Text
Commentary on the book of the Acts: the English text...
Bruce's "Acts" has a very brief introductory section, consisting of approximately 12 pages.(Some of the commentaries in the NICNT series have a much more extensive introductory section.) Despite the brevity, Bruce does a good job of covering one of the most crucial background issues in relation to Acts, namely, the time of the writing of the book. While many critical scholars have dated Acts as post-70 A.D., Bruce suggests the earlier date of no later than 64 A.D., prior to the beginning of the Neronian persecution of the church in Rome. He does a good job of arguing that the internal evidence of Acts supports this earlier date.
This is an important issue, since it is evident from its introduction that Acts post-dates the Gospel of Luke, which means that if Acts was written by or before 64 A.D., then the third Gospel must have been written somewhat earlier. And if we accept the common assumption that Luke had Mark's Gospel available (which I do not believe has been conclusively established but is probable), then at least one Gospel was in existence within 30 years of the end of Jesus's earthly ministry.
| 171113411 | 226.607 BRU c | Z. HANDIMAN | Available |
No other version available