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Acts of the Apostles

Acts of the Apostles. Bible “Big Picture”. Covenant Making – God establishes a covenant relationship with a missional community by way of a redemptive act (primary revelatory authority based upon direct encounter) O.T.: Pentateuch N.T.: Gospels

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Acts of the Apostles

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  1. Acts of the Apostles

  2. Bible “Big Picture” • Covenant Making – God establishes a covenant relationship with a missional community by way of a redemptive act (primary revelatory authority based upon direct encounter) • O.T.: Pentateuch N.T.: Gospels • Covenant Living – God guides the covenant relationship with the missional community by way of authorized spokespersons (secondary revelatory authority based upon unique individual calling & equipping) • O.T.: Former Prophets (Stories) N.T.: Acts of the Apostles • O.T.: Latter Prophets (Sermons) N.T.: Epistles of the Apostles • Covenant Questions – God nurtures the covenant relationship with a missional community by way of spiritual wisdom and insight (tertiary revelatory authority based upon communal spiritual insight) • O.T.: Poetry/Wisdom Literature N.T.: Hebrews; Revelation

  3. Acts – Purpose • Primary: the same as for the Gospel • “…that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:4) • Expressed through: • Continuity of the story of Jesus: • Gospel—Jesus’ Work • Acts—Jesus’ Word (4:29,31; 6:2,7; 8:14,25; 11:1; 13:5,7,49; 15:32,35,36; 17:3; 18:11; 19:10,20) • Proclamation: to both Jew & Gentile • Edification: build up the church • Clarification: remind church of purpose • Contact: preserve apostolic speeches for future

  4. Acts – Structure (1)Outlined by the Summary Verse (1:8) • “…in Jerusalem…” (1-7) • “…in all Judea and Samaria…” (8-12) • “…to the ends of the earth.” (13-28)

  5. Acts – Structure (2)Outlined in terms of Central Figures • Peter and the Jewish/Palestinian Witness (1-12) • Paul and the Mediterranean/Gentile Witness (13-28)

  6. Acts – Structure (3)Outlined in terms of Individual Ministries • Peter (1-5) • Stephen (6-7) • Philip (8) • Saul (9) • Peter (10-12) • Paul & Barnabas (13-14) • James (15) • Paul & Silas (16-17) • Paul & Companions (18-20) • Paul (21-28)

  7. Acts – Structure (4)Outlined in terms of Church Expansion • To Jerusalem (1:1-6:7) • To Judea and Samaria (6:8-9:31) • To the Gentiles (9:32-12:24) • To Asia Minor (12:25-16:5) • To Europe (16:6-19:20) • To Rome (19:21-28:31) Note: “Progress Reports” end each section except the last

  8. Note: • 1—Jesus: restore the Kingdom? • 1—Ascension: Trust; coronation; return • 1—Why replace Judas? • 1—Why wait? • Pentecost! • Arrival of the “Word” (Moses) • Dedication of “Firstfruits;” anticipation of harvest

  9. Pentecost • Symbols: • Sound of “wind” (=“breath” “spirit”) • Single blaze of fire becoming multiple flames • John baptized with water; Jesus with fire (Luke 1:16) • Languages: Babel undone (Genesis 10) • Peter’s use of Joel 2: “Day of the Lord” • Repentance & Baptism

  10. Note: • Miracles (3) • Character of the early church (4) • Threat of manipulation (5) • Deacons (6) • Martyrdom (7) • Expansive witness (8) • Saul’s conversion (9) • Peter & the bridge to the Gentiles (10-11) • The strange “food” stories of chapter 12

  11. Paul’s Family Beginnings

  12. Paul’s Family Beginnings

  13. Paul’s Family Beginnings • Paul’s testimony in Philippians 3:4-6 • Strict observant Jews: “Circumcised on the eighth day” • Openly religious: “of the people of Israel” • Conscious of their family history & lineage: “of the tribe of Benjamin” • Ethnically careful: “a Hebrew of Hebrews” • Paul’s testimony in Acts 22-23 • Diaspora Jews: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia.” (22:3) • Roman citizens: “I was born a citizen.” (22:8) • Aligned with the Pharisees: “I am… the son of a Pharisee” (23:6)

  14. Paul’s Personal Beginnings • Names: • “Saul” (Hebrew name, after Benjamite King Saul) • “Paul” (Roman name, very common) • Vocational Training: • “working with our own hands” (1 Corinthians 4:12) • “a tentmaker” (Acts 18:3) • Religious Training (Acts 22:3): • “brought up in this city” (Jerusalem) • “Under Gamaliel I was trained in the law” • Religious Persuasion: • “I am a Pharisee” (Acts 23:6) • Religious Devotion (Philippians 3:6): • “as for zeal, persecuting the church” • “as for legalistic righteousness, faultless”

