Conversion in Luke-Acts

Joel Green's study emerges from the recognition that Luke-Acts presents a complex and often puzzling portrait of conversion that has frequently been flattened by systematic theology into neat categories. Working within the Wesleyan tradition of biblical scholarship, Green addresses the apparent tensions in Luke's narrative between divine sovereignty and human agency in the conversion process, particularly as these dynamics play out across different ethnic and social boundaries in the early Christian movement.

Green argues that Luke understands conversion not as a single moment of individual decision but as a multifaceted process of reorientation that encompasses cognitive, social, and theological dimensions. He demonstrates that Luke consistently portrays conversion as both divine initiative and human response, refusing to resolve this tension in favor of either pure determinism or simple voluntarism. The work traces how Luke shows conversion operating differently across various groups—Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles—while maintaining that each transformation serves the larger purpose of reconstituting the people of God around Jesus Christ. Green pays particular attention to how Luke uses conversion narratives to address questions of inclusion and boundary-crossing that were crucial to early Christian identity formation.

This study has proven valuable for its methodological sophistication in reading Luke-Acts as a unified theological narrative rather than a historical source to be mined for early church practices. Green's approach has influenced subsequent scholarship on Lukan theology and contributed to broader conversations about conversion in biblical studies. Who should read this: Biblical scholars and theologians interested in Lukan studies, conversion theology, or the relationship between divine action and human agency will find Green's work essential. Pastors and students seeking popular-level material on conversion should look elsewhere, as this is a work of technical biblical scholarship.