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2019, May 5 ~ Acts:1-6 (7-20) and Revelation 5:11-14

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Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)

The book called “The Acts of the Apostles” was written around 85 to 90 CE by the anonymous author of the Gospel According to Luke. The first 15 chapters of Acts are a didactic “history” of the early Jesus Follower Movement starting with an account of the Ascension of Jesus and ending at the so-called Council of Jerusalem where it was agreed that Gentiles did not have to be circumcised and keep all the Kosher dietary laws in order to become Jesus Followers.

Today’s reading is the beginning of the “Acts 9 version” of Saul/Paul’s conversion – his “Damascus Road Experience.” Other – and somewhat different — versions of this story can be found in Acts 22, Acts 26 and in Galatians 1.

This version of Paul’s conversion connected Saul to the stoning of Stephen in Jerusalem (Acts 7:58) and concluded with Saul’s “theophany” (an appearance of God) in which Saul had a conversation with Jesus (vv.4-6).

After Acts 13:9, Saul was called Paul in Acts of the Apostles. “Paul” is a Roman version of the Hebrew name “Saul.” Notwithstanding Caravaggio’s famous painting, Paul would NOT have been on a horse; only ranking Romans could use and afford horses.

The optional verses (7-20), reflect the fact that the book of Acts contains materials from different traditions that developed between 40 and 85 CE. For example, this account says that the men with Saul heard a voice but saw no one, but Acts 22:9 says they saw the light but did not hear the voice. The author of Acts also presents Saul as a prophet chosen for a special purpose by God (v.15). As a devout Jew, Paul began his preaching in synagogues (v.20).

Revelation 5:11-14

The Book of Revelation is also known as the “Apocalypse” (from a Greek word meaning an “unveiling” or “disclosure” of a new age or of heaven, or both). Apocalyptic writing generally described a dire situation ruled by evil powers that can be overcome only by the “in-breaking” of a force (such as God) to bring about a new age.

Like apocalyptic writings in the Hebrew Bible, the Book of Revelation used extreme images and metaphors to describe the conflict between good and evil. Apocalyptic literature is often presented as a revelation from God conveyed by an angel or other heavenly body. Apocalyptic writings used symbolic language to convey God’s hidden plan.

The author identified himself as “John” but most scholars conclude that the author was not John the Apostle because of the reference to the 12 apostles in 21:14. Because of the internal references in the Book, most scholars date Revelation to the late First Century.

The author of Revelation had extensive knowledge of the Hebrew Bible. Today’s reading is a part of a long series of images (Chapters 4 to 22) that are “seen” by the author. Here, the author sees “thousands and thousands of angels (v.11.), an image derived from Dan. 7:10 (another apocalyptic book).

The “Lamb” (v. 12) is the Passover Lamb which brings liberation in the Hebrew Bible. Only the Fourth Gospel referred to Jesus the Christ as “the Lamb of God” (Jn. 1:29, 35). The author of Revelation said that all creatures gave praise to the Lamb and to “the one seated on the throne” (God) equally (v.13).

2017, September 10 ~ Exodus 12:1-14; Ezekiel 33:7-11; Romans 13:8-14

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During the 2017 Pentecost Season, alternative readings from the Hebrew Bible are offered. Scripture in Context will discuss both readings and the reading from the Christian Scriptures.

Exodus 12:1-14

The Book of Exodus is the second book of the Bible, and covers the period from the slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh (around 1250 BCE, if the account is historical), the Exodus itself, and the early months in the Wilderness.

Today’s reading comes after Pharaoh’s 9th refusal to free the Israelites, and comes just before the final plague (death of the firstborn). It gives detailed instructions for the first Passover. Like Genesis, Exodus contains portions that were written around 950 BCE and parts that were written as late as 450 BCE by the Priestly writers. The directions here are presented as being given by YHWH to both Moses and Aaron (the first priest). Like almost all Priestly writings, it contains specific details as to dates for observances.

The sacrifice of the Passover lamb was integral to the deliverance of the Israelites, but was not as a means of atonement. The Fourth Gospel describes Jesus as “the Lamb of God” and the means of deliverance.

Ezekiel 33:7-11

Ezekiel is one of the three “Major” Prophets – so called because of the length of the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a priest who was among the first group of persons deported by the Babylonians when they captured Jerusalem in 597 BCE.

The Book of Ezekiel is in three parts: (1) Chapters 1 to 24 are prophesies of doom against Jerusalem before the destruction of the Temple in 586 BCE; (2) Chapters 25 to 32 are prophesies against foreign nations; and (3) Chapters 33 to 48 are prophesies of hope for the Judeans written during the Babylonian Exile (586-539 BCE).

Here, YHWH is presented as referring to Ezekiel as Israel’s “sentinel” to warn the people to turn from their wicked ways (v.8). The emphasis in the Book of Ezekiel is on personal responsibility rather than seeing the acts of prior generations as the cause of the current situation. This was a new development in the Theology of Ancient Israel. Ezekiel also presents repentance as the way to a restored life.

Romans 13:8-14

Paul’s letter to the Romans is his longest, last, and theologically most complex letter, written in the late 50s or early 60s (CE) – about ten years before the first Gospel (Mark) was written. One of Paul’s goals was to reduce tensions and eliminate distinctions between the Jewish Jesus Followers in Rome and Gentile Jesus Followers there.

Paul exhorts the Jesus Follower Community in Rome to follow the Commandments, particularly to love one another as neighbors. Like most early Jesus Followers, Paul believed that Christ would return soon (“salvation is nearer to us now”). Paul uses “the flesh” as his code word for the values of the world – values not consistent with living in the Lord Christ Jesus (v. 14).