how does luke develop his defence of paul’s mission to the gentiles - resubmission

8/12/2019 How Does Luke Develop His Defence of Pauls Mission to the Gentiles - Resubmission

1/19

Essay cover sheet (2014)

Please ensure that that you complete all shaded sections below and attach to the front of yourassignment. TWOcopies of your assignment are required if submitting in HARDCOPY. Only ONE

electronic copy in PD form is required if submitting !ia "#$A%&.'tudent(s AC) %D* +,-++/00 Pigeon#hole number*

1nit code* 2)00 1nit title* )heology of &u3e Acts

)itle of essay* How does Luke develop his dee!ce o "aul#s $issio! to the %e!tiles& 'a! this teach us a!ythi!

today or our u!dersta!di! o our practice o crosscultural $issio!&

4-5 'et word limit* 67,, 4+5 Actual word count 4te8t5*6996

45 Actual word count 4footnotes577+7

Notes: (1) The set word limit does not include the abstract or footnotes or bibliography

(2) The actual word count (text) must not be more than 10% above or below theset word limit() The actual word count (footnotes) must not be more than 2!% of the set word limit

&ecturer* *+,-* .E''O/E

Date due* Date submitted* Date to be returned*

eulatio!s

"ssays must conform to AC) and ))C requirements 4refer to )rinity "uidelines for #ssignments5

*eclaratio!

:y submitting this document you are affirming the following statement*

The following assignment, of which I have kept a copy, is entirely the work of the

undersigned and all sources of ideas and expressions are duly acknowledged.

'tudent(s signature Simba Musvamhiri;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

eceipt o +ssi!$e!t

'tudent(s AC) %D


2/19

Essay $arki! report (2014)

E3celle!t

,ery(ood

%ood

+ccepta4le

-!ade5uate

'o$$e!ts

"rese!tatio!

Abstract

'tructure and format

"nglish e8pression

Documentation andbibliography

'o!te!t

1nderstanding whatthe topic in!ol!es

%nteraction withprimary sources

%nteraction withsecondary resources

Co!ering essentialparts of the topic

$a3ing good case forthe !iew presented

%e!eral co$$e!ts

esult#$T grades used: & ('!%) & (*!+',%) $ (-!+*,%) . (!'+-,%) . (!0+!*%) / (below !0%)

$ar3* &etter =rade* Penalty 4> reason5*

'igned* Date*


3/19

How does Luke develop his dee!ce o

"aul#s $issio! to the %e!tiles& 'a! this

teach us a!ythi! today or our

u!dersta!di! o our practice o cross

cultural $issio!&

+stract

)his essay addresses the question* ?ow does ue develop his defence of .auls mission to

the "entiles3 $an this teach us anything today for our understanding of our practice of

cross+cultural mission3@ %n addressing the aforementioned question this essay follows

!arious stories and assertions in &u3e#Acts that show his 4&u3e5 de!elopment of the defence

of Paul(s =entile mission. )he literary and narrati!e study of the accounts on Peter the

Berusalem Council and Cornelius significantly help resol!e the imminent and crucial

theological and missiological approach to the =entile mission. &u3e de!elops the =entile

motif which begins earlier on in the =ospel of &u3e through Acts. He is without question

setting up a platform for a =entile mission agenda e!en before Paul appears on the scene.

&u3e systematically addresses the !i!id and crucial cosmographic and trans#historical

mo!ement of the missio+dei. )his paper follows these arguments to see how &u3e !alidates

and defends Paul(s mission to the =entiles. &essons learnt from &u3e(s !alidation of the

=entile mission will be applied for present day hermeneutical and cross#cultural missional

approach. A conclusion will then be drawn.

-


4/19

-!troductio!

&u3e in writing the &u3e#Acts !olume o!ertly displays interest in =entiles and those

neglected. =reen asserts that &u3e himself is a =entile from Antioch in 'yria and that he is

the only 2ew )estament author who is non#Bewish. -&u3e is also writing to a =entile

audience. %n my indebtedness to =reen % also see &u3e(s =entile motif as one of the 3ey

issues being addressed. He is not only a =entile from Antioch. He sees humanity(s origin

going bac3 to Adam 4&u3e *+#/5. %t is worth noting that there is a question &u3e is

answering. His style of authorship and =entile inferences show that there is contemporary

literary discontent on the Bew#=entile issue. )here is a question on table fellowship and

Bewish religious piety. )hese issues caused theological and ethnic preudices.

