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The "Be" Commentary
Be Dynamic (Acts 1-12): Experience the Power of God's People
One of the most beloved Bible expositors of our day, Warren W. Wiersbe has provided insightful commentary on God's Word for many years. This always-popular series now covers the entire New Testament and part of the Old Testament. Over 3 million BE books sold. Leader's Guide included in all BE books.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1987
173 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Warren W. Wiersbe
663 books409 followersWarren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as 'the pastor's pastor.' He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 25, 2015
Once again Wiersby has helped me read through and gain insights into some more of the Bible, this time the first 12 chapters of Acts. I look forward to the next volume in the "Be..." Series, "Be Daring" taking me through the remaining chapters.
February 7, 2017
I wanted to like this book more. I had recently read 'Be Mature,' Wiersbe's commentary on James, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I love the Book of Acts. There is much good here, to be sure. I am reading 'Be Daring,' the sequel based on Acts 13-28, presently. I still believe that Wiersbe has much to offer. But in this book, his cessasionism comes through clearly, and it is discouraging to read about the great things God did in Acts only to be told at every turn that He no longer does that any more.
What's more, his rationale is poorly stated, and unconvincing. He builds straw men arguments that would never be made by a thoughtful continuist, and then deconstructs those arguments with even poorer argumentation. I would recommend Stott, or Keener, or even Dunn, though their works are all more scholarly, and Wiersbe is not aiming for the same audience. Still, Wiersbe could have been more conciliatory to his charismatic and Pentecostal readers, but opted for a more confrontational, if utterly unconvincing, treatment. The good outweighs the bad, but it did leave a bad aftertaste.
What's more, his rationale is poorly stated, and unconvincing. He builds straw men arguments that would never be made by a thoughtful continuist, and then deconstructs those arguments with even poorer argumentation. I would recommend Stott, or Keener, or even Dunn, though their works are all more scholarly, and Wiersbe is not aiming for the same audience. Still, Wiersbe could have been more conciliatory to his charismatic and Pentecostal readers, but opted for a more confrontational, if utterly unconvincing, treatment. The good outweighs the bad, but it did leave a bad aftertaste.
June 17, 2012
I have read Warren Wiersbe's commentaries before and this one was well done. I liked some of the questions that were posed, although some were difficult to answer and my friend who was reading it with me thought that there may have been mistakes. Towards the end of the book, he continuously asked how I would encourage others during the week. It really got me to stop and think about how I could encourage others to learn and think about God's Word, as well as how much more scripture reading and study I had to do so that I could understand the Word at a deeper level. I think his commentaries are great and I like that they can be used for independent study as well as for use in a small group setting. I have used them in both and they work out quite well for both.
February 9, 2016
Have enjoyed doing this bible study in Sunday school. It was very helpful in starting great discussions.
December 23, 2016
A good study of the first chapters of Acts.
September 27, 2021
Warren Wiersbe has divided his commentary of Acts into two books, the first of which is Be Dynamic (Acts 1-12): Experience the Power of God’s People.
Wiersbe has commented on longer books than Acts in one volume. But I think he must have divided his notes on this book of the Bible because it is such a pivotal book.
Acts was written by Luke as a sequel to the gospel bearing his name. Both books are addressed to Theophilus.
At the beginning of Acts, Jesus had already died, been buried, and been resurrected. He spent 40 days teaching His disciples, then He ascended back to heaven. The last thing He told His disciples to do was to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth. He promised the power of His Holy Spirit would enable them to accomplish this task. The book of Acts tells the story of how that witness spread.
Perhaps another reason Wiersbe divided this commentary in two is that Peter is the main character in the first twelve chapters. Then the focus shifts to Paul.
Yet a third possible reason: there were so many changes over the course of Acts, some of which are confusing to people to this day. For one, Jesus’s ministry had been primarily to Jews, though He ministered to Samaritans and Gentiles as well. But when God used Peter to open the doors of the gospel to Samaritans and Gentiles (which most believe is what is meant by his being given the keys of the kingdom), many disciples were confused. But they couldn’t argue with the definite way God had led. Then came the whole question of what part the OT law had in the life of a NT disciple. They had to meet together and hammer out these issues, which some of the epistles go into further.
Another change was the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, as promised by Jesus in Acts 1:4-5 and 8. In the OT, the Spirit came upon certain people at certain times for specific tasks. After Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to inhabit every believer all the time.
