The Book of Acts was written somewhere between 70 and 100 AD by the same person who wrote the Gospel of Luke. We do not know who it was but we call him “Luke” because it is easy and traditional.
The stories in Acts are so relevant because they are about the church and the problems facing the church never really change. We still deal with the same issues the early disciples dealt with in the beginning of the Christian church. Who is in and who is out? How should the sacred relate to the secular? Why do we worship other idols? What is the relationship between church and state? What is the proper behavior for those who claim Jesus as Lord?
The stories in Acts teach us about the nature of God, the purpose of the church, and the role of followers.
This week’s lesson picks up 40 days after the resurrection of Jesus. Forty is a significant number in scripture. It rained on Noah for 40 days. Elijah spent 40 days on Mt. Horeb. David ruled for 40 years. The Israelites wandered for 40 years. Jesus was in the wilderness 40 days. For 40 days Jesus has been teaching the disciples and preparing them for his final departure. Clearly, the idea that Jesus would come again very soon has lessened. The kingdom will come in God’s own time and we can’t know when. While we wait there is work to do and Jesus promises the gift of the Spirit to aid in that work.
Israel was a kingdom twice in its history. Israel was a kingdom under the dynasty of David until they were conquered by the Babylonians. (583 BCE) They again thrived under the rule of the Maccabbes until conquered by Rome (63 BCE). Some Israelites were content to wait and cooperate with the Roman rulers. Others rejected the rule of Rome quietly. Others sought violent resistance against the Roman government. The disciples are hoping that Jesus will establish a political power to rule the nation of Israel.
The ascension of Jesus parallels the Transfiguration. Both Moses and Elijah ascended into heaven. According to this passage Jesus ascends to the right hand of God. In this society the right hand was the seat of authority. Jesus tells the disciples to witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. The Book of Acts will follow that pattern with accounts from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and finally the ends of the earth.