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. 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.

Abbreviations\List of Plates and Illustrations\List of Contributors\Preface Steve Walton, Thomas E. Phillips, Lloyd K. Pietersen and F. Scott Spencer\Introduction Lloyd K. Pietersen\Reading Acts in its Ancient Contexts\The Genre of Acts—Revisited Richard A. Burridge\Why 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. Phillips\Luke's Use of Papias for Narrating the Death of Judas Dennis R. MacDonald\Scared to Death: The Rhetoric of Fear in the 'Tragedy' of Ananias and Sapphira F. Scott Spencer\Does the Road to Damascus Run through the Letters of Paul? R. Barry Matlock\Reading Themes in Acts\Luke-Acts, or Luke and Acts? A Reaffirmation of Narrative Unity Joel B. Green\Luke's Jerusalem Perspective James D. G. Dunn\Philological and Performative Perspectives on Pentecost Heidi J. Hornik & Mikeal C. Parsons\The Place of Acts 20.28 in Luke's Theology of the Cross I. Howard Marshall\The Resurrection and its Witnesses in the Book of Acts Daniel Marguerat\A Spirituality of Acts? Steve Walton\Bibliography\Index of Ancient Sources\Index of Names\Index of Subjects