Bruce J. Malina is professor of new testament at Creighton University, Omaha, and author or coauthor or editor of many influential volumes in New Testament, including several recent Fortress Press titles: Social Science Commentary on the Book of Revelation (2000); Social Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels (2nd edition 2003); Social Science Commentary on the Gospel of John (1998); and The Social Gospel of Jesus (2001).John J. Pilch is professor of biblical studies at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Among his numerous publications are The Cultural World of Jesus: Sunday by Sunday (1995 - 97), The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible (1999), and Healing in the New Testament (2000). Malina and Pilch have co-authored the Social Science Commentary on the Book of Acts (2008) and the Social-Science Commentary on the Letters of Paul (2005), both from Fortress Press.