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¶ … Apostles
The Book of Acts: Ministries of Observable Power
The Book of Acts is appropriately named because it affirms God's active presence in the world, even after the ministry of Christ in human form has been fulfilled in the gospel narratives of Mark, Matthew, John, and Luke. Through its highly plot-driven narrative, and tales of the ministering of Christ's message to gentiles and Jews, the book stresses that God's presence is physically felt and manifest upon the earth, and individuals who work in God's name must not simply believe, internally themselves, and place credence in their own salvation and faith, but extend the activity of their ministry into observable actions and active preaching, as did Christ.
The Book of Acts is uniquely appropriate in inspiring individuals to act in ministerial ways on earth today, because it chronicles the actions of Christ's ministry on the part of his various apostles, even in a state of disarray after their leader is no longer in their physical presence. The book begins with a time of sorrow and regrouping, as Peter selects a replacement for Judas, to carry on Christ's mission. Thus from the beginning the book affirms the needs of any ministry to actively carry on in mission and vision in the time of setback and sorrow. It is not enough to believe, one must fulfill Christ's mission as he saw it, even if this means appointing another one of the twelve.
In Chapter 3, Peter and John help a lame man walk with the power of Christ, and preach the resurrection of the dead, in their own actions echoing the resurrecting actions and miracles of Christ. A resurrection of the spirit occurs when Saul, the persecutor of Christians, becomes Paul, a fulfiller of God's mission upon his sudden conversion on the road to Damascus. But even this spiritual crisis is physically and observably manifest, and affect's Paul's body as well as his mind.
A ministry must be active in the world, even if it is not of the world, this book teaches. The inclusiveness of missionary activities is further stressed when Peter, in Chapter 11, is rebuked for eating amongst the gentiles, the uncircumcised. Thus, when helping others, one must help others in ways that are observable in the world, even when ultimately hoping to aid the
This could prove a difficult task filling in the blanks existing in what he had acquired by then There are instances of inconsistency between Paul's journeys regarding his visits in Jerusalem (as recorded in Galatians 1,2) and those recounted by Luke, which point to Luke's inability to comprehend the perfect sequence of events and their importance accurately. However, the most important thing to note is that the latter chapters of
The book highlights the actions of the divine, rather than the actions of man. However, if one takes the historical interpretation of the Book of Revelation, the moral content is not lessened. It then stands as an example of what happens to one if they continue to act in a certain way. It is another example of God's punishment and wrath for those that do not obey his word. In
This lets us know that Christianity is not something that should be forced on us. Those receiving what Paul preached received it by faith. Although times have changed the Book of Acts serves as a good foundation for Church government. Jesus was very clear in his instructions on what should happen after his resurrection. Many verses in books of the New Testament speak of this. He would not have been
Paul stresses female obedience and the need for continence. Saunders notes that, because of Paul's Jewish culture, his experiences and personal beliefs regarding sexuality were likely very different from those to whom he preached. Greco-Roman sexuality took a far more flexible view of divorce and intermartial relations than did Paul's Jewish culture. While the Letter to the Romans became one of the most foundational documents in Christian history, it
Book Of Acts Does Acts offer a pattern for how Church government should be structured? Actually, there is nothing this writer has found in Acts that specifically tells how to set up a church government. However, the establishment of a Christian church is explained in numerous accounts and passages. In Acts 2:38 Peter is telling his audience that if they repent, and agree to be baptized, they will be forgiven of their
Apostles The particulars of the Resurrection and the Ascension of Christ, and the prophecy of His Return to Judgment, cannot be interpreted as properly essential parts of the doctrine of His Person. When we compare with the canon for dogmatic statements, the propositions, on the one hand, concerning the Person of Christ which we have so far set forth, and on the other the statements contained in the oldest creeds expressing these