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The Acts of the Apostles Inauguration of Gentile M ission, 10 :1-15: 35. Scripture Workshop Episcopal Church of the Resurrection January 20 , 2011. Peter and Cornelius, 10:1-33. God is very actively directing events in this scene through visions and voices Cornelius is a Roman officer
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The Acts of the ApostlesInauguration of GentileMission, 10:1-15:35 Scripture Workshop Episcopal Church of the Resurrection January20, 2011
Peter and Cornelius, 10:1-33 • God is very actively directing events in this scene through visions and voices • Cornelius is a Roman officer • Peter’s vision of eating unclean things. Violates primary Jewish identity marker • Peter comes to see Jesus’ mission was for all people, not just Jews. • “I should not call any person profane or unclean.” • Cornelius says “here in the presence of God” about his home. Same words used for temple in OT • Sacred space extends to wherever people do God’s will
Peter Evangelizes Cornelius, 10:34-48 • “…in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” • HS descends on circumcised and un-circumcised. 2nd Jewish identity marker falls. Pentecost for gentiles • Circumcision clearly not required to be part of KOG • Peter has traveled from Jewish lands, Joppa, to Gentile lands, Caesarea
Peter Explains Actions to Jerusalem Church, 11:1-18 • Peter is criticized for eating with and baptizing Gentiles • “Who was I to hinder God?” • Luke tells the same story of Peter’s three times • In Paul’s letters these exchanges are much more contentious • In speech, Peter says Cornelius is “saved”, and says it was not till Pentecost that the disciples came to believe
Antioch Mission, 11:19-30 • Persecution scatters missionaries to Phonecia, Cyprus and Antioch. Jerusalem ratifies this • Disciples first called Christians • Christos simply means messiah in Greek
Great Reversals: Peter and Herod, 12:1-25 • Peter imprisoned, led by an angel out of prison. Herod hailed as a god by the people and struck dead by an angel • “Great escape” was Hellenistic literary tool • Luke begins to call Jesus movement “the church” and “the Jews” start to become villains • Familiar themes of death at Passover and liberation from bondage • Largely the end of Peter’s story
Mission of Barnabus and Paul, 13:1-15 • HS sets Paul and Barnabus apart. Paul dominates the rest of Acts • Paul uses a magic trick on a magician • Magicians punishment parallels Paul’s blindness • SergiusPaulus is Paul’s first Gentile disciple
Paul in Pisidian Antioch, 13:16-52 • In synagogue, Paul connects Israel to Jesus by interpreting Jesus from the OT • Audience is Jews and God-fearers • Theology • David saw corruption, Jesus did not • In Jesus, one is justified under the law. Big change • Paul turns to Gentiles and converts many, which upsets the Jews • HS fills people with joy
Paul and Barnabus, Antioch to Antioch, 14:1-28 • Many people converted, with help of signs & wonders • Growing tension with the Jews who attack Paul • Paul heals crippled man much like Jesus and Peter did • Paul appeals to common ground in speech about living God, who provides rains, etc • Persecution becoming a fact of Christian life • “They appointed presbyters…” Priests? Church starting to show structure
Council in Jerusalem: Must Gentiles Become Jews? 15:1-35 • Jewish law and circumcision at issue in council • In Jerusalem there’s now a “church”, “apostles” and “presbyters” • Peter speaks forcefully for Gentile inclusion, saying HS has come to both. Says Jews haven’t been able to bear this yoke • “we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus.” • James proposes dietary compromise, which had long been required of resident aliens in Israel (Lev 17-18) • Paul and Barnabas sent to Antioch to bring some order to the growing church and communicate the compromise
Questions • Where is Jesus? • How would you describe God’s role in the stories? What is this theology? • Is Paul a Christ-figure? • What does saved mean? • What is grace? • What prerequisites (like circumcision) do we put on folks who want to join our community today?
Acts, Outline • January 27 • Mission of Paul to whole earth I (15:36-21:40) • February 3 • Mission of Paul to whole earth II (22:1-28:31) • Need a new date: • Feb 2? • Feb 7? • Feb 16? • Feb 17?