Many Convincing Proofs : Persuasive phenomena associated with gospel proclamation in Acts

While there have been various studies examining the contents of the evangelistic proclamation in Acts; and various studies examining, from one angle or another, individual persuasive phenomena described in Acts (e.g., the use of the Jewish Scriptures); no individual studies have sought to identify the key persuasive phenomena presented by Luke in this book, or to analyse their impact upon the book’s early audiences.

This study identifies four key phenomena – the Jewish Scriptures, witnessed supernatural events, the Christian community and Greco-Roman cultural interaction. By employing a textual analysis of Acts that takes into account both narrative and socio-historical contexts, the impact of these phenomena upon the early audiences of Acts – that is, those people who heard or read the narrative in the first decades after its completion – is determined.

The investigation offers some unique and nuanced insights into evangelistic proclamation in Acts; persuasion in Acts, persuasion in the ancient world; each of the persuasive phenomena discussed; evangelistic mission in the early Christian church; and the growth of the early Christian church.

"Many Convincing Proofs gets at the heart at what is undoubtedly one of the primary purposes of Acts, namely, to convince others of the truth of the gospel and to establish further confidence in those who already believe. To this end, Liggins shows how Acts marshals a variety of persuasive phenomena to accomplish these goals. The comprehensive reading of the book of Acts makes for a helpful handbook on these phenomena."
Joshua W. Jipp in: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 60/1, 2017, 186-189

"In this inspiring and fresh study, Liggins combines several important issues in current research on Acts (significance of the Old Testament, miracles, interaction with the cultural context)."

Christoph Stenschke in: Journal of Gospels and Acts Research Vol. 2, 2018, 131-134