Acts 1-18

Intergenerational SeminaryNew Testament

Session #1

Basics of the New Testament (review)

How did the NT come about?

• Took a while– Early Christians were very “eschatological” – First form was letters (fit with eschatology):

Pauline• I Thess, Gal, Philemon, Phil, I/II Corin, Romans

– By the mid-60s the first generation had mostly died, so letters took on a more enduring tone (Deutero-Pauline)• II Thess: don’t focus too much on the Second Coming• Colossians/Ephesians: talks about “the Church”• I/II Timothy, Titus discuss bishops, priests, & deacons

How did the NT come about?

• Also the “Catholic/General Epistles” (directed to the worldwide church)– I/II Peter– James– Jude– I/II/III John

How did the NT come about?

• The Gospels– Mark (~70 CE): his readers were not

Palestinian Jews of Jesus’ lifetime, but Gentiles who were unfamiliar with Jewish customs•Emphasis on suffering and the Cross may

reflect Mark’s personal experience– Matthew/Luke (~20 years later): used

“Q”– Fourth Gospel (~90-100 CE)

How did the NT come about?

•Other books–Acts

•By the same author as Luke •One narrative, moving the story of Christianity beyond Jerusalem to Samaria and beyond

Why those books in the NT?

• Apostolic origin– Gospels attributed to apostles (Matthew, John)

or “apostolic men” (Mark, Luke)– Letters supposedly written by Paul, Peter, James

• Debates– Revelation almost didn’t make it in when

Dionysius (250 CE) proved John didn’t write it– Hebrews only made it in when it was thought to

have been written by Paul• Not always sufficient

– Gospel of Peter rejected based on its theology

Other criteria• Importance of the addressed Christian

communities– Antioch in Syria: Matthew– Asia Minor and Greece: Pauline and

Johannine writings– Rome: Romans

• Conformity with the rule of faith– Gospel of Peter rejected because of its

Docetism

Evolving NT canon• Pauline letters

– 100 CE: 10 letters (not Pastorals or Hebrews)– 200 CE: 13 letters (not Hebrews)– 300 CE: 14 letters

• Gospels– Likely each early community only knew of

one of the gospels• No record before 150 CE of more than one gospel

being read in any specific church• By late 4th century there was widespread

acceptance of the 27 books

Mark Matthew/Luke-ActsJohn

Chronology of Paul’s letters

50 60 70 80 90 100

1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians

Philippians

Philemon

1 & 2 Corinthians

RomansGalatiansColossians

Ephesians

1/2 TimothyTitus

Luke-Acts• Originally one book

– Luke: addressed to Theophilus (1:1-4)– Acts: “In the first book, Theophilus, I

wrote about al that Jesus did and taught.” (1:1)

• Two main characters– Peter (chapters 1-12)– Paul (chapters 13-28)

Language: Disciples and Apostles

• In general, an apostle (from the Greek word for “messenger”) is a person who received a mission directly from God or Jesus– The twelve Jesus chose– Saul/Paul– Some inferior disciples who, under the direction

of the Apostles, preached the Gospel, or contributed to its diffusion

• Barnabas (Acts 14:4, 14)• Andronicus and Junias (Romans 16:7)• Epaphroditus (Phil., ii, 25)• Two unknown Christians who were delegated for the

collection in Corinth (2 Corinthians 7:23)• A disciple (from the Latin word for “pupil”)

is any follower of Jesus.

Beginning of Acts of the Apostles

• Chapter 1– Jesus appears for 40 days, then ascends to heaven– Matthias chosen to replace Judas

• Chapter 2: Pentecost– Jewish feast celebrated 50 days after Passover

• Commemorates giving of the Law at Sinai (when Israel was called to be God’s own people)

– Peter summarizes the Gospel to the amazed onlookers• “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name

of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven.” (2:38)

Peter and John preach the gospel to the Jews in

Jerusalem• Chapter 3– Peter heals a cripple and preaches in Solomon’s

portico• Chapters 4-5

– Peter and John brought before the Council• “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

(4:7)• The Council orders Peter and John “not to speak or

teach at all in the name of Jesus”• Peter and John refuse, and are released

– The apostles give thanks and share everything• Except Ananias and Sapphira, who died (5:1-11)

Apostles continue to heal and preach• After healing many (including those who simply

fell in Peter’s shadow), the apostles are jailed• An angel lets them out of prison, and they

continue to preach• The Council wants to execute them, but

Gamaliel (Paul’s teacher) says not to– If they preach a false gospel, it will fail– “But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow

them.” (5:39)• Apostles are flogged and released• Debate among Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews)

and Hebrews about equitable distribution of food– Seven leaders chosen

Stephen, the first martyr• After preaching and doing “great wonders

and signs,” Stephen is arrested on the false testimony of others in the synagogue– “We have heard him say that this Jesus of

Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed to us.”

