The Book of the Acts

The New International Commentary on the New Testament

by F.F. Bruce, Gordon D. Fee (Editor), Anonymous

"“. . . 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 Manchester, England), and now Gordon D. Fee (Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia) — the NICNT series has continued to develop over the years. In order to keep the commentary “new” and conversant with contemporary scholarship, the NICNT volumes have been — and will be — revised or replaced as necessary.

The newer NICNT volumes in particular take into account the role of recent rhetorical and sociological inquiry in elucidating the meaning of the text, and they also exhibit concern for the theology and application of the text. As the NICNT series is ever brought up to date, it will continue to find ongoing usefulness as an established guide to the New Testament text.

Genres: Reference, Theology, New Testament, Christian, Biblical Studies, Nonfiction, Religion

565 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Frederick Fyvie Bruce FBA was a Biblical scholar who supported the historical reliability of the New Testament. His first book, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? (1943), was voted by the American evangelical periodical Christianity Today in 2006 as one of the top 50 books "which had shaped evangelicals".

Reviews

[Philip Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Church history, eschatology, charismatic gifts, biblical theology, apologetics, justification by faith alone apart from works of the law: The Acts of the Apostles has it all. Bruce's commentary was dope. Enjoyed this a lot.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent almost a year using this as a study guide and supplement to my study of the Book of Acts. It was very helpful, particularly in providing historical context. As a Mormon, I sometimes disagreed with the doctrinal interpretation presented, but not often. And when I did, it was no big deal to sort out my own interpretation. I'd recommend this to serious students of the Bible.

[Steve Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

[R. Dwain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and insightful. It’s also more concise than most, which I enjoyed. It was good to use as I preached through Acts.

[Anthony Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! A top choice for your consideration on the study of Acts. Technical enough to be helpful, but not bog one down. Pastoral enough to bring the truths to bear on one's spiritual growth. He does fly over a few passages and facts, but not the essentials.

[♪ Kim N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reference for my current Bible study

[Sean Meade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that I happened to read at the same time I was finishing Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free and Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours?, which helped to reinforce it. Bruce is really good at connecting the dots between Acts, Paul's epistles, other Scripture and history. When he speculates about what might have happened, it's well-founded and he makes clear that he is speculating. Reading these books together solidified my understanding of Paul and his writings.

[John Brackbill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical F. F. Bruce. Helpful though not comprehensive.

11 Commentaries I used cover to cover through an expositional series through the book of Acts. Of course, this ranking doesn't take into account that some that are lower were higher in specific ways, but all of these "made the cut" for me to spend the time each week to read.
1. Peterson, Schnabel, Polhill
2. Bock
3. Bruce
4. Kistemaker
5. Marshall, Stott
6. MacArthur
7. Custer, Kent

[Jonathan Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Bruce is about an easy a read as there is. His commentaries are engaging and make easy work of the text. This is by no means the most in depth commentary on Acts, but it is a quality place to start even if it is a bit dated at this point. See Witherington for the socio-rhetorical aspect and Keener who turns over every stone in his 4 volume tome.

[Donald Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of my commentaries on Acts that have taken six plus years to complete. Bruce is very good; usually deals with the subjects you want more information on and leaves out very little. Later commentators (Bock, Polhill) supply from later research and in more detail, but Bruce satisfies very well.

I would rate this one as a must-have for studying Acts as well.

[Matt Maples · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very solid technical commentary. If you are going to study Acts and would like the ability to dig deeply into the text then this commentary is an excellent resource. F.F. Bruce is an extremely well respected Evangelical Scholar, and his commentary reflects this theological perspective.

[Aaron White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed, comprehensive commentary on Luke’s historical and apologetic rendering of the early life, witness and expansion of the Church in Asia and Europe. Peter is honoured, Paul is lionized, and the faith is shown to be reasonable , differentiated, and divinely inspired.

[Nathan Nadeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent (one of multiple iterations on Acts by Bruce). As an intro/intermediate level historically focused commentary on the text, Bruce is still unsurpassed in my opinion.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent commentary. Some moments of brilliance (Stephens Speech in Acts 7 and Paul on the Aereopagus in Acts 17), but mostly ok. It was consistent, but not the most informative commentary I consulted.

[Conner Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super helpful with context on Acts and bringing in other historical sources at the time of the apostles

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good exegetical and expository commentary on the book of Acts. Bruce is quoted frequently in other works I have been studying on this important New Testament book.

[Vanjr · Rating 4 out of 5]

FF Bruce is always solid. Does have a 1980s vibe, published in 1988.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author won’t be reading his reviews or collecting any royalties, he died 2 years after the book was published. Academic books as every college student can tell you are not cheap. Commentaries read like doctoral theses citing multiple authorities with copious footnotes to back up every assertion. Writing about a text 2000 years old makes establishing authorship and the accuracy of the account impossible to verify. Textual criticism establishes that ACTS is Luke book two written by the same author though John is stuck between them.

