Paul on Trial: The Book of Acts as a Defense of Christianity

by John W. Mauck

Book Overview

JOHN W. MAUCK provides an exciting new way of understanding the Book of Acts. With great skill and powerful arguments, the author contends that Acts was written primarily to defend Paul for his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0785245987
• ISBN13: 9780785245988
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Interesting Approach to Acts

I read this book about 2 years ago, and am still fascinated by its premise and the well-reasoned approach used to support that premise. Mauck's writing is clear and compelling, and got me thinking about the Book of Acts in a far different way than I ever had before. To the best of my knowledge, there is no other book that treats Acts as a legal document and Mauck's arguments gripped me to read further and revisit the Bible itself in light of this idea.I am neither a law student nor Bible scholar, just a Christian interested in learning more about my faith. I highly recommend Paul on Trial to anyone who is interested in more fully exploring the early Christian church and Paul's challenges in spreading the Gospel.

Acts as a Legal Document

As someone who has written a book on the relationship of historical evidence to the book of Acts (Evidence and Paul's Journeys: An Historical Investigation into the Travels of the Apostle Paul), I wish that I had had John Mauck's book in hand while doing my research.Mauck, a seasoned attorney, cogently argues the case that the book of Acts was written as a pre-trial document for the Apostle Paul, while Paul was awaiting trial before the emperor Nero. Although I am not sure that this thesis is finally proven, Mauck weaves together enough fascinating strands of evidence to suggest the very real possibility that Acts was just such a document. At the very least, he establishes that Acts was deliberately written with the legal status of Paul - and of Christianity - in mind.The casual Bible student too easily views Acts as simply an account of Paul's missionary efforts, without recognizing the key role that law and litigation played in his career. Paul was a controversial figure, who did not back down when proclaiming his message in the cities and provinces of the Roman empire. Acts describes in detail the court fights and imprisonments that Paul underwent for the sake of the gospel. To understand Acts, and the radical character of early Christianity, it is necessary to understand the legal strategies of Paul and his opponents. John Mauck takes us into the middle of that legal battle and gives us new insights into the formative period when the gospel was first proclaimed to the Roman world.

A Must Read

There are far reaching implications which will most likely compel the thoughtful reader to rethink their view of both Christianity and Judaism. Anyone seeking truth with an open mind will find a lot to think about.Warning, the truth is out there!

Son's Review

Paul on Trial concludes that the Book of Acts was originally a legal brief written to Theophilus, the chief pretrial fact investigator for the infamous Roman Emperor Nero. As the son of the author, I like to think of dad's book as an adventure/detective expedition into the heart of the New Testament and the politics and real people whose decisions, actions and proclamation shape the world we live in. It helps to have familiarity with Acts, but Mauck does a good job of serving both the scholar and the neophite Bible reader. Bottom line: this answers a theological question that has baffled scholars for centuries, and it does so in compelling fashion. A great read for anyone interested in Roman law or Christianity. I'm proud to call him my father.Drew Mauck

A Great Defense of Christianity

Paul on Trial does a great job of examining the Bible's Book of Acts and other historical information to show that the future of Christianity hung on whether the Emperor Nero would decide that the religion the Apostle Paul was preaching was truly Jewish or was an illegal new religion. Mr. Mauck's book incorporates powerful legal, religious, and political forces that impacted early Christianity. Then, with a lawyer's insight, Mauck brings to life how Luke has crafted a legal strategy to convince Roman officials of Paul's innocence and of the legality of Christianity. For anyone who wants to strengthen their Christian faith, or is searching for the truth behind Christianity, this is the book to read.