% agree with ee+that the scandal of the =entile issue is precipitated by a socio#political

religious ferment among the Bews. :ruceand =reen6mention that =entile interests are not

forgotten in &u3e although the Bews are the primary audience to the sal!ation message.

Although the =entile mission is fully launched after the resurrection and ascension of Besus

there is a significant mention of =entiles being welcomed into the ingdom of =od.

Pragmatic coherence of &u3e and his readership indicates %srael(s hostility and religious

insulation is a contra#realiEation of =od(s redempti!e plan for all humanity. )he =entile

mission contro!ersy started !ery early e!en before Paul was con!ertedF

Luke a!d the oreshadow o the %e!tile $issio!

&u3e shows in the $agnificat a promise and hope for =entile inclusion in =od(s sal!ation

plan. &u3e +*-+ 4 GIJKLKM NKGK QLST UTGST G T VK T W M X M NUVZ[T

\T T NK[]^KT VK L LQK_V 5 shows =od(s uni!ersal scope of sal!ation. Besus( parents

were amaEed in !erse by 'imeon(s declarations. 1tley7asserts that $ary and Boseph as

-=reen $. +,,+. 0 4ears that changed the world5 # fresh loo at the boo of #cts . 2ottingham* %nter `arsity

Press p+0

+ ee H. C. -990. 6very 7ation 8nder eaven5 T6 #$T9 / T6 #.9T695 The 7ew Testament in

context. Harrisburg* )rinity Press %nternational p-,

:ruce . . -9/. The ard 9ayings of ;esus. &ondon* Hodder > 'toughton p-,

6=reen $. +,,+. 0 4ears p+0

71tley :. +,,6.ue the istorian: The "ospel of ue5 9tudy "uide $ommentary 9eries5 7ew Testament


5/19

Bews must ha!e been shoc3ed to hear that the destiny and mission of their baby would

in!ol!e =entiles. G T VK T is a collecti!e reference of all people not ust Bews while \T T

similarly refers to many ethnic groups 4=entiles5 who were non#Bews. =od(s sal!ation

through Besus birth ministry death and resurrection would in!ol!e many tribes of the earth.

Here &u3e indicates the fore#shadow of the =entile mission before Paul comes on the scene.

&u3e * pronounces another =entile promise of sal!ation through Bohn the :aptist.

Although Bohn is quoting the %saiah showing =od(s uni!ersal plan to sa!e NK[ ZXGK[ LK

LKQ^ G LSG_Q[T G \X this te8t shows a promise of sal!ation on all flesh. 1tley asserts

that &u3e has quoted from the &. LK ser!es as a nominati!e adecti!e denoting that the

catchment for the process of sal!ation is ?all@ or ?e!ery@ a collecti!e and uni!ersal

understanding of the people =od has in mind. SG_Q[T indicates =od(s sal!ation andpreser!ation of those he has chosen while the !erb ZXGK[ points to a future e!ent. )his is a

profound promise and hope to the =entiles being proclaimed by Bohn the :aptist. )he

sal!ation of =entiles and Bews is centred on Besus( person and finished wor3 on the cross.

Although Besus( mission was directed towards the Bews )heophilus and the other Roman

upper middle class reading public are being assured of their in!ol!ement in =od(s sal!ific

plan which began as a Bewish mo!ement. &u3e is clearly and deliberately showing a

bac3ground groundswell of =entile missional focus as =od(s missional pra8is through Besus

His 'on.

Besus early in His ministry in &u3e 6*-/#, made =entile sal!ation references in the

synagogue readings. )his did not only anger the Bews but they also sought to 3ill Besus

because they understood him to be Anti#'emitic when he made references to =entiles in the

plan of =od. hat angered the Bews in the synagogue is not the reading from the prophet

%saiah. )heir anger erupted because of Besus( declaration that this Old )estament scripture had

been fulfilled in their hearing. Childress

0

upholds that Besus( synagogue utterance showed adeep unbelief and reection of the $essiah among the Bews in Besus( hometown. Besus told his

audience that li3e the Old )estament prophets he would not be recei!ed by contemporary

Bews ust as "lisha and "liah were not recei!ed in %srael. % concur with Childress that Besus(

synagogue reading and speech shows a clear =entile sal!ation hope. )he widow of arepath

and 2aaman the 'yrian army officer were both =entiles who tasted =od(s hand of sal!ation

through %srael(s significant prophets. %n the plan of =od and His so!ereignty =entiles are

1tleyue the istorian"lectronic 4&ogos software50Childress =. +,,. pening up ues "ospel. &eominster* Day One Publications. p6,6-


6/19

emerging as recipients of =od(s mercies. %n this narrati!e &u3e records Besus foreshadowing

the =entile mission before the boo3 of Acts.

