The Characterization of God in Acts

Based on the plot-oriented nature of the Acts
narrative, a key thought behind this book
is how God is revealed in the deployment
of characters and events. God's supreme
saving will and mission plan determine the
development of human history as well as
the narrative; God's sovereign authority
and power governs the movement of
characters and the development of events
and thus assures the fulfilment of his
salvific plan. From the carrying out of the
divine redemptive plan emerges a God who
is invisible-yet-perceivable, dominant-yetcogent,
and continuous-yet-changing.

'It only takes a moment of reflection to realise - once
it has been pointed out - that God is an extremely
important character in Acts. But that he belongs
intrinsically to a very different realm from the human
characters in the story means that he is not an
immediately obvious candidate for characterisation, at
least not along the lines used in literary approaches to
the study of Acts. Ling Cheng has adapted techniques
from literary approaches to make them serviceable
for examining in a fresh way the role and character
of God in the Book of Acts. New insights emerge and
old insights present themselves from a strikingly new
angle. God now takes his place as a well-delineated
character in this endlessly fascinating story.'
John Nolland, Academic Dean, Trinity College,
Bristol

'Dr Ling Cheng has provided us with the study we
have been waiting for, focusing on the character
at the heart of the story of Acts - God! She reads
Acts with care, sensitivity and thoughtfulness to
identify the central features of the portrait of God
and God's involvement with people in this key
New Testament book. She is a sure-footed guide
to this important topic. Read it. You'll benefit!'
Steve Walton, Senior Lecturer in Greek and NT
Studies & Director of Research, London School
of Theology


Ling Cheng received an MA in Exegetical Theology
and ThM in Biblical Literature from Western
Seminary, Portland, Oregon, her PhD in New
Testament Studies from London School of Theology,
and an MA in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton
College, Illinois. She teaches New Testament Studies
at Logos Evangelical Seminary in Taiwan.