Book of Acts: Matthias replaces Judas

Matthias replaces Judas

The Passage: Acts 1:12-26

Structure:

A. 1:12-13, List of the apostles

 B. 1:14-15, the disciples pray

  C. 1:16-17, The OT citation  

   D. 1:18-19, Death of Judas   

  C’. 1:20-22, The OT citation

 B’. 1:23-25, the disciples pray

A’. 1:26, Matthias is added to the list  

Historical and geographical context:

The Eleven (they, cp. Mk. 16:14 and Acts 1:13) came back from Mount Olivet to Jerusalem. The trip was not more than a Sabbath day’s trip – about 1000 [normal] daily steps. Why would they mention that if it was not a sabbath day? They come back to the same place they used to stay during and after the Cross and Resurrection.

They come to the Upper Room – a place where Jesus instituted the His Supper, the higher ground that becomes the source of life for the world. (NB: the Altar in the church – usually – is placed on a higher ground).

The replacement of Judas happened within the 10 days (maybe the first one, but most likely not, 1:15) after the Ascension, prior to Pentecost.    

Theology:

Selection of the ministers – number, timing, personal characteristics.

Number – Peter proposes that the drop-out apostle should be re-placed: “one of these men MUST become with us a witness to his resurrection” (1:22). How many people saw/heard/experienced the resurrection? According to St. Paul – abut 500 (1 Cor. 15:6). This means that the verb “to witness” does not mean the fact of eye witnessing, but the ministry of the Word and Sacrament. The ministry is a witness of His resurrection. For as St. Paul puts is: “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain” (1 Cor. 15:14). The same applies to the Sacraments – Holy Baptism, Confession and Absolution, and the Sacrament of the Altar.       

Timing – There is an opinion that apostles “jumped the gun”. They should’ve waited for the conversion of Saul. God speaks of him as a “chosen instrument” (Acts 9:15). On the other hand, we do not have any significant acts – sermons, acts of mercy, or miracles – done by Matthias.
That’s where the historical and liturgical heritage helps to answer this question. LSB 517:13 is dedicated to St. Matthias. 

Characteristics. The list of “requirements” is substantially different than what St. Paul would design later for the ministry in diaspora (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-6, 7-9). Here: being with us all the time – from the baptism by John to the Ascension. Two criteria: we (1) know him through time (2). Then they prayed for the guidance of the LORD. Prayer and casting lots (cp. Purim, Ex. 28:30; 1 Sam. 14:41-42; Pr. 16:33) was the method of identification.   

Other themes:

Authorship of particular psalms confirmed. It is not an issue here, but later – in Acts 4 we’ll see an important authorship statement. 

120 – the number of disciples (as a whole) was fitting for the following task – sharing the Good News (the Gospel) with the representatives of 15 national and geographical groups. 

1 Thessalonians 5:23

 I wrote a few times that most of the people were not trained to recognize the literary patterns in the Bible. That's why I do my best to point them out - on a large scale (the outline of the books as a whole), or on a micro-level (a short passage or a single sentence). 

Here is an example of the beauty of Pauline writings. A single sentence is structured chiastic. 

Here is the text: Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ.

I noticed that in the middle of the sentence there are two synonyms that even sound similar (in Greek): completely and whole. Then everything began to fall into its rightful place. Here we go: 

a. God 
 b. sanctify
  c. you 
   d. completely 
   d'. whole
  c'. spirit, soul, body
 b'. be kept 
a'. our LORD Jesus Christ

St. Paul was a prolific writer. No very often English or Russian or any other language can fully express his thought - not only the meaning, but beauty of a structure... Yet, in this case ESV translation team did a great job picking up the proper words in a correct order. SDG!     

 

Book of Acts: Story of Ascension

Story of Ascension

The Passage: Acts 1:1-11

Structure:

A. 1:1-2, until the day He was taken up

 B. 1:3, appearing to them during 40 days (showing)

  C. 1:4-5, wait for the promised power of the Holy Spirit

   D. 1:6, question of the disciples

  C’. 1-7-8, promise of the power of the Holy Spirit

 B’. 1:9-10, cloud took Him out their sight (hiding)

A’. 1:11, Jesus was taken up   

Historical and geographical context:

Gospel of Luke teaches that the Ascension happened at Bethany (Lk. 24:50)

Bethany – southeast side of the Mount Olives, glorious entry of Jesus to Jerusalem (Mk. 11:1), city where Lazarus was raised from the dead (John 11:1), Jesus was anointed in the house of Simon the leper in Bethany (Mt. 26:6-13)…

It looks like Bethany was a “headquarters” town/city for the ministry of Jesus during the Holy Week and after the Resurrection until Ascension.  

