Acts - Bayer 1

Front 1

Why focus on Luke?

Back 1

Has access to eyewitnesses; those go all the way back to Jesus’ teaching of his disciples. Divine Inspiration uses inspired writer’s particular history & personality. Knowing any author’s identity increases understanding of text. Luke focuses on the marginalized, women, & the poor.

Front 2

Why trust church tradition?

Back 2

Apostolic Fathers of 90-130 AD still had access to apostles, to people who had known apostles; No contradictory voice on authorship from time of authorship thru 5th century (despite L not being an apostle & therefore easier to attack.) Some manuscript notes reference as author. A never says L wrote. Remember: Secular tradition often based on tradition; so Bible does not suffer in comparison.

Front 3

Why authorship questioned?

Back 3

Complex question. Lukan prologue not thought to be part of A; For decades, A thought unreliable. One argument against: What we know of Paul from Epistles, not found in A, but 1) mixing genres 2) Paulinisms in A 20 3) sounds like Paul when addressing church leaders. Falsely assume that L’s may-not-be-immediate perspective on 2nd coming different than that of church at same time.

Front 4

What if Luke didn’t write?

Back 4

Church history makes L & A canonical, so would not affect authority or significance. L, known to have proximity to apostles & other leaders, gives eyewitness perspective. Counters claim that “we section” merely literacy device. If found not to be L, put big question mark to patristic testimony. (Patristic = of Christian Fathers)

Front 5

Was Luke a Gentile?

Back 5

Patristic tradition: L in Syrian Antioch, Jewish area, giving exposure to OT teaching, particularly salvation history. L is God-fearer or proselyte.

Front 6

Understanding historical setting helps how?

Back 6

Helpful & instructive; not crucial. Helps w/ interpretation & veracity. Guards against capricious interpretation. Discovery of Rhodian maritime sea law supports Paul speaking during storm despite being a prisoner. Peter uses OT repentance speech. Creates path to modern relevancy.

Front 7

From whose perspective should we read?

Back 7

Original recipient, then, wider church of that time. (Early church experienced persecution & discouragement.) Then, (since God is still speaking), determine how to transfer that message to modern listeners. Direct & wonderful transfers: Triune God; human circumstances & weaknesses. God’s mission. Purpose: demonstrate the unhindered progression of the gospel of liberation that breaks through barriers

Front 8

How did Roman Empire influence life?

Back 8

Many aspects. Negs: emperor worship. emperor even demanded to be identified as dios et dominos, as god and lord. So, church’s confession created friction at a high mark. Pos: infrastructure; Roman citizenship protected Paul; Greek was lingua franca, the public language.

Front 9

Was Church persecuted?

Back 9

Particular/local, not general at time of writing of A. More widespread & broad towards end of 1st century & into 2nd.

Front 10

What do modern historians think?

Back 10

A was pre-critical time where historians mixed myth & legend with historical facts. Growing school says that is a false representation of ancient historiography. Instead always 2 schools; Those careful & those driven by other motives. L, Tacitus and Josephus all careful historians.

Front 11

Josephus depended on?

Back 11

No. Overlap but idiosyncratic presentations.

Front 12

Christianity attracted socially alienated?

Back 12

Yes. Greek Philosophy, exclusive & required a highly educated. Stoic Philosophy: Roman aristocratic, higher level echelons in military & government. Mystery Religions: people who separated themselves from populace. Christian message broke through.

Front 13

Creation/Salvation r'ship?

Back 13

14 & 17. Understanding of goodness of God as Creator; Salvation w/i that framework. Creation leads to civilization & culture. Gospel breaks thru cultural divides & forms messianic Church under God. Shortchange if individual salvation focus. Pentacost is the writing of the law of God through the Spirit of God. That there is an echo to the giving of the Mosaic Law at Pentacost. Salvation is transformative. Not just talk.

Front 14

Is world becoming less sinful?

Back 14

No. Sobriety that we need to adopt in understanding effects of fall and effects of sin on all kinds of areas, individually and corporately. In A, there is a transformation happening; there is a way of being renewed. And, message in A indicates that this is the mission of God. Realistic, sober, but with great hope.

Front 15

Why does Luke Reference to OT characters?

Back 15

Significant in L & A is a strong emphasis of L as a witness to the understanding of promise & fulfillment. Jesus is one who brings together so many different strands of OT anticipation, among them being the great exaltation of a Lord at the right hand of the Father in Psalm 110, & one who is very humbled and suffers in Isaiah 53. Israel is a blueprint for God’s universal work of being faithful to unfaithful.

Front 16

Israel/The church r'ship?

Back 16

Waves. Small wave (restoration of Israel) being overtaken (but not annulled) by bigger wave – Acts 1:8.

Front 17

Messianic groups similar?

Back 17

Messianic Expectations. Popular: political Davidic Messiah who would rule in Jerusalem. Suffering had focused people on this. Jesus’ teaching deepened and heightened understanding to a more exalted & suffering Savior. This understanding becomes dynamic, unifying force.

Front 18

Why should we focus on the Kingdom of God?

Back 18

Greater context for individual salvation: of Kingdom of God, of rule of God, of original creation design, of unfolding of covenantal faithfulness of God to his people, that is, God is King of his people. Leads away from exclusively a personalized understanding of salvation. Incredible cultural consequence. That is part of salvation. Part of work of God.