The Speeches in Acts: Their Content Context and Concerns

This historical reappraisal of the Acts of the Apostles written in narrative form allows the reader to understand the biblical authors worldview historical and ideological assumptions and purposes as they were communicated through portions of this work. Marion Soards analyzes the speech texts by comparing them to writings from ancient history rhetoric and midrashic interpretation of scripture. He points out the interesting features in the speeches and highlights the thematic similarities. Soards provides a clear picture of the manner of writings in Acts the theology and the encompassing history of the early Christian period and he supplies a sound basis for contemporary Jewish-Christian relations.