The Establisment & Extension of Jesus' New Kingdom/Empire End of the Earth Oikoumene / Empire Judea & Samaria Jerusalem Priestly New Sanctuary/Temple New Instruction New Life & Food New Priests New Tribute & Footstool New Name Royal New Rulers New Wisdom New Saul vs. David New Gentiles New Unity Prophetic New Location New Advisors New Letters Jews Exposed New Source of Order
Basic Flow & Content of Acts Division & Date Major Figures Location Description 1 (~AD 30) Jesus & 12 Jerusalem 12 Apostles gathered and prepared for Spirit 2-5 (~AD 30) Peter & John Jerusalem & Temple Mission to Jerusalem - Descent of the Spirit & Pentecost sermon (2) - Apostles Ministry & Temple Opposition (3-5) 6-12 6-9:22 (~AD 30) 12 (AD 42, 44) Stephen, Philip, & Peter Judea & Samaria Mission to Samaria & Judea 13-15 (AD 44) Paul & Barnabas Antioch 15-20 (AD 44-59) Paul & Others Timothy, Luke, Silas, etc. & Jerusalem Oikoumene (Empire) - The Seven chosen (6) - Stephen s Speech and Death (7) - Ministry in Samaria (Philip, 8) - Conversion of Saul (9) - Incorporation of Cornelius (10-11) - James killed; Passover of Peter; Death of Herod (12) Mission to Gentiles & Church s Confirmation (Cyprus & SE Asia Minor) Mission to the Ends of the Earth - Paul s second mission (Asia Minor & Greece, 15-18) - Paul s third mission (Ephesus to Greece & return to Caesarea, 18-21) 21-28 (AD 59) Paul Jerusalem & Rome Arrest, Trials, Death, & Resurrection of Paul Carbondale Conference Jeffrey J. Meyers (March 2013)
Old World New World Transition Carbondale Conference March 2013 Matthew! Mark! Luke! John!! The Letters of Paul.......................... 2 Timothy! The Acts of the Apostles..................................... The Revelation Old Age New Age Old World! Old Heavens & Earth! Central Sanctuaries! Priestly Nation! Bloody Rites (Circum)! Animal Sacrifices! Partial Revelation! 7th Day Sabbath! Bi-Polar People of God! Memorial Name = Yahweh! Intended for the World! Failure of the Jews "Now what is becoming obsolete! and growing old is ready to vanish away" (Heb. 8:13) A.D. 30 A.D. 70 Pentecost 40 years of grace & second witness of the Spirit for the Jews Jews Judged / Temple Destroyed The coming of the new age and the passing away of the old is characterized in Scripture as...! The regeneration (Matt. 19:28), the restoration of all things (Matt. 17:11), the times of refreshing (Acts 3:19), the time of reformation (Heb. 9:10), making all things new (Rev. 21:5), the dispensation of the fulness of times (Eph. 1:10), and the new creation (Gal. 6:5; 2 Cor. 5:17). The passing away of the old age means that the period between AD 30 and 70 can be called the last or latter days (Acts 2:17; Heb. 1:1-2; James 5:1-3; 1 John 2:18), the last or end times (1 Pet. 1:20; 2 Pet. 2:20), the end of the age(s) (Heb. 9:26), and the last hour (1 John 2:18). New World! New Heavens & Earth! Decentralized Sanctuaries! Church as Priests! Unbloody Rites! Human Sacrifice(s)! Complete Revelation! 8th Day Sabbath! No Jew/Gentile Distinction! Memorial Name = Jesus! The World Reached! Jesus = Faithul Jew What difference does this make in Acts?! 1. The second witness of the Holy Spirit on the last generation of Jews (Matt. 23; Acts 4:5-12; Luke 12:8-12).! 2. All the problems associated with leaving 1500 years of tradition (Acts 7) also the power of the Pharisaical interpretation of the law (Acts 10-11).! 3. The "rapture" of believers from the synagogues (John 16:12; Acts 7-9; ). Who is left (Acts 17:1ff.)?! 4. The establishment of a new community and of a shadow government (John 16:12; Acts 6; Acts 13:1-3; Acts 14:23; Acts 18:7-8).! 5. Understanding the "conversion" of God fearing Gentiles and old-world believing Jews.! 6. The replacement of the Jews with Christians in the cities as the source of wisdom, law, and order.! 7. Paul's use of the temple and animal sacrifices (Acts 18:18; 21:26).
