The Book of Acts

1. The Book of Acts The Thematic Method

2. Basic Facts • Second part of the Gospel of Luke • Called the “Acts of the Apostles”, but Paul and Peter, (and John) are the only Apostles who figure prominently • Written 80-85 C.E. • Traditionally ascribed to a travelling companion of Paul • First time followers of Jesus are called Christians (11:26)

3. Ancient Histories • Like ancient biographies, ancient histories were not focused on the exact retelling of events • Focus was on the ideas given voice to and the virtues demonstrated by great figures • Not unusual for ancient historians to invent speeches for their various characters • Even today, historians must pick and choose what to emphasize

4. Thematic Method • A method used to study literary text by isolating its leading ideas, or themes, and exploring theme, seeing how they are developed in the text, so as to understand the author’s overarching emphases

5. Main Theme of Acts • The Jewish origins of Christianity, its fulfilment of the Jewish Scriptures and its continuity with Judaism • The Proclamation to Jew and Gentile alike of the salvation through repentance of sins and the forgiveness of God, with Gentiles who accept this offer of Salvation not needing to adopt the ways of Judaism • The delay of the time of the end to make the Christian mission “to the ends of the earth” a possibility • The complete unity and harmony of the early Church as guided by the apostles • The hand of God directing the course of Christian history (hence many parallels between Jesus’ life and events in the book of Acts)

6. The Author and His Themes in Context • The emphasis on Jewish roots can be explained by the preference in the ancient world for the ancient past (eg. Mithraism, Sol Invictus) rather than things that were new • The mission to the Gentiles is used as an explanation of the delay of the end times and probably indicates that Luke`s community was facing opponents who used the delay as a criticism • In Luke-Acts Jesus is portrayed as more serenely facing death than in Mark (Luke`s audience may have been facing persecution)

7. The Council of Jerusalem • Circumcision? • Food Laws? • Acts of the Apostles 10.9-19: “About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. Then he heard a voice saying, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ But Peter said, ‘By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.’ The voice said to him again, a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.”

8. James’ Speech at the Council of Jerusalem • Acts 15:19-21:”`Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood. For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every Sabbath in the synagogues.’”

9. The Seven Noahide Laws • Must not deny God • No murder • No theft • No adultery • Must not blaspheme God • Do not eat the flesh torn from a living animal • You shall set up an effective government to police the preceding six laws -- The Talmud

10. The Early Social Action of the Church • “From Each according to his ability to each according to his need”–Karl Marx,The Communist Manifesto • Acts 4:32-35: “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

11. The First Martyrsof Acts • Stephen: The First Martyr • Acts 7:51-61 “‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are for ever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it. When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him.”

12. Paul’s Conversion • Acts 9:3-27 “Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ 7The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ 11The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision* a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ 1But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 1and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ 15But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 1I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul* and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ 1And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.”

13. Paul’s Journeys Luke, writing c 85-90, arranges Paul's travels into three separate journeys. Antioch serves as a major Christian center for Paul's evangelizing. Council of Jerusalem adopted in the Apostolic Decree of Acts 15:19-29, c. 50 AD. Most scholars agree that a vital meeting between Paul and the Jerusalem church took place in AD 49 or 50 Luke describes it in Acts 15