INTRO TO ACTS

FOCUS ON 13-28

I have retired from my Sunday School class, but I plan to keep posting these notes, at least for awhile. I will re-emphasize that I'm assuming those following these lessons are in classes studying Experiencing the Bible, published by Lifeway. My focus is on ideas not contained or perhaps not adequately explained in the printed quarterly. The quarterlies have a space limit and must follow certain guidelines. I don't, so I can ignore some things and expand on others. By the time when the quarterly writer gets his assignment, the editor has already chosen the specific passage to be studied and outlined it. My notes may jump around all over the place.

If you are a long time Bible student, let me recommend to you the “Daily Study Bible” by William Barclay, a Scottish pastor and scholar. In sermon prep, I frequently started with the technical commentaries, from the most detailed on down. Barclay was last, because his work is in small volumes and divided into daily readings if you want to do it that way. But I soon discovered, he was regularly choosing the best parts from the technical study and putting them in simple language. You can buy the whole NT set in hardback or paperback, or you could just buy the one or two on the book you are presently interested in.

Having said that, I think this will be an excellent quarterly. By all means read the editor's introduction, short but excellent. Likewise the writer's intro is well done. I won't repeat their points, but you should read it and refer back from time to time.

One of them points out a traditional division of Acts as first about Peter in the first 12 chapters, and the rest about Paul. Well...sort of...It's more about the Gospel's progress from Jerusalem to Rome. Luke follows the outline given by Jesus's last words to His disciples: You shall be my witnesses,beginning in Jerusalem, then all Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth!” The first 12 chapters cover Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. From 13 on, we see the faith exploding worldwide. Baptist scholar and New Orleans Seminary prof Frank Stagg put out an easily understood commentary on Acts, emphasizing the expansion from Jerusalem to Rome. Luke famously changed the voice of many of his sentences (remember your grammar?) from third person to first about half way through. He begins to say “We” instead of “he or they.”

I see no compelling reason to look for any other author than the traditional Luke, though some have. Acts is the second part of a two-part work, Luke-Acts. Both are addressed to someone he calls “Theophilus.” which means friend of God. That could actually be his name or nickname, or it could be an open invitation to any God-follower to get some basic information. In his gospel, Luke says he researched all the information he could find to make sure he presented the best account of what happened that he could. He repeated his greeting to the same man at the beginning of Acts. Presumably he continued his research into the various accounts of what happened, how, and why. Remember, as a companion of Paul, he would have met at least Peter, James, and John – and possibly many others.

Now back to the unfolding of Acts. We get sidetracked on the day of Pentecost by focusing on the speaking in tongues. BUT DON'T MISS WHAT HAPPENED!

That first evangelistic explosion happened to thousands who had come to Jerusalem from ALL OVER THE WORLD! And 3,000 were converted that day! FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD! Most of them were Jews, of course, or at least God-fearers, such as the Centurion that sent for Peter later. But these people would have returned to their home countries with an excitement of what happened to them and telling the story of Jesus all over the world. Indeed, they may well have been part of the continuing teaching the next few days in Jerusalem, where another 2,000 were added to the church (4:4).

THE CHRISTIAN FAITH BEGAN AS A MISSIONARY RELIGION! Make no apology for sharing your testimony as to what God has done in your life. A changed life is an unanswerable “argument.”

The book does begin with Peter and his adventures. But when the new church ran into its first church fight (Chap 6) the Twelve appoint the Seven from a group chosen by the congregation – or its emerging leaders. Then the Seven begin first to solve the problem and then turned to witnessing. Indeed one commentator took the famous statement, It would not be right to neglect the ministry of the word of God to serve tables. That commentator pointed out that disdain for doing a lowly job may have hurt their witness, because the story immediately switches from the original Twelve to Stephen and Philip from the Seven.

But notice that the Seven all had Greek names, choosing from among the dispersion people who could relate to the Greeks who were complaining. My point here is the gospel from the very beginning was reaching out to all kinds of people. I imagine my readership from Facebook posts may vary in their feelings about the current political battles on immigration and “the wall.” Aside from that, I don't understand why the church hasn't raised up and said, “The Lord is sending us people. Let's share the gospel with them, even if we have to 'wait tables' to do it!?”