  15. The Church’s Beginnings • 4 B.C. – Jesus born • 27 A.D. – Jesus’ ministry begins • 30 A.D. – Jesus dies, rises, ascends • 30 A.D. – Pentecost: Church is born! • 31 A.D. – Church spreads to Judea & Samaria • 43 A.D. – Church spreads to Antioch in Syria

  16. Beginnings of the First Church plant • Why Antioch? • Third largest city of the Roman empire • Capital of the Eastern district • Close to Tarsus (Paul’s home city) • Close to Cyprus (Barnabas’ home island) • Close to Jerusalem (300 miles due north) • Old capital city during Seleucid reign • Large colony of Jews (20,000 of 500,000)

  17. Beginnings of Mission Team • Led by Barnabas • Levite (priest?) from Cyprus • Probably older than Paul • With Paul as Key Spokesperson • Assisted by John Mark • Cousin (nephew?) of Barnabas • Son of Mary, whose home was Jerusalem church • Personal notes: • “Young man” of Mark 14:51-52? • Nicknamed “Kolobodoktulos” (“Stubby Fingers”)

  18. How It Began • A Prayer Meeting in Antioch (Acts 13:1-3): • “Send your pastors away!”

  19. Where They Went

  20. Why Did They Go There? • Cyprus was Barnabas’ home (Acts 4:36) • They may have been planning to travel along the Pamphylian coast to Paul’s home town of Tarsus on the way back to Antioch.

  21. What Happened Along the Way? • On Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12): • Traveled the length of the island, preaching • At Paphos encountered opposition from a “Jewish sorcerer” named Bar-Jesus or Elymas • Cursed him with blindness, causing many to believe in the power of Jesus

  22. What Happened Along the Way? • To Perga: • John Mark left them and “returned to Jerusalem” (Acts 13:13) • Which way did they intend to go? • Why go to Antioch? • Did Paul become ill with malaria? • “As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you” (Galatians 4:13) • “…if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me” (Galatians 4:15)

  23. What Happened Along the Way? • Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:14-31): • Paul becomes leader • Paul preaches a historical review in the synagogue • A week later “almost the whole city” came out • Jealous Jews rioted • Paul & Barnabas went to the Gentiles in the marketplace • Jealous Jews stirred persecution from community leaders • Paul & Barnabas shook the dust off their sandals and left

  24. The Acts of Paul and Thecla 1:1-7 When Paul went up to Iconium, after his flight from Antioch, Demas and Hermogenes became his companions, who were then full of hypocrisy. But Paul looking only at the goodness of God, did them no harm, but loved them greatly. Accordingly he endeavoured to make agreeable to them all the oracles and doctrines of Christ, and the design of the Gospel of God's well-beloved Son, instructing them in the knowledge of Christ, as it was revealed to him. And a certain man named Onesiphorus, hearing that Paul was come to Iconium, went out speedily to meet him, together with his wife Lectra, and his sons Simmia and Xeno, to invite him to their house. For Titus had given them a description of Paul's personage, they as yet not knowing him in person, but only being acquainted with his character. They went in the king's highway to Lystra, and stood there waiting for him, comparing all who passed by, with that description which Titus had given them. At length they saw a man coming (namely Paul), of a low stature, bald (or shaved) on the head, crooked thighs, handsome legs, hollow-eyed; had a crooked nose; full of grace; for sometimes he appeared as a man, sometimes he had the countenance of an angel. And Paul saw Onesiphorus, and was glad.

  25. What Happened Along the Way? • At Iconium (Acts 14:1-7): • First preached in the Jewish synagogue • Had good response from both Jews & Gentiles • Met Jewish resistance and turned to Gentiles • Plot against them discovered, and they moved on

  26. What Happened Along the Way? • At Lystra (Acts 14:8-20): • Healed a crippled man • Were worshipped as gods • Why? • Why Hermes & Zeus? • Legend of Baucis & Philemon

  27. What Happened Along the Way? • At Lystra (Acts 14:8-20): • Healed a crippled man • Were worshipped as gods • Why? • Why Hermes & Zeus? • Legend of Baucis & Philemon • Paul preached • Jews from Antioch came and turned the crowds against them. • Stoned and left for dead

  28. What Happened Along the Way? • At Derbe (Acts 14:21): • Preached • Began the return trip (Acts 14:22-25) • Stopped at Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, encouraging believers • Appointed Elders in each congregation • Sailed from Attalia back to Antioch

  29. What Happened Along the Way? • At Antioch (Acts 14:26-28): • Brought a report of their journey to their home congregation

  30. What Happened Next? • Huge Problems! (Acts 15; Galatians 2) • Reports of Gentile converts got to Jerusalem • Peter came from Jerusalem to Antioch to celebrate the exciting mission work • Others were later sent by James to ensure all was appropriate. These announced that Gentiles had to become Jews in practice before they could be part of the church, and instituted separated meal & communion practices • Peter went along with these; Paul rebuked him • The disease of Jewish superiority spread to the churches of the first mission journey

