The material in this book began its existence as an Oxford D.Phil, thesis, undertaken while the author was on the staff of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and a postgraduate student of The Queen's College, Oxford. In expressing my appreciation for the help I received from both institutions, I would like to thank in particular the then Principal of Wycliffe Hall, the Revd Geoffrey Shaw, for his support, and my colleagues there for their encouragement.

It was the late Professor G. D. Kilpatrick whose teaching first stimulated my interest in the discipline of textual criticism; for this I shall always remain grateful. As the work progressed the helpful and wise guidance of my supervisors, the late Professor G. B. Caird and Dr J. B. Muddiman (who acted as supervisor for the greater part of the time), put me enormously in their debt.

Comments and suggestions from Professor J. N. Birdsall, Dr J. K. Elliott, and Professor J. C. O'Neill have been of great help in the preparation of this work.

Finally, this book would not have seen the light of day had it not been for my wife's patient encouragement during the years in which Acts has become part of our lives.

It need scarcely be said that the imperfections of the work are wholly my own.