, Abingdon Bible Commentary (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1929), p. 1004.
34 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 1:13.
35 Ibid.
36 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 973.
37 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 1:14.
38 Ibid.
39 Kretzmann, Commentary on Acts, Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary, vs. 1:12-14.
40 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 41.
41 Ibid., p. 42.
42 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 52.
43 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 1:12-26.
44 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 384.
45 Ibid.
46 Quoted in Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 56.
47 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 65.
48 Darrell L. Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians (Colorado Springs: Cook Communications Ministries, 2006), p. 52.
49 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 1:20.
50 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 58.
51 Ibid.
52 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1993), p. 326.
53 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 66.
54 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 1:24.
55 Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, & David Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871-78. vs. 1:24-25. http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfb/view.cgi?bk=43&ch=1.
56 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 974.
57 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 1:26.
CHAPTER 2
1 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1126.
2 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 20.
3 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 62.
4 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 970.
“Luke probably employed a good part of the two years of Paul’s imprisonment in Caesarea setting in order the material which he had gathered thus far…it has been held that Luke was also indebted to Mark for some of the Jerusalem information appearing in the first twelve chapters of Acts.”
5 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 2:2.
6 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 2:2.
7 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007), p. 326.
“Like our Lord’s death at Calvary, Pentecost was a once-for-all event that will not be repeated.”
8 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 2:3.
9 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, pp. 22-23.
10 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 2:2.
11 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 2:1-13,
12 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 2:4.
13 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 326.
14 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 387.
15 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1127.
16 Cited in Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 2:4-21.
17 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 2:1-13.
18 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 2:6.
19 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 127.
20 John Sherrill, They Speak With Other Tongues (New York: Pyramid Books, 1964), pp. 42-43.
21 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 2:4-21.
22 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 2:2.
23 Cited in Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 65, citing Longnecker.
24 John Trapp, Commentary on Acts, John Trapp Complete Commentary, 1865-1868, v. 2:8. http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jtc/view.cgi?bk=43&ch=2.
25 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 68.
26 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 2:7-11.
27 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, pp. 57-58.
28 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 328.
29 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 2:13.
30 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1127.
31 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 328.
32 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 73.
33 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 61.
34 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 45.
35 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 2:4-21.
36 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 391.
37 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 2:22.
38 Bargil Pixner, With Jesus through Galilee according to the Fifth Gospel (Rosh Pina, Israel: Corazin Publishing, 1992), p. 15.
39 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 46.
40 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 391.
41 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 47.
42 Ibid.
43 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1128.
Barnes adds: “Sepulchers were commonly situated without the walls of cities and the limits of villages. The custom of burying in towns was not commonly practiced. …Asa was buried in the city of David; 2 Kings 14:20. David was buried in the city of David 1 Kings 2:10, with his fathers… he built a city called after his name, 2 Samuel 5:7…The tombs were commonly excavations from rocks, or natural caves; and sepulchers cut out of the solid rock, of vast extent, are known to have existed.” (Barnes, v. 2:29).
44 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 329.
45 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, pp. 76-77.
46 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 2:30.
47 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 2:32.
48 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 2:33.
49 Kretzmann, Commentary on Acts, Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary, vs. 2:33-36.
50 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 2:34-36.
51 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 68.
52 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 391.
53 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 2:37-41.
54 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, vs. 2:37-38.
55 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 2:37.
56 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 2:38.
57 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 50
58 Quoted in Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 2:38.
59 William Barclay, Turning to God (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1964), p.50.
60 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 2:38.
Marshall adds concerning baptism: “… it conveys the thought that the person being baptized enters into allegiance to Jesus, and this would tie in with the evidence that at baptism it was customary to make a confession of Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 12:3).” (Marshall, p. 81).
61 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 394.
62 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 70.
63 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 326.
64 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 2:38-40.
65 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 73.
66 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 330.
67 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 79.
68 Ibid., p. 81.
69 Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 385.
70 William Barclay, A New Testament Wordbook (London: SCM Press, 1955, 1959), p. 71.
71 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 73.
72 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 398.
73 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 2:43.
74 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 2:44.
75 Larry Schweikart and Dave Dougherty, A Patriot’s History of the Modern World, V. 2 (NY: The Penguin Group, 2013), p. 361.
76 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 398.
77 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 74.
78 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 2:42-47.
79 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 2:46.
80 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 52.
81 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 2:46-47.
CHAPTER 3
1 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 3:1-10.
2 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 3:1-10.
3 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 399.
4 William Godbey, Commentary on Acts, William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament, vs. 3:1-10. http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ges/view.cgi?bk=43&ch=3.
5 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 39.
6 Ibid., p. 10.
7 Cited in Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 78.
8 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 3:7-10.
9 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 53.
10 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 3:8.
11 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 89.
12 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 3:11.
13 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 91.
Bruce adds: “The tradition tracing this colonnade or portico back to Solomon himself was certainly unfounded; the temple platform did not extend so far to the east in Solomon’s day.” (Bruce, p. 80).
14 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 89.
15 Trapp, Commentary on Acts, John Trapp Complete Commentary, v. 3:12.
16 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 3:16.
Barnes says, “…the promise had been made to Abraham that in his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed, Genesis 12:3. Compare Galatians 3:16.”
17 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 81.
“The figure of this Servant has exercised a profound influence on NT thought and language.”
18 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 3:11-16.
19 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 3:14-15.
20 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 3:14.
21 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 92.
22 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 3:16.
23 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 3:17.
24 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 332.
25 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 130.
26 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 3:19-21.
27 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 3:17-26.
28 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 83.
29 Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. http://www.iep.utm.edu/origen-of-alexandria/
30 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 94.
31 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 93.
32 Ibid., p. 94.
33 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 55.
34 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 3:23.
“To be destroyed from among the people means, however, to be excommunicated, or to be deprived of the privileges of a people. Among the Jews this was probably the most severe punishment that could be inflicted. It involved the idea of being cut off from the privileges of sacrifice and worship in the temple and in the synagogue, etc., and of being regarded as a pagan and an outcast.”
35 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 95.
36 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 3:25-26.
37 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 46.
CHAPTER 4
1 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 95.
2 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 402.
Marshall adds: “It is interesting that, although the Pharisees were the group most opposed to Jesus during his ministry, in acts they are almost friendly to the church, while the Sadducees (who do not figure in the Gospels until the last days of Jesus) have become the leaders of the opposition).” (Marshall, p. 98).
3 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 4:2.
4 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 89.
5 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 4:4.
6 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 90.
7 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 331.
8 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 4:5-12.
9 Ibid.
10 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 91.
11 Ibid., p. 92.
12 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 4:8-12.
13 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 4:10.
14 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 4:1-12.
15 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 49.
16 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 4:12.
17 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 49.
18 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 4:13.
19 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 98.
Guzik adds here: “The greater importance of these two things – more important than formal education – has been proven in the lives of Gods servants again and again. It has been proven true through such servants of God as Charles Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, William Carey, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Hudson Taylor…” (Guzik, v. 4:13).
20 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 95.
21 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, pp. 50-51.
22 Quoted in Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 4:13.
23 Frederick Brotherton Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,” 1914, vs. 4:13-22.
http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/fbm/view.cgi?bk=43&ch=1
24 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 333.
25 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 405.
26 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 4:19-20.
27 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 4:13-31.
28 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1131.
29 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 4:23-31.
30 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 4:23.
31 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 406.
32 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 99.
Wiersbe adds: “The Greek word gives us our English word despot, a ruler who exercises absolute power, either benevolently or abusively…Psalm 2 describes the revolt of the nations against the Lord and his Christ.” (Wiersbe, p. 335).
33 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 406.
34 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 99.
35 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 4:30.
36 Stott, The Message of Acts, pp. 102-03.
37 Ibid., p. 104.
38 Ibid., p. 100.
39 Quoted in Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 107.
40 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 4:32-35.
41 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 56.
42 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 4:32.
43 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, v. 4:33.
44 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 407.
45 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 58.
46 J. D. Douglas & Merill C. Tenney, The New International Dictionary of the Bible (Basingstoke, Hants, UK: Marshall-Pickering, 1963, 1987), pp. 125-26.
47 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 105.
CHAPTER 5
1 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 110.
Barker & Kohlenberger add: “Probably no account in Acts has provoked more wrath from critics than this one has.” (Barker & Kohlenberger, p. 408).
2 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 5:1-11.
3 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 337.
4 Ibid.
5 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 112.
6 Quoted in Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 337.
7 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 408.
8 Cited in Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 5:5-6.
9 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 102.
10 Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,”
vs. 5:1-11.
11 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 978.
Bruce adds: “… in the Qumran regulations a postulant for membership in the community handed over his property provisionally to the treasurer, but it was not merged with the assets of the community until he had completed his period of probation and was admitted to full membership (1QS6.18-23).” (Bruce, p. 105).
12 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 5:5-6, citing Morgan.
