The Book of Acts PDF

"“. . . undertaken to provide earnest students of the New Testament with an exposition that is thorough and abreast of modern scholarship and at the same time loyal to the Scriptures as the infallible Word of God.”"This statement reflects the underlying purpose of The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Begun in the late 1940s by an international team of New Testament scholars, the NICNT series has become recognized by pastors, students, and scholars alike as a critical yet orthodox commentary marked by solid biblical scholarship within the evangelical Protestant tradition.

While based on a thorough study of the Greek text, the commentary introductions and expositions contain a minimum of Greek references. The NICNT authors evaluate significant textual problems and take into account the most important exegetical literature. More technical aspects — such as grammatical, textual, and historical problems — are dealt with in footnotes, special notes, and appendixes.

Under the general editorship of three outstanding New Testament scholars — first Ned Stonehouse (Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia), then F. F. Bruce (University of Manc.

Chapter List (296 chapters):

Chapter 1: The Book of the Acts
Chapter 2: Cover
Chapter 3: Title Page
Chapter 4: Copyright Page
Chapter 5: Dedication
Chapter 6: Contents
Chapter 7: Preface
Chapter 8: Abbreviations
Chapter 9: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 10: I. Acts in the New Testament
Chapter 11: II. Origin and Purpose of Acts
Chapter 12: III. Paul in Acts
Chapter 13: IV. Select Bibliography
Chapter 14: TEXT, EXPOSITION, AND NOTES
Chapter 15: ACTS 1
Chapter 16: I. THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH (1:1–5:42)
Chapter 17: A. THE FORTY DAYS AND AFTER (1:1–26)
Chapter 18: 1. Prologue (1:1–3)
Chapter 19: 2. The Apostles’ Commission (1:4–8)
Chapter 20: 3. The Ascension (1:9–11)
Chapter 21: 4. In the Upper Room (1:12–14)
Chapter 22: 5. A Replacement for Judas Iscariot (1:15–26)
Chapter 23: ACTS 2
Chapter 24: B. THE DAY OF PENTECOST (2:1–47)
Chapter 25: 1. The Descent of the Spirit (2:1–4)
Chapter 26: 2. The Crowd’s Amazement (2:5–13)
Chapter 27: 3. Peter’s Proclamation (2:14–36)
Chapter 28: a. “This is that” (2:14–21)
Chapter 29: b. The resurrection of Jesus proclaimed (2:22–28)
Chapter 30: c. Jesus: Lord and Messiah (2:29–36)
Chapter 31: 4. Call to Repentance (2:37–40)
Chapter 32: 5. The First Christian Church (2:41–47)
Chapter 33: ACTS 3
Chapter 34: C. AN ACT OF HEALING AND ITS CONSEQUENCES (3:1–4:31)
Chapter 35: 1. A Cripple Cured (3:1–10)
Chapter 36: 2. Peter’s Address in Solomon’s Colonnade (3:11–26)
Chapter 37: a. The power of Jesus’ name (3:11–16)
Chapter 38: b. Call to repentance (3:17–21)
Chapter 39: c. Witness of the prophets (3:22–26)
Chapter 40: ACTS 4
Chapter 41: 3. Arrest of Peter and John (4:1–4)
Chapter 42: 4. Peter and John before the Sanhedrin (4:5–12)
Chapter 43: 5. Debate in the Sanhedrin (4:13–17)
Chapter 44: 6. The Apostles Dismissed with a Caution (4:18–22)
Chapter 45: 7. Peter and John Rejoin Their Friends (4:23–31)
Chapter 46: D. ALL THINGS IN COMMON (4:32–5:11)
