The ministry of Jesus, the way he opened up the Scriptures changed the world forever.

Upside down. Commotion. Stirred up trouble. Upset the world. Just a few of the translations of what was said about the Way when Paul had spent three sabbaths preaching in Thessalonica at the synagogue.

...These people who have stirred up trouble throughout the world...

Acts 17:6 LEB

Two Books, One Story

"Gospel According to Luke" → We see the life of Jesus. We can know who he was and what he taught.

"The Acts of the Apostles" →We see how the apostles and disciples, those that followed Jesus' teachings, began to mirror and act like Jesus.

The kingdom of God is here.

A Story to Relate With

  • This is very much a Jewish story. At every turn we see Jesus, Peter, Stephen, and Paul in Jewish settings, speaking in synagogues and wrestling with the Law and the Prophets. (Part of why I want to read the full text)
  • But this story is for us all.
  • The commotion, the world being turned upside, is actually the scandal that this story is for everyone, all nations. 
  • The outsiders are welcomed into the kingdom.
  • Many parts of the tension in Acts is around dealing with the inflow of believers into this very Jewish setting.
  • Do people accept Jesus' life as the perfect example of the Scripture or not?
  • The stoning of Stephen, the council in Jerusalem, the crowds, the attempts to kill Paul, all because the status quo was challenged.
  • All are loved and welcome through faith in Jesus' name,  because of his life and resurrection.
  • Believe and have faith.

From the Margins

  • Acts 26:26-39 - A eunuch is reading Isaiah 53, the suffering servant. He asks Peter to explain this passage, is it about the author or someone else. Perhaps hoping that someone else might be him?
  • A eunuch is very much an outsider, someone treated less than human. They could never be allowed into the temple.
  • I'd like to think that Peter explained the good news about Jesus by reading from Isaiah 53 through 56. In fact this was definitely for him. He, like us all, has a place in this narrative.

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