Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the NT: Acts / November 10, 2012

For more information see this article and this 2-part review.

Distinguished scholar Eckhard Schnabel brings a lifetime of Lukan scholarship full circle with this intricately detailed exegetical commentary on the book of Acts.

Exploding with popularity, the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series now offers Acts as one of its flagship volumes. Teaming with exegetical insight and well situated historical information to further illuminate its exegesis, this volume of Acts provides in-depth analysis of the grammar, structure, and meaning of the text in dialogue with Luke’s gospel. Including the the now famous ZECNT discourse analysis charts for each pericope, Schnabel’s work allows the biblical interpreter to work through the text phrase by phrase and with incredible detail.

Thematically. Schnabel pursues a course which traces the beginnings of Christianity Schnabel unpacks how the new ‘messianic movement’ emerged from Judiasm and began to incorporate gentiles as members of the new church. Schnabel’s emphasis is fivefold:

1. The work of God through the exalted Jesus whose presents is now manifest in the Holy Spirit.
2. The significance of Jesus as Israel’s Messiah and Savior, who directs the expansion of the new community.
3. The work of the Holy Spirit as the transforming power of the new community of believers.
4. The identity of the church as the community of God, comprised of Jews and Gentiles.
5. The mission of the church whose leaders take the Gospel unreached cities and regions of the Roman Empire.
6. The historical events and persons who played a role in the expansion of Christianity.

While this volume adds no new features unfamiliar to ZECNT readers, what differs is the enormity of its scope and the thematic patterns that are recognizable through the historical-grammatical method of exegesis practiced in this text. A must for ministers and Greek students, this text will remain a perennial and indispensable tool for years to come.

About the Series:
The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament is a modern commentary series designed to help pastors and Bible teachers understand the biblical text in its original environment. Each of the contributing evangelical scholars carefully consider factors such as grammatical detail, literary context, rhetorical flow, theological nuance, and historical setting in their interpretation. While primarily designed for those with a basic knowledge of biblical Greek, this series is accessible for all who want to understand and teach the New Testament.

Each passage is organized into the following sections:

• Literary Context: Explains how each passage functions within the book
• Main Idea: Summarizes the central message of the passage
• Translation in Graphic Layout: Presents a translation through a diagram that helps readers visualize the flow of thought within the text
• Exegetical Outline: Gives the overall structure of the passage
• Explanation of the Text: Provides interpretive insights into the background and meaning of the text
• Theology in Application: Discusses how the message of the text fits within the book itself and in a broader biblical-theological context, suggesting applications for the church today

You may also be interested in the 11-volume NT set, the 3-volume OT set, or other ZEC individual modules.

For even more information, see this article.