Chapter 47: 1. Community of Goods (4:32–35)
Chapter 48: 2. The Generosity of Barnabas (4:36–37)
Chapter 49: ACTS 5
Chapter 50: 3. Deceit and Death of Ananias (5:1–6)
Chapter 51: 4. Death of Sapphira (5:7–11)
Chapter 52: E. THE APOSTLES BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN (5:12–42)
Chapter 53: 1. Signs and Wonders (5:12–16)
Chapter 54: 2. The Apostles Imprisoned and Released (5:17–21a)
Chapter 55: 3. The Apostles Brought before the Sanhedrin (5:21b-26)
Chapter 56: 4. The High Priest’s Charge and the Apostles’ Reply (5:27–32)
Chapter 57: 5. The Court’s Decision (5:33–40)
Chapter 58: 6. The Apostles Continue Their Public Witness (5:41–42)
Chapter 59: ACTS 6
Chapter 60: II. PERSECUTION AND EXPANSION (6:1–9:31)
Chapter 61: A. STEPHEN (6:1–8:1A)
Chapter 62: 1. The Appointing of the Seven (6:1–6)
Chapter 63: 2. Progress Report (6:7)
Chapter 64: 3. Stephen’s Activity Arouses Opposition (6:8–10)
Chapter 65: 4. Stephen Accused before the Sanhedrin (6:11–15)
Chapter 66: ACTS 7
Chapter 67: 5. The High Priest’s Question (7:1)
Chapter 68: 6. Stephen’s Reply (7:2–53)
Chapter 69: a. The patriarchal age (7:2–8)
Chapter 70: b. Israel in Egypt (7:9–19)
Chapter 71: c. Moses’ early days (7:20–29)
Chapter 72: d. The call of Moses (7:30–34)
Chapter 73: e. The wilderness wanderings (7:35–43)
Chapter 74: f. Tabernacle and temple (7:44–50)
Chapter 75: g. Personal application (7:51–53)
Chapter 76: 7. The Stoning of Stephen (7:54–8:1a)
Chapter 77: a. Stephen’s final witness (7:54–56)
Chapter 78: b. Death of Stephen (7:57–60)
Chapter 79: ACTS 8
Chapter 80: c. Saul’s agreement (8:1a)
Chapter 81: B. PHILIP (8:1B-40)
Chapter 82: 1. Persecution and Dispersion (8:1b-3)
Chapter 83: 2. Philip in Samaria (8:4–8)
Chapter 84: 3. Simon Magus Believes and Is Baptized (8:9–13)
Chapter 85: 4. Peter and John Visit Samaria (8:14–17)
Chapter 86: 5. Peter and Simon Magus (8:18–24)
Chapter 87: 6. The Apostles Return to Jerusalem (8:25)
Chapter 88: 7. Philip and the Ethiopian (8:26–40)
Chapter 89: ACTS 9
Chapter 90: C. CONVERSION OF SAUL OF TARSUS (9:1–31)
Chapter 91: 1. Saul’s Expedition to Damascus (9:1–2)
Chapter 92: 2. The Light and Voice from Heaven (9:3–7)
Chapter 93: 3. Saul Enters Damascus (9:8–9)
Chapter 94: 4. Ananias Sent to Saul (9:10–16)
Chapter 95: 5. Ananias Visits Saul (9:17–19a)
Chapter 96: 6. Saul Preaches in Damascus (9:19b-22)
Chapter 97: 7. Saul Escapes from Damascus (9:23–25)
Chapter 98: 8. Saul in Jerusalem; He Is Sent to Tarsus (9:26–30)
Chapter 99: 9. The Church Enjoys Peace and Prosperity (9:31)
Chapter 100: III. THE ACTS OF PETER AND BEGINNINGS OF GENTILE CHRISTIANITY (9:32–12:24)
Chapter 101: A. PETER IN WESTERN JUDAEA (9:32–43)
Chapter 102: 1. Peter at Lydda: the Healing of Aeneas (9:32–35)
Chapter 103: 2. Peter at Joppa: the Raising of Dorcas (9:36–43)
Chapter 104: ACTS 10
Chapter 105: B. THE STORY OF CORNELIUS (10:1–48)
Chapter 106: 1. Cornelius the Centurion Sees a Vision (10:1–8)
Chapter 107: 2. Peter Sees a Vision (10:9–16)
Chapter 108: 3. The Messengers from Cornelius Arrive at Joppa (10:17–23a)
Chapter 109: 4. Peter Enters the House of Cornelius (10:23b-33)
Chapter 110: 5. Gentiles Hear the Good News (10:34–43)
