The Acts of the Holy Spirit

1
The Acts of the Holy Spirit

• Or of the Apostles

2
Acts and Luke

• second volume or companion edition
• prologue of Luke 11-4 applies to Acts
• In order that you might know the security
  concerning the things of which you were
  instructed.
• Theophilus can be confident that the same HS at
  work in Christ is at work in Christs church.

3
Jewish Expectations

• Acts 16 why this same question?
• the resurrection had all kinds of end of times
  and coming kingdom ramifications
• jingoistic tenor of question is deflected.
• Jesus reaffirms the expectation, but alters the
  interpretation in v. 8
• you will receive power . . .
• movement from Judea to the ends of the earth
• not just a kingdom in Israel

4
Ascension of Jesus

• read 18-11
• Ascension is tied to Dan 713
• Son of Man lifted up . . . all nations worship
  him
• this provides the structure for the rest of the
  book
• recounts the spread of the gospel from Judea
  ending in Rome
• Many traditions state that when Messiah comes,
  all the earth will be blessed

5
A Peek at the End

• look at Acts 2830-31
• Paul is under arrest but able to preach without
  hindrance
• Jesus, Israels God, is the sole king of the
  world
• This is Lukes full answer to the question in 16
• God has restored this kingdom to his people
• Based on Abrahamic Covenant, all the nations of
  the earth shall be blessed.

6
Acts 3 Decades of History

• Starts in Jerusalem and ends in Rome (33-63)
• two main protagonists Peter and Paul
• Peter Leads church in Jerusalem, Judea and
  Samaria (chs 1-12)
• Paul leads church into the rest of the world
  (13-28)
• both sections can be sub-divided into three
  subsections marked by summary statements
• 67 931 1224 165 1920

7
Basic Outline

• 11 241 Foundations of the church/mission
• 242-67 Church in Jerusalem
• 68-931 Stephen, Samaria, Saul
• 932-1224 Peter and the first Gentile Converts
• 1225-165 Paul turns to the Gentiles
• 166-1920 Deeper into Gentile world
• 1921-2831 Paul on to Rome

8
Highlights

• Prologue Foundations (11-227)
• Luke wants to make something clear
• the church and its mission are rooted in the
  ministry of Jesus
• Jesus prepares apostles for the Spirits coming
• Jesus gives worldwide mandate (18)
• 19-11 ascension shift from Jesus to church
• choosing Matthias to replace Judas (115-26)
• Pentecost (21-13)

9
Relationship of 5 and 6 (last slide)

• contrast church w/o HS
• operating without divine directive,
• Matthias never mentioned later,
• Paul the real hero
• Luke 2230 says the 12 apostles are to rule over
  the new Israel ruled by the HS
• Judas must be replaced for full 12
• only then could promise of the father be completed

10
Reversal of Babylon

• Pentecost is a reversal of Babel (Gen 11)
  directly before Abraham (Gen 12)
• This is the fulfillment of Gods promise to bless
  the whole world through Abraham
• the promise to Abraham is fulfilled and now all
  the world hears the praises of God in their own
  languages.
• funnel of redemptive history turned upside-down

11
First Missionary Sermon

• 214-41 Spirit of Jesus now moving through the
  apostles.
• The Joel citation shows that the outpouring of
  the Spirit is prophesied a new broader
  outpouring at the end of the age for all people
• Peter demonstrates Ps 168-11, 1101 and 13211
  point not to David but to Jesus (229f)
• Peter declares God made Jesus Lord and Christ
  (236)

12
What shall we do?

• People ask this in 240
• If they will repent and believe, they will
  receive the HS
• promised to you and your children (239)
• Joel 228 promises outpouring on all flesh
• those who respond make up the new people of God

13
A Jewish Church

• yet Luke emphasizes the Jewish nature of the
  early church (242ff)
• in principle, the people of God are restored
  within a historical Israel
• Yet who are these leaders of the new church
  Jewish or of another religion?
• a struggle between the apostles and Sanhedrin
  ensues who gets to define Israel?

14
The Church in Jerusalem (31-67)

• 31ff Peter heals a crippled man which leads to
  another missionary sermon (313-26)
• vv 13-16 You people rejected the Messiah!
• v. 17 ameliorates the culpability acted in
  ignorance
• Jesus a prophet like Moses v. 22
• through whom all the families of the earth shall
  be blessed Abrahamic promise of Gen 12.
• Many respond positively but leaders to not (41-3)

15
Opposition from the Sanhedrin

• 41-22 Peter and John boldly resist the request
  to stop speaking in Jesus name
• apostles directly accuse the leaders of
  responsibility for Jesus death (411)
• church continues to grow and share possessions
  432f
• Ananias and Sapphira lie and are judged (51-11)
  showing HS demands holiness

16
Great Reversal

• Sanhedrins second attempt in 517ff
• they are now jealous of apostolic success
• cannot hold the apostles in prison freed by an
  angel (519)
• they fear being stoned by the people and are
  reduced to simply inviting the apostles in for a
  hearing (526)

17
Gamaliels Irononic Observation

• Gamaliel (533ff) ironically and unintentionally
  interprets the whole story
• if the movement is from God, you cannot stop it
• if it is human, it will collapse on its own
• Readers know the movement will not collapse
  therefore it is of God
• v 42 Christians still meeting in the temple
• complete separation comes later

18
The Word of God Increased

• 67 notes increase
• Sanhedrin is loosing control over people
• 12 apostles are vindicated as new leaders of a
  New Israel

19
Stephen a Pivotal figure

• is convicted on trumped charges (612f)
• he gives a speech in self-defense
• retells the Jewish story from Abraham on
• indicates that Luke didnt think Xianity
  constituted a fundamental break w/Israel
• he only tells the ending differently (v 51ff)
• v. 56 a clear reference to Dan 7 Son of Man
• charges the Sanhedrin with resisting God

20
Gospel to the Gentiles (ch 8)

• Saul, apostle to the Gentiles, introduced (81)
• Philip preaches in Samaria in 84
• Progression Judea, Samaria
• Ethiopian eunuch (826f) uttermost regions
• Philip preached in Samaria due to persecution and
  led by the Spirit to the eunuch
• Gods work can work in either way.

21
Peter and Cornelius (932-1224

• Often called the Gentile Pentecost
• Sets the pattern for all Gentile conversions
• referred to several times later (ch. 11)
• Peter opens the doors to Gentiles before Paul
• has a vision of his being commanded to eat
  unclean animals
• Dont call unclean what God calls clean.
• God called them unclean in Leviticus!!

22
Peters Preaching

• Peter goes to preach, his sermon is interrupted
  by the Spirits coming (1044)
• shows special interest of God in reaching
  Gentiles
• Peter had to recognize that God was accepting
  Gentiles
• Peter uses the whole amazing story to help Jewish
  believers accept gentile believers (111ff)

23
Their New Name

• mix of Jews and Gentiles are called Christians
  (1126)
• Cornelius conversion isnt settled in 11
• issue stews until the Jerusalem council (ch. 15)
• a major watershed from which point Paul is the
  focus of the book
• He has already completed his first missionary
  journey (chs 13 and 14)

24
Council of Jerusalem (ch 15)

• dispute about outreach to Gentiles
• council endorses a law-free gospel for Gentiles
  (read 1523-29)
• no burden is placed on Gentile converts other
  than what was necessary for table fellowship
  between Gentile and Jewish believers.
• releases the church for further growth

25
The Rest of the Story

• After Pauls views are endorsed by the Jerusalem
  church (ch. 15) Paul begins his second missionary
  journey (1536)
• Paul arouses significant opposition among Jews
  and at their instigation is arrested as a
  troublemaker (ch. 21)
• chapters 21-28 show Paul on trial on various
  occasions

26
Paul on Trial

• Paul defends himself as someone who has never
  renounced Judaism or created any problems for the
  state
• His Roman judges are invariably convinced, but
  they refuse to release him for fear of the Jewish
  Nation
• Paul is sent to Rome to stand trial before
  Caesar. The book ends with him in Rome, under
  house arrest, preaching to everyone who will hear.

27
1st and 2nd Missionary Trips
28
Pauls Last two missionary Journeys
29
Paul on Mars Hill Acts 1716-34

• Paul is portrayed as a Christian philosopher
• drawing in Stoic and Jewish arguments
• 1728 first quote is patterned on Epimenidies
  (6th Cen poet) or Posidonius (a Stoic
  Philosopher)
• second on Aratus 3rd Cen Stoic
• Philosophers reject resurrection idea and seem
  to think Resurrection is the name of Pauls
  God.
• minimal impact of this sermon
• Paul being All things to all people?

30
Historical Issues

• famous we passages
• at four points, Luke speaks of we and us
• 1610-21, 205-15, 211-18 and 271-2816
• these passages appear without any obvious reasons
  other than the historical one
• not a literary trope of the time!!
• Big problem for those who argue for late
  authorship
• we passages evidence of eyewitness evidence

31
Ehrmans Historical Challenge

• Argues that the we passages are a travel diary
  Luke has used
• Problems w/Ehrmans View
• absolutely no change in style of language
• Luke has a very distinctive style
• you would expect Luke to easily change these
  passages to they to clear up confusion
• no reason to suspect the we passages are
  anything other than what they seem to be
• Indications that Luke was Pauls companion

32
Ehrmans other points

• After Paul converted, did he go right to
  Jerusalem to meet with the apostles (Acts 9) or
  did he intentionally stay away for three years
  (Gal 1)?
• But Acts and Galatians fit quite well here
• Acts 923 after some time (Arabia trip of Gal.
  117?)
• Pauls point in Gal 1 isnt necessarily that he
  didnt go to Jerusalem, but that he didnt go to
  consult with the apostles there.
• Maybe Paul had taken a trip there to greet the
  apostles but not to consult with them which he
  leaves unmentioned in Galatians

33
Luke the Historian

• Luke takes great pains to place his story in
  secular history
• names Roman Caesars
• many references to Roman officials Felix, Galio,
  Aggrippa
• he exposes himself to investigation
• marked by a high degree of accuracy

34
Luke and History

• he knows that at the time with which he deals in
  Cyprus, Achaia and Asia, senatorial provinces
  were governed by proconsuls
• Philippi was administered as a colony by
  collegiate praetors who were attended by lictors
  (1620ff, 35ff)
• Thessalonica and other Macedonian cities ruled by
  politarchs

35
Gallio Proconsul of Achaia

• Acts 1812 has Gallio as proconsul of Achaia when
  Paul encountered him in Corinth
• an inscription at Delphi says he was proconsul
  from 50-51
• an absolute chronology can be determined

36
Acts and Pauls Letters

• Ehrman presents Luke as a freely-inventive
  theologian who freely invents historical events
  as he goes along to support his theological
  agenda.
• other opinions
• By the measure of ancient historical writings,
  the disparity between the sources is not
  remarkable and confirms more than it calls into
  doubt (L.T. Johnson).

37

• The radical redaction-critical approach so
  popular today, which see Luke as a freely
  inventive theologian, mistakes his real purpose,
  namely that as a Christian historian he sets
  out to report the events of the past that
  provided the foundation for the faith and its
  extension. He does not set out primarily to
  present his own theology (Martin Hengel).

38
Serious Challenges

• most serious challenges to Luke are theological
  discrepancies
• four key areas of contrast between Luke and Paul
• or between the Paul of Acts and the Paul of the
  Pauline Epistles

39
1. Natural Theology on Mars Hill

• in Acts 17, the Paul of Acts liberally uses Stoic
  notions about God, the world, and the
  relationship of human beings to God
• something of a natural theology
• nature and the world are constituted to serve as
  a preparation for the gospel
• Acts 1726-28
• Paul in Rom 1 views natural revelation has having
  only a negative purpose
• to confirm the responsibility of people for their
  sins.

40
The Culpability of Idolatry??

• Acts 1729-31
• God excuses idolatry (an understandable sin which
  he overlooks)
• Rom 118-25
• God does not excuse idolatry (an inexcusable sin)
• Is there any possible reconciliation?
• Is there a nuanced solution?

41
1. Natural Theology in Paul?

