Pickwick Publications Acts, Second Edition: A New Vision of the People of God

This second edition of Stevens’s presentation of Acts adds an extensive study of church traditions on Paul’s death and burial. Uncovering of the sarcophagus in the Church of Saint Paul Outside the Walls yielded carbon 14 dated first- or second-century bones. In his characteristically creative way, Stevens offers an insightful proposal on why church traditions on Paul post Acts are so ambiguous and probably always will be, even with this new find. Stevens’s close study of the Acts narrative analyzes Luke’s post-ascension story of Jesus and challenges orthodoxies in the interpretation of Acts and Paul. Luke was the first to envision the future of the Jesus story in the Hellenist movement as this movement realizes the promise of Pentecost in Israel, preeminently epitomized in the mission of Paul, who is Luke’s premier example of the God active, God resisted theme of the speech of Stephen that drives the plot of Acts and illuminates exegesis of Paul’s insistence on going to Jerusalem with its dramatic conclusion in the shipwreck of Paul. Luke ends Acts in Rome as intended—an impressive, compelling, and thoroughly fresh reading of Acts. Review "Faithful to his engaging, dynamic, and entertaining writing style, Gerald Stevens embarks his readers on Luke's thrilling narrative race against status quo and preconception, where the contestants keep on breaking down racial, social, and religious conventions to reach the ultimate destiny: the realization of Pentecost fulfillment. Stevens keeps his readers abreast in this world of surprising twists and turns: God-resisting characters may retard Pentecost abundance, but Pentecost facilitators, infused with the power of the Holy Spirit, renew and extend its bountifulness. This book will engage and inspire students of all ages." --Sylvie T. Raquel, Associate Professor of New Testament, Trinity International University "Gerald Stevens has been living in the book of Acts for a long time and has walked the archaeological sites of Luke's world extensively, both giving a deep, rich foundation for his narrative study of this fascinating New Testament book. Like a craftsman holding up a massive, beautiful diamond to the light, analyzing it from a wide variety of perspectives, Stevens's extensive narrative analysis yields numerous suggestive insights that push against some of our most commonly accepted interpretations of Luke's 'Volume Two, ' benefiting scholar and student alike." --George H. Guthrie, Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible, Union University "This work richly illustrated with over 450 images offers a narrative analysis of Acts using the Hellenists as the interpretive focal point. Drawing upon twenty-five years of research, including personally walking the paths, Gerald Stevens argues Pentecost, the Hellenist movement, and the dual character of Saul-Paul are the keys to Luke's unfolding of Jesus' ministry. An appendix provides descriptions and links to 187 short online videos by Stevens of his own on-location visits connected to the story in Acts, modern travel blogs, and museum images, all coordinated with the book, that provide the reader with supplemental resources for understanding Luke's story of the early church." --E. Randolph Richards, Dean, School of Ministry, Palm Beach Atlantic University About the Author Gerald L. Stevens is Professor of Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has received several research grants and teaching awards. Stevens has authored highly regarded textbooks on the Greek language with Cascade Books, including New Testament Greek Intermediate (2008) and New Testament Greek Primer (2010). He also edited the well-received Pickwick volume Essays on Revelation (2010), followed by the acclaimed commentary Revelation: The Past and Future of John's Apocalypse (2014).