This is only a few pages - a sample, but it looks like it would be a great book for a small group at church to study and the photography is very helpful to illustrate the Bible passages. Please make the whole book available

This is a great idea for a book. Understanding biblical texts is certainly enhanced by an awareness of the geographical features of where they arose. The author gives a good example of this, noting that one of Jesus’ comments about taxation contains a reference to the sea, and the comment was made in a context that was right next to the sea. It gives a different flavour to the comment when the reader can visualise Jesus potentially nodding towards the sea as he spoke.

The Mediterranean world of the New Testament is also very photogenic. There are some beautiful ruins and some evocative locations which mean that it is a great idea to combine those pictures with a narration of the text of Acts.

However, the version of the book which I saw was only a VERY small extract of the first chapter or so. I can see that the book begins well. But I have absolutely no idea how the book continues, or ends.

One of the issues raised in this tiny extract from the book is the narration of the events surrounding Judas’ death. It refers to the geographical location and states the relevant biblical text.

Accounts of Judas’ death are interesting because they seem to combine two different views of how he came to die. Biblical commentaries over the centuries have wrestled with how to explain that factor. Perhaps it would have been useful to include an explanation of the issue, otherwise there is a risk of the book giving an excessively literalistic view of the biblical text which ignores complexities surrounding it.

The fact that I can only see the beginning of the book makes it impossible to give a star rating for the text, as a reviewer cannot comment favourably or unfavourably upon a text that he has not seen. However, software will not allow me to submit a review without a star rating, so I think I will have to give this 1 star, as I simply do not have enough information available to rate the book higher.

(These are honest comments on a ARC digital version of the text, which was made freely available for the purpose of review).

I would be very interested in buying the full length version of this book when it comes out. I loved seeing and hearing the context of both culture and location for what we read in the book of Acts- it added another layer of understanding for me and was just fascinating as someone who loves history too!

The "sample" / advance review copy of Lands of the Bible Then and Now was only 20-ish pages long. (This included the cover and back cover and miscellaneous pages. So actual pages read was 12-ish and that included photos.)

I've taken several Bible Study classes. I believe that this book would be very popular as part of Bible Studies and I would really enjoy reading the full length version this book. But I would like to see the finished book before I ordered it. It seems to me that it would make a beautiful hardcover book, but I can't really picture it as a paperback book. (Note that this ISBN indicates that it is paperback.)

The sample did describe that the walk from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives and how long it would have taken Then ... covered with olive trees. And also describes it now ... a cemetery with as many as 120,000 graves. I love that the text gives the Bible passages a new level of perspective.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Our Daily Bread Publishing for approving my request to read the advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. Anticipated publication date is August 2025. The book is expected to be 264 pages.

Thanks to Netgalley and Our daily bread publishing for a Arc copy of Short version of this book for an honest review. Will try to order the full book soon. Loved the scriptures and the discussion with pictures that takes you to holy places.

Lands of the Bible Then and Now, Experience the Book of Acts in Scripture and Photos by Dave Branon has some photos that I wish I could have taken when on an Israel tour several years ago. It is focused on the Book of Acts in the Bible when the disciples witnessed in Jerusalem then begin to broaden their witness. So not only Israel is included but the place of Paul’s journey. The photos are perfect, with commentary and Scripture. The commentary of then and now along with the Biblical account is clear, concise and historical enlightening. I highly recommend this book, whether you have ever been able to tour some of the areas or only want to do so.

As a visual learner and Christian, I’m always looking for ways to deepen my connection to Scripture, and Lands of the Bible Then and Now: Experience the Book of Acts in Scripture and Photo has a brilliant concept. I really enjoyed the photographs. They bring the landscapes and stories of Acts to life but I wish there had been a more charismatic approach to the visuals. With a title emphasizing “in photo,” I expected a more finessed design beyond the single-picture layout. The content and concept are excellent; I just wish the execution had been more thoughtfully designed to match the richness of the subject matter.

This one is absolutely fascinating if you love Biblical history and geography. The side-by-side look at ancient and modern lands brings Scripture to life in a fresh way. I could almost picture walking those same roads and seeing the same landscapes. It’s educational but never dry — perfect for visual learners and Bible lovers alike. Definitely one to keep near your study materials.

Lands of the Bible Then and Now is a breathtaking and insightful look into the people, culture, traditions, habits, and context of the time of Acts. Knowing a location can help us to experience multi-sensory bits of true history. Though I have not been to most locations described in this book, I live on the Adriatic where olives and figs grow and the history is rich so to a point can recognize some geographical and architectural features. But this book really pulled stories together for me. From the highly known locations such as the Mount of Olives, Bethlehem, Mesopotamia, Athens, and Rome to those we may think less about such as Akeldama, Solomon's Colonnade, Shechem, Azotus, Sharon, Mysia, Jason's house, and a lecture hall of Tyrannus, it's all here. I like that general locations are discussed as well, including temple courts, people's homes, a field, and jail, It has been awhile since I studied Biblical geography and this book caused me to thirst for it again. Photographs are helpful as well.

Each section describes the place, focuses where it is found in scripture, what happened in said location, then and now, and fascinating history and other information. God used Biblical locations as they were crucial then for politics, religions, acts of obedience and betrayal, worship, cultures, and wars, and all remain relevant to this day. As the author explains, the Bible and its locations are unshakeable fact. Some still exist. I did not realize that there are two hundred places mentioned in Acts!

Not only did I learn more about the significance of the locations but more importantly, about our God who always was, is, and always will be.