The Challenge of Acts

A crash course on the book of Acts and its relevance for Christianity and culture today



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