40 days after the resurrection of Jesus – see, 40 in the Bible (incomplete list):

The beginning and concluding parts of the flood sequence were 40 days (Gen. 7:12 and 8:6).

Moses life is divided into three periods of 40 (years)

40 – in the house of pharaoh

40 – in the house of Jethro

40 – in the wilderness

Moses went to the Sinai Mountain top for 40 days (Ex. 24:18)

Elijah’s travel to the mountain Sinai is 40 days (1 Kg. 19:8)

Jesus’ wilderness experience is 40 days (Mt. 4:2) – the very beginning of His ministry, then 40 days at the very end of His ministry (cp. Flood, etc.)

 

Theology:

The Ascension of Jesus is underappreciated event on the ministry of Jesus. The celebration of Ascension falls on Thursday – people in the US are not used to go to church… But, Ascension is an important event in Salvation history. As Irenaeus [of Lyon, d. 202AD] puts it: The ascension confirms what had been spoken by the prophet: “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool.” Thus God who was announced by the prophets is truly one and the same as God who is celebrated in the true Gospel, whom we Christian worship and love with the whole heart as the maker of heaven and earth. And of all things within it” Against Heresies 3.10.5. (cp. 110:1, Mt. 22:41-46)     

Two important issues:

(1) fulfillment of the Scriptures

(2) finally, human nature came (ascended) to the throne of God.

As Leo the Great (d. 461AD) says: “And so while at Easter it was the Lord’s resurrection which was the cause of our joy, our present rejoicing is due to his ascension into heaven. With all due solemnity we are commemorating that day on which our poor human nature was carried up in Christ above all the hosts of heaven. Above all the ranks of angels, beyond those heavenly powers to the very throne of God the Father.” Sermon 74.1-2 (Cp. 1 Cor. 6:3, Rev. 4 – 5)

Other themes:

Patience – the disciples need to exercise patience, waiting for the power of the Holy Spirit. The movement that Jesus began is not a business development strategy. The ministers rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, not on their own skills and understanding (cp. Acts 16:6).  

Grand plan of Evangelism – God could’ve created the heavens and the earth, and all within it in a micro or millisecond but He did not – He laid out a pattern of creation and transformation for us to follow (since we are the images of God, Gen. 1:26-27). In the same way Jesus gives to His disciples a pattern of progressive outreach. Beginning with our own community, then to neighbors, then to somewhat distant people (both culturally and geographically), then “to the ends of the earth”.

Book of Acts: Overview

Book of Acts: Overview

Hymn 517: 1, 4, 7, 11, 12, 13,15, 19, 21, 26, 27, 3

Author: St. Luke – the first church “historian”. It is the second volume of his work for Theophilus (1:1). Following the methodology of careful investigation, he composes the story that picks up at the same place where the Gospel of Luke ended up – Ascension.

Timeline: from Ascension of Jesus to Paul’s first two years in Rome.

Main characters:

Jesus, Holy Spirit, Peter, James, Paul, John Mark (gospel writer), Barnabas, Luke, Stephan, Dorcas, Lydia, Felix, Agrippa etc.  

Main themes: The reign of Ascended Christ reaching the ends of the earth: 

·       Who is the real rule – question to Sanhedrin, and the rulers.

·       The leadership of the church, Peter and Paul.

·       Fellowship of Jews and Gentiles.

Structure: Based on the 1:8 there can be set a geographical structure of Acts

Jerusalem: ch. 1 – 7

“Judea”: 8 – 15 (coming back to Jerusalem)

“Samaria”: 16 – 22:29 (coming back to Jerusalem)

Ends of the earth: 22:30 – 28 (toward Rome)

The Book of Acts as the New conquest of Joshua

Joshua	Action	Acts
1 – 2	Preparation	1
3 – 5	Conquering the city	2 – 4
7	Hiding gifts of God	5
9	Introduction of a new ministry	6
10	Attack on the new ministry	7
10:29-43	Conquering the South	8
11	Conquering the North	10 – 11

 

Overall chiastic structure of the Book of Acts (source is here):  