13 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 5:1-11.
14 Cited in Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 5:6.
15 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 104.
16 Bible Archaeology. http://www.bible-archaeology.info/tombs.htm
17 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1132.
18 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 107.
19 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 5:9-10.
20 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 5:10-11.
21 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 978.
22 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 111.
23 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, pp. 1132-33.
24 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 5:12-42.
25 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 5:12, citing Hervey.
26 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 62.
27 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 5:13.
28 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 338.
Utley adds here: “Luke especially highlights ‘women,’ both in the Gospel and Acts (i.e., Acts 1:14; 8:12; 16:1,13; 17:4,12, 34; 18:2; 21:5). Jesus brings a new sense of dignity and worth to women and children…” (Utley, v. 5:14).
29 William F. Arndt & F. Wilbur Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1957), p. 448.
30 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 335.
“Ancient people thought that one’s shadow was attached to oneself; in Jewish law, if one’s shadow touched a corpse one was as unclean as one who physically touched the corpse.”
31 Quoted in Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible,
vs. 5:15-16.
32 Ibid.
33 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 339.
34 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 5:17.
35 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 339.
36 Cited in Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 5:19.
37 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 118.
38 Kretzmann, Commentary on Acts, Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary, vs. 5:21-25.
39 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 5:22.
40 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 336.
41 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 118.
42 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 5:24.
43 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 65.
44 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 410.
45 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 5:26.
46 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 5:28.
47 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 5:29-32.
48 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 5:31.
49 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 120.
50 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 62.
51 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 5:31.
52 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 5:33.
53 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 5:33.
54 Godbey, Commentary on Acts, William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament, v. 5:33-42.
55 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 114.
56 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 411.
57 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 5: 31.
58 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 112.
Barclay adds: “Who this Theudas was we do not know…Theudas was a common name and no doubt this was just such another fire-brand.” (Barclay, vs. 5:33-42).
59 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, pp. 116-17.
60 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 5:37.
61 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 5:37.
62 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 341.
63 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 5:40.
64 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 119.
65 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 342.
CHAPTER 6
1 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 120.
2 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 343.
3 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 121.
4 Ibid.
5 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 6:1-7.
6 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 6:2.
7 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 338.
8 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 343.
9 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 6:4.
10 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 6:4.
11 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 6:5.
12 Douglas & Tenney, The New International Dictionary of the Bible, p. 781.
13 Ibid., p. 752.
14 Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene Fathers, V. 1 (Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1956), p. 352.
15 Roberts & Donaldson, eds, The Ante-Nicene Fathers, V. 5, p. 115.
16 Roberts & Donaldson, eds, The Ante-Nicene Fathers, V. 2, p. 373.
17 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 6:5-6.
18 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 6:5-7.
19 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 414-15.
20 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 6:6.
21 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 120.
“This advance involved the large-scale evangelization of Gentiles. It was the Hellenists in the church who took the lead in this enterprise…”
22 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, pp. 338-339.
Marshall adds: “The priests were presumably those attached to the temple in Jerusalem, of whom there was a great number (estimated at 18,000 priests and Levites).” (Marshall, pp. 127-28).
Bruce also comments here: “The ordinary priests were socially and in other ways far removed from the wealthy chief-priestly families from which the main opposition to the gospel came. Many of the ordinary priests were no doubt men holy and humble of heart, like Zechariah, father of John the Baptist…” (Bruce, p. 123).
23 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 344.
24 Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 479.
25 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 124.
26 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 129.
“… the Greek construction favors two synagogues, one for the first three groups (Freedmen, Cyrenians, Alexandrians), and one for the remaining two (Clicians, Asians).”
27 Jamieson, et. al., Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vs. 6:9-10.
28 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 125.
29 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 6:11.
30 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 126.
31 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 979.
32 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 417.
33 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 128.
34 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 6:12.
35 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 6:15.
36 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 6:36.
CHAPTER 7
1 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 7:1.
2 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 131.
3 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, pp. 417-18.
4 Ibid., p. 418.
5 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 344.
Barker & Kohlenber add: “Stephen’s speech was not a scholarly historical survey; it was a powerful portrayal of God’s dealing with Israel…Church history knows of few, if any, greater displays of moral courage than Stephen showed in this speech.” (Barker & Kohlenberger, p. 419).
6 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 139.
7 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament v. 7:3.
8 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 7:4.
“We may also note the possibility that Abraham was mentioned first of the three sons in Genesis 11:26 only because of his prominence in the ensuing narrative, rather than because he was the eldest son. Thus the son born when Terah was ‘seventy’ may have been Nahor or Haran…Abraham may have been born much later and have been the youngster.”
9 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 7:4.
10 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 340.
11 Biblical Archaeology Society. http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/dead-sea-scrolls/the-masoretic-text-and-the-dead-sea-scrolls/ Accessed 3/2/16.
12 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vs. 7:6-7.
Barnes adds: “Stephen and Moses use, in accordance with a very common custom, ‘round numbers’ in speaking of it, and thus speak of 400 years when the literal time was 430.” (Barnes, v. 7:6).
13 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 7:8.
14 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 133.
15 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 7:8-16.
16 Godbey, Commentary on Acts, William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament, vs. 7:9-16.
17 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 7:13.
18 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 340.
19 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 7:15-16.
20 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, vs. 7:15-16.
21 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 340.
22 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 345.
23 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 7:15-16.
24 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 7:18.
25 Ibid.
26 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vs. 7:20-22.
27 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 139.
28 Cited in Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 139.
29 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 7:23.
30 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 981.
31 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 7:26-28.
32 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 340.
33 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 7:29.
34 Cited in Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 141.
35 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 981.
36 Stott, The Message of Acts, pp. 136-137.
37 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 142.
38 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 7:35.
39 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 419.
40 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, v. 7:37.
41 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 7:37.
42 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 143.
43 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 344.
44 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 341.
45 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 345.
46 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, pp. 144-45.
47 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 7:42.
48 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 7:42-43.
49 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 145.
“…the star of your god Raiphan: Raiphan being a designation of the planet Saturn….Stephen means that the worship of the planetary powers, for which the nation lost its liberty and suffered deportation, was the climax of that idolatrous process which began in the wilderness.”
Utley adds: “The worship of astral deities began in Mesopotamia, but spread into Syria and Canaan (cf. Job 31:26, 27).” (Utley, v. 7:42).
50 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 7:42-43.
51 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 346.
52 Quoted in Godbey, Commentary on Acts, William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament, vs. 7:44-50.
53 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 421.
54 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 7:45.
55 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, v. 7:45.
56 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 149.
57 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 981.
Marshall adds: “There seems in fact to be a contrast between the tent, of which God approved, and the permanent house built by Solomon…temple-worship imposes a false limit on the nature of God.” (Marshall, p. 146).
58 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 7:51.
59 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 147.
60 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 69.
61 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 152.
62 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 343.
63 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 423.
64 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 142.
“Since the Romans had taken away the Jews’ right to capital punishment, it seems that Stephen’s stoning was more a mob lynching than an official execution…”
65 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 424.
66 Ibid.
67 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 7:57-58.
68 Ibid., vs. 7:59-60, Citing Augustine.
69 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 346.
CHAPTER 8
1 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 145.
2 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 162.
Pett adds (vs. 8:1-25): “While the persecution may have majored on the Hellenistic Christians, the Hebrew Christians would be drawn in by association.”
3 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 347.
4 Ibid., Quoting Hugo.
5 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 8:2.
6 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 8:2.
7 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 8:3.
8 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 8:3.
9 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 343.
10 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 152.
11 https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Tertullian
12 John L. Allen Jr., The Global War on Christians (New York: Image, 2013), p. 35.
13 Carl Moeller and David W. Hegg, The Privilege of Persecution (And Other Things the Global Church Knows That We don’t), (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2011), p. 58.
14 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 148.
15 Ibid., p. 144.
16 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 425.
17 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 8:1-24.
18 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 344.
19 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 8:10.
20 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 155.
21 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 71.
22 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 8:13.
23 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1139.
24 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 156.
25 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 8:14-17.
26 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 8:16.
27 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 150.
28 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 348.
29 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 8:14-17.
30 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 345.
31 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, pp. 158-59.
32 Ibid., p. 159.
33 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 171.
34 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 8:21.
35 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 8:23.
36 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 73.
37 Roberts & Donaldson, eds, The Ante-Nicene Fathers, V. 1, p. 171.
38 Ibid., pp. 347-348.
39 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 166.
40 Godbey, Commentary on Acts, William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament, v. 8:22.
41 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 168.
42 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 8:26-40.
43 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 983.
44 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 160.
45 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 8:27-30.
Bruce adds: “The king of Ethiopia was venerated as the child of the sun and regarded as too sacred a personage to discharge the secular functions of royalty; these were performed on his behalf by the queen-mother, who bore the dynastic title Kandake…” (Bruce, p. 175).
