Witnesses of the Messiah: On Acts of the Apostles 1–15
Overview
After the resurrection, in Acts 1:6, the apostles asked, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”Witnesses of the Messiah will guide you through Acts of the Apostles and show you how the Church, founded upon the apostles, is the restoration of the kingdom. As insightful as it is easy to read, Witnesses of the Messiah is ideal for individual or group study.
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- Explores how the Church is the restoration of the kingdom
- Examines the Acts of the Apostles
- Provides insights for individual or group study
- The World of Acts
- Christ the Kind (Acts 1)
- The Church of the Last Days (Acts 2:1–21)
- The Preaching of Peter (Acts 2:22–47)
- The Ministry of Peter (Acts 3–5)
- The Witness of Stephen (Acts 6–7)
- From Judea to Samaria (Acts 8–9)
- The Abolition of Separation (Acts 10–11)
- To the End of the Earth (Acts 12–14)
- The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15)
Top Highlights
“Luke depicts the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as a new revelation parallel to but surpassing that of Sinai, for now the Spirit Himself is given to the People of God as the New Law of the New Covenant, a law inscribed not on tablets of stone but on the hearts of all who receive Him. The decision faced by each Israelite was whether he was willing to repent and receive the Spirit (cf. Acts 2:37–38).” (Page 9)
“While on Sinai for those forty days, Moses received detailed instruction from God on the administration of the covenant (cf. Ex. 25–31). For the same period of time, the apostles now receive instruction from Jesus on the reality at the heart of the New Covenant: the kingdom of God.” (Page 17)
“The giving of the Law on Mount Sinai was thus characterized by three signs: a great sound, streams of fire, and miraculous, intelligible speech. The same three signs are manifested when the apostles gather together on the first Pentecost after the Resurrection.” (Page 30)
“unrepentant apostasy, which has disqualified him from being one of the Twelve” (Page 23)
“marked by an invincible confidence in the victory of God’s will in one’s life” (Page 62)
In this important work, Stephen Pimentel shows how all of God’s actions in salvation history find their climax not only in Christ, but also in the Church. Indeed, Pimentel makes Luke’s vision of the early Church come alive by showing how the Church embodies nothing less than the Davidic kingdom restored, where faithful Israelites and Gentiles are reunited in God’s royal worldwide family. Witnesses of the Messiah captures and presents this central theme in Acts in a style that is highly accessible and compelling. Seldom does a biblical commentary combine clarity and theological insight as well as this one. Highly recommended, especially for individual or group Bible study.
—Scott Hahn, professor of theology and Scripture, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Stephen Pimentel, in his timely and valuable work, has demonstrated how the Holy Spirit acted most powerfully in the history of the early Church. His book, with its stimulating questions, furnishes us with an excellent introduction to the rich biblical theology contained within Saint Luke’s historical narrative. I believe this book will draw many people closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the King and Lord of history.
—Timothy T. O’Donnell, STD, president, Christendom College
Catholic commentaries on Scripture were once plentiful but recently have been in short supply. That is now beginning to change, as a new generation of Catholics has begun providing excellent books and study guides to the Bible. Stephen Pimentel’s study on Acts of the Apostles is just such a book. Drawing richly upon the Old Testament, Witnesses of the Messiah pulls back the curtain to reveal the working of God with his people Israel and the Old Testament’s continuing fulfillment in the New and Eternal Covenant. This book will enlighten and educate, benefiting both the seasoned scholar and the novice dusting off the Bible for the first time.
—Stephen K. Ray, author, Crossing the Tiber
- Title: Witnesses of the Messiah: On Acts of the Apostles 1–15
- Author: Stephen Pimentel
- Series: Kingdom series
- Publisher: Emmaus Road Publishing
- Publication Date: 2002
- Pages: 232
- Christian Group: Catholic
- Resource Type: Bible Studies
- Topic: Biblical Studies
Stephen Pimentel is a writer and speaker on Catholic apologetics and Scripture. He is a contributor to Catholic for a Reason III: Scripture and the Mystery of the Mass. He holds an MA in theology from Christendom College.