The Book of the Acts (New International Commentary on the New Testament) (New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT))

`The Book of the Acts, Revised' in `The New International Commentary on the New Testament' series, written by F. F. (Frederick Fyvie) Bruce, is an excellent addition to this series, and a worthy follow-up to Joel Green's commentary on `The Gospel of Luke' in the same series. I once made two mistaken statements about this series, commonly abbreviated as NICNT. The first is that the editors tend to commission relatively junior scholars to do their commentaries, often as revisions of their doctoral dissertations. The second is that the series uses the relatively old `American Standard Version' translation of 1901. Both Professors Green and Bruce are distinctly senior, highly qualified commentators, both of whom contribute their own translations. As I always use the NRSV as a primary translation, I look forward to a commentator's own personal translation, based on a deep knowledge of the particular scripture. And, Professor Bruce has a deeper knowledge than most, as he finished a commentary on the Greek text of Acts before doing this commentary.The separate commentary on the Greek has a salutary effect on the current work, as it separates out all the tedious philological and text critical findings for those who are primarily interested in such things. That leaves only professor Bruce's commentary on the literary, historical, and theological matters we find in Luke's Acts.Acts does not have quite as many interpretational difficulties as Luke's Gospel. Therefore, some commentators' approach, such as the more recent work by Darrell Bock, tends to obscure the relatively cleaner text by discussing many different interpretations, including many from this volume. Like many of the commentators in `The New Interpreter's Bible (NIB)', Bruce focuses on a clean and illuminating organization of the text, with excellent material for applying the text to modern church and pastoral questions. Unlike the NIB, Bruce has excellent references to Hebrew sources, primarily the Mishnah. If fact, it was Bruce's commentary which pushed me to finally get a copy of the Mishnah as an aid to understanding references to Jewish practice in both the Hebrew and Christian scriptures.It may not count for much in many reviewers' evaluations, but I also find the design of the NICNT volumes' typesetting to be superior to many other series, especially to the Word Biblical Commentary volumes. It does little good to have excellent material if aging eyes find it difficult to read it.Like Green's commentary, I would suggest Bruce's volume over many others, with the one caveat that it is at least ten (10) years older than several important new commentaries, such as the Anchor Bible contribution by Joseph Fitzmyer and at least five (5) years older than Luke Timothy Johnson's Sacra Pagina volume, and both are important and useful for the lay or pastoral user. So, I strongly recommend this volume, used together with Fitzmyer's volume or some other recent commentary. For those reviewers who do not find much new, I sympathize with their observation, but suggest that this is more evidence for the fact that this is a very good first (but not only) commentary on Acts for the pastoral or lay user.

I don't want to write a lengthy review, but I do want you to know that this is a very well written commentary. I thought that I truly understood the book of Acts. After all, I've read the book of Acts over twenty times in my lifetime, but now I truly believe that I was missing about 60% of what Luke is trying to show his audience. With the help of F.F Bruce you will begin to see how from the beginning of the church God intended to bring the gospel to Jews and Gentiles and how he seamlessly brought that about. It also becomes very clear that the Apostles vigorously stressed the diety of Christ from Peter's very first sermon in Acts chapter two. You'll be able to understand, and appreciate how James ended up being the leader of the church in Jerusalem despite the fact that Peter was the undisputed leader early on.I don't want to drone on, but this is an excellant commentary. Of all the commentaries that I've read, and I've read a fair number, this is my favorite. You'll probably read it cover to cover. I did.

One of the very best books on Acts I’ve ever read. Well written; easy to understand with sound biblical theology.

Classic commentary on Acts. As a layman, I am finding it very helpful as I teach Acts. Dr. Bruce addresses questions raised by the text without more reliance on Greek grammar than I can handle. His approach to the theology is conservative, which I appreciate. I do not always find his references and comparison to Luke's gospel to be useful.

As a young missionary teaching in a Bible college in Nigeria, I discovered F. F. Bruce on Acts. I found it extremely valuable, but never owned a copy of my own until recently. I could not envision teaching the book of Acts without checking out what Bruce has to say on the text. If you are looking for THE foundational book on Acts, get F. F. Bruce.

The great F.F. Bruce is hard to beat for clarity. He tackles whatever questions the text presents with the highest competency and fearlessness. I love the British commentators and their consistency in exegesis - I think I own everyone of his commentaries and like many of my generation my first exposure to Bruce was "New Testament Documents an IVP book, He was a great blessing to the church.

A great resource for anyone who teaches or preaches on the book of Acts.

This is an older version of this series, but Bruce is just so readable and clear that it has to make this the single Acts Commentary you may want on your shelf. Actually one of those rare commentaries you can just read through without being a greek scholar and just enjoy the comments as they come.

FF Bruce is recognised as a very good Bible expositor so I knew what I was buying. Being a commentary one rarely sits and reads through a book like this, it is study associate. He is easy to read and understand, you don't have to keep going to the dictionary. He is the last of a generation of evangelical expositors and I doubt there will be anymore like him. As the modern progressive church is saturated with charismania it seems incapable of producing any sound theological exposition. There is none in book form after 50 years of this movement. Thank you F F Bruce for leaving us this legacy.

This is just what is needed by any serious Bible students and those preparing sermons. It is readable and comprehensive.

NICNT's volume on Acts by F. F. Bruce is one of the best. I have read his commentary on Hebrews and a few other volumes. But in Acts, his outline and the explanations are easy to grasp with profound meaning.The book looks like a new without any marks or defect, though I ordered used one.

Really good commentary series. This a Technical and Pastoral commentary so is helpful for anyone preparing a sermon and for people who are just trying to study the Bible.

Great commentary on the Book of Acts!