)he Roman Centurion in &u3e 0*+#-, is a mar!ellous account by &u3e of a Roman

Centurion 4a =entile5 who points to Cornelius in Acts. )his story opens with the ad!erbconunction X[] lin3ing Besus( pre!ious teaching and ongoing ourney which leads him to

meet the Centurion 4 NKGTGUQ 5. )he Centurion(s ] VM 4ser!ant5 was in a bad state or

seriously sic3 as clearly illustrated by the idiomatic ad!erb NKN M . 1tley/asserts that this

Roman Centurion was a =od#fearer li3e Cornelius in Acts -,. 1tley(s assertion is clearly a

summation of the Pharisees( statements when they describe the Roman officer as 4!.5 jlo!ing

our nation and built the synagogue.(

:oc39 states that this Centurion won respect across religious lines although he was a=entile who did not fully identify with %srael but had honour and respect for Budaism. )his

story has a promising and hopeful outloo3 in its details. :oc3-,reiterates that the Centurion

!iewed himself as unworthy yet the Bewish leaders when they persuaded Besus used the word

^[M denoting worth or a relati!ely high degree of comparable merit. Although the Bewish

leaders were being religiously inclusi!e to the Centurion % hesitate to thin3 that they fully

embraced him into their religious institution as one of them. Besus commends this man by

comparing him to %srael. )he Centurion a =entile himself had outstanding faith in the 'on of=od as compared to the whole of %srael. Besus( audience is not only to contemplate on the

distant healing of the ser!ant but also reflect on =entile faith and =od(s mercy towards those

that belie!e in Him. )albert warrants that the pious centurion(s story has a theme of gospel

proclamation to all people as =od(s continuous mission.--

&u3e +6*60 is the =reat Commission in &u3e although it is not imperati!e in nature. )his

!erse has in it an imbedded dialogue with significant hope to all nations in relation to the

sal!ific milieu. :light-+states that in this !erse there are some manuscript !ariants on theword WXL[T 4forgi!eness5. )he uni!ersal scope of =od(s mission is promised and described

/1tleyue the istorian "lectronic 4&ogos software5

9:oc3 D. &. -996.ue4&3 *05. Downers =ro!e %&* %nter`arsity Press. "lectronic 4&ogos software5

-,:oc3ue4&3 *05. "lectronic 4&ogos software5

--)albert C. H. -9/+.=eading ue5 # 7ew $ommentary for .reachers. "sse8* 'PC p7+#7

-+:light R. C. 2nd6dition5 200'5 #n 6xegetical 9ummary of ue 12+2,. Dallas* '%& %nternational p70#706.

)he =2) does not mention the !ariant

6


7/19

as starting from Berusalem the heart of the Bewish nation. )he aorist passi!e NQ\ TK[ to

be preachedk proclaimed means that the disciples are e8pected to preach the gospel message

and the forgi!eness of JKQG[ T 4sin5 to all nations and urge their listeners to accept it and

comply with implications of the message.

)he gospel of &u3e has a strong =entile motif. Besus reached out and deli!ered a =entile

demoniac 4&u3e /*+#95. )he parable of the banquet alludes to a =entile motif 4&u3e -6*-7#

+65. )here is a growing and de!eloping theological outloo3 of the =entile mission. Besus

although His mission was directed towards the Bews He at se!eral points in His ministry

referred and engaged in =entile mission and its significance in the uni!ersal plan of =od(s

sal!ation. &u3e showed that the $agnificat referred to a worldwide scope of the mission+dei.

rom Besus( birth prophecies concerning his missional dimension pointed to a =entile anduni!ersal paradigm. )his uni!ersal and cosmographic mission of sal!ation was not at the

e8pense of the Bews. &u3e offers a prcis of the =entile mission in the third gospel through

!arious narrati!es which preamble the full scale =entile mission in Acts.

Acts -*/ and &u3e +6*60 is a direct a lin3 between the =reat Commissionk promise of

sal!ation to all people of the earth. eener-mentions that from the close of &u3e +6*60 to

Acts -*6#/ Besus promises the outpouring of the Holy 'pirit. )he outpouring of the Holy

'pirit was the imperati!e and signal for uni!ersal mission. eener adds that the disciples(pneumatological e8perience was paramount to their Berusalem ministry and distant lands.

eener-6is indebted to 'helton and $enEies who assert that the spirit(s empowerment on the

disciples was mainly and e8clusi!ely for Bewish and =entile mission.

