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Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching
Acts: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching
William Willimon combines the latest findings in Lukan scholarship with the pastoral, educational, and theological concerns of the local church to provide a new interpretation of Acts. He bases his commentary on the idea that the purpose of Acts was not to make Christianity acceptable to the Roman state but rather to preserve the integrity of the church against the onslaught of classical culture.
A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching is a distinctive resource for those who interpret the Bible in the church. Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a major contribution to scholarship and ministry.
A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching is a distinctive resource for those who interpret the Bible in the church. Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a major contribution to scholarship and ministry.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1988
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About the author
William H. Willimon
171 books53 followersThe Reverend Dr. William H. Willimon is Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry at the Divinity School, Duke University. He served eight years as Bishop of the North Alabama Conference of The United Methodist Church, where he led the 157,000 Methodists and 792 pastors in North Alabama. For twenty years prior to the episcopacy, he was Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 13, 2018
William Willimon's commentary on Acts is both a useful and a little disappointing at the same time. I have been using it as one of my sources to prepare for a Bible Study on Acts and while it has been helpful at times, it is also structured in such a way that winds up not being as helpful as other commentaries.
The good of the commentary is that Willimon goes after the big story of Acts. He doesn't get lost in minutia and small details, but sticks to a bigger view of Acts. To keep in view who this book was written to and what it was written for is useful.
Willimon also has a number of good insights into Acts. He also has good insights into the contemporary church. While the commentary is almost thirty years old there are insights and admonishments about the church that still ring true today. You may not agree with all of his thoughts and connections, but they're interesting.
The big weakness of the work though is that it is too brief. While it is nice that Willimon keeps the big picture in view, as a commentary it makes the work less useful. He goes through the books in rather large chunks at times and while he addresses the big picture a lot of smaller details get lost. This would be more acceptable if this was an introduction to Acts or something along those lines, but as a commentary its fairly weak compared to other commentaries on Acts and even other ones in the Interpretation series itself.
I'm not saying I didn't like it, but it just felt like it had so much wasted potential. Like it could have been better than what it was with a little more time and expansion. It was enjoyable, but because it was enjoyable you realized how much better it could have been.
The good of the commentary is that Willimon goes after the big story of Acts. He doesn't get lost in minutia and small details, but sticks to a bigger view of Acts. To keep in view who this book was written to and what it was written for is useful.
Willimon also has a number of good insights into Acts. He also has good insights into the contemporary church. While the commentary is almost thirty years old there are insights and admonishments about the church that still ring true today. You may not agree with all of his thoughts and connections, but they're interesting.
The big weakness of the work though is that it is too brief. While it is nice that Willimon keeps the big picture in view, as a commentary it makes the work less useful. He goes through the books in rather large chunks at times and while he addresses the big picture a lot of smaller details get lost. This would be more acceptable if this was an introduction to Acts or something along those lines, but as a commentary its fairly weak compared to other commentaries on Acts and even other ones in the Interpretation series itself.
I'm not saying I didn't like it, but it just felt like it had so much wasted potential. Like it could have been better than what it was with a little more time and expansion. It was enjoyable, but because it was enjoyable you realized how much better it could have been.
January 18, 2008
Very homiletical. Lyrical and smart. Theologically aware (if often Arminian and Neo-Orthodox -- expected for a United Methodist).
Not a verse by verse commentary. Willimon often takes overly large chunks (as much as 2-3 chapters) and gives thematic insights. Often these are highly original and brilliant. Just as often they use the text as a launching point for pet topics that are not central to the text.
No one should use this as your first overall commentary on Acts (John Stott is infinitely better for that). Certainly not the first commentary for technical matters either (try Bruce for that; or maybe Howard Marshall). Or even as the basic homiletical one (Kent Hughes is more consistent; even Boice is probably better most weeks). But it is a GREAT idea starter for the discerning reader. No preacher should be without it. One of the better volumes in the (highly uneven) Interpretation series.
Not a verse by verse commentary. Willimon often takes overly large chunks (as much as 2-3 chapters) and gives thematic insights. Often these are highly original and brilliant. Just as often they use the text as a launching point for pet topics that are not central to the text.
