A Cup of Eau Claire

In these chapters, Paul finishes his third missionary journey, returning to Jerusalem in time for Pentecost. [Remember, Pentecost / Shavuot / is a Jewish festival, celebrating the revelation of Torah on Mt. Sinai to the Jewish people. It happens 50 days (thus the name) after Passover. It is one of the three pilgrimage festivals, when Jews gather in Jerusalem.   read more here   In Christian tradition, it is 50 days after Easter, celebrating the pouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples in Jerusalem (Acts 2).] First Paul goes to Ephesus, where he meets disciples who have been baptized by John with water, but not with the Holy Spirit (cf Mark 1:8). Paul teaches them about the Holy Spirit, baptizes them, and lays hands on them, and they receive the Spirit. There are 12 of them; perhaps this is a commissioning of a new group of leaders, parallel to the original 12 in Israel? The story tells us Paul spends 2 years, preaching in the synagogue and in a public lecture hall, so that “a

These chapters continue and conclude Paul’s second missionary journey, and begin his third. To list the places he travels in just these two chapters is impressive: Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Syria, Cenchreae, Ephesus, Caesarea, Galatia, Phrygia (another apostle, Apollos, goes to Achaia). We have stories here from some of these locations, and epistles in the New Testament addressed to the churches which are started there (Thessalonians, Corinthians, Ephesians, and Galatians). Now traveling with Silas rather than with Barnabas, Paul still begins his foray into a new city at the synagogue, proclaiming Jesus among the Jews. He emphasizes that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die and be raised again (17:3, 31). However, Jewish scholars note that this necessity of suffering and resurrection of the Messiah is not present in Jewish scripture or tradition. 1 Paul seems to be shaping his message away from traditional understandings of Hebrew

These chapters begin the description of Paul’s second missionary journey. We hear echoes of issues Paul writes about concerning these places: whether Gentile converts must become Jews first (Galatians), marked by circumcision; and “being of one mind”, disregarding status (Philippians). If you have time, read these letters along with Acts this week. Initially there is a question of the inclusion of Gentiles. Since the Way began in Jerusalem, among Jews, they continue to observe Torah instruction, including dietary laws and religious customs. How much of that tradition is required for Gentiles? Do they need to be circumcised? Do they have to follow dietary restrictions? Do they have to “convert” to Judaism before they can convert to Christianity? The question is a serious one, for it involves inclusion into the covenant all the way back to Abraham 1 ; it is not merely hoops to jump through to prove one’s sincere commitment. The leaders in Jerusalem, upon hearing persuasive testi

There are a couple major shifts that happen as we approach the midway point of the book of Acts. In these chapters, Paul becomes the main character, and Peter and the Twelve almost entirely drop out of the story. The center of the story also shifts from Jerusalem, the Jewish capital city, to Antioch, located in Syria, a thoroughly Greek/Gentile area. From this city, Paul will begin several missionary journeys which are described in the remainder of the book of Acts, and he returns here often, making Antioch a center of Christianity. (The modern day city of Antakya, in Turkey, remains.) Part of the reason given for this shift to Antioch is that the Jewish religious leaders continue to reject the message of Jesus, even when many people who hear Paul and Barnabas speak in synagogues are converted. Indeed, they are even willing to travel over a hundred kilometers to drive the apostles out of other cities (14:19), even resorting to violence to be rid of them. The zeal that Saul showed

After Peter’s retelling of his interaction with the centurion Cornelius, chapter 11 shifts to remind us how far and wide the apostles are now traveling to preach, teach, and heal. Remember that after Stephen was executed, the infamous Saul began a persecution that caused the apostles to scatter for their safety (8:1). Now we have an update about where they traveled. They are beyond the boundaries of Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, deep into foreign territory. While they begin their ministry among other Jews (11:19), after spending a year in Antioch, a community is established which is called “Christian”, probably indicating that it is far enough removed from Jewish identity--perhaps because of distance, maybe because of practice—that this group of believers needs its own name. [1] Chapter 12 describes a miraculous rescue from prison. Note that the Herod in this story is the grandson of the Herod who reigned when Jesus was born. Herod the Great was a powerful ruler of the Roma

Acts 10 and first part of 11 mark an official breakthrough of taking the message of Jesus to the Gentiles—those who are not ethnically Jewish. While the first disciples, and Jesus himself, of course, were faithful and devout Jews, as the church grows and expands geographically, diverse peoples hear the message, receive the Spirit, and are baptized. In Acts 10, Jesus officially removes the ethnic barrier. In a vision to Peter, Jesus instructs, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” (Act 10:15) When he is sent by that same vision to tell the story to the centurion (Roman military official), Peter applies the “God has made clean” provision to people, and Cornelius and his household receive the Spirit and are baptized. (10:44-48) The problem with a revelation such as this is that the other Jewish leaders didn’t receive it, and they challenge Peter upon his return. The issue is cleanliness and purity. Jews were not to associate with Gentiles because of the possibilit