Acts: A Bible Study Commentary PDF

Written as part of Scripture Union’s Bible Study Commentary series, which encourages regular, systematic personal Bible reading, this commentary is also designed as a resource manual for group study. Acts is a pivotal book in the New Testament, says Bruce, “for it provided the sequel to the Gospels and the background to the apostolic letters.”

PLEASE NOTE that F.F. Bruce also wrote a larger (580 pages) and more scholarly commentary on Acts as part of the New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT) series. That larger book has been called "one of the best commentaries on this book of Scripture." This e-book is a shorter and more popular commentary on Acts. It reflects both Professor Bruce's careful study of Acts as well as his passion for proclaiming the Bible as God's guide for our lives.

Chapter List (131 chapters):

Chapter 1: COVER
Chapter 2: TITLE
Chapter 3: CONTENTS
Chapter 4: PUBLISHER’S INTRODUCTION
Chapter 5: GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Chapter 6: INTRODUCTION TO ACTS BIBLE STUDY COMMENTARY
Chapter 7: ANALYSIS OF ACTS
Chapter 8: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Chapter 9: CHAPTERS 1-2
Chapter 10: 1:1-11 THE FORTY DAYS
Chapter 11: 1:12-26 CLOSING THE RANKS
Chapter 12: 2:1-13 THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT
Chapter 13: 2:14-21 “THE LAST DAYS”
Chapter 14: 2:22-36 “WE ALL ARE WITNESSES”
Chapter 15: 2:37-47 THE NEW COMMUNITY
Chapter 16: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON ACTS CHAPTERS 1-2
Chapter 17: CHAPTERS 3-4
Chapter 18: 3:1-10 A LAME MAN HEALED
Chapter 19: 3:11-16 “BEHOLD MY SERVANT”
Chapter 20: 3:17-26 WHY THE CHRIST HAD TO SUFFER
Chapter 21: 4:1-12 THE INCOMPARABLE NAME
Chapter 22: 4:13-22 A PROHIBITION DEFIED
Chapter 23: 4:23-31 FRESH POWER SUPPLIED
Chapter 24: 4:32-37 ALL THINGS IN COMMON
Chapter 25: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 3-4
Chapter 26: CHAPTERS 5-6
Chapter 27: 5:1-11 SIN AGAINST THE SPIRIT
Chapter 28: 5:12-21A THE WORDS OF THIS LIFE
Chapter 29: 5:21B-32 LEADER AND SAVIOUR
Chapter 30: 5:33-42 GAMALIEL ENCOURAGES PRUDENCE
Chapter 31: 6:1-7 HEBREWS AND HELLENISTS
Chapter 32: 6:8-7:1 A SERIOUS CHARGE
Chapter 33: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 5-6
Chapter 34: CHAPTERS 7-8
Chapter 35: 7:2-29 THE GOD OF GLORY
Chapter 36: 7:30-53 A MOVING SHRINE FOR A PILGRIM PEOPLE
Chapter 37: 7:54-8:1A THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR
Chapter 38: 8:1B-8 PERSECUTION BRINGS EXPANSION
Chapter 39: 8:9-25 SAMARITANS RECEIVE THE SPIRIT
Chapter 40: 8:26-40 THE GOSPEL REACHES ETHIOPIA
Chapter 41: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 7-8
Chapter 42: CHAPTERS 9-10
Chapter 43: 9:1-9 CONFRONTATION ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD
Chapter 44: 9:10-19A THE PERSECUTOR IS GREETED AS A BROTHER
Chapter 45: 9:19B-25 SAUL BECOMES A WITNESS
Chapter 46: 9:26-31 THE NEW DISCIPLE VISITS JERUSALEM
Chapter 47: 9:32-43 THE ACTS OF PETER RESUMED
Chapter 48: 10:1-8 A ROMAN SOLDIER RECEIVES THE SPIRIT
Chapter 49: 10:9-16 “WHAT GOD HAS CLEANSED …”
Chapter 50: 10:17-33 PETER AND CORNELIUS MEET
Chapter 51: 10:34-48 THE GOOD NEWS FOR GENTILES
Chapter 52: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 9-10
Chapter 53: CHAPTERS 11-12
Chapter 54: 11:1-18 PETER DEFENDS HIMSELF
Chapter 55: 11:19-30 FORWARD MOVEMENT IN ANTIOCH
Chapter 56: 12:1-11 A NEW WAVE OF PERSECUTION