46 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 428.
47 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 8:39.
48 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 175.
49 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 346.
50 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 8:29.
51 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 8:29.
52 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 161.
53 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 346.
54 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1139.
Barker and Kohlenberger add: “….there is no evidence that anyone in pre-Christian Judaism ever thought of the Messiah in terms of a Suffering Servant… a doctrine of a suffering Messiah was generally considered unthinkable.” (Barker & Kohlenberger, p. 429).
55 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 162.
56 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 346.
57 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1140.
Utley adds: “This verse, which records the eunuch’s confession, is not included in the ancient Greek papyri manuscripts P45 (Chester Beatty Papyri), P74 (Bodmer Papyri), or the ancient uncial Greek manuscripts א, A, B, or C. Neither is it present in some of the ancient Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, or Ethiopian translations. Verse 37 is not original to Acts…” (Utley, v. 8:37).
58 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 8:39.
59 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 347.
60 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 162.
CHAPTER 9
1 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 350.
2 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 165.
3 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 9:1-19.
4 Quoted in Brad H. Young, Paul The Jewish Theologian (Peabody, Mass: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1997), p. xvii.
5 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 9:1.
Barnes adds: “The word breathing out is expressive often of any deep, agitating emotion, as we then breathe rapidly and violently. It is thus expressive of violent anger…Euripides has the same expression: ‘Breathing out fire and slaughter.’” (Barnes, v. 9:1).
6 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 9:1-2.
“The high priest mentioned here was Caiaphas. In December 1990 an ossuary (something like a burial urn; essentially a bone box) was discovered in Jerusalem. The ossuary was inscribed with the name of this Caiaphas and positively dated to this period. Inside were discovered some of the remains of a 60 year-old man, whom many researchers believe was this same Caiaphas. If true, these are the first physical remains (such as bones or ashes) of a specific person mentioned in the New Testament.”
7 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 431.
8 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 74.
9 Cited in Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 169.
10 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 9:3.
11 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 170.
12 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 9:3-4.
13 Quoted in Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 184.
14 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament v. 9:4.
15 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 183.
16 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 9:1-19.
17 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, vs. 9:5-6.
18 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p.1140.
19 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 9:1-19.
20 Ibid.
21 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 9:8.
22 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 170.
23 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 9:7-9.
24 Quoted in Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, v. 9:9.
25 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 9:10-18.
26 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 352.
27 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 9:10.
28 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 433.
29 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 9:13-14.
30 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 9:13.
31 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 9:13.
32 Ibid.
33 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 352.
34 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 189.
35 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 348.
36 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 9: 17.
37 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 9:18.
38 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1141.
Guzik adds: “In fact, on two occasions when Jesus called himself the Son of God, he was accused of blasphemy, of calling himself God (John 5:17-18, Matthew 26:63-65). Everybody knew what Jesus meant in calling himself Son of God, and everyone knew what Saul meant when he preached that Jesus is the Son of God.” (Guzik, vs. 9:20-22).
39 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 9:19-31.
40 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 9:20-22.
41 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 9:20.
42 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1141.
43 Stott, The Message of Acts, pp. 176-77.
44 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 9:19-31.
45 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 9:23-25.
“The walls were often wide enough for a chariot to be driven round the top of them. On these walls there were houses whose windows often projected over the walls. In the dead of night Paul was taken into one of these houses, let down with ropes in a basket and so smuggled out of Damascus.”
46 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 435.
47 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 192.
48 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 9:25.
49 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 435.
50 Ibid.
51 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 353.
52 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 195.
53 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 353.
54 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1141.
55 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vs. 9:31.
Clarke adds: “The account given by Josephus will set this in a clear point of view. ‘Caligula sent Petronius to go with an army to Jerusalem, to set up his statues in the temple, enjoining him if the Jews opposed it, to put to death all that made resistance, and to make all the rest of the nation slaves. Petronius therefore marched from Antioch into Judea, with three legions, and a large body of auxiliaries raised in Syria. All were hereupon filled with consternation, the army being come as far as Ptolemais. The Jews, then, gathering together, went to the plain near Ptolemais, and entreated Petronius in the first place for their laws, in the next place for themselves. Petronius was moved with their solicitations, and, leaving his army and the statues, went into Galilee.” (Clarke, v. 9:31).
56 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 9:33.
57 Quoted in Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 183.
58 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 349.
59 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, pp. 354-55.
60 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 199.
61 Trapp, Commentary on Acts, John Trapp Complete Commentary, v. 9:41.
62 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 349.
63 Quoted in Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 9:43.
64 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 355.
CHAPTER 10
1 James S. Jeffers, The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 173.
Keener adds: “…only roughly half those who enlisted survived the twenty years of service…Noncitizens could not join legions but could become auxiliary troops who received citizenship upon their discharge.” (Keener, p. 350).
2 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 985.
3 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 202.
4 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 10:1.
5 Stott, The Message of Acts, p.186.
6 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 355.
7 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 438.
8 Brian Campbell, The Journal of Roman Studies, The Marriage of Soldiers, Vol. 68, 1978, pp. 153-166. http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/299633.pdf?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Keener adds: “Luke would certainly know that military personnel were not permitted to marry. Soldiers commonly had illegal concubines whom superiors ignored…while Cornelius may have unofficially married a concubine, the weight of probability does not favor it…But the term translated “household” could include servants or freedpersons… “Household” here may just mean “servants.” (Keener, p. 350).
9 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 119.
10 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 10:3.
11 Quoted in Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible,
vs. 10:3-6.
12 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 184.
13 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, v. 10:1.
14 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 356.
15 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 185.
16 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 985.
17 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, v. 10:12.
18 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1142.
19 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 206.
20 Godbey, Commentary on Acts, William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament, v. 10:12.
21 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 125.
22 Ibid., p. 126.
23 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 10:8.
24 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 10:15.
25 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 10:16.
26 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 10:17-33.
27 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament,
v. 10:20.
Stott adds: “The key expression meden diakrinomenos in 10:20 and meden diakrinanta in 11:12 is usually translated ‘without hesitation; (RSV) or ‘without misgiving’ (JBP, NEB), but it could mean ‘making no distinction’ (11:12 (RSV)…This seems to mean that he ‘gave them a night’s lodging’ (NEB), even though they were uncircumcised Gentiles.” (Stott, p. 187).
28 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 10:21-23.
29 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 351.
30 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 187.
31 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 10:23.
32 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 131.
33 Quoted in Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 10:24.
34 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 10:25.
35 Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,”
vs. 10:17-33.
36 Cited in Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible,
vs. 10:24-26.
37 Quoted in Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 187.
38 Quoted in Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible,
vs. 10:27-29.
39 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 10:28-29.
40 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 10:32.
41 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 10:23.
42 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 441.
43 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 10:33.
44 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 10: 34-43.
45 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 190.
Coffman adds: “Peter’s entire speech, as recorded here, requires only fifty-eight seconds to be read aloud…” (Coffman, v. 10:36).
46 Cited in Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 212.
47 Ibid., p. 213.
48 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 441.
49 Ibid.
50 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 10:39.
51 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 10:40.
52 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1143.
53 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 442.
54 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 10: 44-48.
55 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 442.
56 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1143.
57 Ibid.
58 Quoted in Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 10:46.
59 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 194.
60 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 192.
61 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 357.
CHAPTER 11
1 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 11:1-10.
“The importance that Luke attached to this incident is shown by the amount of space he devoted to it. In ancient times a writer had by no means unlimited space. The book form had not come into use. Writers used rolls of a material called papyrus, which was the forerunner of paper and was made of the pith of the papyrus plant, a kind of bulrush. Now a roll is an unwieldy thing and the longest roll that was used was about thirty-five feet long which would be almost precisely the length required to hold the book of Acts. Into that space Luke had almost endless material to fit. He must have selected with the greatest care what he was going to set down; and yet he finds the story of Peter and Cornelius of such importance that he twice relates it in full.”
2 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 11:1-3.
3 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 11:2.
“… Eating in the Ancient Near East was a kind of covenant of fellowship.”
Guzik adds: “… Sharing a meal together was a special sign of fellowship in that time and culture. This was considered to be a significant compromise by these Jewish Christians.” (Guzik, vs. 11:1-3).
4 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 358.
5 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 195.
6 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 11:2.
7 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 11:1-10.
8 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 11:4.
9 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 11:11-18.
10 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 11:13-14.
11 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 222.
12 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 442.
13 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 354.
14 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 11:17.
15 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 443.
16 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 11:16-18.
17 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1144.
18 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 11:19-30.
Stott adds: “The inclusion of the Gentiles is to be Luke’s main theme in the rest of Acts…” (Stott, p. 200).
19 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 230.
“…the tradition preserved in the so-called anti-Marcionite prologue to the third Gospel, and elsewhere, that Luke was a native of Syrian Antioch….we can readily appreciate both his interests in Antioch and his enthusiasm for the Gentile mission.”