&u3e in Acts -*/ shows a source of understanding Besus( mission to the ends of the earth

through the obedience of the disciples. )he mission to the =entiles was without question a

maor issue for &u3e and it was not clearly understood by Besus( disciples. Acts -*/ is an

answer to a preceding question that has been as3ed by disciples. )hey ha!en(t come to acomplete eschatological realiEation. )heir understanding of =od(s mission is limited as

reflected in their question. &u3e is clearly showing that e!en the disciples in Acts -* are

thin3ing of a political restoration and self#go!ernment of the Bewish people. Besus then

outlined the full e8tent of =od(s 3ingdom to be in!ol!ing people of all nations and clearly

di!orced from the question of political emancipation.

-eener C. '. +,-+. ntroduction5 1:1+2:,*. =rand Rapids*

:a3er Academic p6+-6eener


8/19

)he mission to the =entiles is a process that occurs gradually and this starts by the

disciples understanding that the =entile mission was as indicated in &u3e(s preface =od(s

purpose. )albert upholds that &u3e(s maor apologetic on the =entile mission before Paul(s

con!ersion and mission is to show that its origin is =od and consequently fulfils prophecy in

conte8t of worldwide sal!ation of all people.-7Besus engaged in =entile mission. Besus ga!e a

promise and imperati!e for =entile mission.

)he early church 4before Paul5 would see =entile con!ersions. %n Acts +*/ &u3e records

Peter(s pneumatological polemic to the phenomenon of the Pentecost. %n Peter(s speech he

quotes Boel +. % agree with 'tott-that &u3e in Peter(s speech builds a case for =entile mission

4Acts +*-6#+-5. 'tott adds that Peter(s words display =od(s generosity through the spirit

neither ?a driEEle nor shower but a tropical rainstorm and indeed a downpour@. )his generousgift of the spirit was promised in Boel and e!eryone who called on the name of the &ord

would be sa!ed 4pasa sarx5 e!erybody irrespecti!e of outward status. Acts +*69 e8tends the

promise to those that are far off and those that the &ord would call. )his is &u3e(s deliberate

reference to the distant =entile world including Bews. )he 3ingdom of =od is international in

its membership.

&u3e has a remar3able literary section co!ering 'tephen(s speech in Acts . iersbe -0

establishes that before his martyrdom 'tephen pointed out to %srael(s unbelief and propheticpersecution. %srael refused to obey =od and recei!e his truth. % agree with iersbe and see

'tephen(s rebu3e to the Bews as a !ague de!elopment of =entile motif. Paul who later on

will be sa!ed and commissioned was present at the lynching of 'tephen.

Luke o! "eter a!d the %e!tile $issio! (+cts 10116)

&u3e de!otes a large section to the scandal of the =entile mission in the early church through

Peter(s ministry. Peter is portrayed as a defender of the =entile mission from his Acts +

polemic although he is not anti#'emitic. He is a Bewish Christian and a direct disciple and

apostle of Besus. &u3e shows Peter to be one of the first witnesses of Christ to engage in

-7)albert C. H. -9/6.=eading ue: # literary and theological $ommentary on the third "ospel. 2ew Yor3*

Crossroad p+6#+6,

-

'tott R. . -99,. )he $essage of AC)'. )he :ible 'pea3s )oday. &eicester* %nter àrsity Press p0+-0iersbe . . -99. The ?ible exposition commentary4òl. -5. heaton %&* ìctor :oo3s p6+


9/19

Christian apologetics. Peter(s encounter with the Cornelius has a maor theological

significance to the Bew#=entile issue.

%n Acts -, &u3e builds a long#lasting argument for =entile mission. &u3e is showing

Peter brea3ing forth into an e8isting =entile mission. )he literary study of Cornelius 4Acts-,*-#--*/5 presents a theological and spiritual position of the =entile mission. % agree with

ee-/that Peter(s theological position was contro!ersial. $arshall-9establishes that Cornelius

was a Roman army officer stationed at Caesarea a new town built by Herod the =reat.

iersbe+, asserts that Cornelius( heart was tired of empty pagan myths and empty

religious rituals therefore turning to Budaism. Despite his religious affiliation with Budaism

piety he was not sa!ed. Parsons+-upholds that Peter in the !ision refused to eat the animals

three times which means there was a !erbal e8change between Peter and the di!ine !oice.Although Peter is a Bewish Christian he still holds to the purity laws.

