Bible Groups - Digests of Bible Commentaries

The Acts of the Apostles - Chapter 1

Revised 2014

Early years of the Church, mainly missionary work of Peter & Paul - could not reconstruct early Church if had got only Paul's letters. NB Paul wrote when there were problems, so cannot argue from silence or omissions in Paul's writings - eg Paul would never have mentioned the Eucharist unless the drunks at Corinth had misbehaved. Also note that we know nothing of missions by others to the East or to Africa, although there must have been similar journeys by early Christians to the large Jewish communities in these areas, including India.
Covers period of about 30 yrs from Ascension of Jesus to end of Paul's imprisonment in Rome c. AD 63. Early tradition says Luke from Antioch, a Gentile converted to Judaism, probably by Paul. Many reasons support Luke Evangelist as author, including internal and Iraneus of Lyons (d 180). Probably written after Paul's imprisonment in Rome AD 62/63, & probably before destruction of Jerusalem AD 70 & before James, Paul & Peter (AD 68) martyred. Seems unlikely that these deaths would not be mentioned if had happened before writing completed. Council of Jerusalem at centre.
Not a history, historically very accurate - many external sources confirm details. Teaching especially on Jesus; Holy Spirit ("Gospel of .. "); Church. Especially concerned with the problem that Jesus came to save the Jews but the Jews rejected him, the Church has become mainly Gentile: Luke's answer is the person of Jesus - links between Jesus and the Jews (Gospel) and Jesus and the Church (Acts) - the divine plan is brought to completion through Jesus.
Luke wrote as a historian of his time - contemporaries included Tacitus, Livy, Josephus. 4 sections: Ch 1-7: early community in Jerusalem around Peter; Ch 8-12: Dispersion after persecution & preach to Gentiles; Ch 13-20: Paul as Apostle to the Gentiles; Ch 21-28: Paul as prisoner takes witness to Rome.
Features of Luke's writing: dramatic events; portraits of real people; speeches; summaries; idealised account of early Church as a "golden age" of steady growth. Selects what is important, of course - telling every detail would be boring. End 2ndC before guess that Luke = companion of Paul: sensible people making this guess, and some internal suggestions of companionship. Even so need not be Luke as one of the "we". Speeches likely to be attributed - no tape-recorders! But likely to be accurate as to content. Luke's themes: Jesus present to the community through the Spirit; commission to carry the Gospel from the Jews in Jerusalem to the Gentiles in Rome - the Spirit is in charge and they are united and they obey; prayer is central to this unity and obedience; is Church to be universal or local; Church is no threat to the empire - troubles started by Jews; miracles as sign of salvation; Holy Spirit central to Acts.
Early Christian "Church" unique among religions of Roman empire in that if you believed you had to join. Apparently joining not required while Jesus on earth. Jesus very unstructured - did not appear to found an organisation - not a founder - because working in Israel, which already has structure. Strange that his memory can only be preserved with structure. Jesus talked about Kingdom of God - Church requires people to believe in Jesus - different context: structure introduced because Jesus did not. Apostles also sort of founders - and venerated as such. Also worry that Jesus came to renew Israel, yet within 30 years the Christian religion had separated from Judaism. "Old wineskins" implies early Christians understood Christianity could not be grafted onto Israel. Early preachers had to work out these problems. So the Spirit necessarily becomes almost as important as Jesus. To Luke, Acts was probably also part of Gospel. The story of the Church as important as what Jesus did - Cf creed: I believe in God, Jesus, Spirit, - and the Church. Luke seeing development of the Church as part of the whole story. At Council of Jerusalem noone said "do this because Jesus did/said": they discovered the solution from the Spirit - and were surprised by it. Surprises of what Jesus said continues in Acts with surprises at what the Spirit says. And the Church has to continue discovering solutions to new problems - through the Spirit. Acts gives insight into this discovery process - but it remains the Church of Jesus, guided by his Spirit.
