Table of Contents Acknowledgments Series Introduction Acts Spirit-Empowered Witnesses 1:1-11 How to Discern the Will of God 1:12-26 The Promised Holy Spirit 2:1-41 A Healthy Body of Christ 2:42-47 The Wonder and the Word 3:1-26 With All Boldness 4:1-31 Inside the Huddle 4:32–5:11 Ministry and Hostility 5:12-42 Growing Pains 6:1-7 Christlike 6:8–8:3 The Gospel to Samaria 8:4-25 How Ordinary People Live on Mission 8:26-40 From Terrorist to Evangelist 9:1-31 Grace for Every Race 9:32–11:18 The Antioch Model 11:19-30; 12:25; 13:1-3 Opposition and Advancement 12:1-24 The Holy Spirit, a Bible, a Passport, and a First- Aid Kit, Part 1 13:4-52 The Holy Spirit, a Bible, a Passport, and a First- Aid Kit, Part 2 14:1-28 Grace Alone 15:1-35 Jesus’s Power Displayed in Philippi 15:36–16:40 Turning the World Upside Down 17:1-15 Lessons from Paul’s Visit to Athens 17:16-34 Gospel Ministry in an Immoral Culture 18:1-22 Word-Driven Disciple Makers 18:23–19:10 Exalting Jesus Instead of Idols 19:10-41 Encouraging One Another 20:1-12 Caring for the Blood-Bought Church of God 20:13-38 Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem 20:36–21:16 Paul in Jerusalem, Part 1 21:17–22:21 Paul in Jerusalem, Part 2 22:22–23:11 Paul in Caesarea, Part 1 23:12–24:27 Paul in Caesarea, Part 2 25:1–26:32 Rome at Last! 27:1–28:16 The End of the Beginning 28:17-31 Works Cited Scripture Index “Dr. Tony Merida’s Exalting Jesus in Acts is like having a master preacher/expositor sitting alongside you in the study. This is a commentary by a preacher for preachers. It’s exegetically accurate, pastorally keen, and homiletically powerful. In perusing these pages, one not only learns about Acts, but better yet, one is apprenticed into the way of preaching the Scriptures where sermons faithfully and accurately testify about Christ (John 5:39). I can’t recommend Merida’s offering enough.” Dr. Yancey C. Arrington, teaching pastor, Clear Creek Community Church, Houston, Texas “Effective pastoral preaching is consistently distinguished by three overarching qualities: (1) accuracy (fidelity to the sacred text, including its Christocentric implications); (2) clarity (pulpit obscurity undermines biblical potency); and (3) simplicity (an extraordinarily difficult task to which very few expositors give necessary attention). Exalting Jesus in Acts by Dr. Tony Merida meets these criteria and is a wonderful gift to those called to strengthen the church by the means of preaching and teaching. Without getting entangled in exegetical minutia, Tony wonderfully summarizes, illustrates, and applies what is arguably the most exciting book in the New Testament.” Arturo G. Azurdia III, senior teaching pastor, Trinity Church of Portland and associate professor of pastoral and church ministry, Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon “Tony Merida has written a learned and eminently practical commentary on Acts for preachers. Tony leads readers through the text like a wise tour guide and then gives preachers tips on how to make the text sing and sting! This is a commentary on Acts by a preacher and for the preacher. Few books on Acts will be as helpful as this one.” Dr. Michael F. Bird, PhD, University of Queensland, lecturer in theology at Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia “Dr. Tony Merida’s commentary on Acts is a perfect mix of exegetical insight and practical application for preachers and laypersons alike. It can, therefore, serve as a valuable source for sermon preparation as well as personal enrichment.” Joseph R. Dodson, PhD, Aberdeen, associate professor of biblical studies, Ouachita Baptist University “As we seek a church-planting movement in North America and around the world, the church’s inspired story of gospel impact in Christianity’s early days provides an essential model. Tony Merida’s commentary on the book of Acts gives us impressive scholarship and boldly spotlights the text in a way that will help mobilize churches to complete God’s mission both locally and around the world. This will be an outstanding resource for pastors as they prepare Jesus- centered sermons on the book of Acts.” Kevin Ezell, president, North American Mission Board, SBC “The Christ-Centered Exposition series is my preferred commentary for careful exegesis, relevant illustrations, and faithful application. Exalting Jesus in Acts by Tony Merida typifies this approach. Merida has done the heavy lifting by subdividing the book into sections that capture the author’s intended meaning. It is especially helpful how he spells out the main theme at the beginning of each chapter and then highlights preaching points throughout. I am certain this will be your go-to commentary for the book of Acts in the years to come.” Robby Gallaty, senior pastor, Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tennessee “Much has been written on the book of Acts, but this commentary makes its own valuable contribution for the pastor. Tony Merida carefully handles the text of Acts without missing the excitement of Acts. He faithfully expounds the truth of Scripture without forgetting the people to whom we preach. And as he traces the mission of the gospel in Acts, he never loses sight of the glory of the Savior that the gospel announces.” C.J. Mahaney, Senior Pastor, Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville “One of the challenges people face when studying the book of Acts is trying to figure out what is prescriptive and what is descriptive, especially when it comes to