Last night I became more intrigued by “The Acts of the Apostles” or as Martin Luther called it “Apostelgeschichte” or History of Apostles. It reads much more like a Chronicles than the Gospels which are much more interpretive. The writer was the same as Luke so it us assumed he interpreted but he may have been more closely connected with some of the events recounted in Acts.
A couple of posts ago I mentioned that some consider the Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended onto the apostles as tongues of, to be the beginning of the church. For some reason that does not resonate with me. I was surprised to see “church” or “Churches” mentioned in Acts 9:31:
“The whole Church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria now enjoyed a period of peace. It became established and as it went forward in reverence for the Lord and in the strengthening presence of the Holy spirit, continued to grow in numbers.” – J.B. Phillips version (my favorite version)
The King James version mentions churches (plural)
“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” – King James version
It seems to be commonly accepted that Luke and Acts were written in Greek, not Aramaic: because at some point the writer translates an Aramaic word. The Greek versions available to me use εκκλησιαι which originally meant an assembly of citizens; another meaning is church. The Vulgate Latin version uses the word “Ecclesia” which also means an assembly but has become the word for church. Hmm, is the first use of the word for church by a Greek educated writer?
Apparently the difference in the use of church singular and churches plural is due to the two oldest but different versions of Acts and Luke (Western and Antiochene). Here the Western text is defective but the Antiochene version uses the plural.
Martin Luther uses “Gemeinde” which translates as “community” but can mean the Christian community or church.
“So hatte nun die ganze Gemeinde Frieden durch ganz Judäa und Galiläa und Samarien und baute sich und wandelte in der Furcht des HERRN und ward erfüllt mit Trost des Heiligen Geistes.” –Apostelgeschichte 9:31 (Luther Bible)
I was raised in the English version of Lutheranism; was I raised to think about the early Christians as a community or communities rather than a church? Did Luther teach this?
Acts gives an account of the first 50-70 years or so of the church. We know that Islam spread very quickly in the first 100 years. Of course the Muslims conquered there way to expansion whereas Christianity spread within the Pax Romano. As an architectural historian I know that church architecture goes back early, first in houses converted to the purpose.
Before the Fall of Jerusalem, the administration of the Christian community was based in Jerusalem with the Apostles being arbitrators of disputes. One of the first disputes to be settled was whether the gentiles needed to follow Jewish law. Paul seems to have argued “no” and was sent to Jerusalem to press the case. Previously Peter had a dream (recounted in Acts, chapter 10) in which it rained unclean animals. Peter refused to eat them but God says do not refuse what I have cleansed for you. At that point Peter is ordered to bring the message to gentiles. It implies that he visited and ate with them. In chapter 15 the question of circumcision arises. Peter says that all are saved by the grace of Lord Jesus.
There is so much to know and learn. Another issue is Saul/Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. In Acts he is presented as someone who persecutes Christians before the conversion. On the other hand he had received his pharisee education from Gamaliel who encouraged the Sanhedrin to be tolerant toward the apostles. After the conversion Paul wanted to be considered equal to the apostles. Paul’s vision and the fact he received his marching orders directly from God both gave him entry into their community and the platform to claim equal status to them.
Paul and Barnabas travel much of Asia Minor and Cyprus together, preaching. They seem to have equal status in this mission. Why do we not know more about Barnabas? Or is it just me who does not know more? Maybe I would if I had paid more attention at the little class about the travels of Paul at Lutheran summer camp instead of looking out the window at the trees, flowers and birds. I can still picture the view from the window but can not recall anything that was said about Paul. Instead I learned:
This is my Father’s world
And to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees
Of skies and seas
His hands the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world
The birds their carols raise
The morning light the, lily white
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world
He shines in all that’s fare
In rustling grass I hear him pass
He speaks to me everywhere.
–Maltbie Davenport Babcock
In any case I am up to chapter 15 of this chronicle of apostles and I have much more to go. I am grateful that am still here to pursue this new line of inquiry for me. Will it have any effect on my ability or willingness to ready myself for grace or walk with God?t
1.Night time. After I posted I thought about the “Father” in the hymn I recalled above. The patriarchy is everywhere. I can appreciate the appearances in the hymn.
Wishing all those who are suffering tonight peace.
That includes the family of the person who ran for president last time who died from the virus after foolishly attending a rally without a mask. They too are suffering.
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