1. A. 1:1-11, Ascension of Jesus, [1:3, the Kingdom of God]

2.  B. 1:12-26, Mathias chosen to replace Judas, [1:18, Punishments against sinners]

3.   C. 2:1-13, The coming of the Holy Spirit, [27:14, Fierce wind]

4.    D. 2:14-39, Peter addresses the crowd, [Preaching]

5.     E. 2:40-47, Life among the believers, [righteousness of the believers]

6.      F. 3:1-4:4, Peter heals a crippled beggar, [3:14, accusation of innocent]

7.       G. 4:5-22, Peter and John before the council, [Apology]

8.        H. 4:23-31, The believers pray for boldness, [4:26, Conspiracy]

9.         I. 4:32-37, Believers share their possessions, [4:33, witness to the resurrection]

10.        J. 5:1-11, Ananias and Sapphira, [5:2, donation]

11.         K. 5:12-42, The apostles are persecuted, [5:18, arrest of apostles]

12.          L. 6:1-7, Seven are chosen to serve, [6:3, selection of ministers]

13.           M. 6:8-7:60, Stephen’s speech to the council, [7:60, death]

14.            N. 8:1-3, Saul persecutes the church, [8:1, the church expands to Israel]

15.             O. 8:4-25, Philip preaches in Samaria, [Simon’s conversion, the end of magic]

16.              P. 8:26-40, Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, [8:29, Instruction of mission]

17.               Q. 9:1-22, The conversion of Saul, [Conversion/Repentance]

18.                R. 9:23-31, Saul in Jerusalem, [9:25, Saul escapes]

19.                 S. 9:32-43, Peter in Lydda and Joppa, [9:34, Miracles of apostles]

20.                  T. 10:1-23, A vision of Cornelius, [10:3, calling through vision]

21.                   U. 10:24-48, Peter goes to the house of Cornelius, [10:45, Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit]

22.                    V. 11:1-18, Peter’s report to the church at Jerusalem, [11:4, reports of gentile mission]

23.                     W. 11:19-24, Barnabas goes to Antioch, [11:20, mission to the Gentiles]

24.                      X. 11:25-30, The church in Antioch, [11:30, Barnabas and Saul are sent]

25.                       Y. 12:1-24, Peter is delivered from prison

26.                      X’. 12:25-13:13, Barnabas and Saul are commissioned, [13:2, Barnabas and Saul are sent]

27.                     W’. 13:14-49, Paul and Barnabas in Antioch and Pisidia, [13:46, mission to the Gentiles]

28.                    V’. 13:50-14:28, Paul and Barnabas in Lystra and Derbe, [14:27, reports of gentile mission]

29.                   U’. 15:1-16:5, Council at Jerusalem, [15:8, Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit]

30.                  T’. 16:6-10, Paul’s vision of the man of Macedonia, [16:9, calling through vision]

31.                 S’. 16:11-40, Paul and Silas in Prison, [16:18, Miracles of apostles]

32.                R’. 17:1-15, The uproar in Thessalonica, [17:10, Saul escapes]

33.               Q’. 17:16-34, Paul in Athens, [17:30, Conversion/Repentance]

34.              P’. 18:1-23, Paul in Corinth, [18:9, Instruction of mission]

35.             O’. 18:24-19:20, Paul in Ephesus, [19:19, the end of magic]

36.            N’. 19:21-20:2, The riot in Ephesus [19:26, the church expands to Asia]

37.           M’. 20:3-14, Paul’s farewell visit to Troas, [20:9, death]

38.          L’. 20:15-38, The voyage from Troas to Miletus, [20:28, selection of ministers]

39.         K’. 21:1-17, Paul goes to Jerusalem, [21:11, arrest of apostles]

40.        J’. 21:18-26, Paul visits James in Jerusalem, [21:24, donation]

41.        I’. 22:27-23:10 Paul tells of his conversion, [23:6, witness to the resurrection]

42.       H’. 23:11-35, The plot to kill Paul, [23:12, Conspiracy]

43.      G’. 24:1-26, Paul before Felix at Caesarea, [Apology]

44.      F’. 24:27-25:12, Paul appeals to the emperor, [25:7, accusation of innocent]

45.     E’. 25:13-22, Festus consults king Agrippa, [25:18, righteousness of the believers]

46.    D’. 25:23-26:32, Paul defends himself before Agrippa, [Preaching]

47.   C’. 27:1-44, The storm at sea [27:14, Fierce wind]

48.  B’. 28:1-15, Paul on the island of Malta, [28:4, Punishments against sinners]

49. A’. 28:16-31, Paul preaches in Rome, [28:31, the Kingdom of God]

Matthew 21:23-46

 Matthew 21:23-46

Structure:

1. A. 23-27, High Priests, Elders, fear for the prophet’s status 

2.    B. 28-32, Parable 1: two [disrespectful] sons

3.    B’. 33-44, Parable 2: bad tenants

4. A’. 45-46, High Priest, Elders, fear for the prophet’s status  

Book of Acts: Introduction

Book of Acts: Introduction

Hymn 583: God Has Spoken by His Prophets

 

Why study? Is the Book of Acts applicable?

