Turning the World Upside Down: Lessons for the Church from Acts 1–8

by Iain M. Duguid

Genres: Theology

208 pages, Paperback

Published July 29, 2025

About the author

married to Barbara R. Duguid

Reviews

[Elise]

There were interesting, thought-provoking, and even challenging points in this book.

However, I didn't agree with everything, especially his point in the final chapter about baptizing children before they can decide for themselves.

The author talks a lot about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I know this can be a divisive topic.

Honestly, there were times I felt the author was a little wordy. The book probably could have been cut in half and the points still made clearly.

[Jake Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some helpful insights, but a bit wordy and repetitive at points. The book could be about 80 pages shorter.

[Matthew Bruemmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a commentary rich with the gospel, Duguid provides a wealth of biblical knowledge connecting to the first eight chapters of acts. The historical analysis and story of the early church in these chapters is clearly communicated throughout a mostly verse by verse study. Each section reads like a well thought out sermon and the author is a gifted communicator of complex and simple ideas, always pointing back to the gospel and the intent of Luke’s writing. Many of his questions and challenges to his modern day audience are convicting and challenging. I am grateful for the sound and understandable theology of this book to help guide through the pre-Paul part of the early church.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this because our church is about to go through the book of Acts, and I wanted to dig in. I learned a lot and felt very encouraged by the end of the book. It balanced being substantial yet readable, IMO. The chapter on the Ethiopian eunuch nearly made me cry; it gave me a new perspective on that story. Certainly, I feel I understand the spirit of Acts better than before. It's about the Acts of Jesus through the Apostles as the kingdom of God paradoxically opens its doors wider, while firmly planting its feet in a divisive truth that sets the church against the world: there is NO other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

I'd love to read more from Duguid.

[Britney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Crossway for an ARC.

Overall, I think there was a great balance between interpretation of what it meant then and application for what we can take away for us today. The middle part was a bit slow for me, but the last couple of chapters were really helpful in sparking my own thoughts about sacrificial service. It would be one I would pick up again to read when studying the first part of Acts.

[Chris Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure - I did not quite get to finish this book as I accidentally left it in the seat pocket of an airliner between flights. What I did read I thoroughly enjoyed and was both encouraged and challenged to see the principles of faith in Christ lived out by the early church and what those implications are - or ought to be - for the church today with our milk-toast North American Christianity.
I hope the person who found my book has their world turned upside down by Christ!

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book on the first eight chapters of Acts! Duguid is a very methodical writer, and nearly every paragraph contains an insight about a discrete part of the text. And then each chapter ties the text to Christ in a clear and redemptive way. These were previously sermons, but they read well. I hope he continues through more of Acts in a future work.

[Campbell Lakatos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Challenging and convicting at times, humdrum and vanilla at others. Not my favorite style but overall good stuff.
In depth overview of content in my Substack here: https://open.substack.com/pub/campbel...

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable dive into the first eight chapters of Acts. It reads like a collection of very good sermons.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on the first eight chapters of Acts. I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Rachel Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love what I have read from Iain Duguid and this is no exception. This reads like a wonderful series of sermons or a great conversation with a trusted pastor - both theological and applicable.

[Megan Vos · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️