This book, which is by a young German evangelical scholar, is a revised version of a 1997 PhD thesis from the University of Aberdeen, written under the supervision of Professor I.H. Marshall. It is essentially a study of Luke’s view of human nature (anthropology).

It is divided into four main parts. Part one surveys previous research on the anthropology of the Luke-Acts, notably the work of J.-W. Taeger. Part two considers both Luke’s explicit statements and his narrative portrayals relating to Gentiles prior to coming to faith. The bulk of the study is found in Part three, which considers ‘the Gentile encounter with salvation’ (e.g. through Peter’s ministry to Cornelius and Paul’s speech at the Areopagus, among numerous other texts considered). Part four considers Luke’s portrayal of Gentiles who had become Christians. This is a careful study of Luke’s writings, written from an evangelical perspective, which ultimately concludes that Luke’s portrayal of Gentiles indicates that Gentiles are by nature in a dreadful situation, that they are ‘unable to alter their condition’, and that they ‘need God’s saving intervention to change their plight’ (383).

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