In 28 chapters and 1007 verses Acts documents the early establishment and spread of the Jesus movement. Jewish authorities thought they’d cut off the head of the snake when they had Christ crucified but a gang of his uneducated followers suddenly appear in the Temple precincts making bold and erudite protestations of his resurrection and continuing his ministry. Their concerns remain the threat this movement poses to the Temple Tax system and fears about the reaction of the Roman occupation force. Attempts to deal with the situation are hampered by the sheer numbers these preachers attract and fears of a riot should they act harshly. The movement continued to grow and after the stoning of Stephen dispersed throughout the Roman Empire eventually becoming the Emperor’s official religion. The temple was destroyed in 70 AD and Rome itself was sacked by vandals in 476 AD.

In the first third of ACTS Peter and John appear to be the driving force but after the conversion of Saul, Paul’s missionary journey’s become the emphasis for the remaining two thirds of the text. The implication is that God through his Holy Spirit continued to intervene in human affairs and influence the outcome of events.

By definition faith involves belief in something incapable of factual verification. Faith in the authenticity of these documents resides in the priesthood of believers. The release of the Dead Sea Scrolls has added immeasurably to Biblical Scholarship.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

26 June 2015
At chapter 8, I am far enough into this volume that I'm forming an opinion. Bruce includes the text of Acts into his commentary. Very helpful. Bruce's style feels conversational, intimate, comfortable. Very enjoyable. Love that he brings extra-Biblical sources into his explanations, giving me a better feel for the times and how the people then might have interpreted events. Unfortunately, we westerners tend to read the Bible with western eyes, through the culture of our own times and with our own prejudices. Bruce helps me see beyond those limitations, opening my mind to better understanding.

27 Jul 2015

Am on Acts 26 in Bruce's commentary. Reading Bruce is like listening to a dear and respected friend as he tells me the stories of Acts and brings to me information and cross references that would have taken me much time to research in my own, if, indeed I could locate this additional material at all. It is no wonder Bruce's name crops up over and other in other material I read. He is quite the teacher!

[Scott Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

F. F. Bruce (Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis, University of Manchester, England) introduces this exellcent commentary on the Book of Acts with a fitting discussion on the canonicity of the New Testament, aptly noting that Marcion's canon "did not compel them to create the canon of holy scripture which has ever since, with minor variations, been accepted by the Church Catholic, but it did compel them to define that canon with greater precision" (p.16). However the main focus of this commentary is to aid in our understand of the two-fold goal of Luke's writings - that of Jesus Christ as he progresses to Jerusalem to face the cross on behalf of his people (Gospel of Luke) and the apostle Paul as he progresses to Rome as the church of Jesus Christ advances and spreads the good news regarding "the kingdom of God . . . concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets" (Acts 28:23). This insightful commentary is foundational and continues to be referenced by many modern commentators.

[Peter Krol · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I found most helpful about this commentary was the historical background and reconstruction. Bruce is amazing at cross-referencing and bringing together all of the data to paint a clear picture of what was happening. This includes geographical data (e.g. if you want to know what Ephesus or Antioch was like), as well as biographical (e.g. where was Paul when he wrote each of his letters, and what does Acts tell us about what was on his mind at the time).

I found Bruce's weakness to be in literary analysis. He is not very sensitive to literary structure or devices. Thus he was often also weak on interpretation and application.

I've read a few of Bruce's commentaries now, though, and this is the one I would recommend as most helpful. As Bruce is an expert historian, it is not surprising that he'd be at his best commenting on the book that outlines the early history of the church.

[sam tannehill · Rating 5 out of 5]

F.F. Bruce is one of the best theological authors to read. His commentary on Acts is fantastic, and if you can find a diglot version that shows the original Greek adjacent to the English, all the more interesting to read! My wife and I read this commentary together as our Bible study and we both learned a lot from his exposition and notes.

[Salvador Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a reason this commentary is considered the best on Acts.

The historical background is so helpful. References are unique. Parallels can be mind-blowing at times. The original languages are considered. Arguments are taken to account.

Get it!

[Lori Etchison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very difficult reading. Great info but too hard to follow.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A splendid book, both for the commentary for graceful writing. After reading the introductory pages on Acts 27 (Paul's voyage and shipwreck), one would be hard put not to buy this one!

[Радостин Марчев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Нелош информативен и балансиран коментар.

[Wayne Kinde]

A bit outdated, but hey, it's FF Bruce! A must read!

[Alvaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un excelente comentario, espero terminar de leerlo este año si Dios lo permite.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Nancy]

Reading for my College Class on Acts.. He is becoming one of my favorite commentators..