Chapter 57: 12:12-24 THE PERSECUTOR DIES; THE GOSPEL LIVES ON
Chapter 58: 12:25-13:4 ANTIOCH BECOMES A MISSIONARY BASE
Chapter 59: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 11-12
Chapter 60: CHAPTERS 13-14
Chapter 61: 13:5-12 THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL IN CYPRUS
Chapter 62: 13:13-22 INTO ASIA MINOR
Chapter 63: 13:23-41 GOD’S PROMISE FULFILLED
Chapter 64: 13:42-52 A NEW GENTILE CHURCH FOUNDED
Chapter 65: 14:1-7 TROUBLE IN ICONIUM
Chapter 66: 14:8-18 MISTAKEN IDENTITY
Chapter 67: 14:19-28 MISSION COMPLETED
Chapter 68: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 13-14
Chapter 69: CHAPTERS 15-16
Chapter 70: 15:1-5 THE GENTILE PROBLEM
Chapter 71: 15:6-12 COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM
Chapter 72: 15:13-21 JAMES SUMS UP
Chapter 73: 15:22-35 THE APOSTOLIC LETTER
Chapter 74: 15:36-41 A PERSONAL DISPUTE
Chapter 75: 16:1-5 INTRODUCING TIMOTHY
Chapter 76: 16:6-10 DIVINE GUIDANCE
Chapter 77: 16:11-24 PAUL COMES TO EUROPE
Chapter 78: 16:25-34 IN PRISON AT PHILIPPI
Chapter 79: 16:35-10 A ROMAN CITIZEN’S RIGHTS
Chapter 80: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 15-16
Chapter 81: CHAPTERS 17-18
Chapter 82: 17:1-9 TROUBLE IN THESSALONICA
Chapter 83: 17:10-15 THE OPEN-MINDED BEREANS
Chapter 84: 17:16-21 “A PREACHER OF FOREIGN DIVINITIES”
Chapter 85: 17:22-34 THE UNKNOWN GOD
Chapter 86: 18:1-4 PRISCILLA AND AQUILA
Chapter 87: 18:5-11 THE GOSPEL IN VANITY FAIR
Chapter 88: 18:12-23 GALLIO’S JUDGEMENT
Chapter 89: 18:24-28 APOLLOS OF ALEXANDRIA
Chapter 90: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 17-18
Chapter 91: CHAPTERS 19-20
Chapter 92: 19:1-7 TWELVE DISCIPLES AT EPHESUS
Chapter 93: 19:8-20 THE STRONG NAME
Chapter 94: 19:21-41 RIOT IN THE THEATRE
Chapter 95: 20:1-6 DEPARTURE FOR JUDEA
Chapter 96: 20:7-16 TRAGEDY AVERTED AT TROAS
Chapter 97: 20:17-27 THE EPHESIAN ELDERS
Chapter 98: 20:28-38 TROUBLE AHEAD
Chapter 99: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 19-20
Chapter 100: CHAPTERS 21-22
Chapter 101: 21:1-14 ARRIVAL AT CAESAREA
Chapter 102: 21:15-26 WELCOME IN JERUSALEM
Chapter 103: 21:27-39 A WELL-MEANT SCHEME MISFIRES
Chapter 104: 21:40-22:21 PAUL TELLS OF HIS CONVERSION AND CALL
Chapter 105: 22:22-30 PAUL ESCAPES A SCOURGING
Chapter 106: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 21-22
Chapter 107: CHAPTERS 23-24
Chapter 108: 23:1-11 PAUL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN
Chapter 109: 23:12-30 PAUL SENT TO FELIX
Chapter 110: 23:31-24:9 FELIX THE GOVERNOR
Chapter 111: 24:10-21 PAUL’S DEFENCE BEFORE FELIX
Chapter 112: 24:22-27 RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION IN THE PRAETORIUM
Chapter 113: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 23-24
Chapter 114: CHAPTERS 25-26
Chapter 115: 25:1-12 APPEAL TO CAESAR
Chapter 116: 25:13-27 DISTINGUISHED VISITORS IN CAESAREA
Chapter 117: 26:1-11 APOLOGIA PRO VITA SUA1
Chapter 118: 26:12-21 THE HEAVENLY VISION
Chapter 119: 26:22-32 AGRIPPA’S OPPORTUNITY
Chapter 120: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 25-26
Chapter 121: CHAPTERS 27-28
Chapter 122: 27:1-12 THE VOYAGE TO ITALY
Chapter 123: 27:13-32 STORM AT SEA
Chapter 124: 27:33-44 SAFE TO LAND
Chapter 125: 28:1-10 WINTER IN MALTA
Chapter 126: 28:11-16 ROME AT LAST!
Chapter 127: 28:17-31 THE GOSPEL IN ROME
Chapter 128: QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 27-28
Chapter 129: F.F. BRUCE
Chapter 130: OTHER BOOKS BY F.F. BRUCE
Chapter 131: COPYRIGHT