This study contributes to debate about the portraits of Paul in Acts and his epistles by considering Paul's Miletus speech (Acts 20.18b-35) and identifies and compares major themes in Luke and Paul's views of Christian leadership. Comparisons with Jesus' speeches in Luke show how Lukan the speech is and, with 1 Thessalonians, how Pauline it is. The speech calls the Ephesian elders to service after Paul's departure to Jerusalem, focusing on: faithful fulfilment of leadership responsibility; suffering; attitudes to wealth and work; and the death of Jesus. Paul models Christian leadership for the elders. Parallels in Luke highlight his view of Christian leadership - modelled by Jesus and taught to his disciples, and modelled by Paul and taught to the elders. Study of 1 Thessalonians identifies a remarkably similar portrait of Christian leadership. The Miletus speech is close in thought, presentation and vocabulary to an early, indubitably Pauline letter.

‘This excellent revised Sheffield PhD by a gifted lecturer at the London Bible College investigates by literary and thematic analysis the relationship of the picture of Paul in Acts to the Paul who wrote at least seven of the epistles … Those writing PhDs and commentaries on Acts will want to consult this work …’

Source: Theological Book Review

‘In addition, Walton’s volume contributes to the understanding of Christian leadership in the NT …’

Source: European Journal of Theology