Acts of the Apostles

Acts of the Apostles Origins of the Christian Church

Jerusalem→Rome Acts, a sequential account

Pentecost • Peter cures in “Jesus’ name” • Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr* • Philip makes the first non-Jewish converts • Saul of Tarsus is suddenly converted* Story Sequence

6. Peter converts Roman centurion Cornelius 7. Believers in Antioch first called Christians 8. James, son of Zebedee becomes first of the Twelve to be martyred 9. Paul’s first missionary trip from Antioch to Asia Minor

10. First church council held at Jerusalem, decides in favor of admitting the uncircumcised 11. Paul goes to Greece founding churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth 12. Paul is arrested in Jerusalem and imprisoned for two years in Caesarea 13. Paul is sent to Rome for trial; he survives a shipwreck. In Rome Paul focuses on converting Gentiles

God’s promises to ancient Israel through Abraham and Moses are fulfilled in the life and work of Jesus and his successors So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; • Acts 1:6 Major Themes

[Peter speaking] Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ • Acts 2: 29-31 Jesus fulfills promises

The “new way” Christianity encompasses all nations and extends salvation universally • Step by step process by which the divine promises were extended to non-Jews • Luke wishes to assure Roman authorities that the new way Christians are law abiding Other themes

Peter, Stephen, James, and Paul make speeches in Acts. They are Luke’s composition, perhaps from memory of what actually occurred. • They are similar in style, often made to large, unruly crowds • Standard practice by Greco-Roman authors to supplement what he remembered with his own material Use of Speeches

Jesus Ascension (Acts 1:9), the resurrected Jesus’ ascent to heaven • This is the only New Testament reference to the resurrected Jesus’ visible ascension to heaven Ascension

Acts is the only New Testament reference that Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot • Specific Lukan understanding of Apostle • A person who physically accompanied Jesus during his ministry and witnessed his resurrection • This leaves Paul out, something that is disturbing to Paul Matthias

Followers grow from about 120 people to several thousand • Holy Spirit symbolically rendered as wind and flame • Disciples inspired to speak in foreign languages • Peter’s long speech interprets this phenomenon known as glossolalia as the fulfillment of the Prophet Joel’s prediction that “everyone would prophesy” • Joel 28-32 • Jesus’ disciples are motivated and inspired by the same Spirit that inspired him The Spirit and the Jerusalem Church

Believers sold their possessions, distributing the money to have a community without rich and poor, “holding everything in common.” • In the infant church, Peter is brought up on charges before the Sanhedrin • The Pharisees are more tolerant Church origins

Sadducees focus on Stephen, a Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) Jew of the Diaspora • His impassioned witness • Stephen is the first Christian martyra “witness” for Christ—one who would die rather than relinquish his or her faith Stephen

Acts of the Apostles