Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the Ends of the Earth

While there are several narratives taking place throughout the Book of Acts one of the main ones surrounds the promise of Acts 1:8b “you will be by witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (NIV). While there is some interplay between these venues there seem to be some shifts from venue to venue throughout. (It is these shifts in setting are represented in my major headings for the outline.) The introduction of the story is in Jerusalem from the ascent of Christ to Pentecost as Luke sets the scene for the expansion of the Way that lies ahead of them. Pentecost is the exciting force of the story, as the first of the promises has come and the Good News is proclaimed to the nationalities that were present. The Way will continue to spread climaxing when Paul leaves to go back to Jerusalem. However, God is able to use this to bring Paul to Rome where Paul is able to display the power of God to the Romans amidst incarceration. The “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth” narrative as I will call it embodies within it the faithfulness of God, the restoration of Israel, the spread of the Good News and the witnessing through the Holy Spirit that goes with it. When needed I will provide some commentary from time to time on how the verses relate back to this theme as well as the message I see the author trying to convey through the text.   

I. Jerusalem (Acts 1:1-5:42)

            A. Empowering and Establishment of Witnesses (Acts 1:1-11)

                        1. Evidence of the Risen Jesus (Acts 1:1-3)

Luke begins by establishing that Jesus has in fact risen from the dead and has made himself known to the apostles who testify to this fact. He appeared over a period of forty days which is the period of purification and renewal (ex. Luke 4:20, Genesis 7:17) establishing witnesses and the foundations for His church.

                        2. The Promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-8)

Jesus instructs the apostles to be patient and wait for the Holy Spirit to empower and cleanse them. Jesus promises once they receive the spirit the will be His witnesses in the Jewish regions of Jerusalem and Judea, the semi-Jew region of Samaria and the ends of the earth, possibly illustrating a restoration of Israel and extension thereto in the kingdom.

                        3. The Promise Coming on the Clouds (Acts 1:9-11)

Clouds took Jesus into the heavens in fulfillment with the Daniel prophecy (Daniel 7:13). Clouds were what led the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 13:21), it was out of a cloud that God asserted Jesus to be His Son (Luke 9:34-35) and it is clouds that surround God (Psalms 97:2), clouds are seen as a separator between the heavens and man. Christ had ascended to divinity and therefore could not be seen by mankind (Exodus 33:20). However, the departure comes with the promise of a second-coming. The message the heavenly bodies presented was a message of hope for the return but also hints at not becoming idle by waiting for a immediate return.    

B. Re-establishing the Twelve (Acts 1:12-26)

            1. Waiting in Prayer for the Promised Spirit (Acts 1: 12-14)

The Mount of Olives was an important aspect in Luke’s final chapters. It was from the Mount of Olives that Jesus sent the disciples ahead to prepare for Passover (Luke 19:29) and it was at the Mount of Olives where Jesus went to pray (Luke 22:39-45) and now Jesus ascent.  After this we do not see the Mount of Olives in Luke’s writings but the connection to the time of Passover remains. As they did at Passover they went to an upper room (Luke 22:12) to await the promise.

            2. The Twelfth Witness (Acts 1:15- 26)

The Twelve represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the restoration of Israel.

C. Giving of the Promised Spirit (Acts 2:1-47)

                        1. The Arrival of the Spirit (Acts 2:1-2)

2. Giving of Tongues (Acts 2:3-12)

In order for the world to hear the Good News, Babel’s curse must be lifted. The giving of the tongues facilitates the spreading of the Good News. All of the different groups that came to celebrate Pentecost brought the message to the different communities.

3. Doubting the Miracle (Acts 2:13)

Another element that becomes striking is the saturated phenomenology of what is taking place. While there are those that are able to see and believe there are those that have not been saturated by the phenomena that is taking place before their eyes.  It is these forces that are the villains of the story looking as it is later stated to win a fight against God as they try to contain the spread of the Good News.

4. Addressing the Skeptics (Acts 2:14-39)

            a. Fulfillment of prophecy (Acts 2:14-31)

            b. Exaltation of Jesus (Acts 2:32-36)

They have witnessed the resurrection of Jesus who now sits at the right hand of the Father. It is a core theme of the message that the apostles bring and is a repeated theme throughout much of Acts.

            c. Repentance, the Answer to God’s Call (Acts 2:37-39)

Another key aspect to the Good News is repentance.  Luke argues that the promise of forgiveness is for all whom God calls and moves to repentance. In many ways it is an answer to God’s calling in their lives. Therefore, leading people to repentance is a important aspect of the apostles ministry as they proclaim the Good News.  