Chapter 111: 6. Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit (10:44–48)
Chapter 112: ACTS 11
Chapter 113: C. PETER’S ACTION ENDORSED AT JERUSALEM (11:1–18)
Chapter 114: 1. Peter Called to Account (11:1–3)
Chapter 115: 2. Peter’s Defense (11:4–17)
Chapter 116: 3. Peter’s Defense Accepted (11:18)
Chapter 117: D. ANTIOCH BECOMES A CHRISTIAN BASE (11:19–30)
Chapter 118: 1. Gentile Evangelization in Antioch (11:19–21)
Chapter 119: 2. Barnabas and Saul’s Ministry at Antioch (11:22–26)
Chapter 120: 3. Famine Relief (11:27–30)
Chapter 121: ACTS 12
Chapter 122: E. HEROD AGRIPPA I AND THE CHURCH (12:1–24)
Chapter 123: 1. Martyrdom of James and Imprisonment of Peter (12:1–4)
Chapter 124: 2. Peter’s Escape from Prison (12:5–11)
Chapter 125: 3. Peter Reports His Escape (12:12–17)
Chapter 126: 4. Peter’s Escape Discovered (12:18–19)
Chapter 127: 5. Death of Herod Agrippa I (12:20–23)
Chapter 128: 6. Continued Progress of the Gospel (12:24)
Chapter 129: IV. CHURCH EXTENSION FROM ANTIOCH AND APOSTOLIC DECREE AT JERUSALEM (12:25–15:35)
Chapter 130: A. BARNABAS AND SAUL (12:25–13:3)
Chapter 131: 1. The Envoys from Antioch Return (12:25)
Chapter 132: ACTS 13
Chapter 133: 2. Barnabas and Saul Sent Out from Antioch (13:1–3)
Chapter 134: B. CYPRUS (13:4–12)
Chapter 135: 1. The Missionaries Arrive in Cyprus (13:4–5)
Chapter 136: 2. Confrontation at Paphos (13:6–12)
Chapter 137: C. PISIDIAN ANTIOCH (13:13–52)
Chapter 138: 1. Arrival at Pisidian Antioch (13:13–15)
Chapter 139: 2. Paul’s Synagogue Address in Pisidian Antioch (13:16–41)
Chapter 140: a. Exordium (13:16)
Chapter 141: b. Preparation for Christ (13:17–22)
Chapter 142: c. Fulfilment in Christ (13:23–37)
Chapter 143: d. Peroration (13:38–41)
Chapter 144: 3. Response to Paul’s Address (13:42–43)
Chapter 145: 4. Gentile Interest Arouses Jewish Opposition (13:44–52)
Chapter 146: ACTS 14
Chapter 147: D. ICONIUM, LYSTRA, DERBE (14:1–28)
Chapter 148: 1. Adventures in Iconium (14:1–7)
Chapter 149: 2. Miraculous Healing at Lystra (14:8–13)
Chapter 150: 3. Proclamation of the Living God (14:14–18)
Chapter 151: 4. Persecuted at Lystra, the Missionaries Go On to Derbe and Then Retrace Their Steps (14:19–23)
Chapter 152: 5. Return to Antioch on the Orontes (14:24–28)
Chapter 153: ACTS 15
Chapter 154: E. THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM (15:1–35)
Chapter 155: 1. Judaizers Visit Antioch (15:1–2)
Chapter 156: 2. Paul and Barnabas Go Up to Jerusalem (15:3–5)
Chapter 157: 3. The Council Meets (15:6)
Chapter 158: 4. Peter’s Speech (15:7–11)
Chapter 159: 5. Paul and Barnabas Address the Council (15:12)
Chapter 160: 6. James’s Summing Up (15:13–21)
Chapter 161: 7. The Apostolic Letter to Gentile Christians (15:22–29)
Chapter 162: 8. The Church of Antioch Receives the Apostolic Letter (15:30–35)
Chapter 163: V. PAUL LEAVES ANTIOCH AND MOVES TO THE AEGEAN WORLD (15:36–19:20)
Chapter 164: A. RECENTLY PLANTED CHURCHES REVISITED (15:36–16:5)
Chapter 165: 1. Paul Parts Company with Barnabas and Takes Silas as His Colleague (15:36–41)
Chapter 166: ACTS 16
Chapter 167: 2. Paul and Silas in South Galatia; Timothy Joins Them (16:1–4)