Cornelius who had a similar !ision sent =entile messengers to Peter to sympathetically

as3 Peter to come to his house to deli!er a message from =od. &u3e shows Peter(s shift in his

theological position only through di!ine correction. He is commanded not to discriminate

4Acts -,*-75 anything 4NK[WST UV[T N ]XGQ QM K GT \X M NK\UQ[LXT L

J NIT5 that =od has made pure. Parsons++establishes that this !erse uses the commutatio

a rhetorical dimension which shows two discrepant thoughts e8pressed by transposition.

Here the purity issue e8udes. Peter refuses to eat the creatures because of their impurity

4NIT5 and =od through the di!ine !oice declares the creatures to be NK\UQ[LXT . )his

!ision is not centred on Peter(s literal obedience in 3illing and eating the creatures. %t is a

theological illustration of the =entile discourse. ee+adds that oinosand aarthon are the

crucial descriptions of holy co!enant profanation in - $acc. -*60. %t is therefore important for

Peter to ha!e a theological deconstruction of ritual and co!enantal e8clusion for any human

being before defending and engaging in the =entile mission. %t is Peter who is at the centre ofthis debate at this stage not Paul. Paul has not fully come into the picture. He has ust been

-/ee H. C. -990.6very 7ation 8nder eaven5 p-9

-9 $arshall %. H. -9/,.#cts5 Tyndale 7ew Testament $ommentaries. %nter`arsity Press* 2ottingham p-9

+,iersbe The ?ible exposition commentary p6+

+-Parsons $. C. +,,/..adeia $ommentaries on the 7ew Testament5 #$T9. $ichigan* :a3er Academic p-6

++

Parsons.adeia $ommentaries p-6+ee H. C. -990.6very 7ation 8nder eaven p-9

0


10/19

con!erted and commissioned in Acts 9 but &u3e deliberately withholds details to Paul(s life

and ministry to focus on Peter. %t is clear at this time that Paul is not the progenitor of the

=entile.

:osch+6

states that the Cornelius story is a theological pillar in the =entile debate and itre!eals &u3e(s missionary paradigm. :osch adds that since &u3e was writing to =entile

Christians he is addressing an identity crisis and a question potentially being as3ed by

=entiles ?@ho are we really@ :osch and Haenchen see &u3e wrestling with the problem of

mission to the =entiles without the law. Haenchen+7declares that from the first page of Acts

to the last &u3e(s entire presentation is triggered by this. )he Peter#Cornelius episode is a

theological milestone in sol!ing the simmering social and ethnic tensions.

Peter(s address in Acts -,*7 indicate that those who fear =od in e!ery ethnic group andperform righteousness are accepted by =od. Cornelius in Acts -,*+ ++ is described as a

=od#fearer and not a Bew 4 ]X X KT QT_V[M NKGTGUQM TQ ]INK[M NK[

WJXTM GT \XT JKQGQJXTM GX V G \TM G T ]KIST QJKGIL\

V I JXGKJZKL\KI LX X M GT NT K G NK[ N LK[ _JKGK KQK

L5. Cornelius is described as righteous ]INK[M a centurion NKGTGUQM a =od#fearer

WJXTM GT \XT and JKQGQJXTM well#spo3en of. Despite all these affirmations

Cornelius( hadn(t heard good news as indicated by the aorist !erb N LK[ .)he Bew#=entile boundaries are crossed when the =entile ser!ants are sent to Peter(s

house and !ice#!ersa Peter !isiting Cornelius( house. )he interpretation of the !ision to Peter

emulsifies and disempowers the ceremonial law towards the =entiles. )he interpretation

legitimiEes the =entile mission. &u3e records Peter in Acts -,*6 admitting that =od had

changed his perception on how =od !iews human beings TI^KM ]XGQM G LGJK X XT

V\XIKM NKGKVKJUTJK[ G[ N LG[T QLSV_JGM \XM. Peter uses the

indicati!e !erb NKGKVKJUTJK[ showing a profound grasp of an e8isting di!ine truth. Peteralso uses the masculine singular noun QLSV_JGM 4one who shows partiality5 indicating

that he had a na!e !iew of =od before this episode. Peter(s resistance to come to Cornelius(

house is bro3en down by di!ine pressure. Peter(s re!elation of =entile mission is enhanced

+6:osch D. B. -99+. Transforming Aission5 .aradigm shifts in theology of mission . 2ew Yor3* Orbis :oo3s

p/6#/7

+7

:osch Transforming Aission p97

/


11/19

by the outpouring of the 'pirit while he was spea3ing something he had not planned or

anticipated. Peter defends his ministry to the =entiles as =od(s acti!ity.