1 Links to Gospel and conveys profoundly religious character of this book to reader (Cf Lk 1:3). Lk sees as 2 books. "All that Jesus did and taught" - revelation works through words and actions, which are inextricably linked - succinct summary of Lk's Gospel - "until the day he was taken up". After summary of the Gospel, might have expected summary of Acts - but there is none - launches straight in - to Luke it is the same story. Prepares us for duplication of Ascension narrative: Lk 24:50-51 had Ascension on Easter Sunday; in Acts 1:9-12 it is 40 days later - Lk is using the resurrection-ascension complex as a hinge - timeless to God, but a sequence for earthly observers; terminates Jesus activity on earth, prepares Apostles for their witness to ends of the earth. Chap 1 has 3 sections after intro: The witnesses God has chosen are commissioned; and they form a real community based on the 12 Apostles; Theophilus = lover of God.
2 Cf Lk 24:13-43. "40" has salvific meaning in Bible: Flood (Gen 7:17); Moses (Ex 24:18); Wilderness (Ps 95:10); Elisha (1 Kgs 19:8); Jesus (Mt 4:2). So "40" links Jesus to Moses and Israel.
3 Apostles were instructed by the risen Jesus. Here proof of Jesus' resurrection - Cf apologetic tone in Lk 24:36-43. Proofs very necessary - seeing someone alive who was dead is a new experience! Apostles to wait in Jerusalem - the centre of Judaism from which they are to go out on their mission - for baptism in the Spirit as promised (Lk 3:16). Baptism is a soaking in the Spirit - a total taking over. What Jesus said and did is less important than the fact of his presence, instructing and preparing them for the coming mission.
4 "the promise of the Father" - ie to send the Holy Spirit. They are to stay in Jerusalem, which is the centre of Israel and starting point of their mission (Cf Lk 24:49).
5 Holy Spirit is present throughout Acts - guiding, inspiring, strengthening, enlivening. Time shifts to immediate future - they are to be baptised in the Spirit "in a few days".
6 Still thinking of Davidic restoration - Spirit not yet instructed them. Restoration did not take place during Jesus' ministry - is it to be now? Not surprising against Jewish expectation that on "the days to come" or "that day" exiles and Gentiles would stream to Jerusalem to witness the establishment of the new glorious Israelite kingdom.
7 Patient reply - character of Kingdom too mysterious for them to understand just yet. Essential at time of writing: if end coming immediately no point in writing the book, or to expect teaching to reach ends of the earth. Cf Mk 13:32, but Lk omits the Son, as now after resurrection.
8 Need to receive understanding from the Spirit. Instead of an answer Jesus gives them their programme: Summary outline of Acts: Jerusalem - Samaria - and ends of the earth - the opposite direction from that expected. In the Gospel Jerusalem was destination, here it is starting point. Cf Is 2:2-3. Jerusalem is where the Apostles are, and is the doctrinal focal point in the early days. This is the author looking back: the Apostles clearly had no idea of this plan at the time.
9 Ascension is end of Jesus' life on earth (not his death). Cloud symbol of heaven (led Israelites in the wilderness), which He had already entered, and links to Elijah (2 Kgs 2:9-13). Ascension is fully a part of the redemptive mystery of the Passion. It too saves us: "We have ascended with Christ" (St Leo). Ascension marks end of time of Jesus and start of time of the Church.
10 Presence of Angels suggest the event needs interpretation.
11 "Why are you hanging about - get on with your mission"! Be confident that He will come again (at the 2nd Coming). We do not need to know when - we should do his work - that is our task. Ascension is from Mt of Olives, where God will come again: Zech 14:4-21. Departure does not mean abandonment. But in the meantime, after Jesus' departure, who will guide the small community?
12 To some Jews Mt Olivet is seen as a base for operations for violent revolution against oppressors (EG Zech 14:1-4, Acts 21:38). But to Luke Olivet has different connotation: Jesus weeps over Jerusalem (Lk 19:28-34), and now it is the site of his grand exit. A sabbath day's journey is about half a mile - places the community in Jewish time, with its restrictions on movement on the sabbath, fixed hours of prayer, etc.