Another controversy has to do with Acts 2:44-45: “ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” Some have said that this is a form of Communism. Wiersbe says it is not, because “the program was totally voluntary, temporary (Acts 11:27-30), and motivated by love” (p. 43).
One striking feature of this era is that the church took persecution for granted as part of life.
In one of my favorite chapters in Acts, chapter 12, Peter is delivered from prison and goes to the home of Mary, where the disciples were praying. If you remember the story, Rhoda comes to the door and is so astonished to hear Peter that she forgets to open it. She runs back in to tell everyone, and no one believes her. Almost every sermon or lesson I’ve heard from this chapter ridicules the disciples for praying without faith. Here they were praying for Peter, yet they couldn’t believe God had set him free. Even Wiersbe takes this view.
But Dr. Layton Talbert (one of our former Sunday School teachers), in his book Not By Chance: Learning to Trust a Sovereign God, brings up a different viewpoint. We don’t know that they were praying for Peter’s deliverance from prison. Dr. Talbert points out that the text doesn’t say. James was killed by Herod earlier in the chapter: since he was not delivered they may not have expected Peter to be, either. “The only precedent we have for the church’s prayer under similar circumstances is in Acts 4:23-30. There, in the face of recent imprisonment, persecution, and renewed threats, the church made only one request. And it wasn’t for deliverance from prison or persecution; it was for boldness in the face of both (4:29)” (p. 203).
Luke summarizes the events up to this point in Acts 12:24: “But the word of God increased and multiplied.“
As always, Dr. Wiersbe’s notes were very helpful in studying the Bible.
Wiersbe has commented on longer books than Acts in one volume. But I think he must have divided his notes on this book of the Bible because it is such a pivotal book.
Acts was written by Luke as a sequel to the gospel bearing his name. Both books are addressed to Theophilus.
At the beginning of Acts, Jesus had already died, been buried, and been resurrected. He spent 40 days teaching His disciples, then He ascended back to heaven. The last thing He told His disciples to do was to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth. He promised the power of His Holy Spirit would enable them to accomplish this task. The book of Acts tells the story of how that witness spread.
Perhaps another reason Wiersbe divided this commentary in two is that Peter is the main character in the first twelve chapters. Then the focus shifts to Paul.
Yet a third possible reason: there were so many changes over the course of Acts, some of which are confusing to people to this day. For one, Jesus’s ministry had been primarily to Jews, though He ministered to Samaritans and Gentiles as well. But when God used Peter to open the doors of the gospel to Samaritans and Gentiles (which most believe is what is meant by his being given the keys of the kingdom), many disciples were confused. But they couldn’t argue with the definite way God had led. Then came the whole question of what part the OT law had in the life of a NT disciple. They had to meet together and hammer out these issues, which some of the epistles go into further.
Another change was the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, as promised by Jesus in Acts 1:4-5 and 8. In the OT, the Spirit came upon certain people at certain times for specific tasks. After Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to inhabit every believer all the time.
Another controversy has to do with Acts 2:44-45: “ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” Some have said that this is a form of Communism. Wiersbe says it is not, because “the program was totally voluntary, temporary (Acts 11:27-30), and motivated by love” (p. 43).
One striking feature of this era is that the church took persecution for granted as part of life.
In one of my favorite chapters in Acts, chapter 12, Peter is delivered from prison and goes to the home of Mary, where the disciples were praying. If you remember the story, Rhoda comes to the door and is so astonished to hear Peter that she forgets to open it. She runs back in to tell everyone, and no one believes her. Almost every sermon or lesson I’ve heard from this chapter ridicules the disciples for praying without faith. Here they were praying for Peter, yet they couldn’t believe God had set him free. Even Wiersbe takes this view.
But Dr. Layton Talbert (one of our former Sunday School teachers), in his book Not By Chance: Learning to Trust a Sovereign God, brings up a different viewpoint. We don’t know that they were praying for Peter’s deliverance from prison. Dr. Talbert points out that the text doesn’t say. James was killed by Herod earlier in the chapter: since he was not delivered they may not have expected Peter to be, either. “The only precedent we have for the church’s prayer under similar circumstances is in Acts 4:23-30. There, in the face of recent imprisonment, persecution, and renewed threats, the church made only one request. And it wasn’t for deliverance from prison or persecution; it was for boldness in the face of both (4:29)” (p. 203).