• Could the Paul who wrote Rom 1, when arguing with
  sophisticated pagans, have used as many contacts
  with their culture as possible?
• being all things to all men to save some (I Cor
  919f)
• in an evangelistic context, he seeks to find
  common ground
• Romans teaches that the ultimate effect of nature
  by itself is negative (people cannot be saved by
  nature)
• Mars Hill speech is preparation of the gospel,
  but Paul got cut off.

42
A few observations

• Luke does emphasize Gods divine forbearance on
  sins of ignorance (Acts 317, 1327, 1416)
• speech writing tended to allow for some
  interpretive guesswork What they were likely
  to say under those circumstances.
• huge point of agreement Justification is by
  faith alone
• evangelism/teaching distinction
• Pauls purpose in Romans is to lay groundwork for
  the universality of atonement all stand in
  need

43
2. Loyalty to the Law?

• Paul of Acts is loyal to the law
• he agrees to impose ritual requirements on
  Gentile Christians (1522-35)
• he circumcises Timothy who had a Gentile father
  (163)
• he claims to be a loyal Pharisee who participates
  in temple rites (2117f)
• Paul in Gal 52-4 circumcision severs you from
  Christ!
• The Law is so much refuse to be discarded (Phil.
  35-8)

44
2. Loyalty to the Law

• Pauls view of the law has been characterized as
  more negative than it actually was (New Paul
  understandings)
• Timothy was circumcised, not to enable him to be
  a part of Gods people, but to enable him to
  carry out his mission.
• Paul claims circumcision in itself is indifferent
  (Gal 615)
• Pauls claim to be a Pharisee means he adheres to
  the Pharisaic doctrine of resurrection
• Participation in Jewish purification rites again
  relates to mission and being all things to all
  people.

45
3. Union with Christ?

• Paul of Acts lacks emphasis on union with Christ
  (being in Christ) and the expiatory benefits of
  Christs death
• These are central themes in Paul of the Pauline
  Epistles

46
4. Eschatology?

• The Paul of Acts is non-eschatological.
• No emphasis on the impending return of Jesus.
• were here for the long haul, folks!
• Connected to this is a heightened concern for
  Church order in Acts
• Yet Pauls epistles emphasize the sovereign
  freedom of the Spirit in the church (I Cor 12).

47
3/4 Differences in Teaching

• Distinctive Pauline teachings are absent in Acts
• in terms of Christology and eschatology
• but this may be because of the evangelistic
  context
• Also, many scholars discount Ephesians and
  Pastoral Epistles from being by Paul
• They then eliminate teaching from Paul that is
  factually much closer to the Paul of Acts

48
Therefore

• No good reason from denying the author of Acts
  was also a companion of Paul
• this is the natural implication of the we
  passages
• this companion was Luke the beloved physician
  the unanimous opinion of the early church.
• The book was written before Paul died in Rome
  before 70 AD
• note last 8 chapters detail Pauls judicial
  proceedings, one would expect him to include the
  outcome if he knew it.

49
Various Overall Purposes

• Acts is a defense of the church to Rome
• a defense of Pauls notion that the church is the
  true successor to Judaism
• to provide eschatological corrective
• to reassure believers with the reliability of the
  Christian message
• to help the church legitimate itself over against
  Judaism

50
Complexities

• The answer may be complex main and minor
  purposes of the writing
• seems to highlight the centrality of Gods
  purpose to bring salvation to all
• main question How could the Christian message,
  with its emphasis on the exaltation of a
  crucified man, and on the inclusion of Gentiles,
  attract such heightened opposition from Jewish
  leadership and yet be a faithful accounting of
  Gods work in the world (INT, 266).

51
Main Purpose

• Against this backdrop, the purpose of Luke/Acts
  is clear
• to strengthen the Christian movement in the face
  of opposition by
• confirming Christians in their interpretation and
  experience of the redemptive purpose of God and
• calling them to continued faithfulness and
  witness in Gods salvific project.
• Purpose is ecclesiological

52
Treatment of Judaism

• insists on a continuity between the church and
  Judaism
• yet Luke is interested in interpreted Judaism
• Judaism is to be embraced only when understood
  faithfully with respect to Gods redemptive
  purpose.
• Israels religion must cohere with the purpose of
  God as articulated through Gods chief
  spokespersons.
• Jesus, now witnesses empowered by the Holy
  Spirit