Rev. ed. of: Early Christianity according to the traditions in Acts.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 403-408) and indexes.

Introduction : the layout and method of the analysis -- Ch. I. Acts 1:1-8:3 : the primitive church in Jerusalem -- Ch. II. Acts 8:4-15:35 : the spreading of the gospel in the Gentile world -- Ch. III. Acts 15:36-21:36 : Paul's missionary journey starting and ending in Jerusalem -- Ch. IV. Acts 21:37-28:31 : Paul, the prisoner and defender of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome -- Ch. V. Chronological chart of Paul's life and of primitive Christianity from 30 to 70 CE -- Ch. VI. The real value of Luke's account in Acts for primitive Christianity between 30 and 70 CE -- Ch. VII. A brief narrative of primitive Christianity from 30 to 70 CE -- App. Acts of the apostles as a historical source.

"Although many books have been published on the Acts of the Apostles, Ludemann's work is unique in its emphasis on establishing reliable historical facts. Other scholars have delved into Acts to discover the author's theology and the purpose of his writing. By contrast, Ludemann examines each individual section of this New Testament book to detect what, if any, specific tradition may lay behind it. Ludemann seeks to establish the historical value of the words and deeds of Jesus' disciples and of Paul as they appear in Acts. Where possible, he offers a reasoned judgment on the historical value of every event and action described in this early Christian text."--BOOK JACKET.