AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF Acts of the Apostles This Book presents the story of the Church at the beginning of its setting forth, after the ascension of the Lord Christ, and the dwelling of His Holy Spirit, along thirty years. St. Luke the Evangelist, inspired by the Holy Spirit, presented it to reveal to us the Church in the apostolic era: The secret of its birth, its growth, its worship, its testimony to the Lord Christ, and its strength through the work of the Holy Spirit; And to reveal to us the realization of the Lord’s promise to His disciples: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28.20); “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1.8). The Book of Acts of the Apostles is the book of the Church of Christ in the era of the apostles that received His gospel, and practiced it practically in her daily life, as well as in worship and preaching. It is the gospel of the Holy Spirit who granted the Church the grace of existence on the day of Pentecost, and received the Church of Christ to lead her, and to draw to her the souls to enjoy the Savior, granting her the persistent sanctity of life. It is the book by which the Church opens itself to the world, to minister to it and to wash its feet. It is the book of the church, poor and rich. She becomes poor with her Groom, and becomes rich with Him. It is the book of inner strength that would never weaken or get old. It is the book of the Holy Church who would never stand evil, yet she is compassionate to the sinners. THE PRACTICAL GOSPEL It starts by the words of the Evangelist St. Luke: “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach” (Acts 1: 1): As though the four gospels are the ‘former account’, pertaining to the works and teachings of the Lord; whereas, this book is a consummation of that account. What the Lord began, as He was present in flesh on our land, He continues to do by His Holy Spirit, and His secret presence in the middle of His Church. This book reveals an important evangelic fact: that the Lord Christ, ascending to heaven, is alive, present, working, and speaking in His Church, and will continue to be, until the day of His ultimate appearance, when His Church will be consummated, and will enjoy the fellowship of His glory. The Book of acts is a living gospel that testifies to the presence of Christ, working and speaking in His Church, through her, and to her account. "And then, besides, there are doctrines to be found here, which we could not have known so surely as we now do, if this Book had not existed, but the very crowning point of our salvation would be hidden, alike for practice of life and for doctrine"1. St. John Chrysostom 1Hom. On Acts. Hom. 1 44 THE BOOK OF ACTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT This book presents the acts of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, promised by the Lord to His disciples. We see Him behind the history of the Church, being the true Leader, the Guide, and the Mentor, capable of drawing the souls, to experience the work of salvation of the Lord Christ. He shines with His light over the Church, to fill it, amid the afflictions, with a divine, hidden, and attractive splendor, to kindle the hearts with the divine fire of love. It is the divine river that flows from heaven, to set on earth the city of God, a fruitful divine paradise, in place of the barren, spiritually dry wilderness. The gospels are the history of what the Lord Christ has done and said; whereas, the book of acts is an account of what the other Comforter has done and said. Yet, this Spirit has equally done many things that came in the other gospels; And Christ is still working as well in the book of acts, in mankind, as He did in the gospels. There, the Spirit has worked in the temple; while now, He is working through the apostles. There, He worked, as He came into the womb of the Virgin, as a temple; and now, He is working in the souls of the apostles. There, He came in the form of a dove; while here, he comes in the form of fire1. St. John Chrysostom THE BOOK OF THE REJOICING CHURCH OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST This book reveals the nature of the Church of the crucified Christ, since its beginning, having been formed by the Holy Spirit, amid the affliction and bemoaning, to bear the fellowship of passion and crucifixion, together with her suffering Groom. Yet His presence in her midst transforms the bemoaning into a glorified joy, and the affliction into heavenly comfort, to let her live praising God amid the furnace of persecution. It is fitting for the Christian to become ‘Alleluia’, from head to toe. Let us rejoice and give thanks; not because we became Christians, but because We became Christ. Do you realize that? Do you comprehend the magnitude of that great grace, granted to us by God? Let us then stand in awe and joy; we have become Christ! “He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seeds for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Ps 126: 6). This psalm, that addresses the spirit of those who persist on going forth on their spiritual walk to God, is very convenient to help us during the time of grief and depression. This world is undoubtedly the valley of tears, where man sows while weeping. It supports you to go forth in your faith. Anyhow, explaining what this book means by the seeds that we sow now, they are “the good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” and has planned for us to practice by the power of His Spirit, amid the troubles of this disturbed life (Eph 2: 10). Whoever is taught to practice the work of God in this world- the valley of tears and troubles - will rejoice like the diligent farmer who sows the seeds even during the 1Hom. On Acts. Hom. 1 45 death of winter. Can the cold wind and the severe weather hinder them from working? Certainly no! That is how it is fit for us to look at the troubles of this world: Distractions will be put along our way by the evil one, in order to make us divert from the good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. The Psalmist says, “He who continually goes forth weeping.” Although each of us may actually find a reason for weeping; yet we should continue to go forth, practicing the good works of God that we should walk on. How miserable we could be, if we are called to work diligently, only to weep without looking forward to some fruition of our work! How miserable we could be, if we find no one to wipe out our tears! But we know that the Holy Spirit works, to make us go forth on sowing amid our tears, as the Spirit promises us through the Psalmist that we shall come back amazed by joy. We shall bear the fruition of our labor, as an offering to Him1. St. Augustine THE POSITION OF THIS BOOK IN THE NEW TESTAMENT Until the end of the first century and the beginning of the second one, this book was considered as a continuation of the gospel according to St. Luke, as the beginning of this book came in harmony with the end of that gospel. Yet, after the gospel of St. John was written; the Church brought the four gospels together; and this book came to form the connecting link that binds the four gospels and the epistles of the apostles. As the epistles reveal the writings of the apostles, this book came to reveal their acts by the Holy Spirit of God, or the works of Christ in them, by them, and to their account. We could never have enjoyed the comprehension of those epistles as we should have; unless they are read through the background of this book. This book helps as well, in a living way, to study the bond between the teachings of the Lord Christ, and those of the apostles2. In some scripts, this book used to follow the epistles of the apostle St. Paul, since it presents the events pertaining to the ministry of St. Paul mentioned in his epistles3. The following is a comparison between this book and the holy gospels: 1- While the gospels present to us the Lord Christ, being the Saving Messiah; the book of acts reveals that the Messiah is present in His Church who anticipates His coming. 2- While the gospels present to us what the Lord Christ began to do for our sake; the book of acts proclaims that He is still, with His Holy Spirit, present in His Church. 