~ AD 30 The Death of Jesus (Passover) - Three days later Resurrection - 40 days later Ascension (Acts 1:3, 9) - 50 days after Passover Pentecost (Acts 2:1ff.) - Acts 1-9 A Chronology of Acts - Stephen martyred; disciples are scattered (Acts 7; 8:1) - Paul s conversion (7 months after Pentecost; see Gal. 2:1) AD 31 - Matthew (Levi) writes his Gospel (at least before the scattering of the apostles in AD 42). AD 33 - Paul meets with Peter and James (the Lord s Brother) in Jerusalem (Gal. 1:18) AD 35 - The disciple James, son of Zebedee, brother of John, writes The Epistle of James (Acts 8:1b; 11:19; James 1:1). AD 42 AD 44 - Paul meets with James and Peter and John in Jerusalem (Gal. 2:1-10) bringing famine relief from Antioch for Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. - Herod Agrippa I kills James the brother of John and imprisons Peter (Acts 12:1-5) - Peter escapes and leaves Jerusalem (for Rome? Acts 12:17-8) - 42-44 John Mark works on his Gospel w/peter in Rome - Herod Agrippa dies (Acts 12:20-23) - Peter returns from Rome w/mark s Gospel (Peter is back in Jerusalem by Acts 15 [AD 49] AD 44-47 Paul s First missionary Journey (Acts 13-14) AD 49 The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1ff.). - Peter in Jerusalem for council meeting (Acts 15:7) AD 49-51 Paul s second missionary journey (Acts 15-18) 49 Claudius expels Jews from Rome (Acts 18:2-3) 51 Paul Appears before Gallo, proconsul of Achaia (18:12-17) AD 52-57 Paul s third missionary journey (Acts 18-21) 54 Claudius dies & Priscilla and Aquila return to Rome (Rom. 16:3-5) 54-68 Claudius s adopted son (Agrippina s) Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus is Emperor AD 57-59 Paul imprisoned (for two years in Caesarea, Acts 24:27) AD 60 Paul s voyage to Rome (Acts 27) AD 60-62 House arrest in Rome (Acts 28:16-31) & release. AD 70 Destruction of Jerusalem Carbondale Conference Jeffrey J. Meyers (March 2013)
Prophetà Priestà King in Acts Carbondale Conference March 2013 Priest King Prophet Locus Sanctuary (church) Home (land) World Work Serve & Guard (Obedience) Rule (Love-Action) Advise & Instruct (Judgment) Simple obedience Obedience not easy Obedience of Others God Father Son Holy Spirit Sin Sacrilege Fratricide Intermarriage/bad witness Command First (Idolatry) Second (Liturgical Idolatry) Third (Practical Idolatry) Stage of Life Youth Middle Age Elder The History of Israel Priest King Prophet Time Period Moses to Saul Saul to Exile(s) Elijah to Jesus Major Figures Moses David Daniel & Prophets Locus Tabernacle House of Israel World (the Nations) Work Serve Sanctuary Love & Rule wisely Advise World Emperors Literature Law (Torah) Wisdom Lit Letters Symbolic Animal Ox Lion Eagle God Father Son Holy Spirit God s Name Yahweh Adonai Yahweh Yahweh Sabaoth Command First (Idolatry) Second (Liturgical Idolatry) Third (Practical Idolatry) Sin Sacrilege Fratricide Intermarriage/bad witness God s House Tabernacle Temple & Palace Temple = People Organization Tribe Kingdom Empire The Early Church in Acts Priestly Royal Prophetic Chapters in Acts Acts 1-5 Acts 6-12 Acts 13-28 Time Period AD 30 