Monday May 11, 2020 - Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 11 & 12
After having remarkable success in proclaiming Jesus to Gentiles, Peter returns to Jerusalem only to find himself criticized for eating with them. (Take a look at Luke 5, 29 and you’ll see how Jesus was criticized in the same way. His mission and opposition to that mission continue). Hearing Peter’s experience of the Gentile’s conversion, the Jerusalem community experiences a conversion; believers praise God for extending mercy to everyone.
The Jerusalem group hears about Gentiles in Antioch becoming believers and sends the disciple called Barnabas, 'a man filled with the Holy Spirit' to see what’s what; he is awestruck when he sees the sincerity of faith of the new believers. (Notice how often the Holy Spirit is mentioned in these chapters, the same Spirit Who continues to guide the People of God today). Luke notes that the people of Antioch (not the believers themselves) gave us our name: Christians. (And maybe not in a very positive sense. See the story in Acts 26, 24-28). The Antioch Christians take up a collection (ShareLife is nothing new) as famine relief for their sisters and brothers; Barnabas and Saul bring the donations to those in need. (What a change! Originally, believers didn’t trust Saul, now they trust him with the collection!).
Herod Agrippa (grandson of Herod the Great, who tried to kill the Infant Jesus) begins a renewed persecution of believers in Jerusalem by murdering James (for a “who’s who,” see Luke 5, 10) and arresting Peter, planning to execute him too. But God has other plans; for a second time (Acts 5, 19) God frees Peter so he can continue the ministry. An almost comical part of the story has Rhoda (a maid, not the character in the 1970’s sitcom) so astonished to see Peter free and standing on the doorstep, that she leaves him standing there and rushes into the house to tell people the good news. They refuse to believe her and tell her “You’re out of your mind.” The Greek word for this phrase is the origin of our word “maniac.” (Here there is an echo of the Apostles disbelieving the women who announce to them that Jesus is risen; Luke 24, 10-11). Exercising prudence, Peter leaves the area. (Luke 4, 28-30 tells the story of Jesus prudently leaving the area so he could continue His ministry). True to his family’s history, Herod reacts with violence, venting his anger on the prison guards. In telling the story of the macabre death of Herod, Luke views it as the result of Herod accepting honor due to God alone.
Something to consider:
One year ago, a report commissioned by the British Foreign Ministry revealed that an astounding number of people in this world suffer from persecution because of their religious beliefs. Christians top the list. Offer a prayer today for those who stand in harm’s way because they profess “Jesus is Lord.”
The prison guards got caught in the crossfire of Herod’s anger. Has our anger over one thing led us to take it out on someone else? Do we owe an apology?
Homework: Read Chapters 13 + 14
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