“The prayers”
Most translations say the disciples devoted themselves “to prayer,” but the ESV translates the Greek article, to give us “to the prayers.” Hmm … Is this a reference to regularly scheduled, liturgical prayer?
Interestingly, the definite article (“the”) appears before each element: the teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, the prayers. This suggests that Luke intends to emphasis particular teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers.
Either this pattern of worship was well known in the early church because it was the common manner in which it was done, or Luke was attempting to convey that each element of the worship was the only one deserving of the name (par excellence).
Greek Grammar: Beyond the Basics, by Daniel B. Wallace (1996).
I have to figure that Luke is emphasizing that we have — at last! — true teaching, true fellowship, true breaking of bread, and true prayer. The prayers therefore are prayers from the truly saved, those in true communion with God himself because they’ve accepted God’s Messiah and received God’s empowering Spirit.
Now, notice that prayer is not ritualized. Rather, they devoted themselves to prayer. Prayer was not a mere duty or requirement but a blessing received from God, to be enjoyed, even savored.
“Awe”
(Act 2:43 ESV) And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
“Awe” translates phobos, meaning either fear (or even terror) or respect.
“Signs and wonders”
This is a reference back to the Exodus, as shown by Luke’s record of Stephen’s final sermon —
(Act 7:35-36 ESV) 35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’–this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.”
God proved himself the true God of Israel and Israel God’s chosen people by the many signs and wonders he performed during the Exodus. We see this pattern of thought throughout the Torah, especially the first few chapters of Deuteronomy, and then later through the Psalms and Prophets.
(Exo 7:3 ESV) But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,
(Deu 6:22 ESV) And the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes.
(Psa 135:8-9 ESV) 8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; 9 who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants;
Almost all the commentaries miss this, but Luke is intentionally copying the language of the Exodus to show that Pentecost is the new Exodus, the new redemption from slavery, the new call to leave a pagan land to enter the Promised Land. Therefore, God is again showing signs and wonders to create faith and lay claim to his Chosen People.
Thus, the Kingdom is the true Israel, the remnant whom God will bless, and those who reject the gospel are like the faithless Israelites who died in the desert.
Finally, it’s important that the signs and wonders were being done only through the apostles at this time. Therefore, it’s hardly arguable that receipt of the Spirit necessarily means having some miraculous manifestation. However, we certainly see later that it’s not only the apostles who receive such gifts.
Questions:
- Why do you suppose the ancients used phobos to describe the community’s feelings toward God? Might it actually mean “fear”? How would you react if you weren’t in the Kingdom and you saw these miracles being done? How should you feel?
- How were the apostles’ miracles like the miracles done by God during the Exodus? Did these miracles serve a similar purpose?
Jay…you said “Finally, it’s important that the signs and wonders were being done only through the apostles at this time.” Question… the term Apostle used here…could it be more general in nature rather than specific to the 12 ? Luke also records in Luke 10 that 70 were “sent out” and came back reporting that they cast out demons and healed the sick… Does the language REQUIRE it be limited to the 12 Apostles ?? Thx.
Jay said: “Finally, it’s important that the signs and wonders were being done only through the apostles at this time.”
>>>
Why is this posited exclusivity important? If this exclusivity was ever the case, it was certainly short-lived, as it is demonstrably not the case by Acts 6. Now, we find no discernable timeline here, so we do not know whether this time frame was a matter of weeks or months or years. IMO, more than three years seems unlikely, but that is a guess.
Was it not safe to entrust believers outside the Twelve with signs early on? Was there some undefined point in time (between Acts 2 and Acts 6) where orthodoxy was completed by the Twelve and set firmly in place, so signs and wonders could be then released beyond the Twelve? If so, we are left by the text to presume this. Certainly the church had not by Acts 6 come to an end of new revelation, as one of the most important revelations of all time is not revealed until Acts 10. (Interestingly, Peter here has to make a case for the sign he has seen before a council of elders and apostles. Why the shift? If the Twelve were the sole arbiters of what God was saying, why does not Peter just declare the acceptance of the Gentiles as church doctrine? What was the point of discussion?)