  31. What Happened Next? • Paul sent his “Letter to the Galatians” • Chapters 1-2: Paul reviews his personal journey to freedom in Christ and laments the recent developments

  32. What Happened Next? • Paul sent his “Letter to the Galatians” • Chapters 3-4: Using rabbinic argumentation Paul shows: • How Abraham was saved before obeying ceremonies • How the Law is like a teacher who is no longer needed after a child becomes fully mature • How Hagar & Ishmael typify slavery (Law) over against Sarah & Isaac (Freedom)

  33. What Happened Next? • Paul sent his “Letter to the Galatians” • Chapters 5-6: Paul urges (using very strong language) the expression of true Freedom in Christ • Not Legalism, which binds and burdens • Nor License, which turns us evil and ugly • But Liberty, which frees us from external demands while binding us into the wonderful slavery of love toward God and one another • Note: “Works of the Flesh” vs. “Fruit of the Spirit” • Note: Paul writes final greetings in “large letters” • Note: Paul calls the church “the Israel of God”

  34. What Happened Next • The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) • Presided over by James, Jesus’ (half) brother • Reports from both “Judaizers” and from Paul • Peter reports from his experiences with Cornelius the Roman Centurion (Acts 10-11)

  35. What Happened Next • The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) • Decision: • Gentiles do not have to become Jews in order to become Christians; no cultic practices required • Four stipulations urged: • Don’t eat meat offered to idols (this will become a later matter of contention (Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8) • Don’t eat blood • Don’t be sexually immoral • Don’t eat flesh from strangled animals

  36. What Happened Next • The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) • Decision communicated by way of short letter • James probably writes and sends his letter to Jewish Christians at this time • Personal emissaries sent with news of the decisions and the letter(s) • Paul tells Barnabas they ought to go back to the mission churches as well, confirming these things • Barnabas agrees, wants to take Mark along • Nasty argument and parting of the ways

  37. Who Was the Author “James”? • Obviously a Jew • He calls Abraham “our father” (2:21) • He referred to places of worship as “synagogues” (2:2) • He uses the Jewish term “Gehenna” (valley of the Hinnom, which was a garbage pit for Jerusalem) (3:6) • He uses a specifically Jewish name for God (“Lord of Armies”) (5:4; cf. Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7, 11; 2 Kings 3:9-12; Jeremiah 11:20; Romans 9:29; Revelation 19: 11-16)

  38. Who Was the Author “James”? • Obviously a Jew of Palestine: • He knew about the early & latter rains (5:7; cf. Deuteronomy 11:14) • He knew about the hot winds that burned the grass (1:11) • He writes to Diaspora Jews: “to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (1:1)

  39. Who Was the Author “James”? • His name is James (Jacob) (1:1) • Three New Testament “James”: • Jesus’ disciple, brother of John (killed in 44 A.D. by Herod, Acts 12:2) • Jesus’ disciple, son of Alphaeus (obscure) • Jesus’ (half)brother, leader of Jerusalem church; Acts 15) • This last one seems obviously the author • He calls himself “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:1)

  40. Literary Clues of Time & Occasion • Similarities to Jesus’ teachings (especially the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7) • Similarities to James’ speeches and letter in Acts 15 • No mention of the destruction of the Temple • Strong emphasis on appropriate social behavior, especially because of tensions in Jewish communities • No mention of tensions in the Jewish community over teachings of Jesus as Messiah

  41. Reasonable Conclusions • Written by James of Jerusalem • Early in the Church’s history • Intended as a general letter for wide dissemination • Addressing social tensions not clearly linked to debates about questions regarding Jesus in new Christian communities • All this fits with the communications of Acts 15 • Likely sent to Jewish Diaspora communities with the Jerusalem Council decisions (49 A.D.)

  42. Contents of the Letter: Overview • Not highly organized by topic • More stream of consciousness exhortation • Strong ethical instruction, especially about social relations • Deep piety, calling for prayer, fasting, trust • Recognition of Elder leadership (5:14)

  43. Contents of the Letter: Summary • Trials from without (1:2-12) • Trials from within (1:13-18) • Hearing and doing (1:19-27) • Honoring one another without preference (2:1-14) • Sinful power of the tongue (3:1-4:12) • Uncertainties of life calling for humility (4:13-17) • Horrible demoralization caused by wealth (5:1-6) • Encouragements to patient faithfulness (5:7-12) • Advice about mutual care in the community (5:13-20)

  44. Critical Issue:Do Paul & James Disagree? • Paul: “You are justified by faith apart from works!” (Galatians; Romans 4-5; Ephesians 2) • James: “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone” (3:24; see 3:14-26) • Martin Luther: James is an epistle of straw • Others: James provides the necessary ethical link between grace and gratitude

  45. Dating these things • Mid 48- early 49 A.D. – First Mission Journey (5-6 months?) • Mid 49 A.D. – Paul writes “Letter to the Galatians” • Late 49 A.D. – Jerusalem Council • Late 49 A.D. – James writes his letter

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