• High priest: “Are these things so?”• Stephen

– Recounts salvation history from Abraham on down, noting how all the prophets had been persecuted (Joseph, Moses, etc.)

– “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as you ancestors used to do.”

– Stephen is stoned (7:54-60)

First mention of Saul• Approved of Stephen’s execution

and led a sustained persecution of the disciples, scattering all but the apostles– Philip went to Samaria, where many

(including Simon the magician and the Ethiopian eunuch) believed and were baptized

– Peter and John then went to Samaria and laid hands on the converts

Israel (Norther

n Kingdom

)

and

Judah (Souther

n Kingdom

)

Conversion of Paul (Acts 9)• On the road to Damascus

– “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”– “Who are you, Lord?”– “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get

up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

• The Lord brings Saul and Ananias together• Saul preaches the Gospel in the synagogues

in Damascus, and then returns to Jerusalem– Attempts to join the disciples, but they fear him– Barnabas learns of a plot against Saul’s life, and

so sends him to Tarsus

Saul’s initial

travels

Peter’s continuing ministry• Heals Aeneas, bedridden for 8 years (9:32-

35)• Raises Tabitha from the dead (9:36-43)• Begins ministry to the Gentiles

– Vision on the roof (10:9-16)– Meeting Cornelius, the Roman centurion– “I truly understand that God shows no partiality,

but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” (10:35)

– Defends his ministry to the Church at Jerusalem (11:1-18)

Antioch• Gospel had spread there after disciples

dispersed following Stephen’s death• Church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas

there to encourage them– Barnabas went to Tarsus to get Saul– Saul and Barnabas spent a year with the

church in Antioch– Believers first called “Christians” there

Herod (Acts 12)• This is Herod Agrippa I, grandson

of Herod the Great• Killed James, the brother of John,

and imprisoned Peter • Peter released by an angel• Herod dies because he did not give

glory to God

Paul’s First Missionary Journey

Paul’s First

Journey

Paul’s First Journey• Barnabas and Saul (Paul)

commissioned by church in Antioch• Cyprus: confrontation with Bar-

Jesus, a magician and false prophet– Bar-Jesus blinded– Proconsul (Sergius Paulus) converted

• Pisidian Antioch– Many Jews converted– Explicit proclamation of mission to the

Gentiles (13:47)

Paul’s First Journey (cont’d): Galatia

• Iconium– Unbelieving Jews stirred up dissent

among Gentiles– Paul and Barnabas flee upon fear of

stoning• Lystra and Derbe

– Paul and Barnabas perform miracles, but the people think they’re Zeus and Hermes

– Jews from Antioch and Iconium come and stir up dissent, and Paul is stoned

• Return to Antioch

Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15)

• Issue of Gentile Christians not resolved in Acts 11– Back then it was a few Gentiles joining a

large number of Jews– But here it’s the question of large, entirely

Gentile churches• Peter and James agree to accept

uncircumcised Gentiles– What argument is missing?– Some rules: abstain from food sacrificed to

idols, from blood, and from what is strangled; and from incestuous relationships

• But what of Galatians 2?

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey

• Timothy joins Paul and Silas (who has replaced Barnabas), and is circumcised

• Philippi: very dear to Paul’s heart– Conversion of Lydia– Paul and Silas thrown in prison, freed by

earthquake, but don’t flee (so as to save the jailer and his family)

• Thessalonica– Many converts, but Jews stirred up dissent

• Even chased Paul and Silas to Beroea

Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey (cont’d)

• Athens, speaking on Mars Hill (Areopagus)– Acknowledges the people’s thirst for God– Quotes secular poets (Epimenides, Aratus)– Tells them Jesus is the answer they’ve

always been looking for• Corinth

– Origin of “tentmaker”– Came to focus exclusively on the Gentiles– Stayed there for 18 months

• Wrote 1 Thessalonians

To Read for Next Week• Review

– Acts 15 (Council of Jerusalem) – Acts 18:16-32 (Paul in Athens)

• 1 Thessalonians– Earliest writing in the New Testament– A Greek community (notice that Paul

doesn’t refer to explicitly Jewish issues)• Galatians

– Notice the difference in tone– Compare Galatians 2 with Acts 15