Day 31: Acts 4-6. Signs and Wonders, and Opposition
The apostles are witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus -- in both their deeds of power and in their preaching. But they also spend time defending themselves from religious leaders who do not understand this new thing and who are angry and probably afraid. They are brought up against the council more than once in these beginning chapters of Acts, and they are thrown into prison, only to be let out by the power of the Holy Spirit.
"You know those uneducated fishermen you threw in prison? they're preaching in the temple again!"
For a little while, at least, the faith community seems to lead an ideal life. They are devoted to Jesus and to one another. They have no secrets (it seems) and they share everything -- not because they have to, but freely. they sell property and lay the proceeds at the apostles' feet, to be used for the good of the whole community. Wow.
Until Ananais and Sapphire. It doesn't take long for someone to come along who gets the idea to sell a piece of property, give some of the proceeds to the apostles, tell the apostles that they have given everything, and secretly ("secretly") keep some of the money for themselves. The motivation for this behavior is unclear. The apostles seem more concerned that the couple has lied than that they held money back. The ideal seems to be that no one has any personal property any more, but the truth is, the apostles do not require anyone to give. As Peter says, "it was yours to keep or to give away. Why did you lie?" And then Ananais is struck dead (and later, his wife).
The death penalty for duplicity. This is sobering. No second chances for Ananais and Sapphire. Tis is one of those stories that I kind of wish was a metaphor. Because I can understand it as an object lesson, but not as a real event. In real life, I'd like a little more room for repentance and forgiveness, another chance to get it right.
And then, there is the figure of Gamaliel the Pharisee. He warns the other religious leaders to watch out for the followers of Jesus, take a "wait and see" attitude. After all, there have been supposed messiahs before. After they died, their followers scattered, and that was that. See what happens with this man Jesus and his followers, Gamaliel says. "If their plan or activity is of human origin, it will end in ruin. But if it originates with God, you will not be able to stop them."
What do you think of Gamaliel's words? Do they apply in some cases now?
In Chapter 6, a controversy arises in the "ideal church" (even good churches aren't perfect!). There is suspicious between two groups of believers -- Greek-speaking Jewish Christians and Aramaic-speaking Jewish Christians. (Not to put too fine a point on it, they were not actually called "Christians" yet. I believe they were called the followers of 'the way.' and notice that they were all, at this time, Jewish.)
It seems that the Greek-speakers thought that their widows were not treated fairly in the distribution of goods. So the church appointed seven men to be "Deacons," or servants, to make sure that everyone was treated fairly.
One of the men was Stephen. (Another was Philip, but we will learn more about him, later).
Seven could be just the literal number of men chosen to be deacons, but it's worth noting that seven is also a meaningful number -- often times the number seven signifies completeness. (Remember Peter's question in Matthew: Do I have to forgive my brother as many as SEVEN times?) So these seven men are deacons, which means they are servants. But they are also forces to be reckoned with, as we will see, on at least two occasions.
Stephen rubbed people the wrong way. He was bold about Jesus, and a lot of people were upset by the things he said. If you were really walking in the moccasins of the religious leaders, you might at least sympathize, as he was very critical of them.
So Stephen was asked to defend himself (you might have noticed that this happens rather regularly). We'll find out what happens next in tomorrow's installment....
"You know those uneducated fishermen you threw in prison? they're preaching in the temple again!"
For a little while, at least, the faith community seems to lead an ideal life. They are devoted to Jesus and to one another. They have no secrets (it seems) and they share everything -- not because they have to, but freely. they sell property and lay the proceeds at the apostles' feet, to be used for the good of the whole community. Wow.
Until Ananais and Sapphire. It doesn't take long for someone to come along who gets the idea to sell a piece of property, give some of the proceeds to the apostles, tell the apostles that they have given everything, and secretly ("secretly") keep some of the money for themselves. The motivation for this behavior is unclear. The apostles seem more concerned that the couple has lied than that they held money back. The ideal seems to be that no one has any personal property any more, but the truth is, the apostles do not require anyone to give. As Peter says, "it was yours to keep or to give away. Why did you lie?" And then Ananais is struck dead (and later, his wife).
The death penalty for duplicity. This is sobering. No second chances for Ananais and Sapphire. Tis is one of those stories that I kind of wish was a metaphor. Because I can understand it as an object lesson, but not as a real event. In real life, I'd like a little more room for repentance and forgiveness, another chance to get it right.
And then, there is the figure of Gamaliel the Pharisee. He warns the other religious leaders to watch out for the followers of Jesus, take a "wait and see" attitude. After all, there have been supposed messiahs before. After they died, their followers scattered, and that was that. See what happens with this man Jesus and his followers, Gamaliel says. "If their plan or activity is of human origin, it will end in ruin. But if it originates with God, you will not be able to stop them."
What do you think of Gamaliel's words? Do they apply in some cases now?
In Chapter 6, a controversy arises in the "ideal church" (even good churches aren't perfect!). There is suspicious between two groups of believers -- Greek-speaking Jewish Christians and Aramaic-speaking Jewish Christians. (Not to put too fine a point on it, they were not actually called "Christians" yet. I believe they were called the followers of 'the way.' and notice that they were all, at this time, Jewish.)
It seems that the Greek-speakers thought that their widows were not treated fairly in the distribution of goods. So the church appointed seven men to be "Deacons," or servants, to make sure that everyone was treated fairly.
One of the men was Stephen. (Another was Philip, but we will learn more about him, later).
Seven could be just the literal number of men chosen to be deacons, but it's worth noting that seven is also a meaningful number -- often times the number seven signifies completeness. (Remember Peter's question in Matthew: Do I have to forgive my brother as many as SEVEN times?) So these seven men are deacons, which means they are servants. But they are also forces to be reckoned with, as we will see, on at least two occasions.
Stephen rubbed people the wrong way. He was bold about Jesus, and a lot of people were upset by the things he said. If you were really walking in the moccasins of the religious leaders, you might at least sympathize, as he was very critical of them.
So Stephen was asked to defend himself (you might have noticed that this happens rather regularly). We'll find out what happens next in tomorrow's installment....
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