Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Book Review: EP Study Commentary on the Book of Acts



I love commentaries. I read them often and I have certain things I look for when choosing one. I don't always look at the author, although that can be a massive factor if I am familiar with the work. I don't always look at the series, although that could still be huge if there is a consistent and useful format. Mainly I look for the problems that are addressed, the readability, and the application of the text.

Recently I have been spending a lot of time in the Book of Acts (since I am church planting) and I came across a commentary on the book and an opportunity to review it, so I jumped.

The EP Study Commentary on the Book of Acts by Guy Prentiss Waters is a readable length (less than 600 pages). It lends itself to being used as you walk through the Book of Acts with a group or just to sit down and read through (which I did). The commentary has great readability and is accessible to pastors, teachers, and serious students. This is not a technical commentary so just about anyone leading or teaching a group of people will find it helpful and useful.

The commentary deals with many problems but not exhaustively. This is by no means a critical commentary. However, Waters has dealt with many of the modern commentaries that I love and trust, both critical and pastoral. Waters also deals with the narrative unity and flow of the Book of Acts. This can be missed by many commentators that deal critically with the text. There is much more to be dealt with than Waters touches, both critically and literarily, but this commentary does a good job if you are reading through or teaching through Acts.

Finally, the application of the text was hit or miss. There were many applications to the "church" as a gathered reality. Waters doubtlessly serves in the church and is applying it to the congregation. But there is a lack of individual application. Since this is not a critical or literary commentary I was looking for more direct application to the reader. Certainly all of the Book of Acts does not lend itself to individual application but it would have been good to see a balance, especially in texts dealing with issues on both sides like the account of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11).

When all is said and done I would recommend this commentary if you are teaching through Acts. It is a bit too expensive ($43 US) for just reading through for my wallet. But it is without a doubt a solid job treating the text and explaining the meaning of key difficulties of the Book of Acts. 

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