Peter(s polemic is pneumatological soteriological and theological. )he descent of the

Holy 'pirit on the =entiles didn(t follow any pattern. )he only thing that accompanied thephenomenon of the spirit was Peter(s 3erygma. 'ince the =entiles fulfilled the requirements

of being accepted by =od 4fearing =od5 Peter was not going to be a stumbling bloc3 to their

offer of sal!ation. Peter e8plained his actions to the Budean Christians who were !ehemently

opposed to this de!elopment 4Acts --*-#-/5.

Acts -, and -- contain a repeated account of the story of Cornelius. )he !isions of

Cornelius and Peter are retold in !i!id colour and repetition to reinforce =od(s guidance and

his ordination to this e!ent. &u3e(s deliberate repetiti!e rhetorical de!ice shows readers thatthe di!ine plan of =od in regard to =entile sal!ation is being enhanced through the medium

of angelic messengers and !isions. &u3e will ultimately defend Paul(s =entile mission but he

3eeps him out of the discussion to set up a clear theological position for Paul(s mission.

Luke o! "aul#s %e!tile $issio!

% concur with Parsons that Paul(s initial missionary campaign is seen in chapters -#-6*

commissioning at Antioch 4-*-#5 preaching and e8pulsion at Pisidia 4-*-#7+5 riots and

con!ersions in %conium 4-6*-#05 healing and stoning in &ystra 4-6*/#+,5.+Chapters - and

-6 appear after &u3e had established the legitimacy of the =entile mission. Paul(s mission

was contro!ersial to the Bews not to the =entiles. Paul was not anti#'emitic. He was an

orthodo8 Bew Pharisee and a loyal %sraelite. Paul who becomes the beacon of =entile frontier

missions is declared an apostle to the =entiles during his con!ersion.

&u3e had put Paul in the bac3ground as a shadow figure although Paul was seeing great

signs and wonders in chapter -+ 4Herod eaten by worms5 as well as "lymas struc3 with

blindness for trying to bloc3 a =entile proconsul from being con!erted. $any =entiles in

Chapter - belie!ed in Pasidian Antioch where Paul had !isited the synagogue 4!-7 - +

/ 6-5. Parsons+0asserts that Acts -*6+#7+ displays an emphasis of =entile mission by Paul

is underscored by rhetorical reduplication. )he word j=entiles( is repeated three times for

+

Parsons.adeia $ommentaries p-9/+0Parsons.adeia $ommentaries p-9

9


12/19

amplification and intensification. ] LGQXWJX\K X M GK \T shows the deliberate turning

away from the Bews to focus the \T 4nations people groups all people5.

&u3e(s presentation of Paul as a bearer of the word of =od to the =entile cities of the

world is founded on =od(s continuous mission. Despite Bewish resistance Paul is engaging in=od(s missional pra8is. )he =entile mission is not Paul(s idea or an in!ention of the church.

%t is a long#standing promise of =od steeped in his co!enant. :arnett asserts that there is no

warrant for &u3e establishing Paul(s credentials although he describes Christ(s call on Paul

three times 4Acts 9*-#9 Acts ++*#+- Acts +*+#+5.+/=od had already called Paul and

commissioned him outside human accreditation. Paul should also be seen as =od(s chosen

instrument who would bring =od(s word 4Acts +*-#-/ acts 9*-75 to the =entiles and

Rome.'eccombe coins the con!ersion of Paul in Acts 9 as the =entile brea3through and later

his commissioning. =entiles appear as the new people of =od and &u3e(s somewhat anti#

'emitic sentiments are directed at unrepentant Bews.+9)here is still a large number of Bews

that turn to the &ord. &u3e details many Bews and proselytes belie!ing the gospel message.

Paul(s %sraelogy has a percei!ed change and sophistication after his repeated hostile

encounters 4- )hessalonians +*-6#-5 and opposition to the =entile mission.,&u3e describes

the reection of the Christian message by the Bews as the maor shift in Paul(s change in

mission strategy. :ecause %srael reected the gospel through their stubbornness it is only

then that Paul can focus on the =entile world as the recipients of the Christian message. -

)his does not mean that Paul has lost hope in %srael or turned to the =entiles to replace the

Bews. He still hopes that %srael will come to faith. )his is the reason why he constantly

preaches to Bews in synagogues.