Stephen then preaches to the multitude, raises great opposition, and is stoned to death. As a result the whole church was persecuted and fled from Jerusalem into the countryside and even into Samaria. There Philip preached to crowds, converted a sorcerer, and was led by the Spirit to an appointment with an Ethiopian eunuck, definitely a foreigner, probably black. He was already a God-fearer, and Philip won Him to Christ and baptized him on the spot. Tradition says he went home and established the longest lasting Christian church in the world. The Ethiopian church continued until the government shifted toward Islam in the last 20 or30 years.

Notice that the Holy Spirit led Philip. He didn't move around on his on. The Spirit led him into the desert to find the eunuch. After baptizing the man, that same Spirit led him on a preaching tour from Azotus up to Caesarea, where more action is about to happen.

Two thoughts here: First some have suggested the book be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit, because from first to last we see Him at work. The tongues of fire descending on the original 120 in the upper room, and the continuing emphasis on his leadership of Philip, and also Peter preaching up to Caesarea. And at the end of chapter 9, the church enjoys a period of freedom and growth directed by the Spirit.

Second, note that the new group is called the Seven, not deacons. We infer this as the origin of the deacons because of the comment about “serving tables.” The Greek term for serving is “diacono,” thus deacons. The early church did have deacons – their qualifications are spelled out in 1 Timothy. But the Seven might have been an ad hoc committee called to solve one problem, which they did. And by the way, both the Seven and the deacons are to be “filled with the Holy Spirit,” which we conveniently forget. We argue of what is meant by “not given to much strong drink,” and ignore the Spirit. The strong drink means we don't need alcoholics in positions of church leadership. We tend to make our actual choices on how good their attendance is. Does anyone know a local church that might have required evidence of soul-winning for eligibility?

Moving right along, in chapter 10 Peter also has arrived at Caesarea. (It's interesting that Philip is already there. Did he have anything to do with the invitation?) He had the miraculous dream/vision of the unclean animals let down on a sheet from heaven. What God has cleansed THAT call thou NOT common or unclean! And Peter woke and went with a delegation that brought him to a Roman centurion, also a God-fearer, but a Roman and not a Jew. Do you see the dream as a call to missions? And Peter, considered by many the chief of the disciples, had to struggle with it. He who preached to thousands walked in and asked the Centurion, what do you want? HE KNEW what the man wanted, but he was a Roman and not a Jew. And Peter says in effect, “I am just beginning to catch on that God is no respecter of persons.” Just beginning? Just beginning? After preaching to thousands? Before I jump on Peter, though, I need to ask Perry how quick he catches on to what the Spirit is doing? And what about you?

Do you see the progress here?All kinds of people are being saved. The church is already a hodge-podge. A couple more chapters about Peter, and then the scene shifts to the Church at Antioch, already a multi-racial and mixed Jewish/Gentile congregation. According to 11: 19 the Antioch church was founded by men from Cypress and Cyrene, an island nation and a city in Northern Africa. These men were used to living among Gentiles, so they had no trouble sharing the gospel story with these Gentiles as well. They had a diverse group, as you can see in 13:1 – even including a likely black man named Niger or Blackie.

Now the disciples in Jerusalem were getting nervous as the faith spread outside of their immediate watchcare. When they heard about Antioch, they sent Barnabas to check it out. (Barney was a committed Christian who had sold land and donated it to the church. His name, Bar – nabas, means son of encouragement in Aramaic.) He did and got excited over what was happening. He had heard of Saul (converted in chapter nine) and went up to his home town of Tarsus and persuaded him to come back with him to Antioch. Neither of them realized what they were about to get into. For a year they taught together, evangelizing and developing the Christians (first called that in Antioch, btw. Before the faith was called the Way.) and I'm sure they learned a great deal themselves along the way that stood them in good stead in the journeys to follow.

Luke does not tell us how, only that the Holy Spirit told the Antiochan church to let Him have Barnabas and Paul for a job he had for them. Possibly the two strongest leaders of the church, and God calls them away. But He also must have thought the church was built up and strong enough to flourish without them. >A church I once pastored had three pianists, and I though we were in good shape. Then one left to play for another church who had NO pianist, but left us in good shape with the first string keyboardist. But then she and her husband moved out of town, leaving us with a third string pianist. But guess what happened. She worked on it and improved and within a year was very capable. The Lord provides, taking care of His church and also developing his people!

