Characters in Acts: A Matter of the Heart

‘Thorough’ and ‘thoughtful’ were words that came to mind as I was reading this book.
This is a study of seven characters who feature in Luke’s account of the early church, showing how they responded to their encounter with the gospel message.
There are four examples of those who were converted on hearing the gospel: an Ethiopian official, a Jewish Pharisee, a business woman from Thyatira and a Roman prison governor — four very different people who came to faith in very different ways.
These accounts are followed by three examples of those who rejected the gospel: Governor Felix, Governor Festus and King Agrippa.
The studies are well researched and background information is given, yet the material is presented in a pleasing and readable style.
An appropriate quotation from either the Westminster Confession of Faith or Larger Catechism is included in each chapter, which I thought most helpful.
No indication of the target readership is suggested but both new Christians and the more mature believer will equally benefit from its content. It could also be put into the hands of those who, while not yet believing, are thinking through gospel issues.
The author is of Presbyterian persuasion and understandably presents his view of covenant children and household baptisms when he comes to deal with Lydia and the Philippian gaoler.
I enjoyed reading the book and would have appreciated an extra chapter on Cornelius, a very significant case study of conversion in the book of Acts.

This book is not a commentary on the Book of Acts, but rather a character study of 7 individuals in Acts. They are the Ethiopian eunuch, Paul, Lydia, the Philippian Jailor, Felix, Festus and Agrippa. The author seeks to show how each encountered the gospel and how they responded, some to conversion and some to rejection, and how God works in different ways to bring about true conversion. For example, his chapter on the conversion of Lydia begins with a comparison of the circumstances of her conversion with that of Paul. It is far more than just an interesting study of these characters, because it demonstrates the true nature of the gospel and how conversion involves repentance and faith in Christs work. Where there is so much confusion over what conversion really is, this book will plainly lead the reader to a biblical understanding of the subject. It is a well-written book, profitable for believers and unbelievers alike. Having described the individual's experience of the gospel, each chapter concludes with reflections designed to make the reader think carefully. Although Mr Uprichard is of Presbyterian persuasion, those of a different theological bent will find no difficulty in using the book. For example, the chapter on the Ethiopian eunuch makes no comment on the mode of baptism, but asserts the importance of it following conversion. This book can be thoroughly recommended and reading it has encouraged me to seek out some of the other titles written by Dr Uprichard.