&u3e presents Paul not as the originator of the =entile mission but as the main agent for

=entile mission. hen many =entiles belie!e Bews !ehemently oppose Christians who

ha!en(t fully realiEed the full scope and dimension of =od(s sal!ation for all peoples of the

+/:arnett P. -9/.>s the 7ew Testament istory3 =evised. 'ydney 'outh* Aquialla Press p-7

+9'eccombe The 7ew people of "od in $arshall %. H > Peterson =. 4eds5. -99/. @itness to the "ospel. The

Theology of "od5=rand Rapids* illiam :. "erdmans Publishing Company p76

,'chenelle 1. +,,0. Theology of the 7ew Testament. $ichigan* :a3er academic p7

-

'eccombe D. The 7ew people of "od in $arshall p69#6

-,


13/19

earth. Dunn+mentions that Budean churches had a legalistic right wing which opposed a law#

free =entile mission.

&u3e paints a !ery clear message in his accounts that =od was at the centre of Paul(s

missionary acti!ity from his con!ersion calling commissioning and e8ecution of gentilemission. =od would ma3e sure that Paul would successfully reach out to the =entile audience

with the gospel. Paul(s life and ministry defies analysis. )he persecution stoning beatings

riots shipwrec3 and ongoing suffering points to the fulfilment of =od(s calling on Paul as a

leading agent of the =entile mission. rom Acts - Paul launches a full scale mission to the

=reco#Roman world and into "urope. &u3e is part of these ourneys. &u3e shows literary

deliberateness by de!oting significant chapters recounting the !oyage episodes the

shipwrec3 the $alta sna3e bite Paul(s arrests trials and imprisonment. )his is a hea!yapologetic by &u3e to show that Paul(s =entile mission frontier is a continuation of the

missio+dei.

%n the later part of Acts &u3e is showing his audience that Paul is a leading proponent of

the =entile mission which began in and through =od was predicted in Old )estament was

fulfilled in part during Besus( earthly ministry was promised and outlined by Besus in the

=reat Commission was carried out by Peter and the early church and finally Paul becomes

the defined missionary to the =entiles. &u3e(s Acts narrati!e is open#ended. )here is noinformation on how Paul faired in Rome after Acts +/*-0#- but there is a picture of Paul

preaching to the =entiles together with ongoing discourse with the Bews. His unhindered

gospel centred ministry was a furtherance of =entile mission 4`erse -5. )herefore &u3e

shows an ongoing =entile mission through Christ(s followers.

The 7erusale$ 'ou!cil (+cts 181918)

&u3e in this chapter details the le!el of Bewish hostility on =entile Christians. )he Berusalemcouncil is triggered by ongoing =entile con!ersions and this threatened Budaism. )heir

hostility is not directed at proselytes but =entiles who do not fulfil Bewish ceremonial

circumcision and food laws. )he lead#up to the Berusalem Council in!ol!es Paul(s missionary

campaign with :arnabas. Peter is also a maor spea3er at the Berusalem Council. )his

apostolic conference sought to resol!e the Bew#=entile debate.

+Dunn B. D. =. -900. 8nity and diversity in the 7ew Testament5 #n inBuiry into the character of earliest

$hristianity. &ondon* 'C$ Press &td p+

--


14/19

)he BudaiEers questioned how the =entiles could be sa!ed without 3eeping any of the

&aw of $oses circumcision second temple Budaism boundary mar3ers and the purity laws.

)he Berusalem council begins in an atmosphere of high tension rising from the stories of

=entile con!ersions miracles and e8tra#ordinary acts of the spirit. % agree with illiams

who stresses that in !erse there is incredible detail of report from different churches on

what =od was doing among the =entiles JXT T QXJW\TGXM G M NNVLIKM

][_QTG G_T GX v[TINT NK[ KJUQX[KT N][JXT[ GT [LGQWT G T \T T NK[

IT KQKT JXUVT L[T G M ]XVW M . )he con!ersions e8perienced in the churches

brought KQKT 4oy5 while those especially of the party of the Pharisees G T vKQ[LKIST were

disturbed by these de!elopments 4!65.

