The Shepherd-Flock Motif in the Miletus Discourse (Acts 20:17-38) Against Its Historical Background provides a comprehensive survey of the use of the shepherd-flock motif in the ancient world for the readers of the New Testament. This review of Ancient Near Eastern, Jewish, Greco-Roman, and Christian sources is guided by a motific approach that integrates the concept of metaphor, Semantics, and the comparative method. A chief concern of this study is to apply this knowledge to the study of Luke-Acts, especially the Miletus Discourse (Acts 20:17-38). The shepherd-flock motif appears to be central in this speech and helps to integrate other motifs and themes in this discourse, such as the kingship motif. The Shepherd-Flock Motif in the Miletus Discourse (Acts 20:17-38) Against Its Historical Background is indispensable to the study of motifs in the New Testament and contributes meaningfully to the scholarly research on Luke-Acts.

Acts is the sequel to Luke's gospel and tells the story of Jesus's followers during the 30 years after his death. It describes how the 12 apostles, formerly Jesus's disciples, spread the message of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean against a background of persecution. With an introduction by P.D. James

The Story Student Edition reveals the unfolding, grand narrative of the Scriptures. Using the accurate, readable, and clear text of the New International Version, this rendering of the Bible allows its stories, poems, and teachings to come together in a single, compelling read. Now with the exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print typeface.

God wants you to experience the great wonder of moving in and through His grace—on a daily basis. That’s why this book isn’t just about how to discover your spiritual gifts, or even how to receive them—it’s about how to release them! Give them away! The Spirit is demonstrating God’s supernatural power through His church today as realms of His glory are released on a global basis. All of God’s gifts are still fully operational, and every single believer is designed to flow in the river of God, fulfilling his or her destiny. In Releasing Spiritual Gifts Today, you’ll learn the way the Holy Spirit moves and how He operates through spiritual gifts. Then you’ll explore the nine most widely recognized gifts. These are not the only gifts God gives His children, but they are vital to understand and then activate according to His leading for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. This book is filled with examples of how spiritual gifts have been used in action, both within the pages of the Bible and in contemporary times. God desires to pour out His gifts on His people today in even greater degrees of impact and authority. Discover what the Lord wants to do for you and through you by releasing spiritual gifts in a mighty outpouring of His love, grace, and power.

The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation.