Day 30: Acts 1-3. The Beginning of the Action
Luke and Theophilus are back for the second volume of writing, often called, simply, "Acts." Have you ever thought about that? But the full title is really, "The Acts of the Apostles, and this second volume written by Luke is about many of the miracles, healings, and other things the disciples did in the name of Jesus and in the power of Jesus.
But it begins with Jesus eating with his disciples, teaching his disciples, and, after 40 days, promising them that he would send the Holy Spirit, so that they could say the things he wants them to say and do the actions he wanted them to do.
During that ten-day waiting period, one of the tasks that the disciples face is choosing a replacement for Judas (the gory details of his demise are also included). They have two candidates and pray and cast lots to discover the right choice. What do you think of this means of electing an apostle?
Then, in Acts chapter 2, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes down and fills the disciples. And I'll be honest, as a pastor, I am extremely familiar with this story. I read it and hear it every year. But it never fails to strike me as strange, very strange, exceedingly strange. Sort of in the way the story of Lazarus is exceedingly strange. There are tongues of flame and the many languages and the accusations of drunkenness.
The other thing is, no matter how many times I read this story, I never fail to find something new here. One year it was the realization that the disciples are gathered on the day of Pentecost, which is a Jewish harvest festival, and that on that they there was a harvest of souls (3,000 people) who heard the message of the gospel and blame the first congregation (megachurch?). Another year I heard the story of the disciples speaking many languages an realized that the emphasis was not on the disciples' speech but on what the people heard "we hear them in our own native languages." Probably everyone there would be able to understand the message if the disciples had spoken the language of the Roman empire, which everyone had to learn. But no, all of the people heard in their own native languages. It is as if Jesus' incarnation has expanded even farther, into every culture and nation.
So Peter preaches his word of judgment and grace, and the people repent.
The close of Acts chapter 2 sounds like an ideal community: sharing food, praying together, sharing all things in common. In a way, it's as incredible and unbelievable as the tongues of fire and the mighty wind. Perhaps more unbelievable.
In Chapter 3, the "Acts" begin! Peter and John heal a lame man as they are approaching the Beautiful Gate at the 3:00 prayer time. (In Jewish tradition, there are seven times a day for prayer. If you know this, you will find several references of people turning to prayer "at the appointed time".)
So, the man who is healed does not just walk away, he leaps away, and he praises God. Suddenly, the disciples are doing Acts of healing just as mighty and impressive as Jesus did. The Holy Spirit has empowered them to be witnesses, which does not only involve speaking, but also acts of healing and compassion. (And even more -- the Greek word for witness also means "martyr." But that comes later.)
But witnessing does involve speaking as well. After they heal the man, Peter takes the opportunity to speak about Jesus, the one in whose name the man was healed. After all, the people were filled with wonder and amazement: what better opportunity to speak about the One who is the real power behind all of this.
But of course, it will not be as simple as it seems, as we will find out shortly....
But it begins with Jesus eating with his disciples, teaching his disciples, and, after 40 days, promising them that he would send the Holy Spirit, so that they could say the things he wants them to say and do the actions he wanted them to do.
During that ten-day waiting period, one of the tasks that the disciples face is choosing a replacement for Judas (the gory details of his demise are also included). They have two candidates and pray and cast lots to discover the right choice. What do you think of this means of electing an apostle?
Then, in Acts chapter 2, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes down and fills the disciples. And I'll be honest, as a pastor, I am extremely familiar with this story. I read it and hear it every year. But it never fails to strike me as strange, very strange, exceedingly strange. Sort of in the way the story of Lazarus is exceedingly strange. There are tongues of flame and the many languages and the accusations of drunkenness.
The other thing is, no matter how many times I read this story, I never fail to find something new here. One year it was the realization that the disciples are gathered on the day of Pentecost, which is a Jewish harvest festival, and that on that they there was a harvest of souls (3,000 people) who heard the message of the gospel and blame the first congregation (megachurch?). Another year I heard the story of the disciples speaking many languages an realized that the emphasis was not on the disciples' speech but on what the people heard "we hear them in our own native languages." Probably everyone there would be able to understand the message if the disciples had spoken the language of the Roman empire, which everyone had to learn. But no, all of the people heard in their own native languages. It is as if Jesus' incarnation has expanded even farther, into every culture and nation.
So Peter preaches his word of judgment and grace, and the people repent.
The close of Acts chapter 2 sounds like an ideal community: sharing food, praying together, sharing all things in common. In a way, it's as incredible and unbelievable as the tongues of fire and the mighty wind. Perhaps more unbelievable.
In Chapter 3, the "Acts" begin! Peter and John heal a lame man as they are approaching the Beautiful Gate at the 3:00 prayer time. (In Jewish tradition, there are seven times a day for prayer. If you know this, you will find several references of people turning to prayer "at the appointed time".)
So, the man who is healed does not just walk away, he leaps away, and he praises God. Suddenly, the disciples are doing Acts of healing just as mighty and impressive as Jesus did. The Holy Spirit has empowered them to be witnesses, which does not only involve speaking, but also acts of healing and compassion. (And even more -- the Greek word for witness also means "martyr." But that comes later.)
But witnessing does involve speaking as well. After they heal the man, Peter takes the opportunity to speak about Jesus, the one in whose name the man was healed. After all, the people were filled with wonder and amazement: what better opportunity to speak about the One who is the real power behind all of this.
But of course, it will not be as simple as it seems, as we will find out shortly....
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