Acts of the Apostles—The Acts of the Apostles—The Prophet’s MovementProphet’s Movement

I. I. Reading Acts as the continuation of Luke’s Reading Acts as the continuation of Luke’s Gospel reveals a distinctive understanding of Gospel reveals a distinctive understanding of history.history.A.A. At the surface level it is a straightforward At the surface level it is a straightforward account of the events of Christianity’s first great account of the events of Christianity’s first great expansion Jerusalem to Rome.expansion Jerusalem to Rome.

1.1. Jesus’s programmatic prophecy in Acts Jesus’s programmatic prophecy in Acts 1:8 provides a table of contents: 1:8 provides a table of contents:

Jerusalem (1-8); Judaea and Samaria (8-Jerusalem (1-8); Judaea and Samaria (8-12); to the ends of the world, that 12); to the ends of the world, that is, is, Rome (13-28).Rome (13-28).

2.2. It is a selective account, with particular It is a selective account, with particular attention given to Peter and Paul and the attention given to Peter and Paul and the transmission of the good news from Jews transmission of the good news from Jews

to to Gentiles.Gentiles.

B.B. At a deeper level, Acts portrays the church as At a deeper level, Acts portrays the church as the continuation of the prophetic movement the continuation of the prophetic movement started by Jesus.started by Jesus.

1.1. The bestowal of the Holy Spirit on the The bestowal of the Holy Spirit on the disciples means that they are empowered disciples means that they are empowered

as as Jesus was.Jesus was.

2.2. All the protagonists are described in All the protagonists are described in stereotypical prophetic terms as they stereotypical prophetic terms as they proclaim the “good news” about what God proclaim the “good news” about what God had done in Jesus.had done in Jesus.

3.3. Thus, Luke’s portrayal of the disciples is Thus, Luke’s portrayal of the disciples is not as negative as it is in Mark.not as negative as it is in Mark.

II.II. The first church in Jerusalem is portrayed as the The first church in Jerusalem is portrayed as the restoration of Israel for which Jesus worked.restoration of Israel for which Jesus worked.

A.A. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh is interpreted as the sign of the is interpreted as the sign of the resurrection resurrection and exaltation of Jesus (2:1-37).and exaltation of Jesus (2:1-37).

B.B. Those who “save themselves from this evil Those who “save themselves from this evil generation” fulfill the prophetic program.generation” fulfill the prophetic program.

1.1. They share their possessions fully so They share their possessions fully so that that no one was in need (2:41-47; 4:32-37).no one was in need (2:41-47; 4:32-37).

2.2. The apostles continue to heal as a “sign The apostles continue to heal as a “sign of of salvation” of the people (3: 26).salvation” of the people (3: 26).

C.C. The thousands of Jews who join the community The thousands of Jews who join the community demonstrate Luke’s two major concerns.demonstrate Luke’s two major concerns.

1.1. Even though his people - or, mainly, Even though his people - or, mainly, their their leaders- -rejected God’s first “visitation,” leaders- -rejected God’s first “visitation,” he he remained faithful and provided another remained faithful and provided another chance or repentance through the chance or repentance through the preaching preaching of of the apostles.the apostles.

2.2. Even though they had rejected Jesus, Even though they had rejected Jesus, many of the Jews accepted ‘the prophet many of the Jews accepted ‘the prophet

whom God raised up,” whom God raised up,” with the result that with the result that they became the authentic remnant of they became the authentic remnant of Israel.Israel.

3.3. The theological point that Luke is The theological point that Luke is making making here is that the mission to the here is that the mission to the Gentiles, Gentiles, especially as carried on by Paul. is especially as carried on by Paul. is not a not a replacement of Israel but a continuation.replacement of Israel but a continuation.

III.III. The apostles are portrayed as prophets who The apostles are portrayed as prophets who continue Jesus’s radical manner of life in new continue Jesus’s radical manner of life in new circumstances.circumstances.A.A. They share their possessions and manifest They share their possessions and manifest “servant leadership” by their “waiting at tables’ “servant leadership” by their “waiting at tables’ (4:32-37; 6:1-7).(4:32-37; 6:1-7).B.B. They pray at every moment of crisis, just as They pray at every moment of crisis, just as Jesus had done, and are empowered by the Jesus had done, and are empowered by the Holy Spirit, as he was (4:23-31)Holy Spirit, as he was (4:23-31)C.C. They heal the outcast of the people, breaking They heal the outcast of the people, breaking the boundaries of separation and stigma caused the boundaries of separation and stigma caused by illness (5:12-16; 6:4-8; 8:32-43).by illness (5:12-16; 6:4-8; 8:32-43).D.D. They bear witness boldly, even in the face of They bear witness boldly, even in the face of trial, persecution, and death (4:5-22; 5:17-42; trial, persecution, and death (4:5-22; 5:17-42; 6:8-7:60; 22:1-21; 23:1-1l; 24:10-21; 26:2-23).6:8-7:60; 22:1-21; 23:1-1l; 24:10-21; 26:2-23).

IV.IV. The church continues the radical prophetic program of The church continues the radical prophetic program of table-fellowship for the outcast through the bold initiative table-fellowship for the outcast through the bold initiative of including Gentiles without requiring circumcision and of including Gentiles without requiring circumcision and the observance of Torah.the observance of Torah.A.A. As part of their doctrine of separateness, Jews did not As part of their doctrine of separateness, Jews did not eat with Gentiles. Thus, eat with Gentiles. Thus, the church was radical in its the church was radical in its program of table-fellowship that included Gentiles.program of table-fellowship that included Gentiles.B.B. Luke tells the story as one of God’s initiative and Luke tells the story as one of God’s initiative and human discernment, debate, and decision-making (Acts human discernment, debate, and decision-making (Acts 10-15)10-15)C.C. Luke suggests that the church was even more radical Luke suggests that the church was even more radical in its vision than Jesus in its vision than Jesus was: Accepting Gentiles was: Accepting Gentiles without circumcision and Law meant accepting God’s without circumcision and Law meant accepting God’s new work more than the precedent of scripture.new work more than the precedent of scripture.