20 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 354.
Jeffers adds: “Antioch, the center of political, military and commercial communication between Rome and the Persian frontier and between Palestine [sic] and Asia Minor, was one of the three or four most important cities of the Empire and the home of a large Jewish community…Thus, within a decade of the crucifixion of Jesus, the village culture of Palestine was left behind, and the Greco-Roman city had become the dominant environment of the movement.” (Jeffres, The Greco Roman World, p. 70).
21 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 358.
22 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 203.
23 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 11:19-21.
24 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 444.
25 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 11:19-21.
26 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 11:22-26.
27 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 202.
28 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament,
v. 11:25.
29 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 11:26.
30 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 11:22-26.
31 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 11:25-26.
32 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 11:26.
33 Eusebius Pamphilus, Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History (Bk. 5, Ch. 1), Popular Edition (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1955), p. 172.
34 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 446.
35 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 11:27-30.
36 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 230.
37 Josephus, Book 20, Chapter 2, Section 5.
Guthrie adds: “Seutonius confirms that his reign was marked by constant seasons of unfruitfulness. Josephus tells us that about the year 46 Palestine was hard hit by famine…” (Guthrie, p. 987).
Keener also adds: “…papyri show high grain prices around AD 46…Queen Helena of Adiabene bought Egyptian grain “for large sums” (due to famine there) to help Judea (about 45-46).” (Keener, p. 355).
38 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 361.
39 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 446.
40 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1145.
41 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 447.
42 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V, Acts, p. 150.
43 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 204.
44 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 11:30.
CHAPTER 12
1 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 987.
2 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 448.
3 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 12:1-25.
4 Roberts & Donaldson, eds, The Ante-Nicene Fathers, V. 3, p. 260.
5 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 355.
6 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 82.
7 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 361.
8 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 207.
9 Trapp, Commentary on Acts, John Trapp Complete Commentary, v. 12:1.
10 Ibid., v.12:3.
11 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 12:4.
12 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 207.
13 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 12:5.
14 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 362.
15 Ibid., p. 361.
16 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 12:11.
17 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, pp. 236-37.
18 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vs. 12:12-17.
19 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 210.
20 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 449.
21 Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,”
vs. 12:12-15.
22 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 12:15.
23 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 211.
24 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 363.
25 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 156.
26 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 240.
27 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 212.
28 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 12:20.
29 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 213.
30 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 451.
31 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 364.
32 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 447.
CHAPTER 13
1 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 13:1-13.
2 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 13:1-3.
3 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 452.
4 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 215.
5 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 358.
6 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 13:1.
7 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 13:1.
8 Cited in Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 364.
9 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 13:2.
10 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 13:3.
Pfeiffer & Harrison add: “The laying on of hands does not constitute ordination but separation to a special task and approval of the mission.” (Pfeiffer & Harrison, p. 1146).
11 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 13:3.
12 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 452.
13 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 13:4-12.
14 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 247.
15 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 218.
16 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament,
v. 13:5
17 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 247.
18 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 13:4-12.
19 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 358.
20 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 365.
21 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1147.
22 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 249.
23 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 13:9-10.
24 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 219.
25 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 84.
26 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 13:9.
27 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 220.
28 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 454.
29 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 221.
30 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, v. 13:13.
31 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 13:13-52.
32 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 222.
33 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 455.
34 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, pp. 222-23.
35 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 13:15.
36 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 222.
37 Ibid., p. 223.
38 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 13:16-41.
39 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 253.
40 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 223.
Jamieson, Faussest & Brown add: “As this appears to contradict 1 Kings 6:1, various solutions have been proposed. Taking the words as they stand in the Greek, thus, ‘after that, by the space of four hundred fifty years, He gave judges,’ the meaning may be, that about four hundred fifty years elapsed from the time of the covenant with Abraham until the period of the judges; which is historically correct, the word “about” showing that chronological exactness was not aimed at. But taking the sense to be as in our version, that it was the period of the judges itself which lasted about four hundred fifty years, this statement also will appear historically correct, if we include in it the interval of subjection to foreign powers which occurred during the period of the judges, and understand it to describe the whole period from the settlement of the tribes in Canaan to the establishment of royalty. Thus, from the Exodus to the building of the temple were five hundred ninety-two years [Josephus, Antiquities, 8.3.1]; deduct forty years in the wilderness; twenty-five years of Joshua‘s rule [Josephus, Antiquities, 5.1.29]; forty years of Saul‘s reign (Acts 13:2); forty of David‘s and the first four years of Solomon‘s reign (1 Kings 6:1), and there remain, just four hundred forty-three years; or, in round numbers, “about four hundred fifty years.” (Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, v. 13:20).
41 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 359.
42 Ibid.
43 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 366.
44 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 13:23-25.
45 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 261.
46 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 456.
47 Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,”
vs. 13:25-37.
48 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 13:27.
49 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 13:26.
50 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 13:32.
51 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 13:34.
52 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 13:36.
53 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs.13:13-52.
54 Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,”
vs. 13:38-52.
55 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 262.
56 Ibid.
57 Ibid., p. 264.
58 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 13:42-52.
59 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 265.
60 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 227.
61 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1149.
62 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 13:48.
Barnes adds: “…this implies the doctrine of election.” (Barnes, v. 13:48).
Marshall also adds: “God had predestined certain of them to believe (cf. 16:14; 18:10)…there is no suggestion that they received eternal life independently of their own act of conscious faith.” (Marshall, p. 231).
63 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 13:50.
64 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 361.
65 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 458.
66 Ibid.
67 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 361.
68 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 172.
69 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 214.
CHAPTER 14
1 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 458.
2 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 14:1.
3 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 14:1-28.
4 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 361.
5 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 271.
6 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 233.
7 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 14:5-7.
8 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament,
v. 14:5.
9 Godbey, Commentary on Acts, William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament, vs. 14:8-10.
10 Citing Plumptre, Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 14:5.
11 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 230.
12 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 14:2-6.
Pfeiffer and Harrison add: “While Luke is often indefinite as to chronological references, he is often very definite in his geographical notes.” (Pfeiffer & Harrison, p. 1149).
13 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 14:8.
14 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1149.
“Much of the Mediterranean world was bilingual, the people speaking the general language, Greek, and also their native dialect…”
15 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 14:8-18.
16 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 14:12.
17 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 14:13.
18 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 14:13.
19 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 88.
20 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 176.
21 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 14:1-28.
22 Quoted in Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 367.
23 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 231.
24 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 14:8-18.
25 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 362.
26 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 14:15-17.
27 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 362.
28 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, pp. 278-79.
29 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 363.
30 Mishnah, Sanhedrin, 6:4.
“The place of stoning was twice the height of a man. One of the witnesses knocked him down on his loins; if he turned over on his heart the witness turned him over again on his loins. If he straightway died that sufficed; but if not, the second [witness] took the stone and dropped it on his heart. If he straightway died, that sufficed; but if not, he was stoned by all Israel…[Deut:17:1].”
NOTE: Stoning was probably somewhat different in the pagan world than in Judaism, but this passage gives us a general idea of how it was done. Stoning in the Jewish world was likely more merciful than in the pagan world. It is obvious that large stones were used.
31 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 177.
32 Kretzmann, Commentary on Acts, Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary, vs. 14:19-23.
33 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 367.
34 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 14:20.
35 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 279.
36 Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,” vs. 14:14-28.
37 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 368.
38 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 234.
39 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 241.
40 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 14:22.
41 Quoted in Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 235.
42 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 236.
Pfeiffer & Harrison add: “The language suggests that there were several elders in each local church; but the church in a given city may have consisted of a number of house congregations with an elder ruling over each group.” (Pfeiffer & Harrison, p. 1150).
43 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 241.
44 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 14:23.
45 Frank Viola and George Barna, Pagan Christianity? Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2002, 2008), p. 43.
46 Quoted in Viola and Barna, Pagan Christianity? Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices, p. 12.
47 Vioila and Barna, Pagan Christianity? Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices, pp. 11-12.
48 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 14:23.
49 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 235.
50 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 14:28.
51 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 462.
CHAPTER 15
1 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1150.
2 Ibid.
3 Stott, The Message of Acts, pp. 242-43.
4 See our comments on Acts 11:29-30.
5 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 241.
6 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1151.
7 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 249.
8 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, v. 15:5.
9 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 15:7.
Bruce adds: “The vast majority, including such a Hellenized Jew as Philo of Alexandria, insisted on circumcision as indispensable for all males in the commonwealth of Israel, whether they entered it by birth or by proselytization. This was probably the attitude of the rank and file in the Jerusalem church – ‘zealots for the law,’ as they are called on a later occasion (21:20).” (Bruce, p. 287).
Pett adds: “So the most fervent Judaizers among the Christians in Jerusalem and Judaea still saw Christianity as a reformed Judaism, and looked eventually for all Christians eventually to be circumcised and to conform to the ritual Law…” (Pett, v. 15:1).
