The First Christian Historian: Writing the 'Acts of the Apostles'

by Daniel Marguerat, Ken McKinney (Translator), Gregory J. Laughery (Translator)

Luke's Acts of the Apostles is the only documentation available on the birth of Christianity, despite the author's vigorously disputed reliability as a historian. Daniel Marguerat avoids this true/false quagmire by establishing his evaluation of Luke's talent as an historian within the framework of ancient historiography (the rules of ancient historians and narrative criticism). His study portrays Luke as a skillful and sound theologian, and provides an original approach to the classic themes of Lucan theology.

Hardcover

First published September 4, 1998

Reviews

[Dominic Venuso · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stimulating introduction to Acts. Chapters 1, 4, 6, 7, 10, and 11, were especially worth-while and thought-provoking. Overall, what is most helpful is the way he navigates common dichotomies in interpreting Acts by showing how both approaches are recognizing themes that Luke weaves together throughout Acts. This approach helps one both to understand something of the important interpretations of Acts and the overall message of Acts itself. This would be my main recommendation for one's first read on their second study through Acts.

[Todd Hains · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thought-provoking. A good springboard indeed!