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Synopsis from Baker Academic: 

Luke's Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles come out of a world in which it was commonly believed that outward appearance, including physical disabilities, indicated inner, moral character. This belief that you can, as it were, judge a book by its cover has been described as the "physiognomic consciousness" of the ancient world. Luke, in stories related to the establishment and fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, introduces the language of physiognomy only to subvert it. Theology trumps physiognomy: inclusion in the people of God is not determined by one's physical features.

After surveying the relationship between physical appearance and character in Greco-Roman, Jewish, and early Christian literature, Mikeal Parsons sketches Luke's attitude toward the body-soul relationship before homing in on four key passages: the bent woman of Luke 13, Zacchaeus in Luke 19, the lame man of Acts 3-4, and the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8. A brief epilogue suggests avenues of contemporary application, and an appendix displays several key ancient texts.

Scholars, students, and pastors will find their understanding of Luke and Acts illuminated by this groundbreaking treatment of physiognomy in New Testament narrative.