10 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 241.
11 Ibid., pp. 243-44.
12 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 369.
13 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, v. 15:9.
14 Stott, The Message of Acts, pp. 245-46.
15 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 992.
Pett adds: “‘Taking on the yoke’ was in fact precisely what Jewish proselytes were described as doing when they ritually bathed themselves and were circumcised.” (Pett, v. 15:10).
16 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 184.
17 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 15:6-11.
18 Ibid., v. 15:12.
19 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 243.
20 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 292.
21 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 15:13-21.
22 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 293.
23 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 251.
24 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 15:15.
25 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 464.
26 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 252.
27 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 295.
28 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 248.
29 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 247.
30 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 295.
31 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 253.
Barclay adds: “One of the great problems of the early Church was that of meat offered to idols. Paul deals with it at length in 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; 1 Corinthians 9:1-27…. It has been said that chastity was the only completely new virtue that Christianity brought into the world…To the Jew the blood was the life and the life belonged to God alone…Had these simple regulations not been observed there could have been no intercourse between Jew and Gentile….” (Barclay, vs. 15:13-21).
32 Roberts & Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene Fathers, V. 4, p. 192.
33 Ibid., V. 7, p. 504.
34 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 15:20.
35 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 15:13-21.
36 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 250.
37 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 465.
38 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 15:22.
39 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 366.
40 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, v. 15:23.
41 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, vs. 15:23.
42 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 251.
43 Ibid.
44 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 190.
45 Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,”
vs. 15:22-41.
46 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 15:28.
47 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 366.
48 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 300.
49 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 366.
50 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 247.
51 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 15:34.
52 Cited in Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, v. 15:36.
53 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 372.
54 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 257.
55 Ibid.
56 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 467.
57 Ibid.
58 Ibid.
CHAPTER 16
1 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 303.
2 Kretzmann, Commentary on Acts, Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary, vs. 16:1-3.
Barclay adds: “In fact by accepting Timothy as a Jew, Paul showed just how emancipated he was from Jewish thought. Timothy was the son of a mixed marriage. The strict Jew would refuse to accept that as a marriage at all; in fact, if a Jewish girl married a Gentile boy or a Jewish boy married a Gentile girl, he would regard that Jewish boy or girl as dead. So much so, that sometimes a funeral was actually carried out. By accepting the child of such a marriage as a brother Jew, Paul showed how definitely he had broken down all national barriers.” (Barclay, vs. 16:1-5).
3 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 254.
4 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 366.
5 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 16:1-5.
6 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament v. 16:1.
7 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 16:2.
8 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 304.
9 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 16:3.
10 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 993.
11 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 16:4.
12 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 16:5.
13 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 255.
14 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 468.
15 Ibid.
16 Ibid., p. 469.
17 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 262.
18 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, v. 16:7.
19 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, pp. 468-69.
20 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 261.
21 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, NewTestament, p. 470.
22 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 263.
23 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, v. 16:6.
24 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 16:9-10.
25 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 16:11-12.
26 Ibid., vs. 16:6-20.
27 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 367.
Jeffers, (p. 37 adds): “Travel by sea was faster and cheaper than travel by land. A ship could travel about a hundred miles a day, while the imperial messenger service, using fresh horses at regular intervals, could manage only twenty-five to thirty miles a day. Ordinary travelers by land, like Paul and his associates, probably covered at best fifteen to twenty miles a day…”
28 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 309.
29 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 262.
30 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, v. 16:11.
31 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 309.
32 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 16:12.
33 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 367.
34 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 16:11-40.
35 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 16:12-13.
36 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 310.
37 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 471.
38 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 16:14.
Kretzmann adds: “Madder root, with which they dyed a Turkey-red, grows abundantly in the neighborhood. As the ancients employed the names of colors with great laxity, this was often termed purple.” (Kretzmann, vs. 16:14-15).
39 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 311.
40 Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,”
- 16:14-24.
41 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 16:15.
42 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 16:16.
43 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 369.
44 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, vs. 16:16-18.
45 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 94.
46 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 995.
47 Quoted in Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 265.
48 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 314.
49 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 16:20-21.
50 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 471.
51 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament v. 16:22.
52 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 16:22.
53 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 315.
54 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vs. 16:23-24.
55 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 271.
56 Quoted in Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 317.
57 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 16:25.
58 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 16:11-40.
59 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 16:26.
60 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 472.
61 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 16:29-30.
62 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 16:30.
63 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 16:30-32.
64 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 95.
65 Kretzmann, Commentary on Acts, Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary, vs. 16:29-34.
66 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 318.
67 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 16:34.
68 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 472.
69 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vs. 16:35-36.
70 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 319.
“A Roman citizen claimed his legal rights by the affirmation ciuis Romanus sum, “I am a Roman citizen.” It is uncertain if there was any documentary evidence which could be produced on the spot in confirmation of the claim. Paul was probably registered as a Roman citizen in the public record office at Tarsus, and a certified copy of the registration might be obtained…” (Bruce, p. 320).
71 Cited in Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 268.
72 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 320.
73 Ibid., p. 321.
CHAPTER 17
1 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 371.
2 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 375.
3 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 17:3.
Stedman adds: “…Some of the Jewish rabbis had actually come up with the idea that there were two Messiahs. One they called Messhiach ben David, i.e., Messiah the son of David. This was the glorious, triumphant king. Another they called Messhiach ben Joseph, from one Old Testament passage which some rabbis interpreted as teaching that a Messiah would be the son of Joseph, and that he would be the suffering One.” (Stedman, v. 17:3).
4 Kretzmann, Commentary on Acts, Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary, vs. 17:1-4.
“The prominence assigned to women in Macedonia is altogether in accord with the best historical accounts.”
5 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 474.
6 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 17:5.
“The forum, or market-place, was the place where the idle assembled, and where those were gathered together that wished to be employed, Matthew 20:3. Many of these would be of abandoned character, the idle, the dissipated, and the worthless, and, therefore, just the materials for a mob.”
7 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 17:5-8.
8 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 17:5.
9 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 324.
10 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 272.
11 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 17:5-8.
12 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 17:7.
13 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1156.
14 Trapp, Commentary on Acts, John Trapp Complete Commentary, v. 17:5.
15 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 17:9-10.
16 Jeffers, The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era, p. 107.
17 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 17:8.
18 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 376.
19 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 17:11.
20 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 275.
21 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 328.
“There is, however another reading of the text…which implies that they made as though they were taking him to the coast, but actually, having thus thrown possible pursuers off the track, escorted him southward by road as far as Athens. One way or the other, he arrived at Athens…”
22 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 475.
23 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 17:16.
24 Jamieson, et. al., Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vs. 17:26-27.
25 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 280.
26 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 17:16-21.
27 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 377.
Barker and Kohlenberger add: “Epicureanism and Stoicism represented the popular Gentile alternatives for dealing with the plight of humanity and for coming to terms with life apart from the biblical revelation…” (Barker & Kohlenberger, p. 476).
28 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 282.
29 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 17:16.
30 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 476.
31 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, vs. 17:20-21.
32 Quoted in Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 17:21.
33 Godbey, Commentary on Acts, William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament, v. 17:2.
34 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 289.
35 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 378.
36 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 17:23.
37 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 287.
38 Don Richardson, Eternity in their Hearts, Revised edition (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1981,1984), pp. 12-18.
39 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 17:24-25.
40 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 17:24-29.
41 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 17:26.
42 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 17:26.
Wikipedia adds: “In human genetics, Mitochondrial Eve is the matrilineal most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of all currently living humans. This is the most recent woman from whom all living humans today descend, in an unbroken line, on their mother’s side, and through the mothers of those mothers, and so on, back until all lines converge on one woman, who is estimated to have lived approximately 100,000–200,000 years ago. Because all mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) generally (but see paternal mtDNA transmission) is passed from mother to offspring without recombination, all mtDNA in every living person is directly descended from hers by definition, differing only by the mutations that over generations have occurred in the germ cell mtDNA since the conception of the original “Mitochondrial Eve.
“Mitochondrial Eve is named after mitochondria and the biblical Eve. Unlike her biblical namesake, she was not the only living human female of her time. However, her female contemporaries, excluding her mother, failed to produce a direct unbroken female line to any living person in the present day.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_Eve
43 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 17:27.
44 Alice C. Linsley, Saint Paul’s Application of Greek Philosophy, December 23, 2014,
http://biblicalanthropology.blogspot.com/2014/12/saint-pauls-application-of-greek.html
45 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 477.
46 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 220.
47 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 17:29.
48 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 17:29.
49 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 17:30.
50 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New
Testament, v. 17:30.
51 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 99.
52 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 378.
53 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 17:32.
54 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 17:32-34.
55 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 344.
56 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 17:33.
57 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 17:32-34.
CHAPTER 18
1 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 18:1-22.
