Think of this book as a nice Introduction like you might find in a good commentary but presenting in a more appealing, accessible format. Its style extends past scholars only, while most of their issues are addressed, to other Bible students. The writing is easy to follow.

To my mind, the work covers much of the basics in the first few chapters. Chapter 8 on discipleship was thoroughly enjoyable and my favorite of the book. I might have discussed “salvation” differently in some ways, but he did a good job illustrating how big it is in these two books. The chapter on empire was interesting.

The design and even layout of the book is favorable. Several of the charts met a need too.

The book misses in some cases. The chapter that asks if Jesus is a feminist is a perfect example. Luke, as has long been noted, mentions women more often than other Gospels. That fact is, too, worthy of study. But why use the term “feminist”? It’s true that there has been a substantial bit of literature on feminism in the Bible, such as it was, that a comprehensive commentary might have to address, but a book to a wider audience would do better to avoid a word with so much baggage. The term means more than pro-woman and those modern notions are no where in Luke. Why write as if they were? I could argue the same way on the next chapter when he asks if Luke is a socialist. Luke speaks of the individual ethical use of money and just isn’t on the capitalist/socialist spectrum at all. It also sounds in these examples like we are taking our thoughts and judging Luke, and ultimately God, rather than the other way around.

Another problem for me is that in a work like this you can analyze Luke at the expense of the rest of the Bible. Of course, it’s good to study what he includes and excludes. But if the Spirit is the true author, then the inclusions and exclusions are better addressed theologically than with some discussion of Luke, say, just being a product of his time. Luke’s times are in play but mistakes because of it, for example, could not be.

My criticisms, to be fair, are not unique to Bird. After he traverses the landscape including some faint trails going no where, he finally concludes in a better place in most cases. I’m probably dwelling on the negatives and not sufficiently covering the far more numerous positives as well.

You’ll have to learn in this book; it’s inevitable. Luke/Acts is worthy of our learning. If your questions are exactly those scholarly questions that are hot at the moment, rather than just what you might ask usually, add a star to the rating.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.