《Pett’s Commentary on the Bible – Acts (Vol. 1)》(Peter Pett)
Commentator
Dr. Peter Pett BA BD (Hons-London) DD is a retired Baptist minister and college lecturer. He holds a BD (good honours) from King's College London and was trained at what is now the London School of Theology (formerly London Bible College).
In this modernly written verse-by-verse commentary of the Bible (see book exclusions below), Dr. Peter Pett leads the reader through the Scriptures with accuracy and insight. Students and scholars alike will delight at Pett's clear and direct style, concisely examining the original text, its writers, translations and above all, the God who inspired it. Study the bible online.
Commentary excludes 1 and 2 Chronicles, Esther, Job, and Psalms 67-150 because the material has not yet been written.
00 Introduction
Introduction.
The Book of Acts is the second volume of a two part work of which the first volume is the Gospel of Luke. Both books are based on the same general plan. Luke’s claim is to ‘have traced all things accurately from the first’ (Luke 1:3) and to be concerned that his sources were both eyewitnesses and Christian teachers (Luke 1:2). This does indicate a determination to arrive at the facts, and to do it on the basis of what actually happened specifically from a Christian viewpoint. He is not therefore to be looked on as someone who just writes about things without taking the trouble to check his sources. He brings historical truth. But he does stress the fact that what he brings to light has the authority of leading Christian teachers behind it. Note the emphasis on the Apostolic witness. These men are witnesses to what they have ‘seen and heard’ (see Luke 7:22; Acts 4:20; Acts 22:15 compare John 3:32; 1 John 1:3).
The Gospel of Luke can be seen as basically divided into three:
· The birth and rise of Jesus and His going out as the Great Prophet full of the Holy Spirit to minister to Israel and proclaim the Good News (Luke 1:1 to Luke 9:50).
· The long ‘journey to Jerusalem’ followed by His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and revelation of Himself as God’s Son (Luke 9:51 to Luke 20:18)
· Jesus’ rejection, trial, crucifixion, resurrection and exaltation (Luke 20:19 to Luke 24:53).
The Book of Acts similarly divides into three:
· Ministry to the Jews. The birth and rise of the church and its going out full of the Holy Spirit to minister to the Jews and proclaim the Good News, and finally its application to the Gentiles. In this part Jesus commissions and empowers His Apostles from Jerusalem and they spread the word throughout Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria and Galilee, finally including Gentiles who live in Caesarea, leading up to Jerusalem’s second and final rejection of their Messiah (Acts 1:1 to Acts 12:24).
· Ministry to the Gentiles. The Spirit commissions and empowers Paul and his compatriots from Syrian Antioch and in two missionary journeys they spread the word, first throughout Cyprus and Asia Minor, and then throughout Europe (Acts 12:25 to Acts 18:22). Central to these ministries is the declaration of the freedom of the Gentiles from the Law (15). This section has a postscript with reference to ministry to the Disciples of John the Baptiser. In this postscript to this section a replacement is raised for Paul, as he begins his journey towards Jerusalem and Rome, the disciples of John the Baptiser are incorporated into the church, and we have a resume of the proclaiming of the Good News which is revealed as greater than that of John (Acts 18:23 to Acts 19:20).
· Paul commences a journey to Jerusalem which will lead to Rome (Acts 19:21), and which will finally result in his being arraigned before Caesar, but meanwhile results in his triumphant ministry before kings and rulers, and then in Rome itself (Acts 18:23 to Acts 28:31).
Each of these three sections of Acts follow a deliberate pattern:
SECTION 1. The Ministry to Israel and The Way Opened to the Gentiles: The Ministry Issues From Jerusalem Until Jerusalem Is Rejected (1:1-12:24).
