This substantive yet highly accessible commentary leads readers through all aspects of the book of Acts--sociological, historical, and theological. Series Preface ix Author's Preface xi Abbreviations xiii Transliteration xix Map xxi Introduction to Acts 1 I. Introduction: Jesus Ascends to the Father and Gives a Mission (1:1-11) 49 A. Review of Book 1 to the Ascension (1:1-5) 51 B. The Ascension and Final Testament: A Promise for the Disciples Now and a Promise to Return (1:6-11) 60 II. The Early Church in Jerusalem (1:12-6:7) 72 A. Community Life: Replacing Judas by Depending on God and Reconstituting the Twelve (1:12-26) 74 B. Pentecost (2:1-41) 92 C. Summary: Community Life (2:42-47) 149 D. The Healing of the Lame Man and the Arrest of Peter and John (3:1-4:31) 157 E. Community Life and Problems (4:32-5:11) 212 F. Summary: Signs and Wonders (5:12-16) 229 G. More Persecution (5:17-42) 234 H. Community Life: The Appointment of the Seven to Help Hellenist Widows (6:1-6) 255 I. Summary of the Jerusalem Community (6:7) 264 III. Persecution in Jerusalem Moves the Message to Judea and Samaria as a New Witness Emerges (6:8-9:31) 266 A. The Arrest, Speech, and Martyrdom of Stephen (6:88:1a) 267 B. Saul the Persecutor and the Spread of the Word (8:1b4) 317 C. Philip in Samaria and with a Eunuch from Ethiopia (8:540) 321 D. The Conversion and Early Reception of Saul (9:1-30) 349 E. Closing Summary (9:31) 372 IV. The Gospel to the Gentiles and More Persecution in Jerusalem (9:32-12:25) 374 A. Peter Performs Two Miracles at Lydda and Joppa (9:32-43) 375 B. Peter and Cornelius: The Gospel to the Gentiles (10:1-11:18) 380 C. The Church at Antioch: Barnabas, Saul, and Agabus (11:19-30) 411 D. Persecution in Jerusalem (12:1-23) 421 E. Summary (12:24-25) 434 V. The Mission from Antioch and the Full Incorporation of Gentiles (13:1-15:35) 436 A. The First Missionary Journey (13:1-14:28) 437 B. Consultation at Jerusalem (15:1-35) 486 VI. The Second and Third Missionary Journeys: Expansion to Greece and Consolidation amid Opposition (15:36-21:16) 516 A. The Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:23) 517 B. The Third Missionary Journey, Ending in Jerusalem (18:24-21:16) 589 VII. The Arrest: The Message Is Defended and Reaches Rome (21:17-28:31) 641 A. In Jerusalem (21:17-23:35) 642 B. In Caesarea (24:1-26:32) 686 C. The Long Sea Journey to Rome (27:1-28:16) 726 D. Visitors in Rome: The Gospel Preached (28:17-31) 749 Works Cited 761 Index of Subjects 783 Index of Authors 794 Index of Greek Words 801 Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Writings 802