3- While the holy gospels tell about the Savior, crucified and resurrected from the dead; the book of acts presents Him ascending to heaven -the glorified Lord, and the Leader of the Church. 4- While in the holy gospels we hear the teachings of the Lord Christ, that bring us to salvation by His blood; the book of acts lets us come in touch with His salvation work in His holy Church, to draw the nations to glory4. 1 Homilies Ps. 2 2Donald Guthrine. New Testament Introduction, 1975. P.136 3 CF. Adam Clarke. The Acts, Preface. 4Henrietta Mears. What the Bible is All About. 1997. P. 439-440. 46 THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK The identity of the author is not mentioned in the book, but the tradition of the church confirms that its author is the Evangelist St. Luke. This view is supported by several testimonials within and outside the book. TESTIMONIALS WITHIN THE BOOK 1- The author proclaims that he is the companion of the apostle Paul in his trips up to the last one to Rome (Acts 16: 10-40, 20: 5-6, 21: 1-8, 27.1-28: 16). 2- It is similar to the gospel according to St. Luke, as far as the person to whom it is addressed (Luke 1: 1-4; Acts 1: 1) is concerned. Theophilus: he is most probably a prominent personality from Alexandria. The two Books are also similar in language and style. 3- The unity of thought between the two books, the following examples for which can be mentioned: They share the principal goals: Caring for the historical and the geographical aspects; as well as confirming the role of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Christ (Luke); and the apostles (the Book of Acts). Interest in the salvation of the whole world (Luke 2: 32; Acts 10: 34). Interest in the ministry to women (Luke 7: 37-38; Acts 9: 36). Interest in prayer (Luke 11: 13; Acts 1: 24). Whereas the word ‘Grace’ was mentioned 9 times in the gospel according to Luke, and 7 times in the Book of Acts; it was not mentioned in the two gospels according to Matthew or Mark. Interest in the forgiveness of sins (Luke 38: 2; Acts 5: 31). Both books are free of any tendency of prejudice toward foreign governments (Luke20: 20-26; Acts 16: 36-39). The use of precise medical terms, beside an interest in caring for the sick and the miracles of healing, as St. Luke has been a physician. TESTIMONIALS OUTSIDE THE BOOK 1- An Anti-Marcionite document dating back to the year 160 AD, constituting an introduction to the gospel according to St. Luke, states that St. Luke was the author of the Book of Acts. 2- The Moratorian law of the holy books (between the years 170 and 200 AD) puts the Book of Acts of the Apostles among the canonical books (As St. Paul was the only apostle according to Marcion). 3- St. Irenaeus states that St. Luke “Paul’s companion” is the author of both his Gospel and the Book of Acts1. 4- According to St. Clement of Alexandria (about 190 A. D.), Luke, in the Book of Acts, testifies that Paul said to the men of Athens, “I perceive that in all things you are very religious” (Acts 17: 22) 2. 1 Adv. Haer. 3.1.14 2 Stromata 5.12 47 5- Also according to St. Clement of Alexandria, it is known that Luke is the author of the Book of Acts1. 6- According to the scholar Tertullian (about the year 200 A.D.), in his speech about the dwelling of the Holy Spirit on the apostles in the upper room, while they were praying, that this fact came in the ‘record of Luke2’, namely, in the Book of Acts. 7- According to Eusebius of Caesarea, Luke, a citizen of Antioch and a physician by profession, took part with Paul and the rest of the apostles, yet in a lesser way; and left for us examples of the healing of souls he saved in two inspired books: his Gospel, and the Book of Acts3. 8- Several fathers, since the first century, quoted from this book. Fr. Paul Feghali dedicated a whole chapter to those quotations from the Book of Acts4, like those by St. Clement of Rome, the epistle of Barnabas5, Didache6, the shepherd by Hermas7, St. Ignatius’ Epistle to the Magnesians, St. Polycarp Bishop of Smyrnam, the martyrdom of Polycarp, the Epistle to Diognetus, the document of the Constitutions of the twelve Patriarchs, Justin martyr8, the works of Paul (about the year 160 A.D.), a letter from South Ghal in the year 177 A.D., that came in Eusebius9. THE DIFFERENT NAMES OF THE BOOK This book had several names of which we mention the following10: 1- The Book of Acts, as it came in ‘Gestae Res’, and in the copy of ‘Codex Bezae’. 2- The Book of the holy Apostles; as it came in the Alexandrian copy ‘Codex Alexandrinus’, and other copies, as well as in the writings of several Greek and Latin fathers. 3- ‘The fifth gospel’ by some; and ‘The gospel of The Holy Spirit’ by Oecumenius. 4- ‘The Book’ and ‘The proof of Resurrection’ by St. John Chrysostom. The DATE OF ITS WRITING Some believe that this book was written in Alexandria; whereas, the majority of scholars believe that it was written in Rome, while the apostle Paul was in prison, after St. Luke arrived to it together with St. Paul (Acts 28: 16) 11. Many scholars believe that the Book of Acts was written about the year 63 A.D., when horrible acts of persecution were waged against the Christians, a little while after which, St. Luke might have been martyred. As Rome was burnt, and the Christians faced slaying and burning, the appearance of the gospel according to St. Luke, and the Book of Acts (as one book), was delayed, and did not happen until the seventy-year war came to 1 PG 9: 732. 2De Jejunio 10 PL 2: 966. 3 Eusebius: H. E. 3: 4. 4 ا رجع الخوري بولس الغفالي: أعمال الرسل، مداخل، تأمّلات، أبحاث، بیروت 1994 م، الفصل الثاالث "أقدم الشهادات الكنسیة عن سفر الأعمال". 5 Barnabas 19:8. 6Didache, 4: 8. 7 The Shrpherd, vision 4: 2: 4. 8 Apology 1: 50; 1: 1: 10. 9 Eusebius: H. E. 5: 1. 10 CF. Adam Clerke. Acts, Preface. 11 CF. Adam Clerke. Acts, Preface. 48 an end (burning the temple by Titus), when the situation became better, and the Church started to regain some freedom. Some scholars justify the opinion that the book was written before the year 63 A.D. as follows1: 1- St. Luke appears more interested in Jerusalem than the Evangelists Matthew and Mark. He was called the ‘travels narrator’ (Luke 9: 51, 16: 15), having concentrated on the Lord Jesus’ moves toward Jerusalem. His interest in the holy city is demonstrated in his narration of the events concerning the resurrection, concentrating on Jerusalem. If he has written the book after the events of the devastation of Jerusalem in the year 70 A.D., he would have mentioned that particular episode. 2- St. Luke recorded the troubles that faced the early Church, so he would not have disregarded the persecution by Nero in the year 64 A.D., when a huge number of Christians were martyred, including the two saints: Peter and Paul. This book must have been written before the devastating riot by Nero, Having mentioned the episodes of the martyrdom of both James, son of Zebedee, and of Stephen, why should he disregard those of St. Peter and St. Paul? 3- The book presents the nature of Christian Theology in a primitive way, as to be expected in the time of the apostles. The Theological language reveals to a certain extent the time of its writing. For example, calling the Christians ‘disciples’; and referring to ‘Sunday’ as the first day of the week; beside the fact that the description of several incidents reveal that the author was an eye witness, having a close relationship with the apostles, and one who lived in the atmosphere of the Church in the era of the apostles. 