Good morning friends,
Today Paul finishes his defense with an evangelical bang. He's already told Festus and Agrippa about his amazing call to ministry on the road to Damascus. Now he tells how he went out in mission to proclaim the good news and how the new thing he proclaims is really only what the prophets said would happen. He ends with a pitch to Agrippa since he expects he already knows about the movement.
When Agrippa asks, half mocking and half disbelieving, if Paul is trying to make him a Christian, Paul tells the truth: he wants everyone to believe in Christ. As he tells us, Paul's mission is to proclaim God's love in Christ to a wide range of people, "to both small and great." His ministry has brought him to trial and even that is an opportunity for testimony. For Festus and Agrippa the irony of the situation is that, rather than setting him free, Paul's appeal to the emperor is now what is holding him prisoner as he waits for the voyage. Of course, for Paul the travel ahead will also be a ministry opportunity. Lord, give us eyes to see how we can reach out in love to others too.
Blessings,
Sam
Acts 26:19-32
19“After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. 21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place: 23that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
24While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!” 25But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. 26Indeed the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”
28Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?” 29Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.” 30Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them; 31and as they were leaving, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.”
Showing posts with label faith on trial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith on trial. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Stephen's trial, part 2
Good morning everyone,
This morning Stephen continues recounting the story of Israel to explain what God is doing now in Jesus. Here he tells the story of how Jacob's family went from resident aliens in favor with the King of Egypt to a nation oppressed in slavery. Then he tells about Moses' birth and eventual calling to lead Israel out of slavery.
In this passage it's only mentioned in passing, in tomorrow's passage and even more in Monday's passage Stephen will emphasize how the people of Israel resisted Moses' ministry and God's leading. This is to set the stage to discuss how the leadership rejected the prophets as well and how they turned away from the covenant with God. Stephen wants to show that the crucifixion of Jesus fits into this longstanding pattern of rejecting messengers sent from God. It's not an argument calculated to make the religious leaders happy, but instead to call them to repentance. May we hear God's call to repent from whatever holds us back,
Sam
Acts 7:17-34
17“But as the time drew near for the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased and multiplied 18until another king who had not known Joseph ruled over Egypt. 19He dealt craftily with our race and forced our ancestors to abandon their infants so that they would die. 20At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God. For three months he was brought up in his father’s house; 21and when he was abandoned, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22So Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds.
23“When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his relatives, the Israelites. 24When he saw one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. 25He supposed that his kinsfolk would understand that God through him was rescuing them, but they did not understand. 26The next day he came to some of them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong each other?’ 27But the man who was wronging his neighbor pushed Moses aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29When he heard this, Moses fled and became a resident alien in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.
30“Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. 31When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32‘I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look. 33Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Come now, I will send you to Egypt.’
This morning Stephen continues recounting the story of Israel to explain what God is doing now in Jesus. Here he tells the story of how Jacob's family went from resident aliens in favor with the King of Egypt to a nation oppressed in slavery. Then he tells about Moses' birth and eventual calling to lead Israel out of slavery.
In this passage it's only mentioned in passing, in tomorrow's passage and even more in Monday's passage Stephen will emphasize how the people of Israel resisted Moses' ministry and God's leading. This is to set the stage to discuss how the leadership rejected the prophets as well and how they turned away from the covenant with God. Stephen wants to show that the crucifixion of Jesus fits into this longstanding pattern of rejecting messengers sent from God. It's not an argument calculated to make the religious leaders happy, but instead to call them to repentance. May we hear God's call to repent from whatever holds us back,
Sam
Acts 7:17-34
17“But as the time drew near for the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased and multiplied 18until another king who had not known Joseph ruled over Egypt. 19He dealt craftily with our race and forced our ancestors to abandon their infants so that they would die. 20At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God. For three months he was brought up in his father’s house; 21and when he was abandoned, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22So Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds.
23“When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his relatives, the Israelites. 24When he saw one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. 25He supposed that his kinsfolk would understand that God through him was rescuing them, but they did not understand. 26The next day he came to some of them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong each other?’ 27But the man who was wronging his neighbor pushed Moses aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29When he heard this, Moses fled and became a resident alien in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.
30“Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. 31When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32‘I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look. 33Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Come now, I will send you to Egypt.’
Friday, March 5, 2010
Stephen's trial, part 1
Good morning brothers and sisters,
Yesterday we read about Stephen, one of the first deacons and his arrest for preaching the good news. He was accused in court of trying to overthrow religious tradition; today Stephen begins his defense. Acts is notable for a lot of things, among them is the number of lengthy speeches by leaders of the early church that give us a sense for what the church taught at that time. Here Stephen is making the case for Jesus as the Messiah to Jewish religious leaders. So, logically, he sets a firm foundation for his proclamation in the scriptural story of Israel and God's promises to them. From there he will show how Jesus fulfills those promises.
This passage begins with the high priest asking Stephen if "these things" are true. "These things" refers to the accusation that Stephen is teaching that Jesus would destroy the temple and change the customs and laws handed down by Moses. Stephen could have honestly said, "No, that's not true," but instead he uses the opportunity to explain what he is teaching. Yesterday's passage ended with the line, "They looked at him intently and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel." That alerts us that Stephen is not alone as he speaks, but is guided by the Holy Spirit.