Also, Jesus makes what sounds like a general statement in Mark 16 that signs would follow “those who believe”. If this reality were to be limited to only twelve men “who believe” for some considerable time, Jesus kept that significant detail under his hat.
Luk 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
Luk 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
Mark told the same story but shorter, no mention of the seventy.
Mar 6:7 And he called [unto him] the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
I don’t believe those who were actually present mentioned this story, in any form.
The context of Acts 1 & Acts 2 certainly suggests that “apostles” here were the Twelve, that is Mathias plus “the eleven.” In fact, the context also suggests that it was only the apostles (the Twelve) who spoke in tongues as well – though if the entire 120 did, I do not see how it would affect Christian doctrine for today.
Act 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)
We have here a group of about 120 believers.
Act 1:26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
They, the 120 or so voted for Matthias to be numbered among the 12.
Act 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
All being inclusive of the 120 or just the Apostles – Keep reading; we are not there yet.
Act 2:2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Again historical teaching would give us the number of 12 for the they – keep reading.
Act 2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
12? Are we sure?
Act 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
thought – over 17 languages and who knows how many dialects were heard by 12? – keep reading please.
Act 11:1 The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
Act 11:2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him
Here we have a group of “circumcised believers”. These must be some of the same group as the 120 and some possibly of the 3,000 – take a look at vs. 17
Act 11:3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
Act 11:4 Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened:
Act 11:17 So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?”
Peter is claiming the gift manifested of representation of speaking foreign languages as a sign of God’s acceptance of the gentiles “as he gave us” the “us” being who? The twelve? The 120? The 3,120?
Luke writes that, “the circumcised believers criticized him”, and goes directly to Peter explaining to them the account of the gentiles acceptance by God to be a part of His kingdom.
Act 11:18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
I have a question: Is it my understanding that “the spirit shall be poured out on all flesh” is to be limited to just a few by special means for a limited time or do I accept that what I see in the scriptures holds true and is confirmed in my own life?
Or do I accept a limited faith and forget my experiences in it?
I write boldly, I know, but it is a serious inquiry.
Or
The 3rd, 6th and 9th hour … yes, that’s Early Christian prayer life.
You might investigate how often the pair “fear and trembling” appears (even in the NT); Fear is an appropriate translation. We are struck by phenomenons we cannot explain or control that point to a power infinitely higher than we are. If this power is hostile to us – and that’s maybe our first impression when we are outside the Kingdom – this can create fear. But the nature of the miracles generally were deeds of love and mercy, mainly healings, which points to a loving God rather than a hostile one.
Not really, because the signs Moses worked were (for a good part) deeds of judgement. The Apostles did not part waters, nor send in the mitches or other plagues. The continued the ministry of Christ who came to serve and not to judge, to heal and not to destroy.
But nonetheles they were signs, and thus pointed to the same God abnd His power.
Alexander
“Finally, it’s important that the signs and wonders were being done only through the apostles at this time. Therefore, it’s hardly arguable that receipt of the Spirit necessarily means having some miraculous manifestation. However, we certainly see later that it’s not only the apostles who receive such gifts.” “The apostles” refers to the apostles and no to any who were not the original 12, now 11, plus Matthias. We notice that there was no voting. They “cast lots” to decide between the two. If we care to read further about special gifts, we are apt to realize that the ones who later performed such miracles and signs had received a laying on of hands (I call it an anointing, but some insist that anointing must include application of oil, which doesn’t seem to be the case with apostolic laying on of hands by these 12 or by Paul) and subsequently were enabled. Acts 8:4-8,13 makes clear that Philip, who had received power from the apostles, performed miracles. But it was not until apostles came and laid hands on some of the new Christians that other Christians in Samaria had special spiritual powers. That “signs” were prevalent in Corinth after Paul arrived might tell anyone something about the prevalence of special signs. So were special spiritual gifts given to many in that day when the Bible as we know it was not available? Could we suppose that the need for special gifts has now ceased wherever printed Bibles are available?
Ray…are you excluding Paul ??
Can we also suppose the need for special gifts has not ceased where Bibles are not now nor have been available throughout time?