The First Christian Historian
Writing the 'Acts of the Apostles'

This book is an original evaluation of Luke's reliability as the first historian of Christianity.

Daniel Marguerat (Author), Ken McKinney (Translated by), Gregory J. Laughery (Translated by), Richard Bauckham (Translated by)

9780521609494, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 23 December 2004

312 pages
21.5 x 14 x 2 cm, 0.405 kg

'Marguerat's monograph is a mine of exegetical insights. It illuminates both the detail and overall impact of Luke's narrative.' Journal for the Study of the New Testament

As the first historian of Christianity, Luke's reliability is vigorously disputed among scholars. The author of the Acts is often accused of being a biased, imprecise, and anti-Jewish historian who created a distorted portrait of Paul. Daniel Marguerat tries to avoid being caught in this true/false quagmire when examining Luke's interpretation of history. Instead he combines different tools - reflection upon historiography, the rules of ancient historians and narrative criticism - to analyse the Acts and gauge the historiographical aims of their author. Marguerat examines the construction of the narrative, the framing of the plot and the characterization, and places his evaluation firmly in the framework of ancient historiography, where history reflects tradition and not documentation. This is a fresh and original approach to the classic themes of Lucan theology: Christianity between Jerusalem and Rome, the image of God, the work of the Spirit, the unity of Luke and the Acts.

1. How Luke wrote history
2. A narrative of beginnings
3. The unity of Luke-Acts: the task of reading
4. A Christianity between Jerusalem and Rome
5. The God of Acts
6. The work of the spirit
7. Jews and Christians in conflict
8. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5.1-11): the original sin
9. Saul's conversion (Acts 9-22-26)
10. The enigma of the end of Acts (26.16-31)
11. Travels and travelers.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG]