Charting the theological and cultural potency of Acts across the timespan of Christian history, this work of profound scholarship reveals the full extent of the New Testament book s religious, artistic, literary, and political influence. * Reveals the influence of Acts at key turning points in the history of the Christian church * Traces the rich and varied artistic and cultural heritage rooted in Acts, from music to literature * Analyzes the political significance of the book as a touchstone in the church s external relations * Provides detailed commentary on the exegesis of Acts down the centuries