2018, April 1 ~ Acts 10:34-43; Isaiah 25:6-9; and 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Acts 10:34-43

The book called “The Acts of the Apostles” was written around 85 to 90 CE by the anonymous author of the Gospel According to Luke. The first 15 chapters of Acts are a didactic “history” of the early Jesus Follower Movement starting with the Ascension. The last 13 chapters describe Paul’s Missionary Journeys – not always consistently with Paul’s letters.

The Gospel According to Luke and Acts of the Apostles see the Holy Spirit as the driving force for all that happens. The events surrounding today’s reading exemplify this.

Peter’s speech (today’s reading) is part of the story of the conversion of Cornelius the Centurion and is a synopsis of the major themes in the Gospel According to Luke. In the conversion story, an angel told Cornelius to ask Peter to see him. Peter was moved by the Holy Spirit, went to Cornelius, gave his speech, and the Holy Spirit “fell upon all who heard the word” (v. 44). The conversion of the Gentile, Cornelius, by the power of the Holy Spirit was a key element in the so-called Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) where it was decided that Gentiles did not have to convert to Judaism (by a kosher diet and circumcision) to become Jesus Followers.

Isaiah 25:6-9

The Book of Isaiah is a composite of writings from three distinct periods in Israel’s history. Chapters 1-39 are called “First Isaiah” and were written in the 20 years before Jerusalem was under direct siege by the Assyrians in 701 BCE. “Second Isaiah” is Chapters 40 to 55 and brings hope to the Judeans during the time of the Exile in Babylon (587 to 539 BCE) by telling them they have suffered enough and will return to Jerusalem. “Third Isaiah” is Chapters 56 to 66 and gives encouragement to the Judeans who returned to Jerusalem after the Exile.

Today’s reading is a part of the Book called the “Isaiah Apocalypse” (Chapters 24 to 27). Chapter 24 describes great destruction, but the next three chapters speak of an “eschatological” (end of times as we know them) renewal and restoration. Today’s verses told of a banquet on the holy mountain for those who trusted in YHWH. This image was closely linked in Ancient Israel with an expected Messiah through whom YHWH would swallow up death forever.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Corinth, a large port city in Greece, was among the early Jesus Follower communities that Paul founded. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written in the 50’s (CE) and presented his views on many issues that were controversial in this Jesus Follower Community.

Today’s reading presents a number of interpretive issues. When Paul says Christ died “for” our sins (v. 3) does he mean “because of” or “on account of” or “to atone for”? In 1 Cor. 15:44, Paul speaks of the resurrected body as a “spiritual body.” In today’s reading, is the appearance to Cephas (Peter), the 12, the 500, James (Jesus’ brother) and lastly to Paul, a “physical” or a “spiritual” appearance? Nowhere in the Christian Scriptures is there a claim that any appearance of the resurrected Christ to Paul (including the three accounts of the Damascus Road Experience) was a “physical” appearance. Does this mean the other appearances (Peter, the 12, the 500 and James) were also of a “spiritual body”? Paul seems to assert that the appearance to him of the resurrected Christ was of the same type as the appearances to others.