No one should use this as your first overall commentary on Acts (John Stott is infinitely better for that). Certainly not the first commentary for technical matters either (try Bruce for that; or maybe Howard Marshall). Or even as the basic homiletical one (Kent Hughes is more consistent; even Boice is probably better most weeks). But it is a GREAT idea starter for the discerning reader. No preacher should be without it. One of the better volumes in the (highly uneven) Interpretation series.
September 1, 2011
As I preached through Acts, this was typically the first commentary I picked up each week. It is far from exhaustive, and in many places it leaves you wanting more information or a little more background, and I often wanted more insight in to why Willimon drew some of the conclusions he drew.
The fact that this commentary is not nearly exhaustive is part of what makes it so useful. This book reads very fast and quickly causes you to begin to think about the text, which makes it a great first book to go to for Acts sermon prep.
I highly recommend this book to any preacher looking to preach through the book of Acts. I do not think this book is complete enough to be a preachers lone commentary on Acts, or even their primary commentary on Acts, but I do believe it is a book worthy of every Pastor's library.
The fact that this commentary is not nearly exhaustive is part of what makes it so useful. This book reads very fast and quickly causes you to begin to think about the text, which makes it a great first book to go to for Acts sermon prep.
I highly recommend this book to any preacher looking to preach through the book of Acts. I do not think this book is complete enough to be a preachers lone commentary on Acts, or even their primary commentary on Acts, but I do believe it is a book worthy of every Pastor's library.
September 25, 2020
Classic Willimon
An engaging, accessible perspective on the Acts of the Holy Spirit (doff of the cap to Justo Gonzales). Dr. Willimon is, as many already know, an excellent communicator. His insights, wit and frequently penetrating exhortations are a much needed elixir for the English-speaking, Western, consumer-driven church. This commentary is good to read alongside Dr. Willie James Jennings and, the already mentioned, Dr. Justo Gonzales.
An engaging, accessible perspective on the Acts of the Holy Spirit (doff of the cap to Justo Gonzales). Dr. Willimon is, as many already know, an excellent communicator. His insights, wit and frequently penetrating exhortations are a much needed elixir for the English-speaking, Western, consumer-driven church. This commentary is good to read alongside Dr. Willie James Jennings and, the already mentioned, Dr. Justo Gonzales.
July 20, 2023
Just the right balance of biblical studies and theology, much like Brueggemann does for Genesis. It is not very often I read a commentary cover to cover. This one I did. I used it as my primary resource for a 20 week Bible study on Acts and it served me well.
October 15, 2018
Although not an in-depth exegetical commentary, Willimon has a lot of good insight into the Book of Acts.
December 19, 2014
The bottom line: A solid theological exposition of the Book of Acts.
In Acts Interpretation, Willimon takes the approach that the narrative of the early Christian “church” in Acts is not a closed tale, but one that is open-ended and plays out in the contemporary church each and every day.
Resultantly, the problems in the 21st century are a continuation of the dilemmas of the 1st century, and the book guides the reader on how to navigate these waters as the early church did—the lessons are sometimes obvious, sometimes shocking, and often illuminating. The author establishes his interpretive task to ... http://www.chesadaphal.com/acts-inter...
In Acts Interpretation, Willimon takes the approach that the narrative of the early Christian “church” in Acts is not a closed tale, but one that is open-ended and plays out in the contemporary church each and every day.
Resultantly, the problems in the 21st century are a continuation of the dilemmas of the 1st century, and the book guides the reader on how to navigate these waters as the early church did—the lessons are sometimes obvious, sometimes shocking, and often illuminating. The author establishes his interpretive task to ... http://www.chesadaphal.com/acts-inter...
January 17, 2017
The particular series of commentaries is aimed for those with a ministry in teaching and preaching. This volume is written by a very accomplished preacher/teacher. You'll definitely want to go a deeper than this book allows if you intend to teach from Acts. Nevertheless I found it useful to some extent.
September 3, 2018
"the story continues."
I'm a layperson who has found this teaching of Luke's writing filled with clarity, honesty, and a faithful call to grow stronger through the voice of the Holy Spirit. Willimon's final words are filled with love and a call to be steadfast.
I'm a layperson who has found this teaching of Luke's writing filled with clarity, honesty, and a faithful call to grow stronger through the voice of the Holy Spirit. Willimon's final words are filled with love and a call to be steadfast.
January 28, 2016
My experience of Willimon is that he doesn't really say much that is new and he takes a lot of words to not say it. The salient points in this commentary are too few and too far between.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews