T H E
N E W
T E S T A M E N T
COPYRIGH T BY W ILLIAM EVANS
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES ( Concluded)
TN OUR last issue we considered, after matters o f introduction, the first great division, namely, The Birthday o f the Church, 2:1-47. Today we begin with the second main division, as follows: II. The growth and extension of the Church among the Jews in Pales tine, principally through the instru mentality of Peter, cc. 3-12— The Acts, of Peter. This section o f the Acts sets before us the manner in which the Church grew and extended its borders (principally through Peter who was the apostle to the Jews, as Paul was-the apostle to the Gentiles, cf. Galatians 2 :7) among the Jews, beginning at Jerusalem and extending through all Palestine. I. The Jewish-Christian church in Jeru salem, 3 : 1 - 7 : 60 . O f course, properly speaking, the history o f the Church in Jerusalem begins with the events narrated in chapter 2 , especially verses 38-47. (a ) The Church in conflict with exter nal opposition, 3:1-4:31. The healing o f the lame man (3:2-11) gave Peter another opportunity for press ing home the claims o f Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord (3 :12-26). But it did more : it brought him into conflict with the leaders o f the Jews, who arrested the apos tles and put them in jail (4:1-3). Their
arrest gave the apostles another opportun ity o f presenting the claims o f Jesus Christ (4:5-12—Peter’s third great sermon), with some effect (4:13). A fter being threat ened not to speak again in the- name o f Christ, and' being let go (4:17-21), the apostles returned to the assembly o f believ ers, reported all that had happened, held a service, and received another outpouring o f the Holy Spirit (4:23-37). This i may be called the first persecution o f the Christian Church. It arbse doubt less because the apostles preached two doc trines which the Sadducees disbelieved, namely, the resurrection o f the dead, and the future life.- The apostles preached a literal resurrection, not a spiritual one, otherwise the Sadducees would not have persecuted them. This section is important, for it ¿rings before us the great fact o f the freedom o f the Church from Jewish control, and the guidance o f the Holy Spirit. Note the words “your (not our) rulers” (3:17). The Sanhedrin is defied, henceforth the believ ers will follow Jesus only. This is an advanced step in the history o f the Church, and is important to note (cf. 5 : 3 , 9 , 3 2 ’ 13:2, 4; 16:6, 7; 20:23 ; 21:11).* The healing o f the lame man is thè occa sion to bring before the rulers o f the peo ple the question o f the claims 6 f 'Jesus the Christ—an occasion which Peter is quick to seize.
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