5. Community of Believers (Acts 2:40-47)

In many ways, the apostles tried to build strong Christian communities that could depend on each other as they endured tribulations. This is one example of such a community but is certainly not the only way that Christians can be united. The importance of loving ones neighbors and caring for the poor but also supporting and strengthening those who also follow the Way are important pieces of the apostles ministry as it spreads.

D. Miracle of Jesus through the Apostles (Acts 3:1-26)

                        1. Leaping Cripples (Acts 3:1-10)

The lame will leap (Isaiah 35:6) when God comes to redeem. The healing is hard to dispute evidence of God’s working. It is one of the many signs and wonders that serve to fulfill prophecy and establish validity of their testimonies. This was one of the techniques used by God through the apostles to get peoples attention and bring people to salvation.

                        2. Jesus, Fulfiller of Prophecy (Acts 3:11-16)

                        3. Call to Repent for Christ’s Death (Acts 3:17-23)

                        4. Heirs of the Promise (Acts 3:24-26)

Luke explains how Abraham’s Covenant was first made for the Jews. Through an offspring of Abraham, all of the peoples may now be blessed. This begins to hint at the introduction of the Gentiles into the Covenant.

            E. Defense of Jesus (Acts 4:1-31)

            F. Community of Believers (Acts 4:32-5:10)

                        1. Love and Sharing (Acts 4:32-36)

                        2. Deceiving the Spirit, an Imperfect Society (Acts 5:1-11)

Luke again shows us a community but this time he puts Ananias and Sapphira into the story. Here Luke tries to illustrate that sin was present in the communities. This isn’t some utopia. However, it also shows the power of God to strike down these sinners and establishes a certain reverence. This acts as a deterrent for others who may try similar sins in other communities that the penalty of sin is death. More importantly it isn’t about the gift but the motivation behind it.

            G. Healing Shadow (Acts 5:12-16)

Along with Paul’s healing handkerchief (Acts 19:11-12) it is probably one of the strangest accounts of healing recorded in Acts. The healing shadow might hint back at Hezekiah’s shadow (2 Kings 20)  but they both likely have more to do with the culture at the time. At the very least they are acts of God that show that the apostles don’t even have to be present. God in His omnipotence can work through anything to bring about His divine will. 

            H. The Power and Joy of The Name (Acts 5:17-42)

1. Jails Cannot Contain The Name (Acts 5:17-25)

While the forces that be may try to contain the spread of the Name it cannot be done. God will either get them out or use them in their incarcerated state to bare witness to the Way. Parties or principalities cannot contain the Name but instead God sets those captive free that they might proclaim His Name to the nations.  God cannot be controlled but rather is in control of all things.

                        2. Following God Rather than Man (Acts 5:26-32)

                        3. Fighting God, A Losing Battle (Acts 5:33-40)

                        4. Suffering Yet Always Rejoicing (Acts 5:41-42)

Alright, so the Christian Hedonist in me couldn’t refuse this Pauline spinoff (2 Cor. 6:10) to accentuate the joy amidst suffering and persecution in this passage. However, the message of these two verses seem opposite to today’s society. How could someone be rejoicing after being whipped? We quickly condemn the people who were doing this for not allowing for freedom of religion. However, we tend to miss the fact that they were rejoicing about it as if it was some sort of reward. Verses like this, accentuating the joy that they had in being in service of the Lord, prevents this from being a horrific scene but in fact makes it a scene of victory. The apostles had reached the point that they were worthy of being persecuted.  What might seem to us to be a tragedy, God has made a victory. Amidst all of the adversity God only strengthens them with the joy that he gives that they might continue with their mission.

II. Judea and Samaria (Acts 6:1-8:40)

            A. Seven Witnesses (Acts 6:1-8:40)

                        1. Prayerful Delegation (Acts 6:1-7)

                        2. Stephen’s Great Sacrifice for The Name (Acts 6:8-8:1)

                                    a. Stephen and Moses (Acts 6:8-7:1)

Stephen embodied many of the same characteristics as Moses and is painted as a Moses like figure although he is accused of blaspheming the name of Moses.