Luke summarizes the events up to this point in Acts 12:24: “But the word of God increased and multiplied.“
As always, Dr. Wiersbe’s notes were very helpful in studying the Bible.
April 11, 2022
I just read this book for a class on Acts & the Early Church and it is so great! Wiersbe dives deep into Acts 1-12 and had a lot of information that I had never thought of. There are also study questions after each chapter which really help you think even deeper into the word of God and when God’s Spirit was poured out on the disciples and made His way around through the preach of the gospel. If you read this book, have your Bible in one hand and the book in the other and it is awesome!
November 3, 2023
As always the author does an amazing job offering the historical, political, and cultural components of the times events in the book of Acts of the Bible unfolds. Often we tend to take our current cultural norms and apply them to the Bible. As Acts describes the growing of the church and the “acts” of the apostles and early Christians, understand the context of such events is vital to understanding the biblical text.
November 4, 2023
I always enjoy Wiersbe's commentaries and this one was full of interesting insights into the first twelve chapters of Acts. (The next volume about chapters 13-28 deals with Paul and his journeys).
I was occasionally miffed at Wiersbe's interjections about what "might" have happened such as when he wrote that "Peter probably thought" or Peter probably did...," but that is a small quibble.
I was occasionally miffed at Wiersbe's interjections about what "might" have happened such as when he wrote that "Peter probably thought" or Peter probably did...," but that is a small quibble.
January 10, 2024
So encouraged by the early church and the same God Who moved then can and will move now. Thankful that we are witnesses who carry His Name as believers!
Wiersbe’s commentary always encourages and challenges and fills some gaps with context I didn’t know before. I cannot recommend his Be Series enough!
Wiersbe’s commentary always encourages and challenges and fills some gaps with context I didn’t know before. I cannot recommend his Be Series enough!
May 10, 2024
My first of Wiersbe’s numerous books, and the first one of his “Be” commentary series for me. Very grounded Biblical commentary on Acts 1-12, and I’ve already ordered his commentary on Acts 13-28. I’m reading this book with a men’s Bible study group, and I’ll be looking forward to diving into more Scripture with Wiersbe very soon. Very solid commentary for anyone to pick up and study with.
March 10, 2018
Warren Wiersbe is an excellent commentator. This is the second book I have read as a companion book to one of the books of the Bible. The first was Philippians. Highly recommended for any student of the Bible.
August 23, 2024
Another absolutely amazing Bible study from Dr. Wiersbe. I learned an absolute ton about Acts and was even able to win a game of Bible trivia against my wife!
I use these to preach and Wiersbe is hands-down the best commentator I've ever read. Well worth the time and effort.
I use these to preach and Wiersbe is hands-down the best commentator I've ever read. Well worth the time and effort.
March 26, 2018
As usual Wiersbe’s commentary on Acts is clear, easy to read and helps make the Bible clearer.
May 26, 2019
He’s done it again. Yet another commentary by him that has helped me better understand the Bible. I absolutely adore his commentaries and intend to read them all. Great stuff.
June 3, 2019
21/50 of be series. i read alphabetically.
not too much detailed but more detailed than other books in the series.
not too much detailed but more detailed than other books in the series.
October 18, 2019
Worth Reading
Love the way the author makes the characters real and authentic. As usual, I learned something from reading this book.
Love the way the author makes the characters real and authentic. As usual, I learned something from reading this book.
July 5, 2020
This is yet another Wiersbe book that helped me in my Bible reading each day. Now I have started the Be book for Acts 13 - 28.
July 12, 2020
I really enjoy Warren Wiersbe’s Be series. They are all good. This book just particularly spoke to me. Thank you Mr Wiersbe.
May 18, 2021
Wiersbe's books are always insightful and solidly theological and practical. I'm preaching through Acts, and this book has granted great insights!!
June 1, 2021
Excellent commentary on Acts chapters 1 through 12. Truly gave reviews that made you review your own actions. A definite recommendation for followers of Christ trying to live the right life.
June 25, 2021
Acts has never been my favorite book of the New Testament, but with the added insight of this commentary, I was able to understand it more fully. Highly recommended.
May 27, 2023
The best commentary ever!
April 24, 2020
GREAT
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews