In 2001, Mauck wrote Paul on Trial: The Book of Acts as a Defense to Christianity (Thomas Nelson). Paul on Trial concludes that the New Testament Book of Acts was written as a legal brief to defend Christianity and the Apostle Paul against criminal charges before the Roman Emperor Nero, thus proving the historical accuracy of this part of the Bible.
Mauck compares the Book of Acts with first century Roman law, politics, and social issues to demonstrate that the Apostle Paul’s life and the future of Christianity hung on whether the emperor would decide that the religion that Paul was preaching was truly Jewish or was an illegal “new” religion. After discussing the secular historical context which informs the biblical narrative, including personality profiles of the Emperor Nero, his advisers Seneca and Burrus, and Theophilus, the reader of Acts, the book then comments on every chapter of Acts, showing how each furthers the legal objectives of Paul and the Christians. Throughout Paul On Trial, Mauck explains fascinating methods of historical, legal, biblical, and literary analysis and then uses such methods as dating, genre, authorship, themes, and character focus to elucidate his thesis about why Acts was written.
Although the concept that Acts was a legal defense brief was, until Paul on Trial, considered implausible by many scholars, Mauck's insights have received support from a cross-section of internationally-known academics who teach at: Christ for the Nations; Fuller Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, University of Chicago; Garrett Seminary, Northwestern University; Loyola University; and Columbia Evangelical Seminary. Paul on Trial was also nominated for Evangelical Book of the Year and over 15,000 copies have been sold.
The book can be purchased through Amazon.com.