The Challenge of Acts
A crash course on the book of Acts and its relevance for Christianity and culture today
In stock
ISBN-13
9780281090587-grouped
From £13.99
Tom Wright (Author)
Tom Wright is Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is the author of more than 80 influential books, including The New Testament for Everyone, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, The Day the Revolution Began, Paul: A biography, The New Testament in its World, On Earth as in Heaven and Into the Heart of Romans (all published by SPCK).
Philip Law (In-House Editor)
Philip Law is Publishing Director for SPCK and Lion Books. His previous books include The One Hour Bible (SPCK, 2018), A Time to Pray: 365 classic prayers to help you through the year (Lion, 2002) and The SPCK Book of Christian Prayer (SPCK/Crossroad, 1995/ 2009). He is also a contributor to the 6th edition of The Lion Handbook to the Bible (Lion, 2025).
Tom Wright is Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is the author of more than 80 influential books, including The New Testament for Everyone, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, The Day the Revolution Began, Paul: A biography, The New Testament in its World, On Earth as in Heaven and Into the Heart of Romans (all published by SPCK).
Philip Law (In-House Editor)
Philip Law is Publishing Director for SPCK and Lion Books. His previous books include The One Hour Bible (SPCK, 2018), A Time to Pray: 365 classic prayers to help you through the year (Lion, 2002) and The SPCK Book of Christian Prayer (SPCK/Crossroad, 1995/ 2009). He is also a contributor to the 6th edition of The Lion Handbook to the Bible (Lion, 2025).
Wright brings out not only the key points of the story of Acts but also (and more importantly) the theological ideas embodied in the story.
Like a good tour guide, Wright takes us to the biggest highlights, shows us some artifacts that most might miss, and ably explains why it should matter to us today.
Tom Wright describes Acts as 'a page-turner'. The same could be said for Wright's interpretative reflections on Acts, as he explores its twists of plot and overarching themes.
Wright presents his insights in a highly readable, engaging, and often witty way, developing pervasive themes in Acts.
This brief and accessible commentary not only charts a clear course through the twists and turns of Luke's action-packed narrative, it also offers numerous insights into the practical and theological relevance of Acts for Christians today.
Illuminating, beautifully written, and rooted in good scholarship. Read it - you will benefit.
About
This book offers a brief, clear and incisive introduction to the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts is a substantial book, sitting right in the middle of the New Testament, looking back to the four Gospels and on to the mission of the early churches. It provides a framework for our understanding of the New Testament letters. It also shows us what it means to think of the gospel of Jesus, Israel's Messiah, going out into the world over which Israel's Messiah claims the status of Lord.
Tom Wright explains how this meant confronting the wider culture of the Greek and Roman world, as well as the culture of the Jewish world. All of this is to be found in Acts, providing much food for thought as we ourselves face new questions about gospel and culture in our own day.
Contents
1 Acts 1.1-11: To the Ends of the Earth! 2 Acts 1-4: The New Temple 3 Acts 5-8: Mission and Martyrdom 4 Acts 9-12: Breaking Through the Gentile Barrier 5 Acts 13-16: Converts and Controversy 6 Acts 17-20: Completing the Circle 7 Acts 17.16-34: The Unknown God? 8 Acts 21-24: Trouble in Jerusalem 9 Acts 25-28: And So to Rome
Acts is a substantial book, sitting right in the middle of the New Testament, looking back to the four Gospels and on to the mission of the early churches. It provides a framework for our understanding of the New Testament letters. It also shows us what it means to think of the gospel of Jesus, Israel's Messiah, going out into the world over which Israel's Messiah claims the status of Lord.
Tom Wright explains how this meant confronting the wider culture of the Greek and Roman world, as well as the culture of the Jewish world. All of this is to be found in Acts, providing much food for thought as we ourselves face new questions about gospel and culture in our own day.
Contents
1 Acts 1.1-11: To the Ends of the Earth! 2 Acts 1-4: The New Temple 3 Acts 5-8: Mission and Martyrdom 4 Acts 9-12: Breaking Through the Gentile Barrier 5 Acts 13-16: Converts and Controversy 6 Acts 17-20: Completing the Circle 7 Acts 17.16-34: The Unknown God? 8 Acts 21-24: Trouble in Jerusalem 9 Acts 25-28: And So to Rome
Author
Tom Wright (Author)
Tom Wright is Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is the author of more than 80 influential books, including The New Testament for Everyone, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, The Day the Revolution Began, Paul: A biography, The New Testament in its World, On Earth as in Heaven and Into the Heart of Romans (all published by SPCK).
Philip Law (In-House Editor)
Philip Law is Publishing Director for SPCK and Lion Books. His previous books include The One Hour Bible (SPCK, 2018), A Time to Pray: 365 classic prayers to help you through the year (Lion, 2002) and The SPCK Book of Christian Prayer (SPCK/Crossroad, 1995/ 2009). He is also a contributor to the 6th edition of The Lion Handbook to the Bible (Lion, 2025).
Tom Wright is Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is the author of more than 80 influential books, including The New Testament for Everyone, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, The Day the Revolution Began, Paul: A biography, The New Testament in its World, On Earth as in Heaven and Into the Heart of Romans (all published by SPCK).
Philip Law (In-House Editor)
Philip Law is Publishing Director for SPCK and Lion Books. His previous books include The One Hour Bible (SPCK, 2018), A Time to Pray: 365 classic prayers to help you through the year (Lion, 2002) and The SPCK Book of Christian Prayer (SPCK/Crossroad, 1995/ 2009). He is also a contributor to the 6th edition of The Lion Handbook to the Bible (Lion, 2025).
Reviews
Wright brings out not only the key points of the story of Acts but also (and more importantly) the theological ideas embodied in the story.
Like a good tour guide, Wright takes us to the biggest highlights, shows us some artifacts that most might miss, and ably explains why it should matter to us today.
Tom Wright describes Acts as 'a page-turner'. The same could be said for Wright's interpretative reflections on Acts, as he explores its twists of plot and overarching themes.
Wright presents his insights in a highly readable, engaging, and often witty way, developing pervasive themes in Acts.
This brief and accessible commentary not only charts a clear course through the twists and turns of Luke's action-packed narrative, it also offers numerous insights into the practical and theological relevance of Acts for Christians today.
Illuminating, beautifully written, and rooted in good scholarship. Read it - you will benefit.
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Acts is a substantial book, sitting right in the middle of the New Testament, looking back to the four Gospels and on to the mission of the early churches. It provides a framework for our understanding of the New Testament letters. It also shows us what it means to think of the gospel of Jesus, Israel's Messiah, going out into the world over which Israel's Messiah claims the status of Lord.
Tom Wright explains how this meant confronting the wider culture of the Greek and Roman world, as well as the culture of the Jewish world. All of this is to be found in Acts, providing much food for thought as we ourselves face new questions about gospel and culture in our own day.
Contents
1 Acts 1.1-11: To the Ends of the Earth! 2 Acts 1-4: The New Temple 3 Acts 5-8: Mission and Martyrdom 4 Acts 9-12: Breaking Through the Gentile Barrier 5 Acts 13-16: Converts and Controversy 6 Acts 17-20: Completing the Circle 7 Acts 17.16-34: The Unknown God? 8 Acts 21-24: Trouble in Jerusalem 9 Acts 25-28: And So to Rome