This section is arranged on the following chiastic pattern:
a Jesus speaks of the things concerning the Kingly Rule of God (Acts 1:3). He is asked, ‘Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6). His reply indicates that the present concern is to be the establishment of the Kingly Rule of God throughout the world in accordance with the teaching of Jesus, through the preaching of the word. Any other idea of a kingdom must be left with God.
b He declares the Great Commission - they are to be His witnesses and the Good News is to be taken to the uttermost parts of the world, and the resulting preparations for this are described (Acts 1:7-26).
c Through the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus, life is given to the people of God at Pentecost. God is among His people (Acts 1:2).
d The lame man is made to leap like a deer indicating that Messianic expectation is being fulfilled (Acts 1:3).
e Persecution comes under the High Priest and its results are described (Acts 1:4-5).
f Within this scenario comes sin within the church - Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11).
g The ministry of the Hellenist Stephen (Acts 1:6).
h The pivotal speech of Stephen and his martyrdom (Acts 1:7).
g The ministry of the Hellenist Philip (Acts 1:8).
f Within this scenario comes sin within the church - Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:18-24).
e Persecution comes under the High Priest and its results are described (Acts 9:1-31).
d The paralysed man is made to walk (Acts 9:32-35).
c Through the resurrection, physical life is given to Tabitha - and spiritual life to Joppa - God is among His people (Acts 9:36-42).
b The Good News goes out to the Gentiles confirming that God has given to the Gentiles ‘repentance unto life’ (Acts 9:43 to Acts 11:30).
a Israel choose their last and final earthly king in Jerusalem who is destroyed because of blasphemy and because he has attacked the Kingly Rule of God. The kingdom is definitely not to be restored to Israel, and from now on Jerusalem virtually drops out of the frame as a factor in the expansion of the Kingly Rule of God. Peter ‘departs to another place’. (Acts 1:12).
It will be noted that in ‘a’ the proclamation of the Kingly Rule of God is emphasised, with the instruction that they should ignore the idea of an earthly Kingdom, while in the parallel ‘a’ at the end the Kingly Rule of God is contrasted with an earthly Kingdom of Israel, a Kingdom whose king is brought into judgment and whose people are rejected. In ‘b’ the commission is given that they are to go as witnesses to the end of the earth and in the parallel the Good News is opened to Gentiles ready for the fulfilment of this task. In ‘c’ the dead bones of Israel receive new life, and in the parallel the dead are raised. The remaining parallels speak for themselves.
SECTION 2. Ministry to the Gentiles: The Spirit Commissions and Empowers Paul and His Compatriots from Syrian Antioch and They Spread the Word Throughout Cyprus, Asia Minor and Europe (12:25-18:22).
This also follows a chiastic pattern;
a Paul and Barnabas are sent forth from Antioch (Acts 12:25 to Acts 13:3).
b Ministry in Cyprus results in their being brought before the pro-consul Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:4-13).
c Ministry in Pisidian Antioch results in a major speech to the Jews with its consequences, including those who desire to hear him again (Acts 13:14-52).
d Successful ministry in Iconium results in the crowd being stirred up and their having to flee (Acts 14:1-6).
e A remarkable healing in Lystra results in false worship which is rejected and Paul’s stoning by the Jews, and leaving the city (Acts 14:7-20).
f Ministry in Derbe and a round trip confirming the churches and return to Antioch (Acts 14:21-28).
g The Gathering in Jerusalem of the Apostles and elders of Jerusalem, and the Antiochene representatives, resulting in acknowledgement that the Gentiles are not to be bound by the Law (15).
f Paul and Silas (and Barnabas and Mark) leave Antioch to go on a round trip confirming the churches (Acts 15:36 to Acts 16:5).
e A remarkable healing in Philippi results in true worship which is accepted (the Philippian jailer and his household) and Paul’s stripes being washed by the Roman jailer. The magistrates declare them innocent and Paul leaves the city (Acts 16:6-40).
d Successful ministries in Thessalonica and Berea result in the crowds being stirred up and their having to flee (Acts 17:1-14).
c Ministry in Athens results in a major speech to the Gentiles with its consequences, including those who desire to hear him again (Acts 17:15-34).
b Ministry in Corinth results in their being brought before the pro-consul Gallio (Acts 18:1-17).
a Paul returns to Antioch (Acts 18:18-22).
Ministry to the Disciples of John the Baptiser and Activity In Ephesus Which Emphasises that The Work Goes On Unfailingly (18:23-19:20).