                                    b. History of God’s People (Acts 7:2-43)

                                    c. The House of the Lord (Acts 7:44-50)

                                    d. Blame for Prophets Deaths (Acts 7:51-54)

                                    e. At the Right Hand (Acts 7:55-56)

                                    f. Stone Throwers Forgiven (Acts 7:57-8:1a)

3. Sending the Church to Preach (Acts 8:1b-4)

The persecution of Stephen was used by God to send the church into the next phase of God’s plan the ministry to Judea and Samaria. The church was forced out and so began to bring the Good News with them wherever they went. 

4. Calls Many through Phillip (Acts 8:5-40)

a. Filled with Joy (Acts 8:5-8)

b. The Spirit cannot be Bought (Acts 8:9-25)

c. Jesus the Eternal Sacrifice (Acts 8:26-40)

III. The Ends of the Earth (Acts 9:1-28:31)

            A. Preparing the Messenger (Acts 9:1-20)

1. Saul’s Blindness (Acts 9:1-9:9)

Before Saul is saturated by the phenomena on the road to Damascus, he suffered from a spiritual blindness. This spiritual blindness became a physical blindness until Ananias came to restore his sight and give him the Holy Spirit. Saul’s spiritual blindness did not allow him to see the Way is the authors key theme here. 

            2. Carry The Name to the Gentiles (Acts 9:10-16)

            3. Restoration of Sight (Acts 9:17-20)

            4. Saul, the Mouthpiece of God (Acts 9:20-31)

Saul is being prepared to bring the message to the ends of the earth. Saul provides the means by which the Good News will spread but it is Peter’s dream in the next section that provides the way for him to accomplish this that is theologically sound for the church.

B. Preparing the Church for the Gentiles (Acts 9:32-12:24)

            1. Healing the Saints (Acts 9:32-43)

            2. All that God Creates is Good (Acts 10:1-11:18)

Peter’s dream was what theologically opened the door for the Gentiles among believers in the Way, paving the way for Saul and others to bring the Gentiles into the Way.

            3. The Good News to the Greeks (Acts 11:19-30)

4. The Power of Prayer (Acts12:1-19)

5. Lord Strikes Herod (Acts 12:20-24)

More than anything this just provides some historical setting to the story. For the intended audience of Acts it also illustrates an aspect of God’s judgment on the rulers that had been oppressing them.

C. Sending the Messenger (Acts 12:25-21:26)

            1. Empowering of Paul (Acts 12:25-14:28)   

a. Blinding God’s Opposition (Acts 12:25-13:12)

                        b. Promises to Ancestors Fulfilled in Jesus (Acts 13:13-43)

                        c. A Light to the Gentiles (Acts 13:43-51)

                        d. Signs and Wonders through Paul (Acts 14:1-18)

                        e. Enduring Hardships for the Kingdom (Acts 14:19-22)

                        f. Dedicated to the Lord (Acts 14:23-28)

            2. Saved by Grace not Judaic Tradition (Acts 15:1-35)

                        a. Strengthening and Growth of the Church (Acts 15:36-16:5)

While there may be disagreements between man like at the council or between Paul and Barnabas the Way is never compromised, never does it falter, it keeps growing and strengthening.

            3. The Leading of the Spirit of Jesus (Acts 16:6-10)

                        a. Believe, Repent, and be Baptized (Acts 16:11-40)

            5. Amidst Hostility The Word Survives (Acts 17:1-15)

As much as Acts is about the spread of the Good News, God’s faithfulness is also a dominant theme. God always sees the apostles through and strengthens them during times of hostility

            6. God’s Self-Sufficiency (Acts 17:16-34)

Paul is in Athens, what at one time was an epicenter of scholasticism and knowledge but in many ways is beginning to die in that respect. Paul starts out by contextualizing his message by pointing out the inscription to an “unknown god”. People are drawn in by the message and want to know about this god that they had not heard about yet. However, this god is distinct from all of the others in that he is the creator of all things and is self-sufficient un-reliant on mans actions or offerings. If we look at the works of Dionysius one of the converts that day he portrays a mystical God of sorts. The point being that Paul’s message was about the nature of God primarily, as picked up by Dionysius. The ultimate climax is the resurrection of the dead, which divides the people between those that are intrigued by the topic and those who have not been saturated by the phenomena of the Good News. 

