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What now?

What now?. Acts 1:12-26. The book of Acts. The Gospel Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John The Apostle Paul’s letters . The book of Acts. The book of Acts connects the two collections It is the sequel to first collection NB it is the second volume of Luke’s account

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What now?

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  1. What now? Acts 1:12-26

  2. The book of Acts • The Gospel • Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John • The Apostle • Paul’s letters

  3. The book of Acts • The book of Acts connects the two collections • It is the sequel to first collection • NB it is the second volume of Luke’s account • It provides the background and context of the second

  4. The book of Acts • Acts and the Marcionite heresy • Marcion’s teaching (mid-second century) • Christ was the revealer of a new religion unrelated to Israel and the Hebrew scripture • Paul was the only true apostle, all others were false apostles (corrupted by Judaism) • Luke’s gospel (edited) and 10 of Paul’s letters (edited) were accepted as scripture

  5. The book of Acts • Acts and the Marcionite heresy • Acts undermined Marcion’s claims • It demonstrated Paul’s legitimacy as an apostle • But it likewise demonstrated the legitimacy of the other apostles • Even the title adopted by the early church (acts of the apostles)emphasized this

  6. How normative is narrative? • The mere fact that something is recorded does not make it normative • There is a difference between descriptive and prescriptive • Some texts merely record what happened • Some texts record what should happen

  7. How normative is narrative? • Something may be recorded without being an ongoing expectation or requirement • The disciples were instructed to remain in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4) • They regularly participated in temple and synagogue activities (e.g. 3:1; 5:12; 9:20; cf. 10:14) • The Jerusalem church ‘held everything in common’ (4:32)

  8. How normative is narrative? • Yet some things are normative • Prayer • Evangelism • Gathering together • Ministering to one another

  9. How normative is narrative? • How do we know which is which? • Are the activities mandated elsewhere? • Is there additional teaching on the issue?

  10. The selection of a leader • It was necessary to replace Judas (1:21) • The use of δει • The decision was ultimately made by casting lots (1:26) • Is this a normative practice?

  11. The selection of a leader • NB the steps of the process • The set of criteria (1:21-23) • The candidate had to have been with them from the beginning • The candidate had to be able to serve as a witness of the resurrection

  12. The selection of a leader • NB the steps of the process • They selected two candidates (1:23) • They prayed (1:24) • They recognized their limitations re knowing the heart of each man (cf. 1 Samuel 16:6-7)

  13. The selection of a leader • NB the steps of the process • They cast lots (1:26; cf., e.g., Lev 16:8; Joshua 18:6-10; Nehemiah 11:1) • Proverbs 16:33-”The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” • This was the final step

  14. The selection of a leader • NB the timing of the episode • This took place prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost

  15. What now? • Recognize the need • Recognize our limitations • Rely on the Holy Spirit

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