Here we have a summary demonstrating how all that has gone before continues, showing how God’s work advances, commencing with the work of John the Baptiser and proceeding to the present day. As a result men’s eyes are opened, and they are turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (compare Acts 26:18)
a The ministry of the disciples of John through Apollos leads up to the full proclamation of Jesus (Acts 18:24-28).
b The disciples of John the Baptiser are incorporated into the church by the Holy Spirit coming on them (Acts 19:1-7).
c The Good News of Jesus is proclaimed to the Jews, who are revealed to be hardened (Acts 19:8-9 a), and then to the Gentiles in a continually successful ministry so that all in Asia heard ‘the word of the Lord’ (Acts 19:9-10).
d Great wonders and signs continue to be performed by God through Paul (whereas John did no miracle). Aprons and handkerchiefs (or headbands and leather belts) from his touch are God’s instruments in the performing of such signs and wonders (Acts 19:11-12).
c False witnesses (who are Jewish) are defeated, and the name of the Lord, Jesus is magnified (Acts 19:13-17).
b The books which are the instruments of Satan are burned (Acts 19:18-19).
a The word of the Lord grows mightily and prevails (Acts 19:20).
In ‘a’ the ministry of John develops into the ministry of Jesus, and in the parallel mightily grows the word of God and prevails. In ‘b’ the disciples of John are immersed in the Holy Spirit, in the parallel the books which are the instruments of Satan are dealt with by being immersed in fire. (‘He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and in fire’). In ‘c’ the Jews as a whole are hardened and thus become false witnesses, while the Gentiles continually respond, and in the parallel the false witnesses who are Jews are defeated, while the name of the Lord Jesus is magnified. Central to all in ‘d’ are the signs and wonders which confirm Paul’s ministry to be of God and to be continuing what happened at Pentecost. The pattern set here parallels the opening chapters of both Luke and Acts, the witness of John, the coming of the Spirit (Luke 3:22; Luke 4:1) , the expansion of the word. See the commentary.
From this point on Paul purposes in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem on his way to Rome (Acts 18:21; Acts 20:16; Acts 20:22-23; Acts 21:10-13; Acts 21:17), and this will be followed by the Journey to Rome itself. The whole journey is seen by Luke deliberately to commence from the very centre of idolatry at Ephesus, where there is uproar and Paul is unable to preach, and deliberately to end in contrast with the triumph of a pure, unadulterated ministry in Rome. We can contrast how initially in Section 1 the commission commenced in a pure and unadulterated fashion in Jerusalem (Acts 1:3-9) and ended in idolatry in Caesarea (Acts 12:20-23).
Thus we could briefly summarise Acts as follows:
· The Great Commission is given in Jerusalem in the purity and triumph of Jesus’ resurrection and enthronement as King which results in Jerusalem’s rejection of Him and the false King’s idolatrous response and judgment (Acts 1-12).
· The triumphant ministry to the Dispersion and the Gentiles (Acts 13:1 to Acts 19:20).
· Paul’s journey to Rome commences amidst rampant idolatry and comes to completion with him triumphantly proclaiming the Kingly Rule of God from his own house in Rome (Acts 19:21 to Acts 28:31).
That being so this final section may be analysed as follows.
a Satan counterattacks against Paul’s too successful Ministry in Ephesus and throughout Asia Minor and causes uproar resulting in Paul’s ministry being unsuccessfully attacked by the worshippers of ‘Artemis (Diana) of the Ephesians’. This city, with its three ‘temple-keepers’ for the Temple of Artemis and the two Imperial Cult Temples, is symbolic of the political and religious alliance between idolatry and Rome which has nothing to offer but greed and verbosity. It expresses the essence of the kingly rule of Rome. And here God’s triumph in Asia over those Temples has been pictured in terms of wholesale desertion of the Temple of Artemis (mention of the emperor cult would have been foolish) by those who have become Christians (Acts 19:26) and will in the parallel below be contrasted and compared with Paul freely proclaiming the Kingly Rule of God in Rome (Acts 19:21-41).
b Paul’s progress towards Jerusalem is diverted because of further threats and he meets with disciples for seven days at Troas (Acts 20:1-6).
c The final voyage commences and a great sign is given of God’s presence with Paul. Eutychus is raised from the dead (Acts 20:7-12).
d Paul speaks to the elders from the church at Ephesus who meet him at Miletus and he gives warning of the dangers of spiritual catastrophe ahead and turns them to the word of His grace. If they obey Him all will be saved (Acts 20:13-38).