Commentaries and Expositions
Alexander, J. A. A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1984, reprint of 1857 ed. Loaded with exegetical and devotional gems, though dated.
Arrington, French L. The Acts of the Apostles: An Introduction and Commentary. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1988. Brief, incisive comments from a charismatic perspective.
Barclay, William. The Acts of the Apostles. The Daily Study Bible. Rev. ed. Edinburgh: Saint Andrew, 1976. Devotional insights arising from a great background knowledge.
Barrett, C. K. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. Vol. I. on chapters 1–14. ICC. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1994. A replacement volume in the ICC series. Takes a moderately critical approach to the issue of historical accuracy. Possibly the most comprehensive treatment of the Greek text available in English.
Bruce, F. F. The Book of the Acts. NICNT. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988. Unparalleled for how it makes the historical background accessible to the general reader.
———. The Acts of the Apostles: Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary. NICGT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990. Notes on the Greek text.
Calvin, John. Calvin’s Commentaries: The Acts of the Apostles 1–13. Trans. John W. Fraser and W. J. G. McDonald. The Acts of the Apostles 14–28. Trans. John W. Fraser. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965, 1966. Sage comments from one of the greatest expositors ever.
Carter, Charles W., and Ralph Earle. The Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973. Helpful application.
Chrysostom, Saint. “Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles.” A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church. Vol. 11. Ed. Philip Schaff. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989 reprint. Classic expositions by the great fourth-century expositor.
Clements, Roy. The Church That Turned the World Upside Down. Cambridge: Crossway, 1992. Brilliant exposition on the first half of Acts by one of this generation’s outstanding expositors.
Faw, Chalmer E. Believers Church Bible Commentary: Acts. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald, 1993. A shorter work with good application.
Gempf, Conrad. “Acts.” NBCTCE. Ed. D. A. Carson et al. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1994. Exceptionally insightful comments despite its brevity.
Gooding, David. True to the Faith: A Fresh Approach to the Acts of the Apostles. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1990. Emphasis on structure. Filled with deep devotional and theological insight.
Haenchen, Ernst. The Acts of the Apostles: A Commentary. Trans. R. McL. Wilson. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1971. Focus on theology, discounts historical reliability.
Harrison, Everett F. Interpreting Acts: The Expanding Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986. Godly scholarship with reverent application.
Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downer’s Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1993. Helpful insights on the cultural and historical background of the text.
Kistemaker, Simon J. New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1990. Good all-round larger commentary.
Knowling, R. J. “The Acts of the Apostles.” The Expositor’s Greek Testament. Vol. 2. Ed. W. Robertson Nicoll. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974 reprint. On the Greek text.
Larkin, William J., Jr. Acts. IVP New Testament Commentary Series. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1995. Brief, reliable notes with relevant application.
Lenski, R. C. H. The Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles. Minneapolis: Augsburg, reprint of 1934 ed. Good on application.
Longenecker, Richard. “The Acts of the Apostles.” EBC. Vol. 9. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981. Possibly the best all-round medium-sized commentary for a general reader.
Marshall, I. Howard. The Acts of the Apostles. TNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980. Short but insightful comments from a master of the Lukan writings.
Morgan, G. Campbell. The Acts of the Apostles. Old Tappan, N.J.: Revell, 1924. Expositions with keen devotional insight.
Munk, Johannes. The Acts of the Apostles. Anchor Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1967. Briefer than the other books in this series.
Ogilvie, Lloyd J. The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts. Dallas: Word, 1983. Brief expositions.
Polhill, John B. Acts. The New American Commentary. Vol. 26. Nashville: Broadman, 1992. A helpful all-round medium-sized work.
Robertson, Archibald Thomas. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Vol. 3. The Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids: Baker, reprint of 1930 ed. Helpful and inspiring comments on Greek meanings, though dated—not having the benefit of recent semantic studies.
Stott, John R. W. The Message of Acts. BST. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1990. Sheer exposition with flashes of brilliant application from one of the great expositors of the twentieth century.
Tannehill, Robert C. The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts: A Literary Interpretation. Vol. 2. The Acts of the Apostles. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1994. Refreshing focus on the structure and message of Acts.
Thomson, J. G. S. S. “Studies in the Acts of the Apostles.” Bright Words. I received photocopies of this helpful series of twenty-nine expositions on Acts, which appeared in the magazine Bright Words in the late 1950s and early 1960s, from my friend Rev. John Kyle, but I do not have the dates of the individual articles.
Wagner, C. Peter. The Acts of the Holy Spirit. Vol. 1: Spreading the Fire; vol. 2: Lighting the World; vol. 3: Blazing the Way. Ventura, Calif.: Regal, 1994–1995. Strong on contemporary missiological application.
Wesley, John. Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament. London: Epworth, 1966 reprint. Brief but pithy comments.
Williams, David John. Acts. NIBC. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1990. An outstanding all-round shorter commentary, especially helpful for preachers.
Willimon, William H. Acts. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Atlanta: John Knox, 1988. Lively, relevant expositions.
Other Significant Works on Acts47
Coleman, Robert E. The Master Plan of Discipleship. Old Tappan, N.J.: Revell, 1987. Topical study of Acts; rich in devotional and practical insight.
Dollar, Harold. St. Luke’s Missiology: A Cross-Cultural Challenge. Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library, 1996. Refreshing! Missiology based on serious Bible study.
Harrison, Everett F. The Apostolic Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985. Helpful topical study of Acts.
Hemer, Colin J. The Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History. Ed. Conrad Gempf. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 1990. A brilliant defense of the historical reliability of Acts.
Marshall, I. H. A Fresh Look at the Acts of the Apostles. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1992. Basic contemporary introduction to Acts.
Shenk, David W., and Ervin R. Stutzman. Creating Communities of the Kingdom: New Testament Models of Church Planting. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald, 1988. Relevant application of Acts.
Stronstad, Roger. The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1984. Theology from a charismatic perspective.
Winter, Bruce, et al., eds. The Book of Acts in Its First Century Setting. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993–1996. Five volumes out of six available. An extremely helpful series for advanced study. Vol. 1: Ancient Literary Setting, ed. Bruce Winter and Andrew D. Clarke (1993); vol. 2: Graeco-Roman Setting, ed. David W. Gill and Conrad Gempf (1994); vol. 3: Paul in Roman Custody, Brian Rapske (1994); vol. 4: Palestinian Setting, ed. Richard Bauckham (1995); vol. 5: Diaspora Setting, Irina Levinskaya (1996)