4- The tendency of the State toward the Church: In this book it is to be noticed that the Roman rulers and leaders did not persecute the Church; And in the few incidents it happened, it was provoked by the Jews. In some situations, the rulers even took the side of certain apostles, as that of St. Paul for example, whose life they saved from the plots planned by the Jews to kill him. That tendency was prevailing before the persecution of the Church by Nero in the year 64 A.D. 5- The Book of Acts did not mention the epistles of St. Paul and of other apostles; therefore, it must have been written before all those epistles. THE GOAL OF THE BOOK 1- The Evangelist gave us the goal of his gospel, which is an account of what Jesus has done and preached until the day of His ascension (Luke 1: 1-4). Then, the Book of Acts carried the same goal, from the time of His ascension, all along the period of about thirty years, to cover the work of the Lord Christ through His Church following His ascension, as a record of the works of Christ, by His Holy Spirit in His Church who testifies to Him, being the One working in her and who sent her His Holy Spirit. “The Acts of the Apostles seem to relate a mere unvarnished narrative descriptive of the infancy of the newly born church; but when once we realize that their author is Luke the physician whose praise is in the gospel, we shall see that all his words are medicine for the sick soul”2. St Jerome 1Guthrite. P.340 etc. 2 St. Jerome. Letter to Paulinus of Nola. 53.9 49 2- The realization of the divine promise concerning the spreading of Christianity in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1: 8): opening the gate of faith before all nations. This is counted by the Lord as the miracle of miracles, done by the Lord Jesus, by His Holy Spirit, through His disciples and apostles. The main factor in spreading the faith is the dwelling of the Holy Spirit, who granted the disciples the gift of talking in tongues, to draw the Gentiles, and to shut down the mouths of the fanatic Jews, beside supporting the disciples with the capability of doing miracles and wonders in the name of Jesus Christ, and guiding them and drawing the souls to the word. For a long time, it was not easy for the Jews to accept the call to the Gentiles to faith, especially, if they did enter into it without converting them first to Judaism. That is what we feel in some of the writings and debates of the fathers with the Jews; as for example, those by the scholar Tertullian1, who quoted the prophecies of the Old Testament about receiving the Gentiles, like what came in the Psalm:”You are my Son; Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your Inheritance” (Ps 2: 7-8); and, “Their line has gone out through all the earth; and their words to the end of the world” (Ps 19: 4). Moreover, the heavenly hosts have taken part in the work; the angelic ministry appears mightily, to the account of the spreading of the kingdom of God through the Church. The Lord proclaimed to the disciples that they would be brought before governors and kings, and would be tried before Synagogues, for His sake (Matt 10: 18); yet, that did not hinder the preaching in the whole world (Matt 24: 14). 3- It is a book of history and theology that brings to us the theological thinking through historical events, simply proclaiming that the Lord Christ is the Center of history, and that the history of salvation is an integral part of the general history. Although this book recorded for us the works of certain apostles, like Peter, John, Paul, and others; Yet, it concentrated on the work of the Holy Spirit in them, as a Leader and Organizer of the life of the early Church, and His work to spread the preaching to the end of the world. That is why, once St. Paul arrived to Rome and testified to the Lord Christ in the capital of the Roman Empire that ruled the world, the book came to an end, with no reference to the martyrdom of St. Paul in the days of Nero. The goal of the book was that the preaching of salvation has gallantly reached even to the palace of the Roman Emperor. This book reveals the continuity of God’s goal by history. Even if the events that took place by Jesus Christ the Savior of the world have entered history as historical events, that exalted divine work remains as “being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2: 23). So also are the events of preaching by the apostles, written in the Book of Acts, Although they are historical and temporal events, they testify to the continuation of the execution of God’s plan in the world, until the whole Church of Christ is realized, to be worthy of the eternal inheritance and the fellowship of glory. Its events are realization of prophecies that came in the Old Testaments, realized by the Holy Spirit Himself along the ages, up to the day of the ultimate coming of the Lord. 1 Tertullian. An Answer to the Jews. 50 4- The Gospel of the Spirit: As this book often refers to the Holy Spirit, it is apparent that its goal is not to tell about the troubles that the Church faced at the beginning of her setting forth, but to confirm that God by His Holy Spirit is the guide of every movement in her history. The growth of the Church was not realized through the personal efforts of the apostles, and the troubles they encountered; as, according to the human thought it was impossible for the world to accept the faith. But it is the fruit of the move of God Himself, the Lover of mankind, who works in the life of the apostles, as well as of the people. The Holy Spirit grants the Shepherds the strength to preach, and the talents to shepherd. He is the gift of God to His children in Baptism, granting them spiritual wisdom, and a word in the time of affliction (6: 10). His talents are not acquired by money, namely, by Simonism (Acts 9). The power of the Holy Spirit is apparent in confronting the opponent Jews and giving the apostles power to stand before the rulers and kings. He is the stronghold surrounding the Church, and the secret of her strength and glory. And as it came in the book of Zechariah, “For I, says the Lord, will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst” (Zach2: 5). 5- A defense for the apostleship of St. Paul, the apostle for the Gentiles: His personality has been subjected to harsh criticism. He was accused of being an opponent to Moses “the Law”, and his apostleship was even denied by some. It is a defense document that harmonizes between the thoughts of Peter and Paul: between the wish to gain the Gentiles, and the commitment to the law. The two apostles were similar1: both of them healed the handicaps (Acts 3: 14), the sick (Acts 5: 18), were counted as sorcerers (Acts 8: 13), raised someone from the dead (Acts 9: 20), got out of prison through miracles (Acts 12: 16), and went for three preaching trips. This similarity between both personalities has been magnificently and excitingly introduced, to confirm that St. Paul was an apostle on an equal level to St. Peter. Moreover, the book demonstrates certain situations of St. Peter, ministering to the Gentiles, and of St. Paul, keen on keeping the law (Acts 16: 18). 6- A theological and didactic document: It includes 18 essays or speeches, constituting 25 % of the book, introducing in most of them a living portrait of the teachings and Theological thought of the early Church. We can say that the Book of Acts of the Apostles has introduced the seeds of the Christian creed, especially that of the salvation work of God, and recognizing God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and their work in the life of the Church, as well as in the life of every believer, as a living member in the Church. Yet, we can not say that what came in the book is the complete program of all the teachings of the Church. Despite the harmony between what came in the book and what came in the epistles of the apostles, the epistles introduced in some detail the dogmas, the Christian teachings, and the behavior fitting for the believer, in his personal life, in his home, in the Church, and in the society in which he/she lives. 7- A guide for the Church: This book presents the main lines for the Church of the Lord Christ, as a Guide for her along the generations, in order to grow with no diversion, in the midst of affliction. 8- The Evangelist St. Luke was not preoccupied by writing a record of the history of the early Church, or parading a history of the apostles and their glorious woks; but his goal was a preaching one. The book is a preaching work that proclaims salvation for 1Donald Guthrie. P.339. 51 everyone, wherever his location is, and whatever his circumstances may be. The Lord Christ Himself presents by His Holy Spirit the salvation for all with no racial discrimination. He presents His gospel to the Jew, as well as to the Greek or Roman… to the man, as well as to the woman; to the rulers, governors, and leaders, as well as to the mob; to the rich, as well as to the poor. FEATURES OF THE BOOK 1- A historical accuracy, together with some detailed living narrations. 2- A high literary Greek eloquence. 3- An objective book that introduces the exalted work of God, through actual events, not disregarding the human weakness, even among the leaderships of the Church (Acts 15: 39). 4- The heart and soul of this book is “You shall be witnesses to Me” (1: 8). The word “witness” or “testify” came more than 30 times. What the Church testifies is that, by His name alone, salvation will be realized to the world (Acts 4: 21). This testimony should come from the heart, as “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matt 12: 34). Thus, it was not possible to realize this testimony without the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Church, for the believer to carry Him in his heart, and to enjoy what He tells him about the Lord Christ, through His new risen life. The true witness is the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the heart, and who works in, and by it. The Spirit likewise, works in the hearts of the listeners, to draw them, not to the speaking believer, but to God the Savior, dwelling in him. 5- This book is the “Book of Power”: “You shall receive power” (Acts 1: 8) that will challenge the forces of darkness, the corruption of the world, and the evil plans, to proclaim the light in the life of the believers. PREACHING IN THE WORLD In the gospel of John, the Lord Christ promises, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do” (John 12: 14). The secret of their greatness is that they are done in His name after His ascension, realizing the goal of His coming. The amazing spreading of preaching among the Gentiles did not occur during the ministry of the Lord on earth. The book of acts proclaimed the realization of this divine promise, not as a history recorded by the Evangelist St. Luke, through an inspiration by the Holy Spirit, but as a living setting forth, to open the gate of hope before the Church to work along the generations, leaning upon that promise, until the earth and its fullness become for the Lord and His Christ. "Now all this, how it came to pass exactly as it was said, may be seen in this Book, and more besides, which He told them while yet with them. Here again you will see the Apostles themselves, speeding their way as on wings over land and sea; and those same men, once so timorous and void of understanding, on the sudden become quite other than they were; men despising wealth, and raised above glory and passion and concupiscence, and in short all such affections: moreover, what unanimity there is among them now; nowhere any envying as there was before, nor any of the old hankering after the preeminence, but all virtue brought in them to its last finish, and shining through all, with surpassing luster, that charity, concerning which the Lord had 52 given so many charges saying, “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13: 35) 1. (St. John Chrysostom) PENTECOSTING ALL THE AGES In every Liturgy of the Catechumens on every Sunday, or on any day of the week, the Church is committed to read a chapter of the Book of Acts of the Apostles “the Praxis”, not just to remind us of the setting forth of the Church on the day of the Pentecost, and of establishing the early congregations of the Church, of their thought and life in the Lord; but because it represents a practical portrait of the early Church, that reveals the concepts of the Church in the events of the Pentecost in order to practice the Pentecost along all the ages. THE BOOK OF ACTS AND THE TRUST OF PREACHING2 The Book of the Acts of the Apostles reveals the joyful trust of preaching that was received by the apostles, and committed to them, together with the bishops, the priests, the deacons, and even to the people, who find inner pleasure and exalted joy to hand this trust over, amid the affliction of the enemy, and his persecution against the Name and Church of Jesus Christ. Thus, the Church feels that her foremost mission is to provoke the nations to enjoy the joy of the salvation of God, so that they, in turn would become witnesses to Him, until the preaching reach the end of the earth. This joyful commitment is realized by the Church, on the level of the holy congregations, as well as of every one of its members personally. JESUS CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF ACTS 1- The Name of Jesus Christ St. Basil the Great says that the name ‘Jesus Christ’ is the summary of the whole faith. It is a recognition of Him as the Son to God the Father, and that He is anointed by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the name embraces the Father and the Holy Spirit, and proclaims the Deity of the Lord. It embraces in it the names of the three Persons of the Trinity. “As then the point on which Christ himself most insisted was, to have it known that He was come from the Father, so is it this writer's principal object to declare, that Christ was risen from the dead, and was received up into Heaven, and that He went to God, and came from God”3. 2- Jesus Christ is present in His Church The Book of Acts began by the ascension of the Lord Christ to heaven, and the disciples standing in awe before that scene, having been unable to cross over together with Him, with their bodies, to where He ascended. Two glorified angels appeared to them to give them the good news that, as He ascended from the east to carry their hearts to His heavens, He will also come to carry them, together with all the believers of the Old and New Testaments to the bosom of God the Father, to share with the Groom His eternal 1 St. John Chrysostom. Homilies on Acts. Hom. 1. 2 Biblical Studies (10) Priest Paulus El-Ghafali. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles, Pentecost of all Ages. Beirut, 1995. 3 St. John Chrysostom. Hom. Acts. Hom. 1. 53 glory. And the Book ended with the apostle Paul, the captive in Rome, testifying in the capital of the Roman Empire to Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. In between the first and the last chapter, the leader of the procession of the Church on earth is the Holy Spirit, who proclaims the presence of Christ in the Church that partakes of His passion, and experiences the down payment of His glory. It is as though the Lord, who ascended to heaven in flesh, is present in His Church that consummates His passion, until the whole world enjoys salvation through the preaching of the Church of her Groom, and her acceptance of the persecution with the pleasure of heart. 3- Jesus, the Lord, and the Christ The goal of the dwelling of the Holy Spirit is the enjoyment of the work of the Holy Trinity. After His dwelling, St. Peter proclaims that God has proved by miracles and wonders; that Jesus who was executed by the Jews is the Christ about whom David prophesied that He is risen from the dead, and sitting at the right hand of His glory in heavens (Acts 2: 22-35). He concluded his sermon saying, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2: 36). Therefore, the Holy Spirit confirms that crucifying Christ on a tree was not out of divine wrath on him, but a proclamation of His Deity in that He abolishes death from us, and reigns on the hearts as a Lord and heavenly King. The preaching of the apostles in the temple and houses is the preaching of Jesus Christ (Acts 5: 42), as though the goal of the persecuted apostles was bringing forth the spirit of joy for the coming of Christ, whom the fathers and prophets had so long desired to see and to encounter. The title ‘Christ’ came, not as a political national title, but a heavenly one that concerns the salvation of the whole world (Acts 3: 21). In Samaria, Philip was preaching Christ (Acts 8: 5-8). In Thessalonica, the apostle Paul reasoned with the Jews that “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ” (Acts 17: 3). At Corinth, the apostle Paul testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 18: 5); and so did he in Achaia (Acts 18: 28), and in Caesarea (Acts 26: 23). 