application. What Tony does in this homiletical commentary is provide a healthy understanding of the two while remaining faithful to the author’s intent. The book of Acts tells incredible stories of how the gospel moved from region to region as it transformed the hearts and lives of people. Tony brilliantly takes you through each adventure and at the same time shows you the how the golden thread, which is Jesus, runs through the entire book. This is a commentary you want by your side as you navigate through the book of Acts.” One Mokgatle, senior pastor of Rooted Fellowship, Pretoria, South Africa “Combining vivid, memorable examples and illustrations with careful exegesis, Christ-exalting explanations, and practical application, Tony Merida gives us a sure guide to the book of Acts. If readers will read this commentary reflectively, devoting time in the study questions that follow each chapter to godly introspection and missional resolve, then they will find their lives reflecting their Lord and Savior more fully, and they will find themselves able not only to edify themselves but to edify others.” Philip Moore, European director of Acts 29 “Tony Merida is one of the best preachers of our generation. He knows God’s Word, and he knows how to bring God’s Word with authority. Merida speaks not just to the mind or the heart or the will, but to the soul. This commentary on Acts will equip you to understand how Jesus worked through his people in the earliest days of our church. This book will also show us how to carry the gospel in an age that looks more and more like the culture of the book of Acts. That means we need the power of the book of Acts. Read and prepare.” Russell Moore, president, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission “Tony Merida has given us a highly readable and engaging commentary that scores high marks on careful exegesis and Christocentric exposition along with accessible illustrations and relevant applications. These of course are the aims of The Christ Centered Exposition Commentary. He has been careful to respect both the genre of the book and its goal to inspire the church to be a marching missional infantry based on the historic truth of her foundations. I highly recommend it to pastors and studious lay Christians.” Femi Osunnuyi, lead pastor, City Church, Lagos, Nigeria “An experienced preacher and a lucid thinker, Merida has given us a pastor’s dream commentary. It is scholarly without being unwieldy, clear without being reductionistic, and practical without ignoring contextual nuance. In fact, it is because Merida does such a good reading of the text on its own terms that it comes alive in his hands, with Christ as its radiant center. The inclusion of reflection and discussion questions at the end of each section makes this a robust resource for Bible studies as well. This will be a gift not only to preachers but to the congregations they serve.” Glenn Packiam, associate senior pastor, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado “As always, Tony delivers fresh biblical insight with compelling conviction and exegetical clarity. This commentary on Acts is a superlative work for all. The consistent application of the text to the local church will be a tremendous resource for God’s people.” Kevin Peck, lead pastor, The Austin Stone Community Church, Austin, Texas “Tony Merida is one of my favorite pastor-scholars. All of his academic work is in service of the church, and his pastoral preaching is plain spoken but undergirded by faithful scholarship. Merida understands the Christian life as spiritual warfare and the book of Acts as a God-inspired field manual for our continuing Great Commission gospel mission. Merida recognizes God as the ultimate author of both history and Scripture. Thus, he gives concentrated attention to the unique contribution of Luke as the author of Acts but never loses sight of the place of Acts in the Christ-centered canonical whole of Scripture.” David E. Prince, pastor of preaching and vision, Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, Lexington, Kentucky “Luke closes out his Gospel to Theophilus with the believers in the temple praising God. Now he picks up the story and explains what happens next. So does Tony Merida. In a style Bible teachers, pastors, and scholars will want to read, this commentary has the mind of a scholar and the heart of a pastor. I love his outlines, which, in the words of Arthur Golding’s translation of The Sermons of J. Calvin in 1583, are ‘grist for the preacher’s mill.’ Read it, study it; but more importantly, let it study you. Tony has mined for gold and found it. You will be richer after you’ve read it as well.” Dr. Ken Whitten, senior pastor, Idlewild Baptist Church, Lutz, Florida Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Acts © Copyright 2017 by Tony Merida B&H Publishing Group Nashville, Tennessee All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4336-4709-3 Dewey Decimal Classification: 220.7 Subject Heading: BIBLE. O.T. ACTS— COMMENTARIES\JESUS CHRIST Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the Christian Standard Bible® Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Scripture passages marked ESV are taken from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. Scripture passages marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture passages marked NIV are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 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