2 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 479.
3 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 18:1-11.
4 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 296.
Francis Martin adds: “Modern commentators locate the probable date of Claudius’s edict at AD 49; it would thus have lapsed some five years later at his death.” (Martin, p. 223).
Barker and Kohlenberger also add: “…the Edict of Claudius, an expulsion order proclaimed during the ninth year of Emperor Claudius’s reign (i.e. January 25, AD 49 to January 24, 50)…to put down the riots arising within the Jewish community there ‘at the instigation of Chrestus’ (according to Roman historian Seutonius). Many take this to be a reference to Christ (Gk. Christos)…” (Barker & Kohlenberger, p. 479).
5 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 375.
6 Stott, The Message of Acts, pp. 296-97.
7 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 375.
“In the ancient economy, people of the same trade did not compete with one another as they do today. They usually lived together in the same part of town and formed trade guilds…This cultic orientation of trade guilds would exclude practicing Jews from the fellowship, making Jews delighted to find other Jews of their own trade.”
8 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 479.
9 Quoted in Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 379.
10 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1158.
11 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 480.
12 http://quotes.yourdictionary.com/author/james-russell-lowell/173055
13 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 350.
14 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 375.
15 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 18:8.
16 Quoted in Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 381.
17 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 351.
18 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 18:11.
19 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 481.
20 Kretzmann, Commentary on Acts, Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary, vs. 18:12-17.
Bruce adds: “His name was originally Marcus Annaeus Novatius; but after his father brought him to Rome from his native Cordova in the principate of Tiberias, he was adopted by the rhetorican Lucius Junius Gallio…it can be inferred rather precisely that he entered on his proconsulship in the summer of AD 51. He left Achaia because of a fever (perhaps before his year of office had expired)…” (Bruce, p. 352).
21 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 18:12.
22 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 299.
23 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 18:13.
24 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 481.
25 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 376.
26 Ibid.
27 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 481-82.
28 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 299.
“The Corinthian crowd who were present to witness the Jews’ discomfiture before the governor, saw that they could take advantage of the latter’s unwillingness to interfere, and proceeded to indulge their anti-Jewish feelings by beating up Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue. But another explanation appears in 1 Cor. 1:1 as co-author of Paul’s letter to Corinth, and the possibility that Crispus’s successor as ruler of the synagogue was also converted to Christianity cannot be ruled out.”
29 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 998.
30 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 301.
31 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 18:18-23.
32 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 18:1-22.
33 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 377.
34 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vs. 18:23.
35 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 302.
36 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 101.
37 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 377.
38 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 18:26.
CHAPTER 19
1 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 377.
2 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, vs. 19:2-3.
3 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 305.
4 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 19:2.
Clarke adds: “…For it was the common privilege of the disciples of Christ to receive, not only the ordinary graces, but also the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit…” (Clarke, v. 19:2).
5 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, vs. 19:3-4.
6 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 484.
7 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 233.
8 Arndt & Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, p. 513.
9 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 307.
10 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, vs. 19:4-5.
11 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1160.
12 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p.383.
13 Quoted in Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament v. 19:4.
14 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1160.
15 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New
Testament, v. 19:9.
16 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 306.
17 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 998.
Stott adds: “Thus he spent two years in Corinth and three years in Ephesus, and in both cases his teaching was comprehensive and thorough…Dr. Bruce Metzger thinks that this addition ‘may represent an accurate piece of information, preserved in oral tradition before being incorporated into the text of certain manuscripts’…According to Ramsay, ‘public life in the Ionian cities ended regularly at the fifth hour, that is, at 11 am…an elongated siesta!’ According to Lake and Cadbury, ‘at 1 PM there were probably more people sound asleep than at 1 AM.’” (Stott, p. 313).
18 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 19:8-10.
19 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 365.
20 Jamieson, et. al., Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vs. 19:10.
21 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 999.
22 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New
Testament, v. 19:11.
23 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 19:13-20.
24 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 378.
25 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 486.
Bruce adds: “The closest parallel to the Ephesian exorcist’s misuse of the name of Jesus appears in a magical papyrus belonging to the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, which contains the adjuration: ‘I adjure you by Jesus, the God of the Hebrews.’” (Bruce, p. 368).
26 Kretzmann, Commentary on Acts, Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary, vs. 19:13-17.
27 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 19:8-20.
28 Francis MacNutt, Deliverance From Evil Spirits, A Practical Manual (Grand Rapids, Chosen Books, 1995), pp. 153-154.
Derek Prince also spent many years in the deliverance ministry. He has a number of books dealing with the spiritual world. His book They Shall Expel Demons is very helpful.
29 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament,
p. 486.
30 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 369.
31 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 19:18.
32 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 19:17-20.
33 John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1996), p. 151.
34 Ibid., p. 152.
35 Ibid., p. 158.
36 David Kupelian, How Evil Works: Understanding and Overcoming the Destructive Forces That Are Transforming America (New York: Threshold Editions, 2010), pp. 115, 128.
37 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 369.
38 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 379.
“Magical papyri were rolled up in small cylinders or lockets used as amulets around the neck…These magical incantations were so common in Ephesus that rolls of these formulas are called Ephesian grammata, or Ephesian writings, in other Greco-Roman literature…about fifty thousand days’ wages for an average worker.”
39 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 385.
40 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 372.
41 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 19:23-28.
42 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 308.
43 Ibid.
44 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 488.
45 Ibid., p. 483.
46 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1161.
47 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 19:24-25.
48 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1161.
49 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 19:23-41.
50 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 19: 21f.
51 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, vs. 19:26-27.
52 Jamieson, et. al., Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, v. 19:27.
53 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 484.
54 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 385.
55 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 376.
56 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 488.
57 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New
Testament, v. 19:31.
Marshall adds: “Asiarchs…This term could refer to the annual presidents, and perhaps the ex-presidents, of the provincial council of Asia, or it also covers the administrators of the various temples of the imperial cult…It is noteworthy that Paul had friends in this circle and that they were concerned for his safety in face of the mob.” (Marshall, p. 319).
58 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, vs. 19:32.
59 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 381.
60 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 19: 21f.
61 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 19:33.
62 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 381.
63 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 104.
64 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 381.
65 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1000.
66 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 379.
67 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 381.
CHAPTER 20
1 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 315.
2 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 489.
3 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 20:1-6.
4 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 20:3.
5 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 490.
6 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 317.
7 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 20:2-38.
8 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 317.
Keener adds: “Although some sailors and shipowners were Jewish, most were Gentiles. On a ship to Syria, however, many travelers may have been Jewish – especially if the ship planned to reach Syria-Palestine* by Passover.” (Keener, p. 382).
*“Palestine” is seen in the above quote, and the term is almost universally used by commentators for Judea or Israel, in speaking of the First Century. This is incorrect, since the name “Palestine” was unknown in early New Testament times and did not originate until the Second Century, when Hadrian gave this name in derision to conquered Israel. The New Testament designates the land “Israel” as we see in Matthew 2:21.
9 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 20:2-5.
10 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 382.
11 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 20:5.
12 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1000.
Bruce adds: “As for Paul, he waited at Philippi until the week of the unleavened bread was completed ( in AD 57 it lasted from April 7 to 14). Then he set sail with Luke, presumably from Neapolis (cf. 16:11)…At Troas they rejoined their companions…” (Bruce, p. 383).
13 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 20:6.
14 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 384.
Wiersbe adds: “The first day came to be called “the Lord’s Day” because on it the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the dead (Rev. 1;10)…During the early years of the church, the believers did maintain some of the Jewish traditions, such as the hours of prayer (Acts 3:1)…Love feasts: (agape), after which they would observe the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 11:17-34)…It is likely that the church observed the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day when they met for fellowship and worship.” (Wiersbe, p. 387).
Pfeiffer & Harrison also add: “The first Christians, as Jews, probably continued to observe the Sabbath as well as the first day of the week.” (Pfeiffer & Harrison, p. 1162).
15 Quoted in Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible,
vs. 20:7-12.
16 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 321.
17 Ibid., p. 319.
18 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 382.
19 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 20:8-9.
20 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 385.
21 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 245.
22 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 20:12-14.
23 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 20:14.
24 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 20:15.
25 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 104.
26 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 383.
27 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1001.
28 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 491.
29 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 323.
30 Ibid.
31 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 389.
32 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 383.
33 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 20:2-38.
Barnes adds: “The discourse which follows is one of the most tender, affectionate, and eloquent which is anywhere to be found…It is strong evidence of the holiness of the character of the apostles, and proof that they were not impostors, that they could thus appeal with the utmost assurance to those who had every opportunity of knowing them.” (Barnes, v. 20:18).
34 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 20:19.
35 Ibid., v. 20:20.
36 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 20:21.
37 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 315.
38 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 20:22.
39 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 390.
40 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 492.
41 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 389.
42 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 20:27.