Pay attention to their approach. Paul had been a leading rabbi, trained by Gamaliel, the most respected teacher of the time. Therefore he had an open door to Jewish synagogues wherever they travelled, so he began there. Read Chapter 13 for the details. You'll also find a sample sermon that follows the same two-part outline that Peter used on the day of Pentecost. He began with an outline of Jewish history, from Abraham through the Exodus and the Kingdom of David. Next he spoke of prophesies in Scripture, thus leading to the identification of Jesus as Messiah. He then told of the cross and resurrection and salvation open to all who believed. It's a good practice today to begin witnessing to people by beginning from where they are and moving toward your testimony of what God has done for you, confirming it from Scripture, and inviting them to follow Christ.

Notice the simple little verse 13 where Luke throws out casually in passing that John (Mark) left them and returned to Jerusalem. No explanation. But later Paul and Barnabas broke up their team when Barnabas wanted to include Mark s an aide on their second trip. Paul was adamant and went off with Silas and Timothy instead. Note they were training younger team members on both trips. Are you mentoring anyone?

HOW TO GET IT RIGHT!

Leviticus 17 to the End

Zombies are popular these days! It used to be vampires, but now it's zombies. I don't understand the attraction. But I'm pretty sure if I ever met a real one, I'd get a hair-raising experience. Which reminds me: Angels are neither zombies nor vampires, but whenever they show up, people get scared. In the Bible angel appearances almost always begin with “Don't be afraid!” As you stand there with chills going up your spine, you could be said to have a “numinous” experience.”

Numinous – a weird word you may not have met. If you stood by Moses at the bush that burned but wasn't consumed, you may have felt the hair on your arms and the back of your neck tingle. That's numinous. If you had gone to Belshazar's banquet and seen the handwriting appear on the wall, that same spine-tingling feeling might have grabbed you. That's numinous. And if you had been with the three disciples who saw Jesus glowing and transfigured, you might have felt an incredible awe! Who IS this Man? That's numinous.

You feel the numinous when you encounter the holy.

Some books last. A man named Rudolf Otto wrote “The Idea of the Holy” in 1929. He speaks of early humans coming across a place where lightning struck someone and felt awe. This feeling forms the core of religious experience. If you have a scholarly mind, you can buy the book, perhaps from the used books on Amazon. As theological works go, Otto is easy reading.

Another book if you're a reader and want to go deeper, try Worship by Evelyn Underhill.. As the title suggests, she explores the various ways of worship and helps us think through our own understanding of worship.

The central part and main thrust of Leviticus is The Holiness Code that begins in chapter 17 and continues through the end. But this code is different from what Otto and Underhill write about. This code focuses on doing things exactly right in the worship of God. It aims at perfect worship from an imperfect people in an imperfect world.

Of major importance is the concept of clean and unclean. These words mean ritually clean and unclean, fit to enter the temple, offer sacrifice, and worship. This is the path to forgiveness of sin and proper worship. Just from reading the rules for the priests and for sacrifices, we can see how meticulous the worshiper had to be. A side effect of the holiness system is keeping the priesthood of central importance in Israel.

The system was limited, however, as the prophets saw. Jeremiah called for a New Covenant written on the heart that would change behavior as well as purify all their rituals. Eventually, Christ died to extend God's forgiveness to the world.

 

 

YOM KIPPUR

DAY OF ATONEMENT

Leviticus 16

I confess. I did it.

Eve make an excuse: The snake made it look so good to me, but I did it. I ate.

Adam blamed both Eve and God: The Woman whom YOU gave to me gave me a piece of forbidden fruit, but I did eat!

And what did You do?

Each one of us has done wrong and been much less than God called us to be.

In church words: We sinned, we continue to sin, and we will sin!

And what are you going to do about it?

Here's what Israel did (and Jews still observe Yon Kippur somewhat differently – well, a whole lot differently, since they no longer have to haul a bull up to the temple and kill it.)

