Friday, May 31, 2024

Persecution of the Apostles

Persecution of Apostles

The Passage: Acts 5:12-42

Structure:

a. 5:12-16, miracles and teaching of Apostles

 b. 5:17-18, Apostles arrested

  c. 5:19-20, Help by angel of the LORD

   d. 5:21a, Teaching by apostles

    e. 5:21b, High priests

     f. 5:22-23, Report of “police”

      g. 5:24, Captain of the Temple guard and high priests

     f’. 5:25-26, Repost of others

    e’. 5:27-28, High priests

   d’. 5:29-32, Apology of apostles

  c’. 5:33-39, Help by Gamaliel

 b’. 5:40, Apostles dismissed

a’. 5:41-42, Apostles proclaim Jesus the Messiah

Historical and geographical context: The events of this passage happened in the Temple area. Solomon’s Portico was NOT built by king Solomon (first Temple was destroyed 587 BC). Apparently, the Temple also had a jail attached to it (5:17-18). 

Theology:

Apostles do signs and wonders. First, Jesus gave authority and power to the disciples for performing signs and wonders at the first call (Mat. 10:5-8). Second, they continue the ministry of Jesus (Mark 16:14-18). Third, even the false prophets and false ministers can perform signs and wonders (Mat. 24:24). Therefore, the miracles or special abilities do not testify to the integrity of the call from God. The main part of the ministry is forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God and the others (5:42 – the ending bracket of the story).    

Apostles disappear from prison (5:19-21). First, it resembles the resurrection of Jesus – regardless of the presence of the Roman guard He walked out of from the tomb. Second, it happened in the middle of the night. One of many night events in the Bible (Passover [Exodus], sleepless night of Ahasuerus [Esther 6], Nicodemus [John 3], betrayal by Judas and arrest of Jesus [John 13:29-30]). Unlike Judas, St. Peter and other apostles are not overcome by the darkness of night. It is symbolically significant and chronologically accurate that they (the group as a whole) came back to teach and preach at daybreak – being the bearers of light.   

High priest (interesting, he remains un-named throughout the whole story) accuses the disciples that they want “to bring this man’s blood upon us” (5:28). It is important to see a connection between this phrase and claims of the crowd during the Trial of Jesus (Mt 27:25).

Speech of St. Peter gives an example of godly push-back. He presents the case of Jesus with two witnesses – apostles and the Holy Spirit (cp. Deut. 17:6 and 19:15). They claimed that Jesus is the “leader and Savior”. The word for leader lit. means someone who begins something or a founder (Bauer, p. 112). This reflects Trinitarian theology and Christian teaching of Incarnation.   

The wisdom of Gamaliel. He is a historic figure. The texts of Judaism attribute to him many important theological perspectives on Creation (Genesis Rabbah 4:7, 6:3, 14:5). Regardless his Christological preferences, in Acts he gives a wise advice to the “council” [cp. Sanhedrin when we talked about ch. 4]. His advice expresses a trust in the LORD who can and will carry out His plans. On the other hand, human endeavors are doomed to fail (cp. 1000-year Reich, USSR etc.).     

Suffering for Jesus’ sake. Apostles rejoiced in the fact that they suffered for the sake of the name of Jesus. The modern Western world doesn’t like the idea of suffering. Life should be positive and sense-pleasing. Together with apostles we need to re-learn that “in Baptism, our suffering, broken, sinful bodies are joined to Christ’s suffering, dying, and risen body, and in this communion with his flesh, we share in his suffering, death, and resurrection.” [Arthur Just, CTQ 83:3-4, p.252] (also, Mt. 5:10; 1 Pet. 3:13-17, 18-22)  

Other themes:

Theology of day and night (v.18-19) + apostles come at the daybreak (cp. With Jacob the wrestler, and Judah who walks into the night)

Shadow impact.

High priest is un-named (v. 17 + 22b +27)

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