The primary message being the nature of God and His self-sufficiency would seem to indicate that Luke was looking to emphasize that this in not the apostles work to spread the Good News, in fact, God doesn’t even need the apostles or all of creation but is already all in all. God in His grace has incorporated those whom He has called into the fold. The apostles are merely witnesses and beneficiaries of the resurrection. 

            7. Proof from Scripture that Jesus is the Messiah (Acts 18)

                        a. Reason Together (Acts 18:1-5)

                        b. From Jews to the Gentiles (Acts 18:6-8)

Paul shakes his clothes out to show that he is ridding himself of the blame for the Jews unfaithfulness (Neh. 5:13, Acts 5:51), their blood is on their own heads. Instead, he shifts his attention to the Gentiles, those who are far off and have no knowledge of Judaism. 

                        c. For I Am With You (Acts 18:9-17)

                        d. Strengthening the Church (Acts 18:18-28)

Paul did not just convert people and never check up on them. He would return to them and revitalize the churches, strengthening them and guiding them as God wills. As opposed to some of the short term mission work and one day (or week) revivals that we see in our current day. Faith needs nurturing, and so while the Good News is spreading they are not forgetting to nurture those in places they have already been.

            8. Baptized in the Name of Jesus (19:1-7)

            9. All Hear and See the Working of God (Acts 19:8-12)

            10. Word Grows in Power (Acts 19:13-20)

While God through Paul and the other apostles were able to heal people through shadows, handkerchiefs, touch and command others who tried this were defeated by the spirits as they were abusing and misusing the Name. Both the Name and the Word of the Lord took on much more reverence and power because of it in the community. This is not a power from man but from God.

            11. For I am With You (19:23-20:6)

            12. Bringing Back to Life (Acts 20:7-12)

This is one of the resurrection of the dead stories this time of a young person. In some ways this mirrors Elisha resurrecting Shunammitte’s son (2 Kings 4:34) or Elijah’s raising of the widow’s son (1 Kings 17:21), in essence saying that this man is a prophet. But also providing proof to those who were present in a resurrection of the dead.

            13. Be Shepherd’s of the Church (Acts 20:13-20:38)

Paul knowing what lies ahead of him and so provides the church with some final instructions to shepherd the church, following the things that he has taught them. This is the end of the rising action in Acts.

            14. Spirit Pleads for Paul’s Life (Acts 21:1-16)

This is the climax of the story. Will Paul risk his life by going to Jerusalem against the guidance of the Spirit or will he continue his work with the Gentiles? Paul’s choice to go to Jerusalem starts a turning point. We are in a sense going back to where it all started. We will begin to see hints back to Jesus (before his death of the cross) through Paul as he purifies himself, goes to Jerusalem, faces numerous trials and is found to be without fault but kept imprisoned anyway. Like the story of Jesus, the world may see it as a tragedy when in fact it is a victory as the Good News is able to spread to Rome. 

            15. Purification (Acts 21: 17-26)

D. Christianity Stands Trial

            1. Accusations (Acts 21:27-36)

            2. Testimony of God’s Faithfulness (Acts 21:37-22:21)

            3. Protecting the Messenger (Acts 22:22-23:35)

            4. No Cause for Punishment (Acts 24:1-26:32)

                        a. The Resurrection of the Dead (Acts 24:1-27)

                        b. No Basis for Charge and Punishment (Acts 25:1-26:32)

            5. To Rome for the Sake of Christ (Acts 27:1-28:31)

                        a. Saved from the Storm (Acts 27:1-44)

                        b. Healing Ministry (Acts 28:1-10)

                        c. Witnessing in Rome (Acts 28:11-31)

While perhaps this outline is not as thorough as it should be, for an introductory thematic outline it should suffice. Acts encompasses many themes and narratives, many of which have been incorporated in some form through the outline and the commentaries provided. The major ones that deserve special highlighting are the spread of the Way to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth as well as the faithfulness of God who saw His followers through strengthening them and filling them with the joy that only He can provide. This is not a story about the apostles bringing the Good News to the ends of the earth, it is about God (through the apostles) proclaiming the Good News to the ends of the earth and saturating His called people’s hearts and minds with Himself in order that God might get all the Glory, Amen.

“Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

Acts 5:41-42, ESV

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”

Acts 17:24-25, ESV