The Story of Jesus Continues: A Survey of the Acts of the Apostles

by Douglas S. Huffman

Overview

A unique introduction to the Acts of the Apostles, focusing on the book of Acts as an extension of the Jesus story.

With full-color photographs, maps, and sidebars about history, ancient literature, and archaeological finds,?Douglas Huffman takes readers through different introductory and interpretive issues in the study of Acts, including the genre, purpose, history, culture, and geographical setting of the story.

Equipped with these behind-the-scenes details, in broad strokes the author traces Luke's well-told recounting of the ongoing story of Jesus. Sensitive to the purposes Luke had for his text - as well as its connection to the Gospel of Luke - Huffman concludes by demonstrating how the Jesus story is intended to continue into the present.

Specifically designed as a textbook, the volume includes chapter overviews and summaries discussion questions and assignments, lists of key terms, and a glossary.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310514800
Publisher:	Zondervan Academic
Publication date:	04/15/2025
Sold by:	HarperCollins Publishing
Format:	eBook
Pages:	608
File size:	14 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Douglas S. Huffman (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is dean of academic programs and professor of New Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. He is the author of Verbal Aspect Theory and the Prohibitions in the Greek New Testament and The Handy Guide for New Testament Greek.

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations Acknowledgements How to Use this Book PART 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1. The People of the Story of Acts 2. The Genre and Purpose of the Story of Acts 3. Story Telling in the Story of Acts 4. Themes in the Story of Acts 5. Interpreting and Applying the Story of Acts PART 2: THE SETTING OF THE STORY OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 6. Dating the Story of Acts 7. The Historical–Political Setting of the Story of Acts 8. The Religious Setting of the Story of Acts 9. The Socio–Cultural Setting of the Story of Acts PART 3: THE STORY OF JESUS REACHING THE JEWISH WORLD---Acts 1–12 10. The Story Continues (Acts 1) 11. The Story Empowered (Acts 2) 12. The Early DaysStory (Acts 3–5) 13. Three Key Non-Apostle Characters (Acts 6–9) 14. The Story Advances in Palestine (Acts 10–12) PART 4: THE STORY OF JESUS REACHING THE GENTILE WORLD---Acts 13–28 15. Missionary Campaign 1 (Acts 13–14) 16. The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) 17. Missionary Campaign 2 (Acts 16–18) 18. Missionary Campaign 3 (Acts 19–20) 19. To Jerusalem and then to Rome (Acts 21–28) CONCLUSION: THE STORY OF JESUS REACHING YOUR WORLD Glossary Index

Editorial Reviews

Professor Huffman has provided students, scholars, pastors, and general readers with a brilliant survey of the book of Acts that is focused both on the details of the text and on theological insights relevant for the church, well informed of scholarship, and written in a very accessible style. It is a privilege and pleasure to recommend this book for readers who seek reliable information about the world in which the earliest Christians worshiped the one true God and Jesus Messiah and proclaimed the gospel.

—Eckhard Schnabel

A beautifully produced volume chock-full of insight, information, and instructional aids for studying the book of Acts. An ideal resource for students and teachers alike, stimulating and supporting in-depth analysis of this exciting New Testament writing. Huffman clearly and carefully unfolds the continuing story of Jesus in Acts. Along the way, he illuminates the interpretive journey with a wide array of primary materials from the ancient world and literary and theological commentary from modern scholars. As a bonus, far from being a sterile textbook, this work is written in a warm evangelical spirit—appropriate to the Spirit's dynamic role in Acts!—blending solid academic analysis with thoughtful spiritual application. Perfect for use in Christian colleges and seminaries.

New Testament general editor for The SBL Study Bib —F. Scott Spencer

A wonderful, deep dive into Acts with an eye to living its message today. Huffman illuminates and contextualizes Acts in its historical context with colorful graphics and sidebars, outlines sound options for interpretation, and interacts with a wealth of primary and secondary literature. Here is a tremendous resource for students of Acts and the pastor's shelf.

—Brandon Crowe

Talk about one-stop shopping! This book has everything an instructor in an advanced undergraduate or beginning seminary class on the book of Acts could realistically want. The scholarship is completely up-to-date without neglecting the classics. This volume is attractively laid out and straightforward to read, with sidebars, charts, maps, photos, definitions of key terms, and even suggested assignments to help teachers and their students do superior work. Theologically evangelical and exegetically astute, Huffman's work should command assent in almost all respects. A gem of a gift for the church of Jesus Christ and our contemporary world!

—Craig L. Blomberg

The Story of Jesus Continues is an extraordinary accomplishment, resulting from a career and vocation of teaching the book of Acts. This textbook will prove valuable for a generation because of its lucidity, pedagogical awareness, theological sensitivity, as well of its agility in the literary nature of Acts, its historical connections, and its value for pastors and churches today.

—Scot Mc Knight

Acts is both an exciting and inspiring account of the spread of the gospel throughout the Mediterranean world. Doug Huffman's wonderfully presented introduction to and survey of Acts will enhance your appreciation of Acts all the more. Drawing on his many years of research on Acts and his experience of teaching through the book numerous times, Huffman provides a trove of historical information that illuminates the text and brings it to life. The many photographs, charts, maps, and diagrams will help readers visualize the context and appreciate how Acts fits into its cultural and historical setting. Huffman's volume should be the starting point for anyone preaching a series on Acts, leading a Bible study, or simply seeking to understand the book better.

—Clinton E. Arnold

This book is an impressive achievement. It is a thorough, faithful, and balanced survey of Acts that covers everything from introductory issues to a close analysis of the text. I was pleased with how much material Huffman was able to cover and his awareness of modern advances in the study of Acts. His interactions were appropriate, his conclusions were nuanced, and his historical and textual work were skilled. I wish this book had been available when I wrote my commentary on Acts and will be requiring it for many future students who wish to hear the continuing story of Jesus in the book of Acts.

—Patrick Schreiner

Dr. Huffman's excellent and highly informative textbook is a delight for students and teachers of the New Testament. It is a privilege for students, pastors, scholars, and many others to explore the book of Acts through this meticulously methodical and practical course book. It provides a comprehensive overview of current Acts scholarship, helping students understand the book of Acts in both its ancient and contemporary contexts. The study features lucid presentations of the book's content, cautious judgments on critical introductory questions and exegetical issues, stimulating questions to deepen understanding, extensive background information, and much practical wisdom. As adventurous as the book of Acts itself, Huffman's work is to teachers and students what Keener's is to exegetes and researchers. What a joy to read this book! Highly recommended!

—Arie Zwiep

With solid detail and an eye on all the options, this survey of Acts is far more than an overview of the book. It is a deep dive into the many facets of this pivotal New Testament book. Huffman has done us all a service, and students will surely benefit from it as a regular resource on Luke's strategic volume on the early church.

—Darrell L. Bock

Doug Huffman has put together an amazing textbook for students on the book of Acts. It is informative yet accessible, scholarly without being dry, and full of helpful charts, photos, tables, and diagrams to make it very pictorial. Huffman explains to readers how Jesus continued to work in and through the apostles and how the gospel spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. A terrific guide to Luke's story of Jesus and the early church!

—Rev. Dr. Michael F. Bird