Acts 1

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Acts 1
Consequent Activities of the Apostles and
Brethren
Final Teachings and Actions of Jesus
Cause
Effect
11
111
112
126
Teachings and Actions During 40 Days (linked w.
first book)
Teachings and Actions on Day of Ascension
Common decision Replacement for Judas
Common Prayer
1
5
6
11
12
14
15
26
2
Structural/Logical Relationships 1. Causation
- Teachings and actions Consequent
activities of of Jesus (Cause)
apostles and brethren (Effect) 2. Recurrence
- (1) Holy Spirit (vv.2,5,8,16) (2) Apostle,
apostleship/ministry (vv.2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,
10,11,12,13,14, 17,25,26) (3)
Jerusalem (vv. 4,8,12,19)
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Structural/Logical Relationships
3. Contrast
The Apostles and Brethren
(passim, esp. vv.12-26)
vs.
Judas
4. Preparation/Realization
112-14- The Setting - Common Prayer
115-26- Decision regarding successor to Judas
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Activities of the Apostles and Brethren
(112-26) Common Prayer (112-14) 1.
Return - Jerusalem 2. Location - Upper Room 3.
Persons - Apostles (with women and brothers -
Jesus) 4. Manner of Behavior Common
Decision (115-26) - Completion of Apostolic
Circle (to 120)
One accord
Devoted themselves- prayer
Preparation Prayer Realization Common Decision
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Common Decision (115-26) - Completion of apostle
circle (to 120) 1. Speech of Peter (115-22) -
Double necessity a. Necessity (edei) of
fulfillment of scripture re. Judas demise
(116-20a)
Event Judas Demise 116-19
120a (Ps 69.25) Scripture 120b (PS 109.8)
Event Judas Replacement 121-22
b. Necessity (dei) of replacing Judas - Office
(120b-22)
Nomination
2. Consequent action (123-26)
Prayer
Selection
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• They all joined together constantly in prayer
  (114)
• Meaning of Prayer in Acts 114
• proskarterou/ntej omoqumado.n th/ proseuch/
• omoqumado.n the adverb homothumadon is unique
  to Luke in the NT and is one of his favorite
  expression for spiritual unity (see 246 424
  512 86 1525)
• proseuch Prayer is a theme spanning for both
  volumes of Luke-Acts. Luke 321 516 612
  928-29 111-4 181 2241-44, 46 Acts
  124-25 424-30 66 815 911, 40 109, 30
  1212 133 1423 1625 2036 215 288)
• Jesus characterizes the Apostles/disciples in
  prayer in excess of 30 xs in the Book of Acts.
  Contrast that to the Book of Luke, where they are
  never said to pray (even after Jesus instruction
  in 111-13)

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• Meaning of Prayer in Acts 114
• Prayer as Discipleship Characteristic
• At several points in Acts, the disciples pray
  without reference to the content of that prayer.
• Prayer is identified as the means by which Gods
  plans are revealed and people align themselves
  with Gods plans
• This summary prayer (114) is closely tied to the
  coming of the Holy Spirit in 21ff. This suggests
  that prayer is a faithful waiting for the
  anticipated Holy Spirit (see echo of Jesus words
  in Luke 111-13, a God who gives graciously)

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Meaning of Prayer in Acts 114 2. Prayer as
Selection of Leaders Judas defection from his
appointed place among the Twelve demonstrates
that Gods Will can be opposed. Thus, the divine
will invites human partnership. Prayer is then
put forward as one of the ways in which Gods
Will is make known! If the Lord knows the heart
(124), then He has already chosen Judas
replacement (see the choosing of the apostles in
Luke 612-16, Acts 12). If God is omniscient,
then why not ask for guidance? What about casting
Lots? Compare Zechariah in the temple (Luke
18-9). If Zechariah is not arbitrary, will
Matthias be?
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• Meaning of Prayer in Acts 114
• 2. Prayer as Selection of Leaders (continued)
• First recorded prayer in Acts 124-25 Lord,
  you know everyones heart. Show us (literally
  appoint for us see Luke 101) which of these two
  you have chosen (see Luke 613 935 1042
  147 Acts 12, 24 65 1317 157, 22, 25) to
  take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas
  left to go where he belongs.
• Collective prayer acknowledges Gods continuing
  role in the progress of history.
• Collective prayer acknowledges the early churchs
  commitment to putting the divine will into action

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Meaning of Prayer in Acts 114 3. Prayer in the
face of Persecution In Luke, Jesus predicted his
followers would encounter hostility (Luke
622-23 101-16 124-10 2112-19
2235-38) Yet he does not promise rescue. Thus,
listen to the prayers of the disciples in
424-31 759-60 125, 12 1625). They do not
pray for rescue, deliverance, etc., but for
boldness for the continuation of the churchs
mission.
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• Meaning of Prayer in Acts 114
• 3. Prayer in the face of Persecution (continued)
• Especially the prayer of 423-31 is programmatic
  for the book as a whole
• It explains how the church read its own
  experience of opposition against the backdrop of
  the hostility Jesus encountered.
• It is crucial to observe that the prayer offered
  not for the ceasing of threats but that God would
  protect his redemptive goals.

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Meaning of Prayer in Acts 114 4. Prayer for
Salvation In a sense according to Acts,
salvation is always related to prayer, since
salvation comes to all who call upon the name of
the Lord (Acts 221) In a sense, this includes
those persons who believe in the name and have
identified with the name of Jesus in baptism
(238 316 812, 16 948 195 2216) In a
sense, Luke indicates how fundamental prayer is
to the Christian experience its the beginning
of ones inclusion within the new community.
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Ways in Which 11-5 Introduces the Book of
Acts 1. Indicates the recipient, or addressee
(at least in part) 2. Indicates its relationship
to the Gospel of Luke, a relationship that
involves both continuity and discontinuity 3.
Indicates the relationship of the events in Acts
to the events of the Gospel, i.e., affirms that
what is to be narrated is a continuation of the
work of Christ that is described in the Gospel.
Here in Acts, as in the Gospel, the dynamic
power that brings salvation and wholeness to
persons involves the cooperation of Jesus and
the Holy Spirit. 4. Indicates the nature and
importance of the resurrection of Jesus, as well
as the historical and authenticating basis for
the witness to the resurrection, so important in
Acts.
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Ways in Which 11-5 Introduces the Book of
Acts 5. Indicates the nature and basis of
apostolic authority - a key concern in the Book
of Acts. 6. Indicates the importance and
necessity of waiting for the gift of the Holy
Spirit 7. Indicates the character of the gift of
the Holy Spirit Comes as the result of promise
(the promise of God through Jesus).
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• Ways in Which 11-5 Introduces the Book of Acts
• Indicates the continuity of the church with
  Israel Both Israel and the church are
  instructed people Both Israel and the church
  are evangelistic people (i.e., salvation -
  bringing people).
• Note reference to holy time (40 days - of
  instruction)
• Note reference to holy space (Jerusalem - as
  the place from which salvation is to be
  proclaimed to the whole earth).
• Indicates the nature of the Christian
  existence Historical activity in the past
  (baptism of John) Forthcoming salvation
  (baptism of Holy Spirit)