The Paul of Acts

In his series of studies Stanley E. Porter focuses upon the depiction of Paul in the book of Acts from literary-critical, rhetorical, and theological perspectives, among several others. The essays within this volume extend work on various issues in recent Pauline studies by pursuing various topics related to the Paul of Acts. After discussing the methods and assumptions of his work, Stanley E. Porter first treats the 'we' passages of Acts as a source regarding Paul, and the theology and perspective of these passages in terms of their portrait of him. Addressing a neglected area of Acts research, he analyzes the Acts passages that deal with Paul and the Holy Spirit. Then he turns to the question of Pauline rhetoric and discusses whether Paul is an epistolographer or rhetorician, and examines Paul's missionary speeches and his apologetic speeches in Acts. After that the author looks at Acts 21 and Paul's arrest in Jerusalem, before he closes with an analysis of the Paul of Acts and the Paul of the letters in terms of some common conceptions and misconceptions.Methods and Assumptions in this Study of the Paul of Acts - The 'We' Passages in Acts as a Source regarding Paul. Excursus: The 'We' Source of Acts - The Theology and Perspective of the 'We' Passages in Acts and the Portrait of Paul - Paul and the Holy Spirit in Acts - Paul as Epistolographer and Rhetorician? Implications for the Study of the Paul of Acts - The Argumentative Dimension of Paul's Missionary Speeches in Acts - The Argumentative Dimension of Paul's Apologetic Speeches in Acts - Acts 21:17-26 and Paul, the Man for All Seasons, or the Man Betrayed by his Friends? - The Paul of Acts and the Paul of the Letters: Some Common Conceptions and Misconceptions