Four standard answers: (1) yes; (2) no; (3) no, but; (3) yes, but… 

1. We need to go back and “copy”.

2. We are SO far away in time and space – no application for our time. No application for us, nothing but history

3. We have a very different context. Therefore, we need to adjust the message of the Apostles for our context.   

4. We need to understand two important levels of reading for our application: message and practice. We need to proclaim the same message – Gospel is enduring and does not change from generation to generation. We need a careful assessment of their context and our context for the proper application of the practice in the Church.   

 

How to study?

Cultural studies? Archeology? Discovery of Gnostic gospels??

Sola Scriptura Methodology (we add the info – fill the blanks – from other parts of the Scripture; at the same time there is no need for “the outside sources”).

Methodology of study (Priest-King-Prophet methodology)

	Priest	King	Prophet
Part of body	Ear	Hand	Foot
Place	Sanctuary	Palace	Houses
Geography	Garden	Land	World
Acts	1 – 7	8 – 13:3	13:4 – 28:31

 

Revelation

 The Revelation of John

Title: The title of the book has its own interesting story. Most of the older books has something like The Revelation of St. John the Theologian. The last years there is a tendency to abrogate and adjust the title into either The Revelation TO John or simply Revelation. In reality, it is the revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1) for transmission to His servants. The first level of transmission was completed by the angelic intervention to St. John.        

Date of writing: As of right now there are three main theories on the date of writing: around 300 AD, 96-98AD, and 64-65AD [or 68AD]. The first one is based on the idea that it was not an apostolic writing but was written based on the celestial events being presented symbolically to the Roman Imperial Community. The second view was held by many godly people – Martin Franzmann being one of them and the editorial board of TLSB (p. 2195 – 95AD). It is based on the notion that John should be old (cp. 2 and 3 John) and the life of the Church was mostly disturbed by Romans. The last [the correct one :)] is based on the understanding that the great tribulation is not a persecution of Roman on Christian, but a persecution Christian Jews endured by non-Messianic Jewish community during The Jewish War (66 – 70AD).   

Structure: (for a possible structure see the insert on Leviticus).

a. ch. 1, Introduction in the Revelation

 b. ch. 2 – 3, 7 Churches 

  c. ch. 4 – 5, Ascension of Jesus

   d. ch. 6 – 8:5, 7 Seals

   d’. ch. 8:6 – 12, 7 Trumpets

  c’. ch. 13 – 15, Ascension of the Church

 b’. ch. 16 – 17, 7 Bowls

a’. ch. 18 – 22, Conclusion of the ministry

Main themes: Most often Revelation is taken as a scary and depressing book full of tragic or traumatic description. For sure, there are pages and pages of martyrdom stories. At the same time, Revelation is the book of hope and comfort. As usual, one needs to read it to the End. The Church – represented by the seven churches – is enduring the troublesome time of great tribulation. To a point everything looks bad, devastating, and even ruined. Yet, at the very end the wave of repentances begins (ch. 18) which leads to the everlasting marriage feast of the Lamb.      

Main Characters: Jesus, John, representatives of the 7 churches, 24 elders, 4 living creatures, beast of the sea, beast of land etc.

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: To fully comprehend the content of Revelation the listener/reader need to have a deep understanding of the previous 65 books of the Bible. Apart from seeing Jesus as the King of kings and the LORD of lords, one needs to see the mese of creation (1:17 – Gen. 2:21); sacrificial system with its ministers, calendar, and sacred spaces; role of angels; symbolism of land and sea etc.    

Lutheran teaching: The Book of Concord uses 12:9 – Satan, ancient serpent – as a description of rebellion against the ministry of the Word of God [SA III, VIII:5; LC III:65; 111].

The usage of Sunday as the Day of the Lord – worship day – is based on Rev. 1:10 [AC XXVIII:60].

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 676 – Behold a Host, Arrayed in White.

LSB 395 – O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright

Relevancy of the Book: Reading the Book of Revelation has many benefits for a believer. First, we always need to remember that the Judgement will begin from the Church – Jesus addresses 7 churches and only after that His judgement goes into the world. Second, this judgement/evaluation process is eminent. Regardless of our level of symbolic readings into the meaning of the Book, He is coming, He is coming for sure. Third, however troublesome, scary, and dangerous the great tribulation looks like, the faithful ones will be delivered. Sometimes they will be delivered from troubles, sometimes God will stay with the believers through persecutions and will greet us at the entrance to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb.   

Memory verses: 1:17b-18: When I saw him, I fell at His feet as though dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying, “fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forever more, and I have the keys of Death and Hades”.