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)

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)

Life of the Early Church (cont.)

Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar

Acts 3:1-8 By Julius

Schnorr von Carolsfeld

1851-60 Engraving

Lame ManHealed

Acts 3:1-8 Unknown

artist

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)

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

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

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?

Barnabas

Acts 4:36-37 Positive

example

By Johann Cristoph Weigel

1695 Woodcut

Ananias

Acts 5:1-5 Negative

example

By Caspar Luiken

Dutch, 1712 Copper

engraving

Sapphira

Acts 5:1-2, 7-10

Negative example

By Nicolas Poussin

1652 Oil on

Canvas

Sapphira

Unknown Artist

1702 Woodcut

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)

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)

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