Witness
To CHRIST

A COMMENTARY ON

Acts

STEWART CUSTER

BJU Press

Greenville, SC 29614

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Custer, Stewart, 1931-

Witness to Christ: a commentary on Acts / Stewart Custer.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN 1-57924-355-X

1. Bible. N.T. Acts—Commentaries. I. Title.

BS2625.3 .C87 2000

226.6’077—dc21 00-023507

NOTE: The fact that materials produced by other publishers are referred to in this volume does not constitute an endorsement by Bob Jones University Press of the content or theological position of materials produced by such publishers. The position of Bob Jones University Press, and of the University itself, is well known. Any references and ancillary materials are listed as an aid to the reader and in an attempt to maintain the accepted academic standards of the publishing industry.

WITNESS TO CHRIST: A COMMENTARY ON ACTS

Stewart Custer, Ph.D.

Edited by John Mark Steel

Editorial Consultant, Daniel P. Olinger, Ph.D.

Composition by Nancy C. Lohr

Inside design by TJ Getz

Cover by Brannon McAllister

Maps by Brian Johnson

Cover graphics by PhotoDisc, Inc.; Photo opposite the Table of Contents page from the Eric Matson Collection; Cover photo and all inside photos courtesy of Dr. Stewart Custer.

© 2000 Bob Jones University Press

Greenville, South Carolina 29614

ISBN 1-57924-355-X

Dedicated to
the memory of
Dr. Bob Jones Sr.
and
Dr. Bob Jones Jr.

men for whom the
Witness to Christ
was the most important
thing in their lives

Aerial View of Jerusalem from the south, 1931. Eric Matson Collection.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Mastering the Book of Acts

Abbreviations

Outline of the Book of Acts

Introduction to the Book of Acts

Acts 1: Ascension—Upper Room

Acts 2: Peter at Pentecost

Acts 3: Peter and John

Acts 4: Persecution and Power

Acts 5: The Perversion Within

Acts 6: The Deacons

Acts 7: Stephen’s Sermon

Acts 8: Philip’s Evangelizing

Acts 9: Paul’s Conversion

Acts 10: Peter’s Ministry to Cornelius

Acts 11: Peter’s Defense of Cornelius’s Conversion

Acts 12: Providence: God’s Control

Acts 13: Paul and Barnabas: First Mission

Acts 14: Paul and Barnabas: Iconium, Lystra, Derbe

Acts 15: The Jerusalem Council

Acts 16: The Second Mission

Acts 17: The Mission

Acts 18: Paul on His Journey

Acts 19: Paul at Ephesus

Acts 20: Paul at Troas

Acts 21: Paul at Jerusalem: His Arrest

Acts 22: Paul’s Defense to the Multitude

Acts 23: Paul’s Defense to the Sanhedrin

Acts 24: Paul’s Defense to Felix

Acts 25: Paul’s Defense to Festus

Acts 26: Paul’s Hearing before Agrippa

Acts 27: Paul’s Voyage to Rome

Acts 28: Paul on Malta and at Rome

Bibliography

Topical Index

Foreword

Here is an excellent commentary on the Book of Acts. There are several characteristics that are notable.

It is scholarly. By this I do not mean it is musty, difficult to read, or beyond the understanding of the average person. By this I mean that Dr. Custer is aware of the various interpretations of a passage, the variant readings ...