AD 30 44 AD 44 60 Major Figures Peter & the 12 Stephen, Philip, & Peter Paul & Assistants Locus Jerusalem & Temple Synagogues & Land Empire & Gentile Cities Antagonists Priests & Council Pharisees & Synagogues Jews & Judaizers Protector Angel Son of David Roman Empire God s Name Jesus Son of God Jesus is Lord Sin Sacrilege (Killing Jesus) Fratricide Intermarriage/bad witness Lying to HS (Church) Sorcery & simony Source of injustice & disorder Command Obey & Teach Accurately Love & Rule Wisely Advise & Bear Witness Organization 12 Apostles Wise Administration Churches in every city Transition: Acts 6:1-7 Ends with Herod s Death Ends with Paul s Prophesy
The 3-Day Judgment of Jerusalem Time of Day Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Morning 3 rd Hour Morning address to people in Jerusalem - 2:15 the last days 12:17 day by day 2:46 On the next day 4:5 Peter addresses council 4:8-12 Released & Prayer 4:18-31 At daybreak 5:21 Temple guards sent to prison 5:21 Perplexed 5:22 False resurrections 5:17, 34, 36, 37 Rejoicing & teaching (5:41-42) Caring for Mixed Multitude (6:1-6) Multiplication (6:7) Afternoon 9 th Hour Peter & John at the Temple gate (3:1ff.) Address the people from Solomon s portico 3:12ff. Selling fields 4:32ff. Ananias dies 5:5 Wife dies 3 hours later 5:7 Signs and wonders 5:12-16 More believers added 5:14 Evening Peter & John are arrested - 4:3 Apostles arrested 5:17-18 Night Peter & John in prison - 4:3 Many believe 4:4 (five K) Apostles in prison 5:18 Released by Angel of Lord 5:19ff. Notes 1. The three days are narrative days not literal. Typology of Jesus (4:23ff.) now fulfilled in Jerusalem church as they suffer as Christ suffered & are delivered (death/resurrection). 2. New temple filled with glory-cloud Spirit & the old temple is impotent and desolate (Acts 2 & 3:1ff.). 2. Name of Jesus replaces name of Yahweh (Acts 3-4) as memorial/rescue Name. 3. Leaders of Jews are guilty of the blood of Jesus and given another opportunity to repent three actually (2:23, 4:8; 5:32). See Luke 12:8-12 for meaning of blasphemy against the HS. 4. Transfer of allegiance from priests and Sanhedrin to Apostles (4:21; 5:13-14). People no longer fear the Jerusalem leaders (3:9; 4:21); they fear the Apostles (5:11, 13). 5. Apostles confirmed by Angel as new guardians/teachers (priests) in Israel (5:20). 6. Temple no longer the place to bring tribute. The Lord is building up a new temple with the spoils of the old (4:32 5:11). 7. Everything is now centered on Jesus and his body/temple (4:11). Big stress on unity and common property in this section (2:42-47; 4:32-37). 8. Feet of Apostles new footstool of Yahweh (Jesus), replacing temple (4:35, 37; 5:2, 9; cf. 2:34-5). New priesthood à new temple (4;11; see Eph. 2:20). 9. Sacrilege now no longer associated with Jewish temple but the church (Acts 5:1-11). 9. The Jewish leaders are now equivalent to the raging, conspiring Gentile rulers (Acts 4:25-26; Ps. 2:1, 2) and will be spiritually Egypt in 14 years (AD 44; Acts 12; Rev. 8). 10. Many priests saved (6:7; Rom. 9:6). Carbondale Conference Jeffrey J. Meyers (March 2013)