Chapter 168: 3. The Churches Grow in Faith and Numbers (16:5)
Chapter 169: B. PHILIPPI (16:6–40)
Chapter 170: 1. The Call from Macedonia (16:6–10)
Chapter 171: 2. Troas to Philippi (16:11–12a)
Chapter 172: 3. The Faith of Lydia (16:12b-15)
Chapter 173: 4. The Pythoness (16:16–18)
Chapter 174: 5. Paul and Silas Imprisoned (16:19–24)
Chapter 175: 6. Earthquake at Midnight: the Jailer’s Conversion (16:25–34)
Chapter 176: 7. Paul and Silas Leave Philippi (16:35–40)
Chapter 177: ACTS 17
Chapter 178: C. THESSALONICA TO ATHENS (17:1–34)
Chapter 179: 1. Arrival at Thessalonica (17:1–4)
Chapter 180: 2. Trouble in Thessalonica (17:5–9)
Chapter 181: 3. Beroea (17:10–15)
Chapter 182: 4. Athens (17:16–21)
Chapter 183: 5. Paul’s Areopagitica (17:22–31)
Chapter 184: 6. The Athenians’ Reaction (17:32–34)
Chapter 185: ACTS 18
Chapter 186: D. CORINTH (18:1–17)
Chapter 187: 1. Paul Arrives in Corinth (18:1–4)
Chapter 188: 2. Paul Spends Eighteen Months in Corinth (18:5–11)
Chapter 189: 3. Paul before Gallio (18:12–17)
Chapter 190: E. EPHESUS (18:18–19:20)
Chapter 191: 1. Hasty Visit to Ephesus (18:18–21)
Chapter 192: 2. Brief Visit to Judaea and Syria (18:22–23)
Chapter 193: 3. Apollos (18:24–28)
Chapter 194: ACTS 19
Chapter 195: 4. Paul and the Twelve Disciples of Ephesus (19:1–7)
Chapter 196: 5. The Lecture Hall of Tyrannus (19:8–10)
Chapter 197: 6. Conflict with the Magicians (19:11–19)
Chapter 198: 7. Further Progress Report (19:20)
Chapter 199: VI. PAUL PLANS TO VISIT ROME AND GETS THERE BY AN UNFORESEEN ROUTE (19:21–28:31)
Chapter 200: A. HE PREPARES TO LEAVE EPHESUS FOR MACEDONIA AND ACHAIA (19:21–20:6)
Chapter 201: 1. Paul Makes Plans for the Future (19:21–22)
Chapter 202: 2. The Riot at Ephesus (19:23–41)
Chapter 203: a. Indignation of the silversmiths (19:23–28)
Chapter 204: b. Demonstration in the theater (19:29–34)
Chapter 205: c. The town clerk calms the agitation (19:35–41)
Chapter 206: ACTS 20
Chapter 207: 3. Paul Visits Macedonia and Greece (20:1–6)
Chapter 208: B. THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (20:7–21:16)
Chapter 209: 1. Paul at Troas (20:7–12)
Chapter 210: 2. From Troas to Miletus (20:13–16)
Chapter 211: 3. Paul Sends for the Elders of the Ephesian Church (20:17)
Chapter 212: 4. Paul Bids Farewell to the Ephesian Church (20:18–35)
Chapter 213: a. Retrospect on his Ephesian ministry (20:18–21)
Chapter 214: b. Paul’s prospects (20:22–24)
Chapter 215: c. His charge to the elders (20:25–31)
Chapter 216: d. Final admonition (20:32–35)
Chapter 217: 5. An Affectionate Parting (20:36–38)
Chapter 218: ACTS 21
Chapter 219: 6. Miletus to Tyre (21:1–6)
Chapter 220: 7. Tyre to Caesarea (21:7–9)
Chapter 221: 8. Agabus Reappears (21:10–14)
Chapter 222: 9. Arrival at Jerusalem (21:15–16)
Chapter 223: C. PAUL AT JERUSALEM (21:17–23:30)
Chapter 224: 1. Meeting with James and the Elders (21:17–26)
Chapter 225: 2. Riot in the Temple (21:27–30)
Chapter 226: 3. Paul Rescued by the Romans (21:31–36)
Chapter 227: 4. Paul Obtains Leave to Address the Crowd (21:37–40)
Chapter 228: ACTS 22
Chapter 229: 5. Paul’s Defense to the People of Jerusalem (22:1–21)
Chapter 230: a. His early days (22:1–5)
Chapter 231: b. The Damascus road (22:6–11)
