Reading Acts Today

Reading Acts Today provides a 'state of the art' view of study of Acts from a variety of perspectives and approaches. It is a fresh and stimulating collection of scholarly essays at the cutting edge of the discipline. The contributions come at Acts from many different angles including historical, theological, socio-economic, literary, narrative, and exegetical approaches. This enables a thorough examination of the way that other ancient writings illuminate Acts and locates the book in its ancient context. The wide range of contributors features some of the most influential names in modern New Testament studies, providing a remarkable assessment of current scholarship on the book of Acts. These include James D.G. Dunn, I. Howard Marshal, and Richard Burridge. It was formerly the Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement, a book series that explores the many aspects of New Testament study including historical perspectives, social-scientific and literary theory, and theological, cultural and contextual approaches.

AbbreviationsList of Plates and IllustrationsList of ContributorsPreface Steve Walton, Thomas E. Phillips, Lloyd K. Pietersen and F. Scott SpencerIntroduction Lloyd K. PietersenReading Acts in its Ancient ContextsThe Genre of Acts-Revisited Richard A. BurridgeWhy Did Mary Wrap the Newborn Jesus in 'Swaddling Clothes'? Luke 2.7 and 2.12 in the Context of Luke-Acts and First-Century Literature Thomas E. PhillipsLuke's Use of Papias for Narrating the Death of Judas Dennis R. MacDonaldScared to Death: The Rhetoric of Fear in the 'Tragedy' of Ananias and Sapphira F. Scott SpencerDoes the Road to Damascus Run through the Letters of Paul? R. Barry MatlockReading Themes in ActsLuke-Acts, or Luke and Acts? A Reaffirmation of Narrative Unity Joel B. GreenLuke's Jerusalem Perspective James D. G. DunnPhilological and Performative Perspectives on Pentecost Heidi J. Hornik & Mikeal C. ParsonsThe Place of Acts 20.28 in Luke's Theology of the Cross I. Howard MarshallThe Resurrection and its Witnesses in the Book of Acts Daniel MargueratA Spirituality of Acts? Steve WaltonBibliographyIndex of Ancient SourcesIndex of NamesIndex of Subjects