in a great degree worthless by the omission of many of Dr. Hackett's most valuable critical observations. The translation of the text annexed to that edition is, however, of considerable value. The second part of the Acts, which recounts the missionary labours of Paul, has recently been fully discussed, and much learning and research have been brought to bear upon it. Two works are especially instructive, and deserve careful perusal-The Life and Epistles of St. Paul by Lewin, and the classical work on the same subject by Conybeare and Howson: in the former the historical connections of the Acts are chiefly stated, and in the latter its geographical relations. Neither of those works, however, professes to be a critical examination of the book itself. the Acts, or on detached The works of Baur, espe In Germany, critical works on portions of it, are very numerous. cially his Apostel Paulus, the Commentary of Zeller, and other writings of the Tübingen school, are distinguished for their ability, and have called forth a multitude of learned treatises on the Acts. De Wette's Commentary is most valuable for its critical notes, its grammatical details, and its exegesis. The works of Lange, Lekebusch, Oertel, Olshausen, and Baumgarten, are highly to be commended, as exhibiting much of that profound scholarship which is the peculiar characteristic of German theologians. The Commentary of Lechler in Lange's Bibelwerk is one of great excellence, exhibiting at once the erudition of an accomplished scholar and the piety of a Christian. The third edition, recently published, is enriched with an enlarged introduction and many important additional remarks. But by far the most valuable work on the Acts, and that from which the author has derived greater assistance than from all other works put together, is Meyer's Apostelgeschichte. This work cannot be too highly praised: it is the perfection of a Com mentary, at once full and concise, though unhappily somewhat tainted with rationalistic opinions. It is a matter of surprise that the Commentaries of this great man, perhaps the most eminent of living biblical critics, have never been translated into English. It would be a great boon to English theological students, who are unacquainted with German, if the enterprising publishers of the "Foreign Theological Library" would make them a part of their series. Two noted books dealing with this subject have been published since this Commentary was written-Dr. Davidson's Introduction to the New Testament, and Renan's Saint Paul. The author has given these works his careful consideration, and has embraced in the body of the Commentary, or in notes, such references to them as appeared to him to be requisite. But he found that, with all their undoubted ability, they added but little to the elaborate criticisms of the German theologians. Dr. Davidson's book belongs to the Tübingen school, and the opinions adopted are similar to those of Baur and Zeller. It appears to the author that neither Renan's Saint Paul, nor his previous work, Les Apôtres, which deals in his wonderfully arbitrary manner with the earlier portion of the Acts, can be regarded as an important contribution to the literature of the subject, or is likely to take much hold on the English mind. Despite the remarkable charm of his style, and his unquestionable scholarship, he wants the critical acumen of Baur. His arbitrary conjectures, the unwarrantable theories which he builds on the slightest foundations, appear to the author to deprive his work of much substantial value, and give it the tone of a romance rather than a history. Plausible though he be, Renan is far from being a formidable antagonist of sound theology. These works proceed, however, from wholly different fundamental opinions from those which the author entertains, and on which he has based his Commentary. A few words are necessary, in explanation of the method adopted in the composition of the present Commentary. The translation is not from the textus receptus, but from the last (the seventh) edition of Tischendorf's Novum Testamentum Græce, now generally accepted as the best critical edition of the text. The Critical Notes contain the authority for the readings of Tischendorf, when they differ materially from the readings of the textus receptus. When the author has differed from Tischendorf with regard to the correct reading of any passage, he has stated his reasons for it in the Exegetical Remarks. The quotations in Greek in the Exegetical Remarks are from the text of Tischendorf, and not from the textus receptus. The principal part of the Commentary consists of the Exegetical Remarks. The meaning of the text has been carefully examined; and all information which the author could gather from external sources has been brought to bear upon its elucidation. The apparent discrepancies between the Acts and other authorities-and, in short, all those difficulties which are started by Baur and De Wette—have been met, and never in a single instance wilfully omitted. The work, however, it is to be recollected, professes to be purely exegetical the dogmatical aspects of the Acts have not been considered at all, nor has any attempt been made to draw practical inferences. The Commentary does not profess to be a contribution to dogmatic theology or practical religion. Several discussions on various questions of more than usual importance or difficulty are treated of separately. These are generally inserted as appendices or notes to the sections in which the points discussed are specially adverted to. Various geographical notices in regard to the places mentioned in the Acts have not been thought wholly inappropriate to the present work, and it is to be hoped may be found to be of interest. In conclusion, the author is anxious to say that it has been his special endeavour to avoid all theological intolerance, and to discuss the opinions of those from whom he differs most with candour and deference, not only from a sincere respect for the distinguished abilities and learning of the greater number of the authors whose opinions he has had occasion to consider, but especially because he believes himself to have been actuated solely by the desire to discover and express the truth, and to defend it by reason and not by passion; and he has attempted to form his judgment anew on all the points discussed with as little bias as possible from preconceived opinions. It is right, however, to say that his firm belief in the reality of miracles, and in the resurrection of Christ, renders his principles of interpretation diametrically opposed both to the Rationalism of Kuinoel, and to the mythical explanation of the Tübingen school. BLANTYRE MANSE, 1870. |