Chapter 232: c. Ananias of Damascus (22:12–16)
Chapter 233: d. Paul’s vision in the temple (22:17–21)
Chapter 234: 6. Paul Reveals His Roman Citizenship (22:22–29)
Chapter 235: 7. Paul Brought before the Sanhedrin (22:30)
Chapter 236: ACTS 23
Chapter 237: 8. Paul before the Sanhedrin (23:1–10)
Chapter 238: a. Interchange with the high priest (23:1–5)
Chapter 239: b. The resurrection hope (23:6–10)
Chapter 240: 9. The Lord Appears to Paul in the Night (23:11)
Chapter 241: 10. Plot against Paul’s Life (23:12–15)
Chapter 242: 11. The Plot Revealed (23:16–22)
Chapter 243: 12. The Tribune Prepares to Send Paul to Caesarea (23:23–24)
Chapter 244: 13. Letter from the Tribune to Felix (23:25–30)
Chapter 245: D. PAUL AT CAESAREA (23:31–26:32)
Chapter 246: 1. Paul Taken to Caesarea (23:31–35)
Chapter 247: ACTS 24
Chapter 248: 2. Paul Accused before Felix (24:1–9)
Chapter 249: 3. Paul’s Defense before Felix (24:10–21)
Chapter 250: 4. Felix Adjourns Proceedings (24:22–23)
Chapter 251: 5. Paul’s Interviews with Felix (24:24–26)
Chapter 252: 6. Felix Replaced by Festus; Paul Left in Custody (24:27)
Chapter 253: ACTS 25
Chapter 254: 7. Festus Visits Jerusalem (25:1–5)
Chapter 255: 8. Paul Appeals to Caesar (25:6–12)
Chapter 256: 9. Agrippa II and Bernice Visit Festus (25:13–22)
Chapter 257: 10. Paul Appears before Agrippa (25:23–27)
Chapter 258: ACTS 26
Chapter 259: 11. Paul Accepts Agrippa’s Invitation to Speak (26:1)
Chapter 260: 12. Paul’s “Apologia pro vita sua” (26:2–23)
Chapter 261: a. Exordium (26:2–3)
Chapter 262: b. The resurrection hope (26:4–8)
Chapter 263: c. Paul’s persecuting zeal (26:9–11)
Chapter 264: d. The heavenly vision (26:12–18)
Chapter 265: e. Paul’s obedience to the vision (26:19–20)
Chapter 266: f. Paul’s arrest (26:21)
Chapter 267: g. Peroration (26:22–23)
Chapter 268: 13. Interchange between Festus, Paul, and Agrippa (26:24–29)
Chapter 269: 14. Agreement on Paul’s Innocence (26:30–32)
Chapter 270: ACTS 27
Chapter 271: E. PAUL’S VOYAGE AND SHIPWRECK (27:1–44)
Chapter 272: 1. Caesarea to Myra (27:1–5)
Chapter 273: 2. They Trans-ship at Myra and Sail to Crete (27:6–8)
Chapter 274: 3. Paul’s Advice Rejected (27:9–12)
Chapter 275: 4. They Are Caught by the Wind Euraquilo (27:13–20)
Chapter 276: 5. Paul’s Encouragement (27:21–26)
Chapter 277: 6. They Approach Land (27:27–29)
Chapter 278: 7. The Sailors’ Attempt to Escape Frustrated (27:30–32)
Chapter 279: 8. The Meal on Board (27:33–38)
Chapter 280: 9. The Shipwreck (27:39–41)
Chapter 281: 10. Safe Ashore! (27:42–44)
Chapter 282: ACTS 28
Chapter 283: F. WINTER IN MALTA (28:1–10)
Chapter 284: 1. Welcome to Malta! (28:1–6)
Chapter 285: 2. Works of Healing in Malta (28:7–10)
Chapter 286: G. ROME AT LAST (28:11–31)
Chapter 287: 1. The Last Lap: “And So We Came to Rome” (28:11–15)
Chapter 288: 2. Paul Handed Over to Be Kept under Guard (28:16)
Chapter 289: 3. Paul and the Roman Jews (28:17–28)
Chapter 290: a. First interview (28:17–22)
Chapter 291: b. Second interview (28:23–28)
Chapter 292: 4. The Gospel Advances without Hindrance in Rome (28:30–31)
Chapter 293: NOTES
Chapter 294: General
Chapter 295: Authors
Chapter 296: Scripture References