Keener - Acts: An Exegetical Commentary

2014 by Craig S. Keener Published by Baker Academic a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.bakeracademic.com Ebook edition created 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews. ISBN 978-1-4412-4633-2 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Unless noted otherwise, all translations of Scripture are those of the author. Praise for Volume One Somewhat surprisingly, a socio-historical approach to Acts still needs to be defended and its value demonstrated. No one does this betteris more informed about ancient literature, parallels, and precedents, and more interactively and fruitfully engaged with contemporary literature and issuesthan Craig Keener. For anyone wanting to appreciate how Acts worked in its original context and to get into the text at some depth, Keener will be indispensable and first off the shelf. James D. G.

Dunn , University of Durham Keener takes very seriously the claim of the book of Acts to be historiography. His encyclopedic knowledge of ancient literature and his intelligent skill as an exegete make this a magisterial commentary. Richard Bauckham , University of St. Andrews; Ridley Hall, Cambridge Keeners magnum opus is a rich resource that will serve Acts scholars for years to come.... A scholar with extensive knowledge of Jewish and Greco-Roman materials, Keener brings this expertise to his commentary, introducing scores of relevant citations to subsequent scholars of Acts.... This volume is the result of the careful, balanced work of a senior scholar.

Any serious scholar will want to have this valuable commentary ready-to-hand. Daniel L. Smith , Review of Biblical Literature To my knowledge, Keeners four-volume project... is by far the largest single-author work on Acts to date.... Keeners strong suit has always been his impressive acquaintance with the literary environment of the New Testament.... He is also remarkably thorough in citing other scholars....

Anyone concerned with Acts is best advised to take account of this extensive study from a widely read and dedicated scholar. Larry Hurtado , University of Edinburgh This promises to be the most comprehensive commentary on Acts to date. Keener presents a socio-historical reading of the text with meticulous precision, and his knowledge of scholarly research is impressive. The book of Acts is read as a historiographical work in which its author rewrites traditions; the documentation from ancient Jewish literature is exceptionally rich. Keener treats hermeneutical issues and the historical reliability of the text astutely and clearly. From now on, any exegesis of Acts will need to take into account this major work.

Daniel Marguerat , University of Lausanne, Switzerland As one has come to expect from Keener, there is thorough knowledge and use of the best and most important secondary literature and abundant utilization of a wide range of ancient sources. This is a commentary that will continue to serve as a detailed resource for both scholars and students wishing to explore the book of Acts. Stanley E. Porter , McMaster Divinity College Craig Keener has provided us with a rich gem of a commentary on Acts. One can use it and get a real sense of what this key work is all about. Darrell L.

Bock , Dallas Theological Seminary By almost any measure, Craig Keeners commentary on Acts is a remarkable achievement.... He is thoroughly engaged with a wide range of critical studies of Acts and related writings. Keener also brings to the study of Acts a deep and extensive acquaintance with ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish literature, and the result is a rich, detailed commentary packed with abundant and useful information.... I am unable to agree with many of his convictions about Acts but am compelled to admire his well-conceived and well-documented arguments and interpretations. Joseph Tyson , Review of Biblical Literature Praise for Volume Two Acts has now taken a new step forward... the starting point for all Acts scholarship from now on! Scot McKnight , Northern Seminary This is the most expansive treatment of Acts in modern scholarship.

Keener offers the reader a sweeping tour of the relevant ancient material and modern scholarship on Acts. He takes Acts seriously as a work of ancient history; at the same time, he is aware of the literary and rhetorical dimensions of the text. Gregory E. Sterling , Yale Divinity School Craig Keener, a master of primary and secondary sources, has crafted another meticulous commentary that is a joy to read. It is full of information that shows Keeners unusual industriousness and precision. James H. James H.

Charlesworth , Princeton Theological Seminary A magnificent achievement. This volume continues in the same vein as the first, with superbly detailed exegesis of the text as well as many helpful excursuses on more general topics of interestwith a wealth of material to back up all the claims made. Without any shadow of doubt, an indispensable reference work for all students of Acts and early Christianity. Christopher Tuckett , Pembroke College, University of Oxford; president of the Society for New Testament Studies (2013) Craig Keener has proved himself to be one of the greatest living commentators on the New Testament. This second volume on Actspacked with an incredible amount of contextual information as well as wisdom about the text itselfis bound to become a standard reference work for many years to come. Ben Witherington III , Asbury Theological Seminary; St.

Andrews University, Scotland This commentary is so thorough and comprehensive that it can truly be said to leave no stone unturned. Keener has single-handedly wrought an encyclopedic work, the likes of which only whole teams of scholars have been able to produce in multivolume compendia. It therefore will be the first commentary to which scholars, students, and pastors will turn with any question on the text of Acts. Seyoon Kim , Fuller Theological Seminary Keeners commentary on Acts is a tour de force. One might be daunted by such hefty volume(s) on one book of the New Testament, but be reassured: this commentary may be all that you will ever need on Acts. David E. David E.

Garland , George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University This is the second of a projected four volumes of Craig Keeners monumental commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. To describe this as monumental is an understatement. In size alone it will certainly be the most extensive commentary on Acts ever penned.... More important than its size, however, is the quality of Keeners scholarship and his interpretation of this key New Testament book.... Keener musters a truly impressive array of knowledge about the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts of the first century and has a command of the extensive literature on the Acts of the Apostles and related topics.

This will certainly remain a standard resource work for study of Acts. Donald Senior, CP , The Bible Today CONTENTS

( CONTINUED ) Ancient Sources Note: Works are listed under their traditional authors for the sake of locating them, not to stake a position regarding authorship claims. General

abs.	absoluti , acquitted
amb.	ambusti , undecided
ap.	Book
damn.	damnati , condemned
DSS	Dead Sea Scrolls
ed. princ .

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