Some thoughts on Acts, chapter 2

 

     In chapters 2—5 of the book of Acts, the Galilean “Jesus-movement” takes Jerusalem by storm! (cf. Ac. 2.7).  In these opening chapters, we see the same pattern of “ministry” as had occurred in Galilee through the activities of Jesus and the disciples in Luke’s Gospel (= preaching and healings).  Compare this part of the book of Acts with Jesus’ “holy week” in Jerusalem (Lk. 20—23), which had been characterized by daily preaching in Temple, constant questioning by religious leaders, hostility from Temple leadership, the crowds serving as Jesus’ “bodyguard” and finally, Jesus’ arrest and trial.  In Luke’s Gospel, most of the action takes place in Galilee and involves the renewing of Israel through the 12 apostles.  In Luke’s sequel, the book of the Acts of the Apostles, the action begins where it had ended in his Gospel – in Jerusalem.  In volume 2 of Luke’s work, the renewed Israel grows, and prepares to renew the world.

     Both Luke’s Gospel and the book of Acts depict a series of “ironic trials” which take place in Jerusalem.  Jesus: While Jesus is constantly “interrogated” during “holy week” and is eventually formally tried before three different groups/individuals – the Sanhedrin, Herod Antipas and Pilate – everyone who questions Jesus finds themselves to be the ones on trial (cf. Lk. 20—23).  Jesus’ presence in Jerusalem is the city’s “visitation” by God, and the people of God do not realize what’s happening and thus doom themselves to destruction due to their culpable negligence and spiritual blindness (Lk. 19.41-44).  The apostles: though the apostles are constantly being arrested and questioned by the Sanhedrin, they are actually the ones who are “convicting” the pilgrims (crowds) in Jerusalem as well as the city’s religious leadership of their guilt and complicity in Jesus’ death (cf. Ac. 2.23, 36-37; 3.15; 4.10; 5.30).  Every healing performed by the apostles is proof, not only of Jesus’ resurrection, but also of the fact that he was a “righteous” victim of the Sanhedrin’s injustice (cf. Lk. 23.47; Ac. 2.22, 37; 5.30-33).  Courtrooms and courtroom imagery are prevalent: the apostles are “witnesses” to Jesus’ resurrection and they offer “testimony” before the Sanhedrin (=the Jewish Supreme Court).

     The vindication of Jesus: Jesus is vindicated vis-à-vis (the leaders of) the people of God who had condemned him by a series of events:

·        His resurrection.

·        His ascension/exaltation to the right hand of the Father (cf. Dn. 7.13-14).

·        The proclamation by the apostles of his resurrection and his messiahship/lordship (cf. Ac. 2.36) and the demonstration of the power of Jesus/the Spirit to heal the sick.

·        The destruction of Jerusalem “within one generation” as he had predicted (cf. Lk. 19.41-44; 21.5-28).  This occurred in the year AD 70 (forty years after Jesus’ crucifixion).

As chapter 2 of the book of Acts opens, it’s “I told you so!” time.

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