Scripture Workshop Episcopal Church of the Resurrection January 13, 2011

The Acts of the ApostlesRisen Christ and Restoration of Israel, 1:1-8:3

Mission in Judea and Samaria, 8:4-9:43

Scripture WorkshopEpiscopal 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)