J.A. Alexander has contributed to the Geneva Series of Commentaries with his volume on Acts. This book and series are published by Banner of Truth. Alexander first had this commentary published in 1857, and Banner of Truth first published it in 1963. It has since then been reprinted four times with the most recent printing occurring in 2003.
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About the Author: J.A. Alexander
J.A. Alexander is the third son of Archibald Alexander, both of whom taught at Princeton Theological Seminary. Interestingly, this work was originally to be produced for ministers and students, but after only one chapter was in print, Alexander was encouraged to finish the work with a broader audience in view. In making his work more accessible, this work has blessed the church at large for a long time!
Due to making it more accessible, the size of his work is much shorter than it would have been otherwise. For this reason, the physical size of this book is much smaller than other volumes (not so in page count, but in physical dimensions).
For those who are rather picky about their books and the way they look on bookshelves, just know in advance that this book will not match up in size with the majority of the other volumes. Don’t let this stop you from buying this book, though (that would be weird)!
I love Banner books (they are always very aesthetically pleasing to me!) and this volume, along with all the others, is a beautiful hardcover book. The hardcover is a crimson-like color with gold lettering on the spine. As mentioned above, it is smaller than most of the others, but everything else is the same. The dust cover is white with a red banner, and this specific cover has a picture of a stained glass window from Norwich in which Steven is being stoned (a story found in Acts). The back cover lists all of the other volumes that are available in the Geneva Series.
Format and Content
I love the format of this book. Some of the volumes in the Geneva Series do not have the type of layout that makes referencing a particular passage very easy. Alexander’s volume on Acts is very easy to use for referencing. Not only is the chapter and verses indicated on the top of the page in a header, but the verse number followed by the verse itself is provided prior to any commentary. The reader will have no issue at all finding a particular verse that they are seeking teaching on.
Alexander is an excellent bible expositor and teacher! He knows how to balance the technical and pastoral aspects of a commentary very well. Though he provides no shortage of information for every single verse in the book of Acts, he articulates it very well so that anybody in the church is able to understand it and apply it. (I have noticed that most of the Geneva Series Commentaries have this wonderful attribute.)
Conclusion
As with all of the volumes in Banner of Truth’s Geneva Series of Commentaries, I can’t recommend this volume highly enough! It is good reading that will richly bless your soul and help you grow in your love and worship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Tolle Lege, take up and read!
Disclaimer: My thanks to The Banner of Truth Trust for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.
More Book Reviews in the Geneva Series of Commentaries
- Colossians (Geneva Series of Commentaries)
- Galatians (Geneva Series of Commentaries)
- Hebrews (Geneva Series of Commentaries)
- Psalms (Geneva Series of Commentaries)
- Romans (Geneva Series of Commentaries)
Matt became a joyful follower of Jesus at the age of 21. He is very grateful to be a husband to Lindsey, and a father to four boys. He is an ordained minister (teaching elder) in the PCA. He previously served as a pastor of biblical counseling and is currently a corporate chaplain in southern Delaware. Matt received his Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds an advanced certification in biblical counseling from the Association of Biblical Counselors. In his free time, he loves playing with his boys, traveling with his wife, and reading (and buying!) books.
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