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The Acts of the Apostles Risen Christ and Restoration of Israel, 1:1-8:3 Mission in Judea and Samaria, 8:4-9:43. Scripture Workshop Episcopal Church of the Resurrection January 13, 2011. Introduction, 1:1-1: 5. Indicates that this is part 2 of the story Who is Theophilus ?
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The Acts of the ApostlesRisen Christ and Restoration of Israel, 1:1-8:3Mission in Judea and Samaria, 8:4-9:43 Scripture Workshop Episcopal Church of the Resurrection January 13, 2011
Introduction, 1:1-1:5 • Indicates that this is part 2 of the story • Who is Theophilus? • Seems to say that Jesus is continuing to work within the community. Deals with what Jesus began • Promise of the Father, seems to reference KOG • Baptism with water versus the Spirit, seems to link Christian community with John’s community
Ascension of Jesus, 1:6-12 • Why wouldn’t Jesus tell them when the KOG would appear? • Jesus seems to say the HS is a stand-in until the KOG comes • HS will give disciples power to witness to all the world • What would it be like for a Jew to hear this? • How do you reconcile Mark’s conclusion with the ascension? Ascension is similar to Enoch and Elijah • In Luke 24, Ascension is on Easter, in Acts, it’s 40 days later. Why?
Restoring the Twelve, 1:13-26 • “…together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” • Women had been first witnesses of resurrection • Nucleus of Church is 120 people • Matthias (Barsabbas) becomes apostle, though the HS • Why must there be 12?
Coming of the Spirit, 2:1-13 • Takes place in Jerusalem • Pentecost is Greek name for Jewish Feast of Weeks • Celebrates Moses receiving Law on Mt. Sinai/harvest festival • 12 gathered, fire and shaking recalls Sinai • John said Jesus would baptize with water and fire • “…too much new wine.” A play on words? • Bookends Tower of Babel. Now all understand each other. Greek uses play on words to allude to Babel
Peter Explains the Spirit, 2:14-41 • Quotes Joel on coming of KOG • Interprets David as predicting Jesus and Jesus giving HS and authority to the disciples • Luke does plenty of clever OT interpretation to make his case • Conclusion is that people should repent and be baptized and join the KOG • “…promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.”
First Christian Community, 2:42-47 • “…to the breaking of the bread and the prayers.” • “…had all things in common…” • KOG is still connected to the temple • Idealized picture of early Christianity
Healing, 3:1-26 • Healing contrasts power of money/power of God • Luke uses puns and allusions to Isaiah in healing. Very sophisticated writing (24) • Repeating themes: Reinterpreting OT, criticizing authorities, repent and be baptized • Peter’s speech is example of Luke’s writing style –interpreting events in form of a speech • Relies heavily on OT predictions • Supersessionism?
Authorities and Authority, 4:1-22 • Re-enacts trial of Jesus, Jesus is cornerstone rejected. Peter does a challenge/riposte • “By what power …have you done this?” • Challenges the Saducees about res. of the dead • Establishing proper religious authority: institution or God? Religious leaders have lost their authority • “Healing” can be interpreted widely. Wonderful Greek
Prayer and Response, 4:23-31 • Responds to persecution with cockiness • Prayer asserts great authority, which is confirmed by earthquake and HS • Pesher: Creative reinterpretation of OT for new context. Ps 22 in this case
Christian Community, 4:32-5:16 • More idealization: all things held in common • Ananias and Sapphira –Good stewardship threat • Deception was their sin • Christian community growing rapidly
Testing the Mission, 5:17-42 • Repeating themes • “We must obey God rather than men.” • “We are witnesses of these things.” • Gamaliel speaks with wisdom about how to put down the Christian movement
Hebrews, Helenists & the 7, 6:1-7 • Seven and seven others chosen to share food distribution with Greek-speaking Jews • These seven are the first diakonia (servers). They are all Greek speakers • Church traces ministry of deacons to this passage • Belies cultural tension within Judaism
Stephen, 6:8-7:60 • Large narrative block • Trial similar to Jesus’ trial, w/ false witnesses, blasphemy, etc. • Stephen’s speech reinterprets whole Israel story • Pesher speech associates authorities with Pharaoh and Jesus with Moses. Says they persecuted the prophets • Stephen’s attitude at death is like Jesus’ • Themes: rejected-one-becomes-savior, follower of Jesus relives story of Jesus
Paul Persecutes, 8:1-3 • Stephen’s execution sparks widespread persecution, led by Saul/Paul
Philip versus Simon, 8:4-25 • Samaria: Outside of respectable Judaism • Simon tries to buy power of the Spirit. “Simony” • This is first of five times that Luke uses euangelizomai
Philip and the Eunuch, 8:26-40 • “Ethiopian” meant African • Philip Pesher’s the whole of scripture • Baptism symbolically opened to even more people
Paul’s Conversion, 9:1-19 • Not really a conversion, since Paul still considers himself Jewish. It’s more of a transformation • Paul receives theophany • Epistles claim it is a post-res meeting
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem, 9:19-31 • Paul becomes phenomenal missionary • Preaches in synogoues, a patter he repeats • Paul is immediately object of persecution • Original disciples are skeptical
Peter in Lydda and Joppa, 9:32-43 • Peter’s healings recall Jesus’ healings and the healings of Elisha and Elijah in 1 Kings
Acts, Outline • January 20 • Inauguration of Gentile mission (10:1-15:35) • 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)