Paul's Pisidian Antioch Speech (Acts 13)

After a review of scholarly work on the speeches in Acts, particularly Paul's Pisidian Antioch speech, Morgan-Wynne sets Paul's speech in the context of the first missionary journey and of the rest of Luke-Acts. In this book he analyzes the structure of the speech, asks whether Luke used sources for the speech, and examines the main theological themes, including the characterization of God and Jesus, the use of the OT, the place of Israel, and the portrait of Paul that emerges. Finally, the author looks at whether the speech sheds any light on the community for which Luke wrote and the problems which it may have been facing.

A very readable but detailed survey of scholarship on this often-ignored speech of Paul, with a judicious study of its teaching and its function in the Lucan account of the early Christian mission.

--I. Howard Marshall, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland

John Morgan-Wynne's examination of this 'message of salvation' in Acts 13 is now the most comprehensive available. Whether or not you agree with every conclusion, you will find this to be a careful treatment of the historical, literary, and theological elements of this important evangelistic speech of Paul's in Acts, as well as a readable guide through the secondary literature. No stone is left unturned!

--Alan J. Thompson, Sydney Missionary and Bible College, Sydney, Australia

John Eifion Morgan-Wynne was tutor in New Testament and Dean of Regent's Park College Oxford (1965-87) and lecturer in New Testament Greek in the University of Oxford, and then Principal of Bristol Baptist College (1987-93). Now retired, he is the author of Holy Spirit and Religious Experience in Christian Literature ca. 90-200 AD and The Cross in the Johannine Writings.