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Acts (Expositional Commentary)

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Dr. Boice's commentary on Acts will be enjoyed by historians and Christians alike. He lends valuable context to this chronicle of early church history. Along the way, he examines the daily peaks and troughs of life in the first century church, and highlights Luke's own historical accuracy in retelling the journeys of Paul. From Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth, it is an oddesey not to be missed. A must for pilgrims yearning to learn more, or sceptics that would like their hard questions about the accuracy of Acts addressed.

The most impressive thing about Boice's work here is his ability to interweave historical, orthodox theology with his interpretation of the Biblical text. Too often there is one without the other, resulting in dry, crusty beliefs that lack spirit and passion-- or, on the other hand, a tendency to get lost in the moorings of the Scripture, and getting trapped in one's own agenda or "canon within the canon." Boice articulates the importance of the great beliefs of the faith (the ascension, for instance) and how our neglect of them as influenced our reading of Scripture, our articulation of the Gospel, and, subsequently, the power of the Message we proclaim (or lack thereof). I don't know that this was his agenda when he began writing or not. Nevertheless, it is certainly a welcome by-product of this work and the Church will be the better for wrestling with these concepts.

I have been a fan of the late James Montgomery Boice and his many commentaries for about twenty years, and have always found him to be a consistent, reliable, highly intelligent guidepost in expressing the reformed doctrines of the Christian faith. In a time when "the church" around us seems to have so many well intentioned yet culturally corrupted publications on how to "do church," Dr. Boice's Acts commentary is a true breath of fresh air. He returns us to the promised Holy Spirit and His transforming power as expressed through a Peter only recently so lovingly restored by the Savior. He shows us the model of the early church, with its internal elements of prayer, worship, mutual love and fellowship in Jesus, as well as its imperative thrust into a world which responds with a persecution that only serves to fuel a wildfire of faith in Jesus Christ that turns the world upside down. When you read this commentary carefully, you see the early church fail without the power of the Holy Spirit and succeed beyond imagination when the Holy Spirit leads the way. This commentary will give you great hope that the church today must, and by God's grace, will get back to the Spirit led basics of the early church.

Barry Duwe
Overland Park, Kansas
10/01/2009

In doesn't seem like it has been ten years since James Montgomery Boice went to be with the Lord (1938-2000), and herein is additional material from his outstanding exegetical work. In "Acts: An Expositional Commentary," one discovers the effectual power of the Holy Spirit presented through the ministry of the early church. James M. Boice bequeathed 50 precise and inspirational chapters that trace the advancement of the early Christian community through Dr. Luke's Book of Acts.

This fine exegetical work presents solid expositional indagation concerning:

- The Great Commission (Acts 1)
- The Day of Pentecost (1)
- Early Persecutions (3-5)
- Sign and wonders in the Apostolic-led church
- Stephen's sermon and martyrdom (6-7)
- Paul's conversion
- The Jerusalem council
- Paul's missionary Journey's and a great deal of additional material.

The content is impressive, the format outstanding, the writing splendid, and the expositional work remarkable. Boice's commentary on Acts is a fine modern commentary for the assiduous minister or perceptive bible study leader.

Acts 4:11-12 This is the `stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Dr. James Boice was the pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. He was also president of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.
One Way to God: Christian Philosophy and Presuppositional Apologetics Examine World Religions

If you are going to study the Book of Acts, this commentary by James Boice is a must-have. I searched through a lot of other commentaries in the library and none are as comprehensive, thorough, and pastoral as this one. If you don't have much time and you had to read just one commentary, this one is it.

James Montgomery Boice takes complex passages and breaks them down so they are easy to understand. He is particularly good at developing applications from the text of the book of Acts. His explanation of the Scripture takes my understanding from being merely academic to something infinitely more practical--so I can live the Truth and not just know it.