"Complete biblical texts with sound, scholarly based commentary that is written at a pastoral level; the Scripture translation is that of the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms (1991)"--Provided by publisher. "In his Introduction to this instructive commentary Dennis Hamm welcomes us to a sequel, one that might better be called "The Gospel of Luke: Part Two." Before we get to any of the acts of the apostles Luke picks up where his Gospel ended, namely, the ascension of Jesus. Then just as the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in bodily form like a dove before he began his preaching-healing ministry, so again the Holy Spirit descends on the successors of Jesus. With the flame of God's presence and power in their hearts the followers take up the agenda Jesus had given them, namely, "to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47)." "Luke primarily focuses on the acts of two apostles: Peter and his mission to the Jews and Paul and his mission to the Gentiles. This dynamic duo follows Jesus' routine: they travel, work miracles, preach the Good News, are persecuted and imprisoned. Community life is idyllic only for a while as problems arise (e.g., do Gentiles first have to be circumcised to become Christians?). But solutions are found when it becomes obvious that "God shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34).". "Dennis Hamm's enlightening commentary makes the progress and problems of first-century Christians come alive as he highlights two continuities: 1) the continuity between the story of Jesus and the story of the Church; 2) the continuity between the Christian story as a whole and the longer story of Israel's life with God as told in the Greek version of the Hebrew Bible. The energy, enthusiasm, and generosity of the Church's pioneers should inspire readers towards a new Pentecost. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.