1 / 16

Jerusalem Community

Jerusalem Community . Acts 2:42 – 5:11. Life of the Early Church. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship , to the breaking of bread and to the prayers ” (Acts 2:42) Perseverance in these areas; major themes of the early Christian church (J. Gonzales).

tambre
Download Presentation

Jerusalem Community

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Jerusalem Community Acts 2:42 – 5:11

  2. Life of the Early Church • “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachingand to the fellowship, to the breaking of breadand to the prayers” (Acts 2:42) • Perseverance in these areas; major themes of the early Christian church (J. Gonzales)

  3. Life of the Early Church (cont.) • Apostles'Teaching – verbal, but also through wonders and miraculous signs (2:43) • Fellowship – gathering together, sharing of goods, and meeting needs (2:44-45) • Breaking of Bread – a new developing form of Christian worship (2:46) • A celebration • Prayers – praising God, Jewish traditions (2:47)

  4. Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar • Acts 3:1-8 • By Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld • 1851-60 • Engraving

  5. Lame ManHealed • Acts 3:1-8 • Unknown artist

  6. Miracle Story: Five Stages • Introduction: Peter and John go to Jerusalem Temple; crippled man brought in (3:1-2) • Conflict/Delay: Crippled man asks for money; Peter addresses him; he expects money (3:3-6a) • Action: Peter tells the man to get up; takes him by the right hand; lifts him up (3:6b-7a) • Confirmation: The man jumps up, stands, walks, enters the temple (3:7b-8) • Reaction: People notice, observe, are amazed (3:9-10)

  7. Observations • John – more proactive in 1st depiction • Crippled man carried to the temple gate • Observers inside the temple • Man walks and jumps • Peter raises his arm in the air – shows that the healing power is of God, not his own • Gate called Beautiful – Nicanor’s gate? • Beautiful because it was of burnished bronze

  8. Believers Share Possessions(Acts 4:32-37) • Share everything (32) • No needy person among them • People sold their land and houses • Placed the money from the sales at the apostles’ feet • Distributed to those in need

  9. Why? • J. Gonzales: • A result of the gift of the Holy Spirit • Eschatological expectation • One of Luke’s themes is helping the poor and giving up one’s possessions • Eschatological reversal • Method for distribution of resources – apostles • Ideal community?

  10. Barnabas • Acts 4:36-37 • Positive example • By Johann Cristoph Weigel • 1695 • Woodcut

  11. Ananias • Acts 5:1-5 • Negative example • By Caspar Luiken • Dutch, 1712 • Copper engraving

  12. Sapphira • Acts 5:1-2, 7-10 • Negative example • By Nicolas Poussin • 1652 • Oil on Canvas

  13. Sapphira • Unknown Artist • 1702 • Woodcut

  14. Observations • Money laid at the apostles’ feet (5:2) • Ananias & Sapphira both lie (5:3-4, 8-9) • Both are struck dead (5:5,10) • Great fear seizes the people (5:5,11) • Young men carry out the bodies (5:6,10) • Pointing to Ananias & Sapphira, and pointing up • Lying to the Holy Spirit / God (5:3,4)

  15. Observations (cont.) • No young men to carry out Ananias' body • Unclear if other men with Peter are apostles or observers • Depiction of a dove – reference to Holy Spirit • “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” (Acts 5:9) • “…you have lied to the Holy Spirit…” (5:3b)

  16. Conclusions • Goals and actions of the early Christian church • Both Jewish and new practices • Miracle – through the power of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles • New community – both positive and negative examples • The Spirit – love and truth • Sin of Ananias and Sapphira = lying • Ideal community/Church vs. reality

More Related