13 Apostles listed (except Judas Iscariot) - by name to identify the Apostles as the leaders of the community, but now in different order (of importance?) from Lk 6:14-16. 12 represents the whole Jewish nation under the 12 sons of Jacob. Apostles' authority further emphasised by estimating the larger congregation as a multiple of 12. This first passage telling us about the life of the early Church emphasises the centrality of prayer, as it was for Jesus. But a re-grouping is essential ("must") before the journey can start. 3 James known: James the Great = brother of John, killed Acts 12:2; James the Less = son of Alphaeus; James the brother of the Lord, who became leader of the Jerusalem Church.
14 Having given a resume of the witnesses' preparation and commissioning, they are now deployed as a formally accredited sacred community, gathered round the reconstituted circle of 12 witnesses of the resurection. Both these steps have been necessary to link to and move from "Jesus time" to begin the journey. Summary statement of ideal community: Mary and other women were at the heart of this community. Jesus' "brothers" also - ie family members, cousins, nephews, etc (see Lev 10:4; Gen 13:8). Also used for all Christians: Lk 8:21; 1 Cor 1:10; Acts 12:17. Last NT reference to Mary. List represents continuity with Gospel: Apostles to public ministry; women to burial and empty tomb; Mary to Jesus' birth and youth.
15 The community is about 120 strong, with Peter first in dignity. Peter leads, insisting that a replacement be found, using scripture in support.
16 Peter takes initiative telling how Judas lost his share in apostolic ministry. Brotherhood/sisterhood is essence of Christianity.
18 An alternative tradition about the death of Judas - that he bought some land and fell over on it. Cf Mt 27:3-10. What is common indicates that Judas died quickly and violently. An evil person dies violently.
20 Ps 69:26, 109:8
21 Source of authority defined: replacement must be one who has accompanied Jesus during his public life: the Apostles were chosen to live with Jesus and provide an essential link certifying that his words and actions are truly reported by the Church - the Apostolic succession.
22 Must be witness to resurrection which links earthly to heavenly Jesus - essential that the Apostles - and we - are witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. Only 4 verses separate "the day he was taken up" from Pentecost in 2:1 - these 2 events are closely linked. In both there are unusual heavenly manifestations, at both the believers are enumerated and disclose the participation of all believers - including women - in decision-making and ministries of prayer, prophecy and charity.
23 The extra info about Joseph lures the reader to expect him to be elected.
24 The first recorded prayer of the Church. Shows their complete confidence and trust in God. Used traditional Jewish way of discerning God's will, ie casting lots. Restricted to Levites. Use by Church not continued very long.
25 In contrast to Jesus who is raised up from the dead, and Peter who betrayed Jesus but was accepted back, Judas "turned aside to go to his own place", and falls down in a desolate (v 20) accursed spot where noone can survive.
26 It appears the whole community took part in the selection process, by proposing candidates, and that there were only 2 serious contenders. The Apostolic College is now complete again, (Cf 6:2,6) and ready to receive the Holy Spirit. We know nothing about Matthias and he is never mentioned again: all that matters is that the apostolic college is complete. For Luke "Apostle" is used only for the 12, not Paul (except 14:4,14). He reserves to the 12 the specific function of being witnesses to Jesus' life on earth. The 12 also have other roles: governing the Church; intervening outside Jerusalem as guarantors of unity (8:14-17; 11:1-18; 15:2). Peter always acts as spokesman for the 12. He works the miracles, received special care from God, and was - in Luke's eyes - largely responsible for the community's growth. Need to replace Judas because of symbolism of 12: 12 tribes of Israel - for Luke, the Church is the reconstituted Israel. However in reconstituting the 12, Luke also sows the seeds for their longer term replacements: 9 of the list (and Mary) are never mentioned again, and others come to take leading roles in the growing community - Stephen, Philip, James, Barnabas, and Paul. A journey is starting, open to new companions as well as new territories. (But there appears a certain maleness creeping in: the male angels address their remarks to men of Galilee, and Peter addresses the congregation as "men, brothers" (male) to select a male to replace Judas. Women will accompany the Apostles on the journey, but whether they will lead or influence the mission remains to be seen.)