4- Jesus, the Holy and the Just (Acts 3: 14-15) The name Jesus was connected to the Holy and the Just: “Nor will you allow Your Holy One to see corruption” (Acts 2: 27); “They killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers” (Acts 7: 52). The Jews intended to get rid of Him by delivering him to the Gentiles and murdering Him, the Holy and the Just One, whoever carries will carry His Holiness and Justification. As the apostle Paul says, “He became for us justification and holiness”, by which He presented to us a new concept of the holiness and justification, which the law with its literality could not realize. 5- Jesus the Servant and the Minister “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied; you denied the Holy One and the Just and killed the Prince of life” (Acts 3.13-15). “God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities” (Acts 3: 26). 54 In the prayer of the Church after the release of St. Peter and St. John from prison, they asked “… that signs and wonders may be done in the name of Your holy Servant Jesus” (Acts 4: 30). The prophet Isaiah had previously presented many of the praises of the suffering Servant (Isa. 53). He is the true Servant, anointed by God the Father to proclaim the divine love, the giving and the practical, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3: 16). 6- Christ and the call for repentance The whole book was a call to repentance (metania) (Acts 2: 37-40); as in Christ alone, it was possible, by His Holy Spirit, to change the internal tendency, and to renew the nature; so as to let the believer give the face to God his Father; and to be able to give the back to evil, whatever its attractions may be. 7-The name Jesus Christ and the Baptism In this book, repentance is accompanied by getting Baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, in whom we gain the new birth, and the fellowship in the body of Christ, to carry His image, and be capable, by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, of renewing the covenant, that was enjoyed by Moses in Sinai. He, whom they have killed, is the God of Sinai, whom they, for so long, have treasured. He was raised, not for any need on His part, but for us to be buried in Baptism and be raised together with Him, and to experience the power of His resurrection in our daily life. This is a practical testimonial to His resurrection, “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him” (Acts 5: 32). In short, preaching the crucified and the resurrected Christ is not a subject of philosophical controversy or debate, but is an experience of the resurrection, and the transformation to persons, living as members in His body, raised from the dead, the one body, in order to live by one spirit and one soul. Thus, our life would be transformed into a Passover life, into an incessant feast, and a permanent joy in Christ, our true Passover. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BOOK OF ACTS The Book of Acts is called ‘The Book of the Holy Spirit’, having begun by the promise of Christ to His disciples, to send them the Holy Spirit, to grant them the power to testify to Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. The whole book proclaimed the leadership of the Holy Spirit of the Church in every way to realize that divine promise. If we look at the Holy Book as a whole, we see the Holy Spirit persistently working since the beginning of creation, up to the ultimate coming of the Lord Christ, to provide man with every capability, and to prepare him to enter into the eternal glories. We can reveal His divine work along the following four historical stages: 1- The work of the Holy Spirit before the creation of Adam and Eve. 2- The work of the Holy Spirit after the fall (the stage of preparation for the first coming of Christ). 3- The work of the Holy Spirit in the days of Christ. 4- The work of the Holy Spirit in the early days of the Church of the New Testament. 55 The Evangelist St. Luke kept on revealing the incessant work of the Holy Spirit through the last three stages. a- The work of the Holy Spirit before the creation of Adam and Eve: The Book of Genesis starts by mentioning that the Holy Spirit was hovering over the face of waters; when the earth was void, without form, beauty, or benefit, to make out of that earth a magnificent and beautiful world, representing a royal palace, for Adam and Eve to live in like a king and a queen, where nature with all its capabilities and beauty works for their happiness. This same Spirit keeps on working all along all ages, to make out of every believer a beautiful world, and a holy bride, prepared for the unique and joyful heavenly wedding. b- The work of the Holy Spirit after the fall of man: The apostles, in their speeches mentioned in this book, concentrated on the role of the Holy Spirit to prepare the people of God for receiving the salvation work of the Lord Christ. In the first speech by St. Peter after the Ascension, he says, “… This Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David” (Acts 1: 16). The Holy Spirit was leading the men of God to prophesy about the events of salvation, to let the whole world enjoy the new life. The period between the fall of man and the coming of the Lord Christ was a preparation period for mankind to receive the Lord, especially through prophecies. We should not marvel to hear the prophet Moses saying to his disciple Joshua, “Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them” (Num. 11.29), when Joshua became angry, as the two elders Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp, and not in the tabernacle; whereas the prophet Moses desired that the Holy Spirit would work in the life of the leading elders, as well as in the people, with no place limitation. c- The work of the Holy Spirit in the days of Christ: The Holy Spirit, who kept working, especially in the prophets, to prepare the people to receive the Savior, also worked in the days of the Lord Christ. St. Luke mentioned how the Holy Spirit set St. John the Baptist to precede the Lord Christ: “He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb… to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1 :15, 17). He also revealed the role of the Holy Spirit in the incarnation of the Savior, the Word: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1 :35). d- The work of the Holy Spirit in the early days of the Church: The book of acts profusely revealed the realization of the divine promise: “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me” (John 15 :26). Since the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit kept on leading the Church through the priests, as well as through the people, to give every member a living role in testifying to the Lord Christ. He set forth with the Church dedicating the testimony to the Lord Christ, in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, then to the Gentiles, until it was even brought up to the Imperial palace in Rome, the capital of the world at that time. The Holy Spirit working in Jerusalem: The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in the upper room (Acts 2), He, who granted the apostles, the teachers, and the prophets, and every one his role; it is the Spirit that works in the whole Church. This is what has been realized according to the prophecy of the prophet Joel: “It shall come to pass in 56 the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams, And on My menservants, and on My maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy…, and it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2: 17-21). So, the Holy Spirit came over the Church to transform every heart into a prophet, to behold the coming glories through the experience of their down payment, working in men and women, in the young and the old, bringing salvation to every one calling on the name of the Lord, whether he is a Jew, or Barbarian. The Holy Spirit set prophets in Jerusalem, like Agabus, who prophesied about the great famine to come throughout the whole world (Acts 11:27-28). The Holy Spirit working in Samaria: The Holy Spirit was not confined to Jerusalem or in the temple of Solomon, as the Jews expected. As Samaria received the word of God, the Church sent St. Peter and St. John, who “laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8: 17). Moreover, the Holy Spirit led St. Philip to proceed to accompany the chariot of the man from Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians (Acts 8: 29). We even see Him catching Philip away and bringing him over to Azotus (Acts 8: 39-40). The Holy Spirit working in the whole earth: It would have been impossible except for the Holy Spirit to force His way through the Gentile world, to move the hearts, to draw them to believe in the Crucified, to grant them the new birth in Baptism, and to renew incessantly their thoughts, to become the icon of the heavenly Groom. It was impossible for any apostle to dare to baptize a Gentile, before converting him first to Judaism. That is why, the Holy Spirit started by dwelling upon Cornelius and his household, beside all those present from the Gentiles, before St. Peter finishes his speech to them (Acts 10: 44). Only then, could St. Peter say, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (Acts 10: 47). In every city, as St. Paul laid his hands on believers, the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 19: 6). The Holy Spirit is the One who sets the ministers to work in that vineyard. “Now, separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13: 2). As to saying, ‘for Me’, it reveals how the Holy Spirit was keen on referring that work to Himself. He chooses the ministers, and keeps working in, and by them, until He realizes His divine work through the Church He sanctifies. The book of acts keeps on confirming this fact, as we shall see in our study of this book. The Holy Spirit used to reveal to St. Paul even what tribulations he would face during his ministry: “… except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me” (Acts 20: 23). In his speech to the priests of Ephesus, St. Paul says, “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God, which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20: 28). Finally, as the captive Paul reached Rome, he entered it with a rejoicing spirit, because the Holy Spirit has realized what He inspired the prophet Isaiah to say: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to saying: ‘Go to this people 57 and say: Therefore, let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it” (Acts 28: 25-28). THE PROOF OF RESURRECTION IN THE BOOK OF ACTS Preaching is a call to believe in the Lord Christ, the crucified, and the raised from the dead, for the believer to experience the down payment of resurrection in his daily life. And as believing in resurrection from the dead was almost impossible at that time, God granted the apostles and disciples unusual signs and miracles, in the name of the Lord Christ, as it is mentioned in this book, to confirm that fact. The apostolic miracles are the proof of resurrection; and this book is its school1. St. John Chrysostom THE BOOK OF ACTS AND THE CHURCH LIFE Wherever the believer set forth, for one reason or another, what preoccupied him was the formation of a holy congregation, a holy body of Christ, with its own features and capabilities to establish the kingdom of God. Even though with a small number, or with modest material capabilities, the Holy Spirit enriched the Church, and led her by His divine powers. The most important features of the early Church are: 1- A Church of joy: It was a joyous church, in all the sides of her life, in worshipping and preaching, as well as in the midst of tribulations in her daily life, when the believers comprehended that the prophesies and the salvation work have been realized, anticipating the ultimate coming of the Messiah and the resurrection from the dead. 2- The new spiritual Israel: It was far from the material bigoted thought, as the kingdom of Christ has been realized through the work of His Holy Spirit. 3- A Church open to the Gentiles: In order to open the hearts of the Jews to the Gentiles, God used every way to uproot the spirit of bigotry from them, like sending an angel to Philip, to preach the Ethiopian (Acts 8); the appearance of the Lord Christ Himself to Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9); and the commitment of Peter to go to the Gentile Cornelius (Acts 10). 4- A Church of friendship working in God: In this Book, we see the friendship between the apostles Peter and John (Acts 3: 4, 8), between the apostles Barnabas and Paul (Acts 11: 13, 15), between the apostles Barnabas and Mark (Acts 16), between the apostles Paul and Silas, between Paul and Luke the Evangelist, between Paul and Timothy, and also between him and Aquila and Priscilla, etc. THE BOOK OF ACTS AND WORSHIP2 In few words, the Evangelist Luke expressed the Church life, saying, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrines and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2: 42). The Church life has been an apostolic faith thought, with a practical fellowship of love, and incessant collective and private prayers. The whole book confirmed that the holy congregation is a perpetual Church of prayers. When 1Hom. Cur in Pentec. Acta Legentur, T. 3, P.89. 2 Biblical Studies (10) Priest Paulus El-Ghafali. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles, Pentecost of all Ages. Beirut, 1995. 58 St. Paul the apostle spoke before King Agrippa, he presented the early fathers as “serving God night and day” (Acts 26: 7). So, the Church of the New Testament came to continue the same path: “incessant prayers”. Even though this book is a proclamation of the testimony to the Lord Christ, until it reaches the end of the earth; this would not be realized except by the spirit of prayer, according to the call of the Lord Christ: “Ask the God of the harvest to send workers for His harvest”. The early Church, as portrayed to us by the Evangelist Luke, was a perpetual congregation of prayer; in prayer, she found her fellowship with her God, her practicing of the angelic life of praise, her support in preaching, and her help in times of affliction. She prayed wherever she assembled; and every one of her members prayed wherever he went, and under any circumstances; as Prayer is not limited by place or time. 1- She continued to pray with one accord in the temple (Acts 2: 46). Whenever an apostle or a believer of a Jewish origin came to Jerusalem, he used to go to the temple to pray (Acts 21: 26, 22: 17). The Christians used to have their prayers in their homes, as there was no church building yet (Acts 2: 46); there they celebrated the sacrament of the Eucharist, and the liturgical prayers, etc. They used to pray in their secret place, as Saul did (Acts 9.11), or on the housetop, as St. Peter did (Acts 10: 9). The believer never stopped praising and praying, even in the inner prison, as Paul and Silas did (Acts 16.25). And when bidding an apostle farewell, the whole church used to assemble even on the beach, where everyone knelt and prayed (Acts 21: 5, 20: 26). 2- The Church used to assemble on the first day of the week (Acts 20: 7-10). In Teruas, the disciples assembled from the eve of the Sabbath, when the week starts; and the apostle Paul kept on talking until midnight. Then the assembly ended by celebrating the sacrament of the Eucharist, or breaking of bread. 3- The believers were committed to keep the prayers of the hours; a devoted Jew used to pray three times a day; as did the prophets David and Daniel; and as did St. Peter when he ascended to the rooftop, at the sixth hour to pray (Acts 10: 9). 4- Prayer is the secret by which holy ministers were chosen for the Lord: For instance, choosing the twelfth disciple, Matthias (Acts 1: 15-26); dedicating Paul and Barnabas to preach among the Gentiles (Acts 13: 2); and for ordaining priests, the whole church used to pray (Acts 14: 23). 5- Prayer is the support of the ministers for their work: St. Peter prayed to raise ‘Tabitha’ from the dead (Acts 9: 40). So did St. Paul when he healed ‘Publius’ (Acts 28: 8). 6- Prayer is even for the sake of opponents and persecutors: as St. Stephen knelt and prayed for the sake of those who were about to stone him (Acts 7: 6). 7- As to the goal of praying, it is for every human soul to enjoy the sweetness of the new life; So no wonder to hear St. Paul saying before the assembly: “I would pray to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains” (Acts 26: 19). THE BOOK OF ACTS AND THE SPIRIT OF LOVE AND UNITY The book of acts reveals both the diversity and unity among the members of the Church, and even among the apostles. Although each of them had his own independent personality, talents, and capabilities, he felt his need for the others, to think together, and to work with the spirit of love and unity. 