Commentary on the Acts

Front matter

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Preface

The book of the Acts is an authentic account of the spread of Christianity over the world in apostolic times. Recent discussions have given fresh interest in the study of it, and readers of my previous Commentaries on the Gospels have desired a similar work upon the Acts, the last of the historical books.

Nearly two years of special study and thought have been given to the preparation of the volume. My purpose has been:

1. To aid one to read the Acts as if he were living in the Roman empire in apostolic times, and mingling with its mixed populations, seeing their varied habits of life, hearing their varied speech, and becoming familiar with Jewish, Greek and Roman scenes, customs and thought.

% To give the accumulated results of critical learning in the interpretation of the Acts clearly, concisely and free from specu¬ lations which tend to unsettle faith in the word of jGrod.

3. To help the reader more clearly to perceive the Oriental peculiarities of life and of thought in which Christianity began.

4. To give the full text of the Common English Version of 1611, side by side with the Revised Version of 1881 in the form preferred by the American revisers.

5. To group the comments under topical divisions, and also under each verse, for quick reference to any clause of any chapter or verse in the book.

In the Introduction the latest approved results of learned in¬ vestigations are presented, bearing upon the authorship, compo¬ sition, credibility and chronology of the Acts.

The chronological table of events, rulers and high priests, and the complete list of places visited by Paul in his journeys, it is believed will be found convenient and valuable.

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IV

PREFACE.

In the Appendix several important topics, such as community of goods, Christian unity, languages of Asia Minor, elders and bishops, receive special treatment in separate articles.

The researches of recent explorers, and the theories of leading critical schools respecting the composition and interpretation of the Acts, from the ancient Alexandrian to the latest modern school, have been candidly considered, and whatever results seemed of value in them have been wrought into this book. Special atten¬ tion has been given to the able modern works on the life of the apostle Paul, a field in which English and American students have won and hold the foremost place among Biblical scholars.

The author is indebted to these writers for many fresh views upon the history of the planting of Christianity, for which credit is given throughout the volume. Special acknowledgments are due to the Rev. Moseley H. Williams for critical suggestions, while carefully reading the proofs.

EDWIN W. RICE.

Philadelphia, June , 1896.

NOTE TO THE FOURTH EDITION.

Critical discussions, researches, and explorations in the first decade of this century have thrown some new light on problems in The Acts. These point to a few minor modifications only in the conclusions heretofore reached. The present trend of scholar¬ ship is shrewdly stated by A. Harnack, of Berlin (1909), who aims to bring opposing camps nearer to each other: “ Perhaps it will at last be seen that criticism, after its long and painful exertions, must return to the occupation of positions that it has deserted.” The unity of the book of The Acts, its historical credibility, its composition by Luke, and the remarkable accuracy of his record, have received fresh confirmation, as the result of the severest critical investigations.

EDWIN W. RICE.

Philadelphia, April, 1909.

THE ACTS.