Craig Keener, who wrote the Foreword to my new book that tells the entire story of the New Testament church in chronological order, is the editor of a new commentary series on the New Testament called “Word and Spirit.” This post is a review of the Acts commentary in the series.
The Acts commentary by Robert P. Menzies and Craig S. Keener represents a landmark contribution to Spirit-filled biblical scholarship. This collaboration brings together two of the most respected Pentecostal New Testament scholars, creating what may become the definitive commentary on Acts for the charismatic and Pentecostal communities.
Keener’s exhaustive historical and cultural expertise, demonstrated in his acclaimed four-volume Acts commentary, combines seamlessly with Menzies’ specialized pneumatological insights and Luke-Acts scholarship. Together, they provide both rigorous exegetical analysis and practical theological application that speaks directly to Spirit-filled believers seeking to understand Acts’ relevance for contemporary ministry.
The commentary excels in balancing academic rigor with pastoral sensitivity. Rather than simply cataloguing historical details, the authors consistently ask how the same Spirit who empowered the early church continues working today. They skillfully navigate controversial passages about spiritual gifts, divine healing, and supernatural manifestations without compromising scholarly integrity or dismissing contemporary Spirit experiences as mere emotionalism.
Particularly valuable is their treatment of Luke’s pneumatology and ecclesiology. The authors demonstrate how Acts serves not merely as historical narrative but as theological paradigm for understanding the Spirit’s ongoing work in mission, church planting, and cross-cultural evangelism.
Their insights into the relationship between Word and Spirit, evangelism and social justice, and supernatural power and practical ministry provide fresh perspectives for modern practitioners.
I also like how the commentary blends historical stories from groups like the Moravians, D.L. Moody, R.A. Torrey, etc.
This commentary is essential reading for pastors, students, and scholars within the Spirit-filled tradition, offering both scholarly credibility and spiritual insight that will benefit the growing global Pentecostal-charismatic movement for years to come.
This commentary is a helpful supplement to my new book The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: Revised and Expanded, which uniquely unlocks all 21 epistles in the New Testament within the overarching narrative of the story told from the Gospels to Revelation.
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