2017, April 30 ~ Acts 2:14a, 36-41 & 1 Peter 1:17-23

Acts 2:14a, 36-41

The book, “The Acts of the Apostles,” was written by the author of the Gospel According to Luke around 85 to 90 CE.

Today’s reading presents the last part of Peter’s long speech after the Pentecost Event. Rather than offend the ruling Romans by stating that they crucified Jesus (which they did), the author’s account of the speech repeats the statement that the Israelites crucified Jesus (v.36).

As discussed at greater length in last week’s Scripture in Context, a variety of accusations were made against the Israelites/Judeans/Pharisees in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John. These Gospels (and Acts) were written from 70 CE to 100 CE when the Jesus Followers were contending with the Pharisees for control of Judaism going forward. Harsh words were expressed in the Gospels, and the Pharisees took exclusionary actions by expelling Jesus Followers from the synagogues.

In the same verse (36), Acts says God “made” Jesus Lord and Messiah. This statement shows that, in the early church, the understanding of who and what Jesus of Nazareth was/is continued to evolve. Verse 36 presents a view that is generally described as “adoptionism” – the idea that Jesus was a man whom God adopted as God’s Son and “made” him Lord and Messiah. This understanding is inconsistent, for example, with John’s theology in which the Logos/Word pre-exists from all eternity and becomes flesh in Jesus (John 1:14).

In concluding his speech, Peter urges the Israelites to repent (change their religious thinking), be baptized and have their sins forgiven. After baptism, Peter says they will receive the Holy Spirit. This presents a different sequence from the accounts of most baptisms described in Acts – typically, the Holy Spirit comes first to persons and is the reason they are baptized.

The account concludes by stating that 3,000 persons were baptized on that day.

1 Peter 1:17-23

In the First Century, it was not uncommon to write something in another person’s name so that the writing would have extra “authority” – particularly when the writer believed he knew what the “authority” (in this case, Peter) would have said.

The First Letter of Peter was likely written in the last quarter of the First Century, long after Peter’s death. It was written in sophisticated Greek and resembles the form of Paul’s letters. Its focus is not on the earthly life of Jesus of Nazareth, but on the Resurrection and the affirmation that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.

Today’s reading contains two (of five) directives to the Jesus Followers: (1) to live in reverent fear of the Lord, knowing they were ransomed by the blood of Christ; and (2) love one another deeply from the heart, knowing they were born anew through the word of God.