43 Godbey, Commentary on Acts, William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament, vs. 20:26-27.
44 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 329.
45 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 384.
46 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 20:32.
47 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 336.
48 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, vs. 20:33-34.
Pett adds: “Paul made a point of never receiving gifts from churches unless he was absolutely certain that they came from hearts that overflowed with genuine love and fellowship, and never while he was working among them…Thus this was very much a Pauline attitude. And it was to be seen by the elders as an example to follow as he now makes clear.” (Pett, v. 20:33).
49 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1001.
50 John R. Rice, How To Get Things From God (Murfreesboro, TN: Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1942), p. 29.
51 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 385.
52 Ibid.
53 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 20:37.
CHAPTER 21
1 Kretzmann, Commentary on Acts, Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary, vs. 21:1-4.
2 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1001.
3 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 21:1.
4 Ibid.
5 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 21:3.
6 Trapp, Commentary on Acts, John Trapp Complete Commentary, v. 21:3.
7 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 493.
8 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 21:5-6.
9 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 21:1-16.
10 Ibid.
11 Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,”
- 21:1-14.
12 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 331.
13 Eusebius Pamphilus, Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, Bk. 3, Ch. 31, Popular Edition (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1955), p. 116.
Bruce adds regarding Philip: “It is from this missionary activity that he is called ‘Philip the evangelist,’ perhaps to distinguish him from Philip the apostle. Even so, they are confused by later writers.” (Bruce, p. 399).
14 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 387.
15 Ibid., p. 386.
16 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 21:15.
17 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1002.
18 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 402.
Utley adds: “…‘and all the elders were present.’ Notice that there is no mention of the Apostles. Apparently they were on mission trips out of the country, or maybe they were dead.” (Utley, v. 21:18).
19 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 21:16.
20 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 335.
21 Ibid., p. 339.
22 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 495.
Keener adds: “Justin Martyr notes this controversy in his own day but clearly maintains the earlier Christian view that Jewish people could both practice the law and follow Jesus – Dialogue with Trypho 47.” (Keener, p. 386).
23 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 405.
24 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 21:20-22.
25 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 391.
26 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 344.
27 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 406.
28 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 345.
29 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 387.
30 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 342.
31 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 406.
32 Quoted in Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 346.
33 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 21:24.
34 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 346.
35 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 21:25.
36 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 347.
Barker & Kohlenberger add: “Coming from abroad, Paul would have had to regain ceremonial purity by a seven-day ritual of purification before he could be present at the absolution ceremony of the four Jewish Christians in the Jerusalem temple…he undoubtedly returned to the temple at regular prescribed intervals during the week (the third and seventh days) for the appropriate rites. (Barker & Kohlenberger, p. 495).
37 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 409.
38 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1002.
39 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 387.
40 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 21:30.
41 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 21:27-36.
42 Josephus, Wars, Book 5, Chapter 5, Section 8.
43 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 348.
44 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 21:27-36.
45 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 388.
46 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 21:27-36.
47 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 338.
48 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 388.
49 Josephus, Antiquities, Book 20, Chapter 8, Section 6.
50 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 388.
51 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 21:39.
CHAPTER 22
1 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 353.
2 Ibid.
3 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 22:1-2.
Pett adds: “In the New Testament ‘Hebrew’ regularly means Aramaic… Hebrew lettering and Aramaic lettering are the same…Hebrew was reserved for religious usage.” (Pett, v. 22:2).
4 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 353.
5 Ibid.
6 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 393.
7 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 22:1-10.
8 Pixner, With Jesus Through the Galilee According to the Fifth Gospel , p. 15.
9 William Wordsworth. 1770–1850, 536. Ode Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood.
10 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 355.
11 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1003.
Meyer adds: “Here was a fact, which to the Apostle was the greatest of all facts, namely, that he had seen Jesus Christ, and had been transformed by what he had seen and heard.” (Meyer, vs. 22:1-16).
12 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 22:15.
13 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 22:16.
14 Ibid.
15 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 418.
16 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 22:16.
17 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 22:16.
18 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1167.
19 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 390.
20 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 22:23.
21 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 390.
22 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, pp. 358-59.
Barclay adds: “Cicero had said, ‘It is a misdeed for a Roman citizen to be bound; it is a crime for him to be beaten; it is almost as bad as to murder a father to kill him.’” (Barclay, vs. 22:22-30).
23 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1167.
24 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 499.
25 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 22:28.
26 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 22:28.
27 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, pp. 422-23.
28 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 361.
Pett adds: “It should be noted that for someone to claim to be a Roman citizen when they were not was a capital crime, and made them subject to summary execution, and as his citizenship could be proved or otherwise from citizenship records it would be foolish for a non-Roman citizen to make such a claim (each citizen was certificated on birth, a certificate which would be kept in the family records, but it may even be that they carried with them a certificate of citizenship. We actually know little about the details).” (Pett, vs. 22:27-28).
29 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 22:30.
CHAPTER 23
1 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 23:1.
2 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 23:1.
3 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 23:1-10.
4 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 351.
5 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 23:1.
6 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 394.
7 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 363.
8 Josephus, Antiquities, Book 20, Ch. 9, Sec. 2.
9 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 425.
10 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 352.
“But to me the most likely explanation lies in the poor eyesight which Paul is known to have had…as an uncouth allusion to a white-robe figure across the court whom Paul could only dimly perceive.”
Bruce adds: “Paul’s visits to Jerusalem since his conversion had been infrequent and short, and he would not probably have known Ananias by sight.” (Bruce, p. 427).
11 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 500.
12 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 427.
13 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 279.
14 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 500.
15 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 428.
16 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 23:7-9.
17 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 392.
18 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 23:9.
19 Ibid.
20 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 23:10.
21 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 23:11.
22 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1168.
23 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 501.
24 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 23:12.
25 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 392.
26 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 396.
27 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 23:16.
28 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 368.
29 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 23:19.
30 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 23:21.
31 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 23:19.
32 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 355.
33 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 501.
Pett adds: “‘dexialabous’ or (in A) ‘dexiabolous’ (we do not know the meaning of the first word. Possibly it signifies light-armed soldiers, or right handed bowmen or spearmen or slingers, or even pack horses so as to give the impression that the expedition had another purpose. Dexiabolous probably indicates right-handed slingers).” (Pett, v. 23:23).
34 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 433.
35 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 396.
36 Ibid., p. 397.
37 Quoted in Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 355.
38 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 370.
39 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1168.
40 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 370.
41 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 501.
42 Ibid., p. 502.
43 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 356.
44 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1004.
45 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 23:31.
46 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 366.
47 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 392.
48 Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,” v. 23:25-35.
49 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 394.
50 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 23:34-35.
CHAPTER 24
1 Citied in Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 24:1.
2 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 24:1.
3 Ibid.
4 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 113.
5 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, v. 24:1.
6 Cited in Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 397.
7 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 359.
8 Josephus, Antiquities, Bk. 20, Ch. 8, Sec. 4-6.
9 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 24:2-3.
10 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 24:4.
11 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p.114.
12 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 24:5.
13 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 440.
14 Ibid.
15 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 360.
16 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 24:6.
17 Ibid, v. 24:7
The New King James Version has this verse and reads: “But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands…”
18 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 442.
19 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 361.
20 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 24:10.
21 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 399.
22 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 377.
23 Ibid., p. 378.
24 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 24:15.
25 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 379.
26 Ibid.
27 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 24:18-19.
Barker & Kohlenberger add: “Roman law imposed heavy penalties upon accusers who abandoned their charges, and the disappearance of accusers often meant the withdrawal of a charge.” (Barker & Kohlenberger, p. 504).
28 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 24:18.
29 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 362.
30 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 504.
31 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 394.
32 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 363.
33 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 380.
34 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 447.
35 Josephus, Antiquities, Bk. 20, Ch. 7, Sec.1-2.
36 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 400.
37 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 24:25.
38 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 24:26.
39 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 24:27.
40 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 401.
41 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 24:27.
CHAPTER 25
1 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 25:1.
2 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 25:2.
3 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 25:1-3.
4 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 383.
5 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 25:1-3.
6 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 365.
7 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 452.
8 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 397.
9 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 366.
10 Ibid., p. 368.
11 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1006.
12 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 367.
13 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 25:1-12.
14 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 402.
15 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 506.
16 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 397.
17 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 456.
18 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 25:13.
19 Jewish Women’s Archive Encyclopedia, http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/berenice
20 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 456.
Utley adds: “This again reveals one of Luke’s literary and theological purposes, which was to show that Christianity was not a political threat to Rome (cf. Acts 25:25). In the early decades of the first century Christianity was considered a sect of Judaism, which was acknowledged by Rome as a legal religion.” (Utley, vs. 25:13-19).
21 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 116.
22 Ibid.
23 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 25:21.
24 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 25:21.
25 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 507.
26 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 25:22-27.
27 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 25:23.