They held a Day of Atonement (or Covering). Here's a simplified order of service:

The priests take care of their sins first: animal sacrifices!

Then the priest casts lots over two goats, and one is sacrificed. The other

Symbolically receives the sin of the entire congregation and is driven

Outside the camp into the wilderness, thus bearing away their sins.

(Note this is described twice in the same chapter. The first books of the Bible

Often repeat stuff, presumable so you'll get it.)

Then the people come one after the other, bringing the appropriate animal:

They bring bulls, cows, goats, sheep, birds.

They kill the animal themselves after the priest approves it.

They butcher their own animals, possibly with the help of the priests.

The priests sprinkles the blood liberally on the altar.

They either burn the entire animal (whole offering) or parts, such as organs

And fat – especially fat!

Throughout the day, blood from the sacrifice is thrown on the altar again and again. “The life is in the blood.” Thus, the sacrifice of the life blood of the animal makes life available for the worshiper. Incidentally, the Lord also commanded Israel NOT to eat the blood of animals. That would bug me, because I do like my steaks medium rare!

After making the sacrifice, They were to barbecue the remainder of the animal and eat all of it that day. If their family was too small, they were to invite other families, perhaps those who could not afford the larger sacrifices. Thus, the Lord and Moses invented tailgating even before Henry Ford!

Recognize the fellowship created by this feast day and communal eating. It would be like a church picnic or dinner on the grounds. Never underestimate the importance of fellowship. The NT word is koinonia, and it is a basic doctrine of the Christian church. Be very careful before you disrupt the fellowship in the church. If an issue is contentious, ask whether settling this issue now is important enough to disrupt the fellowship. Better to discuss it respectfully and explore the possibilities and options than to create even a hairline fracture in the fellowship. Occasionally there's a issue that important, but most church ruckuses don't come close. Our pastor has several times over the years publicly stated that if we don't get 75-90% agreement, we'll back off. I drive Toyotas, but I am nonetheless in Accord!

The Day of Atonement in Hebrew is Yom Kippur. Literally, the words mean Day of Covering. The word Kippur is the same term used in Exodus for the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. I assume the word atonement came about because they were not merely covering their sins, they were, in a sense, paying for them.

 

 

VERY STRANGE FIRE

Leviticus 10-12

Today's lesson features fire falling from heaven – on the priests! Sons of Aaron, probably his oldest, Nadab and Abihu offered “strange fire” in their fire pans or incense burners. What was this stuff that the KJV calls “strange.”

1 – the Hebrew word means exactly that: strange.

2 – several modern translations say “unauthorized” or “unacceptable. They are reacting to Exodus 30:9, where the Lord tells Moses to keep incense burning before the LORD every morning and evening, but is very specific about making no other offerings on this incense altar.

3 – Both Spanish and German versions use their word for strange.

4 – Your quarterly takes the view that it was not according to God's orders. That might mean an extra offering of some sort or the wrong ritual.

5 – Since Israel always had trouble with idolatry and other gods, they could have offered this to some other god they preferred.

6 – I think there's a good possibility these guys were drunk as skunks. After instructions on dealing with the death of the two priests, the LORD immediately turns to instruct all future generations of priests “Drink no wine or strong drink … when you go into the tent of meeting that you die not!”

How God dealt with their deaths may be interesting. He specified two cousins to bury them, wrapped in the tunics they wore – was this meant to be their secular clothes worn under the priestly garments? It also indicates the heavenly fire didn't burn them into crisps. (Sorry, that's how my mind works...)

Finally, he told Moses and Aaron not to show any signs of grief, but to remain at the door of the Tabernacle. The rest of the tribe of Levi may grieve, however, except for the two brothers next in line for the priesthood. Note also that the next two in line replaced the two buried sons as a sign that the priesthood was biffer than any one person. I have been replaced as pastor a number of times in my life. Obviously others still write the quarterlies I used to write, and other counselors have helped people I once worked with. I can be replaced. So can you. But God's work goes on. (And so does the rest of the world.)

