Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus

When the book of Acts is mentioned, a cluster of issues inevitably springs to mind, including speaking in tongues and baptism with the Holy Spirit, church government and practice, and missionary methods and strategies. At the popular level at least, Acts is still often used more for answers to debates that were not necessarily Luke’s concern than listened to for his own emphases.

Alan Thompson’s aim is not to address such debates, but rather to offer a biblical-theological framework for interpreting the book of Acts, so that Luke’s major themes may be identified and related to the book as a whole. He especially highlights Acts as an account of the ‘continuing story’ of God’s saving purposes: Luke intends his work to be read in the light of Old Testament promises and the continuing reign of Christ in the inaugurated kingdom of God. In this light, Luke’s key themes are better understood and integrated.

Furthermore, the emphasis on the kingdom of God is as relevant for Christians today as it was in the first century. All who follow the Lord Jesus this side of the cross and resurrection need to know that God is accomplishing his saving purposes even now through the reign of Christ.

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2. The hope of Israel: the resurrection and the arrival of the last days
Resurrection hope
Resurrection in Luke’s Gospel
Resurrection in Acts
Jesus’ death and the resurrection in Acts
Preaching the gospel in Acts
Table 1: Major evangelistic speeches in Acts
Conclusion
Table 2: Verbs used in Acts to describe the action of apostolic preaching
Table 3: Summary descriptions of the message preached in Acts

3. Israel and the Gentiles: the kingdom and God’s promises of restoration
Kingdom restoration and Israel? (Acts 1:6-8)
Pentecost and ‘all Israel’ (Acts 2)
Samaria and the restoration of Israel (Acts 8:1-25)
Outcasts and the restoration of Israel (Acts 8:26-40)
The Servant who restores Israel and brings salvation to the Gentiles (Acts 13:47)
The rebuilding and restoring of David’s fallen tent (Acts 15:13-18)
Conclusion

4. The promise of the Father: the gift of the Holy Spirit
The prophetic hope of the Spirit
The kingdom of God and the promised eschatological gift of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is bestowed by the risen and exalted Lord Jesus
God’s empowering presence
A restored people of God
One people of God
Faith, repentance, baptism and the reception of the Spirit in Acts
Conclusion

5. The end of an era: the temple system and its leaders
The debate about the temple in Acts
The Davidic King, the last days and the temple (Acts 1-3)
The temple, temple leadership and Jesus’ universal authority (Acts 3-5)
Stephen, the temple and Jesus (Acts 6-7)
Conclusion

6. The end of an era: the law is no longer the direct authority for God’s people
The debate about the law in Acts
Jesus: the one to whom the law pointed has now come
Apostolic leadership and authority
Sensitivity to Jewish beliefs about the law
Conclusion

7. Concluding summary

Bibliography
Index of authors
Index of Scripture references
Index of ancient sources

Book Reviews:

"... the strength of Dr Thompson's book is that it uncovers the main theological emphases of the book of Acts on the book's own terms. Moreover... he wisely keeps an eye peeled for theological connections with Luke's Gospel. This volume will be a treasure trove for all who seek to understand Acts better, not least those who teach and preach the book"

D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

"We can be grateful to Thompson for a profound, convincing, and delightful work on the theology of Acts. It is a much needed work, for there are few theologies of Acts written, and I can't think of one that is more accessible and faithful."

Thomas R. Schreiner, Themelios, November 2011, 36.3

"This book will help readers further appreciate the organic and progressive nature of revelation and understand the narrative flow and canonical function of the book of Acts. The connections made with previous revelation... are very illuminating and will stimulate much thought whether one agrees or disagrees with Thompson's conclusions. I recommend the book highly."

Richard C. Barcellos, Reformed Baptist Theological Review, V111: 1, Spring 2011

"...an accessible, lucidly written, biblically faithful treatment of the theology of Acts... Thompson establishes a unifying theological framework for Acts and clearly ties each chapter into this framework... This is perhaps the most accessible book-length treatment of the theology of Acts, relevant to a broad academic and church readership."

Brian J. Tabb, Bulletin for Biblical Research, 23.1, 2013

"This is a very helpful book which I have read with great appreciation. Thompson provides exactly what he sets out to do: a clear framework for reading Acts which takes careful account of many major themes and issues, and a framework which equips his readers to explore further themselves."

Steve Walton, Evangelical Quarterly, 86.2 (2014)

"No one should teach or preach from the Acts of the Apostles again without first reading this book."

Douglas S. Huffman, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Spring 2013

"...a first-class discussion and explanation of the theology of the Acts that is thoroughly biblical, abreast of the latest scholarship and written in a way that is accessible to those who teach and preach the Bible."

Greg Goswell, New Life, 1 December 2011

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