28 Thomas Gray Archive, http://www.thomasgray.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?text=elcc
29 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 25:13-14.
30 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 402.
31 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 386.
32 Jeffers, The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era, p. 101.
33 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 390.
CHAPTER 26
1 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 370.
2 Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,”
vs. 26:1-11.
3 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 26:1.
4 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 26:1.
5 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, vs. 26:2-3.
6 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 26:4.
7 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 371.
8 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 26:7.
9 Jerusalem Post, http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/CBS-report-135000-Ethiopians-living-in-Israel-at-end-of-2013-382266
10 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 26:1-11.
Keener adds: “Two of the most basic future hopes of most Jews were the resurrection of the bodies of the righteous and the restoration of the twelve tribes at the same time.”
(Keener, p. 399).
11 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 26:8.
12 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 26:9-11.
Keener supplements: “Paul himself was probably too young to belong to the Sanhedrin, but he could still have exerted influence on others’ opinions.” (Keener, p. 399).
13 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 117.
14 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 26:11.
15 Stott, The Message of Acts, pp. 379-80.
16 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 395.
17 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 509.
18 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 395.
Stott adds: “Dr. Longnecker gives the references in the works of Euripides, Aeschylus, Pindar and Terence, where this saying occurs as a metaphor for useless ‘opposition to deity’…” (Stott, p. 372).
19 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 26:14.
20 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 395.
21 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 373.
22 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 26:16.
23 Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 55.
24 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 26:1-18.
25 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1172.
26 Cited in Max Lucado, God’s Story Your Story (USA: Zondervan, 2011), p. 110.
27 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 94.
28 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 26:17-18.
29 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 374.
30 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 26:18.
31 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 118.
32 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 26:19.
33 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 397.
“The phraseology is reminiscent of 20:21 and especially 3:19…The text phrase and throughout all the country of Judea is difficult. It does not fit grammatically into the sentence…nor does its content correspond with the earlier description of Paul’s activity in Acts (Acts 9:26-30; cf. the strong statement of Paul in Gal. 1:22). It seems probably that the text is corrupt.” (Marshall, p. 397).
34 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 468.
35 Arndt & Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, p. 513.
36 Jerusalem Post, Hanukkah Section, December 6, 1996, p. 6.
37 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 119.
38 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1007.
39 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 26:24.
40 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 26:1f.
41 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 404.
42 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 471.
43 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 26:25.
44 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 376.
45 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 26:27-29.
46 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 510.
47 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1173.
48 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 26:1f.
49 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 377.
50 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, vs. 26:31-32.
51 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 377.
CHAPTER 27
1 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 405.
2 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 477.
3 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 27:1-8.
Pett (vs. 27:1-8) adds: “…an officer of the imperial guard, or cohort, a body of soldiers that bore the emperor’s name and was probably used for confidential business between Rome and the provinces…”
4 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 400.
5 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 27:1-8.
6 J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 851.
7 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 403.
8 Ibid., p. 404.
9 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1008.
10 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New
Testament, p. 511.
11 Martin, ed., Ancient Commentary On Scripture, New Testament, Vol. V Acts, p. 300.
12 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 478.
13 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 387.
14 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 401.
15 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 27:6.
16 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 405.
17 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 480.
18 Ibid., p. 481.
19 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 406.
20 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 401.
21 Ibid., p. 402.
22 Ibid., p. 401.
23 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 389.
Bruce adds: “..From Homer’s Odyssey onward, ancient accounts of a Mediterranean voyage frequently included a storm or shipwreck.” (Bruce, p. 474).
24 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1174.
25 Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vs. 27:13-14.
26 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 402.
27 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1175.
Keener expands: “…these ships could cover about fifty nautical miles in daylight, or ninety miles in twenty-four hours; but they had little resistance to a powerful wind going in a direction they wished to avoid.” (Keener. p. 402).
28 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 27:9-20.
29 Ibid., vs. 27:21-26.
30 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 27:18.
31 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 27:19.
32 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 402.
33 Quoted in Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 406.
34 Hymnary Organization. https://hymnary.org/text/our_god_our_help_in_ages_past_watts
35 Quoted in Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 27:21-26.
36 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 512.
37 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 488.
38 Meyer. Commentary on Acts, F. B. Meyer’s “‘Through the Bible’ Commentary,”
vs. 27:27-34.
39 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 403.
“The sea around Malta (28:1) is far south of what is called the ‘Adriatic Sea’ today but was included in the ‘Sea of Adria’ in antiquity…”
40 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 391.
41 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 27:28.
42 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 403.
43 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 27:29.
44 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 27:30-32.
45 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 491.
46 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 27:27-28.
47 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 410.
48 Bock, ed., The Bible Knowledge Word Study, Acts – Ephesians, p. 121.
49 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1010.
50 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 393.
51 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1010.
52 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 27:40.
53 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 494.
54 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 513.
55 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1175.
56 Quoted in Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, pp. 494-95.
CHAPTER 28
1 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 28:1.
2 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 512.
3 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 28:1-6.
Keener adds: “The Maltese were Phoenician descent, and commoners there spoke and read only Punic (the late Phoenician dialect of the Carthaginians). But Roman citizens and retired soldiers also lived there, and the island was certainly not considered culturally primitive…But Luke’s use of the term translated “barbarous”…in this context…is not derisive.” (Keener, p. 404).
4 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1010.
5 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 28:4.
6 Barnes, Commentary on Acts, Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, v. 28:4.
7 Utley, Luke The Historian: Acts, v. 28:6.
8 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, vs. 28:5-6.
9 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 499.
10 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1010.
11 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 28:7.
12 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 514.
Stott augments: “The micro-organism, which causes it, was apparently identified in 1887 and traced to the milk of Maltese goats…” (Stott, p. 395).
13 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, vs. 28:1f.
14 Robertson, Commentary on Acts, Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament, v. 28:9.
15 Jamieson, et. al., Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vs. 28:15.
16 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 501.
“The elder Pliny says that navigation begins to be resumed when the west winds start to blow on February 8; it was probably about this date that the party set sail form Malta…”
17 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 405.
18 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, vs. 28:11-13.
19 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 396.
20 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1010.
21 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 28:14.
22 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 407.
23 Ibid., p. 408.
24 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 396.
25 Barker & Kohlenberger, Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, New Testament, p. 515.
26 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1176.
27 Ibid.
28 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 28:16.
29 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 397.
30 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 28:17-20.
31 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 505.
32 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 28:15.
33 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 28:16-29.
34 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 28:18.
35 Clarke, Commentary on Acts, The Adam Clarke Commentary, v. 28:20.
36 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 28:21.
37 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 406.
38 Pett, Commentary on Acts, Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, v. 28:22.
39 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1011.
40 Billy Graham, Decision Magazine. https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/november-2006/the-promise-of-the-messiah/
Guzik adds: “There are at least 332 distinct Old Testament predictions regarding the Messiah that Jesus fulfilled perfectly… Professor Peter Stoner has calculated that the probability of any one man fulfilling eight of these prophesies is one in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (10 to the 17th power). That number of silver dollars would cover the state of Texas two feet deep. Stoner says that if you consider 48 of the prophecies, the odds become one in 10 to the 157th power.” David (Guzik Commentaries on the Bible. 2 Peter. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-peter-1/, 1997-2003).
41 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, Revised Edition, p. 508.
42 Ibid., p. 509.
43 Marshall, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Acts, p. 425.
44 Ibid., p. 421.
45 Ibid., p. 425.
46 Cited in Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 28:29.
47 Guthrie, et. al, The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 1011.
48 Coffman, Commentary on Acts, Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, v. 28:28, citing Hervey.
49 Barclay, Commentary on Acts, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, vs. 28:30-31.
50 Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, NT, p. 408.
51 Pfeiffer & Harrison, eds., The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1178.
52 Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament, p. 406.
53 Quoted in James R. Edwards, Romans, New International Biblical Commentary (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1992), p. 350.
54 Stedman, Authentic Christianity, Acts, The Ray Stedman Organization, v. 28:31.
55 Guzik, Commentary on Acts, David Guzik Commentaries on the Bible, vs. 28:30-31.
56 Stott, The Message of Acts, p. 400.
“The final words of the book (which the NIV misplaces) are the adverbial expression meta pases parresias, ‘with all boldness’, and the adverb akolutos, ‘without hinderance’. Parresia has been a characteristic word of Acts ever since the Twelve exhibited boldness and prayed for more (4:13, 31)…Parresia denotes speech which is candid (with no concealment of truth), clear (with no obscurity of expression) and confident (with no fear of consequences).”
Stedman adds: “…the last page of the first chapter of church history – the last chapter of the book of Acts.” (Stedman, v. 28:1f.).
Barclay enhances: “Now the tale is finished; the story that began in Jerusalem rather more than thirty years ago has finished in Rome.” (Barclay, v. 28:30).
57 Jamieson, et. al., Commentary on Acts, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, v. 28:31.