59 1- The Jerusalem (Christian) Council (Acts 15) might have been the best example of this, where no one was preoccupied by who would lead the Council or who would be its head; but every one tried to push the other to the first place. Those who worked together with the apostles in the Council had also shared this spirit of love and unity. 2- The Church of Jerusalem’s support for the ministers in other regions: They sent St. Peter and St. John to support St. Philip in Samaria (Acts 8: 14). It is as though the whole Church worked together for the salvation of every soul without anybody seeking the position of leadership, on the level of individuals or even the local churches. 3- Barnabas sought Saul to serve together with him for a whole year in Antioch (Acts 11: 25) in order that it would become the center of the ministry to the Gentiles in several nations. St. Barnabas did not monopolize the ministry there but found pleasure in benefiting from the talents of St. Paul, without thinking about to whom the ministry of the Gentiles would be referred. 4- The Holy Spirit has separated Barnabas and Saul for preaching (Acts 13: 2): The Spirit of God Himself has taken over the choosing of ministers and the distribution of work, where the Church was assembled together with the spirit of love and unity. 5- Although St. Peter was given the responsibility to minister to the circumcised, in order not to feel a stranger to the Church of the Gentiles, he was chosen to preach to the first fruit of the Gentiles, namely, the Centurion Cornelius (Acts 10). Likewise, St. Paul, the minister chosen for the Gentiles, started his ministry among the Jews. Thus, the gap between the Jews and the Gentiles, who received the faith in the Lord Christ, would become narrower; and all would enjoy the spirit of love and unity. THE BOOK OF ACTS AND THE FREEDOM FROM THE MOVEMENT OF JUDAISM The coming of the Magi to Judea to seek the Savior of the world reveals the commitment of the Gentiles to seek Him in the books of the Old Testament. Yet, they should not be enslaved to the letter of the law. With mutual respect for the holy ones in both groups, it is imperative to set oneself free from the political factors. THE BOOK OF ACTS AND THE FULLNESS OF TIME1 Since Adam and Eve got the promise of the coming of the Savior, to get them back to a paradisiacal, victorious, and glorified life, they kept on looking forward to the realization of that divine promise; as though it would be realized without waiting for the fullness of time. Their children inherited this flaring wish; Every time a new prophet appeared, the people would wonder if he was the anticipated Messiah, or should they wait for another. Once it was the fullness of time, and Christ came, they expected Him to reign temporally on earth, and were not able to wait for the fullness of time of His ultimate coming. That is why, when He promised the coming of His Holy Spirit, His disciples asked Him, “Will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1: 6)? St. Luke, through a proclamation of the Holy Spirit, transferred his listeners to the events of salvation, from crucifixion, to death, to resurrection, then to ascension to heaven, and ended the book by saying, “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hand and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, 1 Biblical Studies (10) Priest Paulus El-Ghafali. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles, Pentecost of all Ages. Beirut, 1995. 60 that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God, Amen” (Luke 24: 50-53). Thus, St. Luke annexed the heavenly dimension to our salvation history. He presented a movement of correction to the Jewish thought that, for every work, there is a fullness of time. Thousands of years had passed, while Adam and his children anticipated the coming of the Messiah King. Then He came in the fullness of time, not to reign on earth, but to ascend to heaven and to lift them up together with Him. He presented heavenly touches for the human life. The Non-temporal came and submitted to time in order to carry us to what is beyond time. This correction was partial; as even the disciples and the apostles thought that, once the seen presence of Christ on earth comes to an end, He would promptly come to carry His believers by His Holy Spirit, to the unseen world. St. Luke was committed to write down the Book of Acts, to confirm the two following facts: 1- The coming of the Lord Christ and His ascension to heaven did not abolish His presence in us. And we, in our turn, submit to time, until He brings humanity, together with us, as far as the end of the earth, to rise together with us up to the eternal (eschatological) life. The Church, as the body of Christ, proclaims His unseen presence, until He carries all the nations to His glory. 2- With our anticipation of His ultimate eschatological coming, we actually submit to time, while our hearts are lifted up above time. His coming has the fullness of time until the Church realizes her mission, amid the external persecution, and the internal tribulations. The Church, confronting and challenging the world by the Holy Spirit, embraces every day those who are saved, those whose heavenly stature is apparent even now, while crossing over the history, whether long or short, until they get to encounter the Lord Christ in His ultimate coming, face to face. The book of acts is a call to experience the eschatological life in the present life of the people of God, or in the history of His Church, realizing that Christ will ultimately definitely come, yet, in the fullness of time. That is why, St. Luke wrote in the first chapter of the book, the words of the Lord Christ before His ascension: “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority” (Acts 1: 7). THE SIGNS, MIRACLES, AND VISIONS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS The book of Acts is characterized by demonstrating a living portrait of the Church at the time of the apostles, giving us a lot of instances of the signs, miracles, and visions, that were enjoyed by the Church, not to parade her possibilities, but in order to minister to the souls, and to draw the hearts to enjoy the work of God in her. The most important of those works are: 1- The coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of the Pentecost (Acts 2), as a realization of the divine promise (John 2: 28-32), with the goal of enjoying the strength of testifying to the Lord Christ. 2- Speaking with tongues (Acts 2), aiming at bringing the Gentiles back to the divine bosom; every man heard the gospel of salvation in his own language. 3- Death of Ananias and Sapphira because they lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5: 1- 11), to root the spirit of fear together with the exalted divine love, so that the hand of the believer would not be stretched to corrupt the sanctities of God, or take His love for granted. 61 4- The gates of prison open up before the apostles (Acts 5: 19-20): The world with all its energies can not suppress the word of God. 5- The vision of St. Stephen of the open heavens while he was being stoned (Acts 7: 55) proclaims the support of the Lord Christ Himself to His honest witnesses. 6- The appearance of the Lord Christ to Saul of Tarsus on his way to Damascus (Acts 9: 1-6) to let him testify to Him before the Gentiles and to have pleasure in the fellowship of suffering together with his Savior, in order to enjoy the power of His resurrection. 7- The restoration of vision to Saul (Acts 9: 15-22) to realize and to treasure his enjoyment of insight. 8- The vision of Cornelius (Acts 10: 1-8) to let him become a witness of God’s love for all nations with no discrimination. 9- The vision of the apostle Peter (Acts 10: 9-48) to set him free of the literality of the law, that stands like a solid wall before the ministry to the Gentiles. 10- Agabus’ prophecy about a future famine (Acts 11: 28) to let the believers partake by practical love in supporting their needy brothers. 11- The apostle setting forth to minister directly after being stoned (Acts 14: 19- 20): there is no power that can hinder the testimony to the Resurrected from the dead. 12- The vision of the apostle Paul about a man pleading with him to come over to Macedonia to help them (Acts 16: 9) to let the gospel cross over to the European continent. 