Verses 10-11 explain why priests need clear minds. They must be able to distinguish between clean and unclean, holy and common, and they must be able to teach that to the people. Likewise today, church leaders, including mature laymen, must be able to think clearly about right and wrong, policies of the church, ways of witnessing, Bible interpretation – especially for teachers. How clear and sharp is your mind?

Verses 12-15 instruct the priests to eat their share of the offerings. We should remember “the laborer (church staff) is worthy of his hire” and not begrudge paying them. Remember anytime you don't raise a salary, you are cutting it. If you don't believe that, ask anyone with a fixed income whether it's worth as much today as 5 or 10 years ago.

Chapters 11-12 are regarding clean and unclean foods. Some people have tried to maintain these translate into health considerations. Others disagree. Frankly, I don't feel this applies to us today, and I do not find it useful. Except in one way:

Clean and unclean are not referring to character. They refer to fitness to worship, the ability to stand before God. In the NT Jesus uses different standards. If you have a problem between you and your brother or neighbor, solve it before you go to worship. Some OT scholars, I think also those delving into the Dead Sea Scrolls, are saying that to the people of that day there was no difference between cultic (worship) rules and ethics. Today's application can be seen in the old Catholic tradition of confession the night before mass. I like the idea of clearing your conscience before worship, seeking God's confession of sins.

Frankly I'm sorry the Catholics are moving away from their practice and emphasis on confession. As a counseling pastor, I have seen again and again the freedom that people experience when they actually grasp that God really does forgive them, and they can let go of the guilt. Before you worship this Sunday, what do you need to let go of, confess to God, or receive His forgiveness for?

A LOT OF BULL(S)
Leviticus, Chapters 1-7

I was walking through the huge barn of a county fair one time when the thought hit me: When Israel sacrificed, these are the kinds of animals they would offer! Males without spot or blemish – prize-worthy animals!

The first lesson from sacrifice: Only the best will do. In Genesis 4, Cain brings an offering of the fruit of the ground. Abel brings the fat portions (the best, see below) as his offering. Cain is rejected, Abel accepted. Some have said it's because Abel brought a blood offering, but this doesn't fit with the rest of the Torah, especially today's lessons. To me, the obvious difference is Abel brought the best, Cain brought lesser quality. Sacrifice as an act means sacrifice as an attitude, the willingness to give up something.

The second lesson from sacrifice: the Lord designed the system for any level of society. The offerings include male and females, cattle, sheep, goats, birds, grains. Likewise the 10% tithe is automatically a sliding scale for the pauper and the rich man.

The third lesson surprised me. I just now noticed that some sacrifices could be either male or female, not only bulls and rams, but cows, sheep, and goats.

A fourth lesson also surprised me: Offering the fat parts was essential. The next to last verse of Chapter 3 even says “The fat is the Lord's!” Do you suppose that means the Lord specially loves the obese among us? At least it's eternally safe to be overweight. On the other hand, you might get to eternity more quickly!

The fifth lesson is that sin is serious, it costs us something. In reality sin is sin because it hurts us and other people. Often the pain recoils on us and sin becomes its own punishment. But all sin is also against God, and He must forgive us. Sacrifice leads to the covering, or atonement, of our sin. The word translated “atonement” here is very similar to the word “cover” in speaking of the lid of the ark. Thus sacrifice, whether of bulls or goats or Jesus Christ covers our sins, or atones for them.

Sixth lesson: God provides a way out, a covering, an atonement. From the beginnings of Israel as the people of God, He designed an appropriate way to find forgiveness.

Seventh: This is highly participating worship! In NO sense can one find atonement only by watching sacrifice. The one who brought the animal must lay his hand on that animal, have the priest accept it, and then slaughter it himself! It's unclear at what point the priests helped in the sacrifice, but my guess is during the butchering of the meat. Those of you who have field dressed and perhaps prepared deer meat should have a good sense of what this was like.

Eighth: This was also joint worship and fellowship – sort of like tailgating! For many, perhaps most, of the sacrifices, the priests threw the blood and fat and sometimes various organs on the altar. The rest was barbecued and eaten by the family of the one who sacrificed but also including other families they may have invited. Reminds me of after-church fellowships!

NOTE:  Be sure and read the quarterly. This is unusually good, and you may want to save the comparison chart of sacrifices.