May the Spirit's courage and love be with you today,
Sam
Acts 7:1-16
Then the high priest asked him, “Are these things so?” 2And Stephen replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.’ 4Then he left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God had him move from there to this country in which you are now living. 5He did not give him any of it as a heritage, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as his possession and to his descendants after him, even though he had no child.
6And God spoke in these terms, that his descendants would be resident aliens in a country belonging to others, who would enslave them and mistreat them during four hundred years. 7‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ 8Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
9“The patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him, 10and rescued him from all his afflictions, and enabled him to win favor and to show wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11Now there came a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan, and great suffering, and our ancestors could find no food. 12But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit. 13On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five in all; 15so Jacob went down to Egypt. He himself died there as well as our ancestors, 16and their bodies were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
Yesterday we read about Stephen, one of the first deacons and his arrest for preaching the good news. He was accused in court of trying to overthrow religious tradition; today Stephen begins his defense. Acts is notable for a lot of things, among them is the number of lengthy speeches by leaders of the early church that give us a sense for what the church taught at that time. Here Stephen is making the case for Jesus as the Messiah to Jewish religious leaders. So, logically, he sets a firm foundation for his proclamation in the scriptural story of Israel and God's promises to them. From there he will show how Jesus fulfills those promises.
This passage begins with the high priest asking Stephen if "these things" are true. "These things" refers to the accusation that Stephen is teaching that Jesus would destroy the temple and change the customs and laws handed down by Moses. Stephen could have honestly said, "No, that's not true," but instead he uses the opportunity to explain what he is teaching. Yesterday's passage ended with the line, "They looked at him intently and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel." That alerts us that Stephen is not alone as he speaks, but is guided by the Holy Spirit.
May the Spirit's courage and love be with you today,
Sam
Acts 7:1-16
Then the high priest asked him, “Are these things so?” 2And Stephen replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.’ 4Then he left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God had him move from there to this country in which you are now living. 5He did not give him any of it as a heritage, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as his possession and to his descendants after him, even though he had no child.
6And God spoke in these terms, that his descendants would be resident aliens in a country belonging to others, who would enslave them and mistreat them during four hundred years. 7‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ 8Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.
9“The patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him, 10and rescued him from all his afflictions, and enabled him to win favor and to show wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11Now there came a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan, and great suffering, and our ancestors could find no food. 12But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit. 13On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five in all; 15so Jacob went down to Egypt. He himself died there as well as our ancestors, 16and their bodies were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
Friday, February 26, 2010
bold proclamation
Good morning everyone,
In yesterday's reading Peter and John used the opportunity created by healing a man to tell the story of Jesus. Today we see that their action not only created positive interest and curiosity, but also hostile attention from the authorities. Peter's defense strategy is interesting: the authorities are upset because Peter and John were teaching about new life in Jesus, but Peter turns the conversation to the healing of the man. It's easy and, at least within religious institutions, it seems to come naturally to us to argue about teachings and doctrines. By turning the conversation to the healing Peter is showing that the new teaching about Jesus isn't just about words but about God's power to act in the world. If the authorities want to question Peter and John about their teaching they must deal with the fact that that teaching is clearly associated with a miraculous healing.
I admire Peter for his boldness here as well. There is no effort to soften what has happened; instead Peter speaks the truth clearly and boldly. He also uses scripture by calling Jesus the stone the builders rejected but that God makes the cornerstone. This is part of Psalm 118 which was a psalm for the coronation of Israel's king. The "Hosanna, blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord" that is so familiar for us from Palm Sunday is from the same Psalm because that was a coronation parade for the Messiah. May God give each of us boldness and honesty in our speech and actions.
God bless,
Sam
Acts 4:1-12
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, 2much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. 3So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.
5The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ 12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”
In yesterday's reading Peter and John used the opportunity created by healing a man to tell the story of Jesus. Today we see that their action not only created positive interest and curiosity, but also hostile attention from the authorities. Peter's defense strategy is interesting: the authorities are upset because Peter and John were teaching about new life in Jesus, but Peter turns the conversation to the healing of the man. It's easy and, at least within religious institutions, it seems to come naturally to us to argue about teachings and doctrines. By turning the conversation to the healing Peter is showing that the new teaching about Jesus isn't just about words but about God's power to act in the world. If the authorities want to question Peter and John about their teaching they must deal with the fact that that teaching is clearly associated with a miraculous healing.
I admire Peter for his boldness here as well. There is no effort to soften what has happened; instead Peter speaks the truth clearly and boldly. He also uses scripture by calling Jesus the stone the builders rejected but that God makes the cornerstone. This is part of Psalm 118 which was a psalm for the coronation of Israel's king. The "Hosanna, blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord" that is so familiar for us from Palm Sunday is from the same Psalm because that was a coronation parade for the Messiah. May God give each of us boldness and honesty in our speech and actions.
God bless,
Sam
Acts 4:1-12
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, 2much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. 3So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.
5The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ 12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