13- The earthquake, the opening of the gates, and the loosening of the chains in the jail at Philippi (Acts 16: 25-31) to proclaim the response of heaven to the praising tongues, and the conversion of the jailer and his household to faith. 14- The falling of the seven sons of Sceva in shame and disgrace, when they intended to drive out the evil spirits in the name of Jesus whom Paul preached (Acts 19: 13-16) to proclaim that the name of Jesus should not be abused, as it only works through those who honestly believe in Him. 15- The prophecy of Agabus (Acts 21: 10-14) about what would befall the apostle Paul in Jerusalem, by which God reveals how the apostle Paul submitted his life, and his readiness to die for the sake of Christ. It also reveals the extent of the mutual love between the ministers and the rest of the congregation in Jesus Christ. 16- Paul was not harmed by the sting of the viper (Acts 28: 3-5) to let the inhabitants of the island believe in the Lord Christ who protects His servants. 17- God’s support for His ministers by signs is only meant to testify to the salvation work of the Lord Christ. Through the apostle Peter, a lame was healed (Acts 3); and by his shadow, many sick were cured (Acts 5: 15-16). He also healed the paralyzed Aeneas (Acts 9: 33-34), and raised Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9: 36-40). St. Stephen made signs and miracles (Acts 8: 6-7, 13). So did St. Paul and St. Barnabas (Acts 14: 3). Moreover, St. Paul struck Elymus the sorcerer with blindness, for his opposition to the word of God (Acts 13: 11). He healed the cripple from his mother’s womb in Lystra (Acts 14: 10), and drove out an evil spirit from a handmaid possessed with a spirit of divination in Philippi (Acts 16: 18). In Ephesus, “God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul” (Acts 19: 11-12). In Troas, he raised the young man Eutichus from 62 the dead (Acts 20: 10-12). And in the island of Malta, he laid his hands on the father of Publius, a leading citizen of the island, and healed him of his sickness (Acts 28: 8-9). SECTIONS OF THE BOOK 1- Preparation to set the Church (Acts 1 to 2) 2- Testifying in Jerusalem (Acts 3 to 7) 3- Testifying in Judea and Samaria (Acts 8 to 9) 4- Preaching to the end of the earth (Acts 10 to 28). 1- The preaching trips of St. Paul 1- The first preaching trip of St. Paul (1400 miles) (Acts 13 to 15) 2- The second preaching trip of St. Paul (2800 miles) (Acts 16 to 18) 3- The third preaching trip of St. Paul (2800 miles) (Acts 18: 24-21: 16) 2- Arresting St. Paul 4- In Jerusalem (Acts 21: 17-23: 35) 5- In Caesarea (Acts 24-26) 6- In Rome (Acts 27-28). THE SERMONS AND SPEECHES THAT CAME IN THIS BOOK By the apostle St. Peter (Acts 1: 2, 3.4), by the two apostles Peter and James (Acts 15), By Gamaliel (Acts 5), By the Deacon Stephen (Acts 7), by the apostle Paul (Acts 13, 14, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28), by the city clerk of Ephesus (Acts 19), and By Tertullus (Acts 24). The broad lines of those speeches are: 1- The Lord Christ as the center of prophecies, who will set the fallen tent (kingdom) of David. 2- The crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, as the secret of salvation of the world. 3- A call to repentance and a return to Christ whom they crucified. THE MAIN SERMONS IN THE BOOK 1 Peter on the day of the pentecost 2: 14-40 His interpretation of the concept of the pentecost 2 Peter in the temple 3: 12-26 A call to the jews, who crucified jesus, to repent 3 Peter in the sanhedrin1 4: 5-12 A testimony to jesus, healer of the lame 4 Stephen in the sanhedrin 7: 2- 53 Accusing the jews of rejecting the messiah 5 Peter to the gentiles 10: 28-47 The call is both to the jews and to the gentiles 6 Peter in the church of jerusalem 11: 4-18 His experience in joppa and his ministry to the gentiles 1 I used the word ‘Sanhedrin’ instead of ‘sanhedrim’ because it is thus identical with its Greek equivalent. 63 7 Paul in the concil of antioch 13: 16-41 Jesus is the messiah according to the prophesies 8 Peter in the council of jerusalem 15: 7-11 Salvation is for all by grace 9 Peter in the council of jerusalem 15: 13-21 No need for the gentiles to get circumcised 10 Paul to the elders of ephesus 20: 17-35 Keeping the faith despite the false preachers and the affliction 11 Paul to the multitudes in jerusalem 22: 1-21 His conversion to faith and the call to him to work among the gentiles 12 Paul in the sanhedrin 23: 1-6 His defense, proclaiming that he is a pharisee, and a roman citizen 13 Paul to king agrippa 26: 2-23 His conversion and his zeal for the gospel 14 Paul to the elite jews in rome 28: 17-20 A parade of his jewish heritage 64 An Inspiration from the Book of Acts You Have Turned the Earth for us into Heaven. Grant me to join the ranks of Your apostles and disciples, To enjoy, together with them, meeting You, O Risen from the dead, To listen to Your sweet voice speaking to them about the kingdom, That my depths would kindle, longing for heaven. Then, I see You inside me, setting Your joyful kingdom. May I get in touch with the work of Your Holy Spirit in the whole world, To convert our earth into heaven; And humanity into angels. When You ascended to heaven You carried our hearts up with You. You sent to us Your fiery Spirit, to set of us ministers flaring with fire, To give us a tongue and word, that draws hearts to know You. Yes, keep Your fiery Spirit hovering over the face of the whole earth, To set of humanity a holy bride, a living icon for You, O Groom of all. Let Your Spirit carry me to Jerusalem, to testify to You there. The city that killed You produced believers who testify to You. The city that drove You out of the camp, to be crucified on the Golgotha; For it, You open Your Father’s bosom, for its inhabitants to enjoy the divine love. Let Your Holy Spirit carry me to Samaria, together with Philip, To rejoice in his work among the strangers, turning them into the household of God, And to see the apostle of circumcision, preaching to the first Gentile in Caesarea, To see how Your Spirit dwelt on Cornelius and his household. Indeed, Your work is limitless. The Jews, Your own race, hated You, and persecuted Your Church. Saul of Tarsus thought that he was capable of wiping out Your name utterly from the face of the earth. You appeared to him shining O the sun of righteousness. Your amazing splendor caused him temporal blindness, For his insight to be opened to see the splendor of eternal glory. He became a chosen vessel to do nothing but to testify to You everywhere. You turned him into almost an angel. He was surrounded by tribulations on all sides, So His soul rejoiced as though what befell him befell the body of somebody else. He became like a bird, setting forth from one country to another, Having no place to lay his head, To let You, his Savior, lay Your head in every heart. His life was transformed into a series of amazing preaching trips. It was not possible for many of the apostles to realize what he has done. He preached on land and sea, among philosophers, kings, and rulers. Wherever he went, You got a new congregation, by Your words on his tongue. No one could describe Your apostle Paul: 65 Did he become an angel, who possesses nothing, although he possesses everything? Was he so holy, that the rags on his body became holy, To heal the sick, and drive away the evil spirits? While he, himself remained suffering his own sickness. Your amazing Spirit sanctified his whole being, His heart, his mind, his soul, his body, His words, his sermons, his pen, and his writings, His time and his talents. He became like a spirit as though with no body. Would You send, in every generation, preachers, To work through them in many? Would You set, out of Saul, the persecutor, the blasphemer, and the aggressive, An apostle, a preacher, and a witness for You? “And the Lord added to the church, daily, those who were being saved” (Acts 2.47). “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me, in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1: 8).
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