Peter has to defend Cornelius( con!ersion and the descent of the spirit on his audiencewith what %mmanuel6beautifully describes as a jnew criterion for membership( ?6veryone

who calls on the name of the ord will be saved@. Paul also has to e8plain his e!angelistic

campaigns in the =entile world which brought Bewish discontent 4-7*-+5 xKQTK NK[

KV ^JTST LK ILXT \XM LJX K NK[GQKGK T G M \TXL[T ][ K G T .

Paul and :arnabas described what =od was doing among the =entiles \TXL[T as

signskmiracles LJX K wonders GQKGK. %n this council &u3e affirms the authenticity of the

=entile mission. )he maor e8isting argument of &u3e is to show the growth and mo!ement

of the 3ingdom of =od towards the ends of the earth through a uni!ersal mission frontier to

all nations.

&u3e shows Bames as an influential elder in the Berusalem church who e8egetes the

problem before the council to bring a godly resolution and conclusion. illiams7

underscores that the Bewish church with its infle8ible and iron#willed sensation had formed a

monolithic obection against the =entile mission. )he Berusalem council ends with Bames

supporting Peter Paul and :arnabas diminishing the hostile Bewish theological agenda whichsought to clip =entile Christians in the requirements of the law. :arrett asserts that =entiles

are only requested to 3eep the law in the practical sense 4a!oiding meat with blood se8ual

illiams D. B.-99,.#cts5 8nderstanding the ?ible $ommentary 9eries. $ichigan* :a3er :oo3s p+

6%mmanuel :. +,,6.=epent and turn to "od5 =ecounting #cts. Perth* H%$ %nternational $inistries %nc. p6

7 illiams#cts5 p+

:errett C. . -99/.#$T95 The >nternational $ritical $ommentary > C>. "dinburgh* )>)

Clar3 p 4c5.

-+


15/19

purity food sacrificed to idols5 rather than theological. Bewish and =entile Christians were to

also share in table fellowship and were not required to 3eep the &aw of $oses or be

circumcised. :arrett0adds that Peter(s ministry and action lined up with =od(s intention to

find a people among the =entiles 4!erse -65. &u3e(s Berusalem council account show the

triumph of =entile mission. )he appro!al of =entile mission by the apostolic council leads to

a full scale =entile mission by Paul.

Old Testa$e!t citatio!s supporti! "aul#s %e!tile $issio!

Paul(s mission to the =entiles is seen merely as part of =od(s plan of sal!ation rolled out in

the Old )estament. =od had promised that ?All people will blessed through you) Clar3 p+6#7

9

$ee3 The "entile Aission p+66,$ee3 The "entile Aission p+6

-


16/19

4%saiah 69*5 he will open people(s eyes 4not Bews5 4%saiah 6+*05 prisoners released 4%saiah

69*9#-5. )he ser!ant is a distinguished religious figure who would establish ustice and royal

responsibility that was ne!er attached to %srael. %saiah( prophecy of the ser!ant as a light to

the =entiles is echoed three times in %saiah.6-Paul(s =entile mission is not only as a result of

Bewish hostility against gospel wor3ers but it comes out of the promise of =od through

%saiah which requires fulfilment. &u3e(s citation is !ery similar to the 'eptuagint 4&5 and

the $asoretic )e8t 4$)5 and therefore he could ha!e cited from either.6+)hroughout the

=ospel of &u3e and Acts quotations from and allusions to the Old )estament are used to

e8plain and ustify the =entile mission. )he purposes of these recurring references is to

!alidate the =entile mission by Paul and other apostles. %t is beyond reasonable doubt that

Paul(s appeal to the Old )estament was &u3e(s profound way of authenticating Paul(s

=entile mission.

'a! this teach us a!ythi! today or our u!dersta!di! o

our practice o crosscultural $issio!&

)he boo3 of Acts re!ol!es around Bew#=entile relationships in conte8t of mission. )he reader

of &u3e#Acts is challenged on their approach and mission to Bewish people. Bewish people

still reect Besus as the $essiah. Bews still reect Paul and Christianity. Present#day Christians

need to thin3 of how to engage Bewish people because they are in =od(s uni!ersal plan of

sal!ation. )hin3ing and reflecting on the theology found in &u3e#Acts is a commendable start

to applying the contents of &u3e(s wor3. "!ery belie!er should read Acts in its entirety. Acts

should be frequently used as a bible study or sermon series. %f there are any preudices

towards Bews that needs to change because belie!ers might end up the same as the Bews who

opposed the =entile mission.

)he focus on table fellowship in Acts should remind us of what we should do when we

are in a cross#cultural setting. hat 3ind of food meal customs and learning what is

culturally acceptable is a godly way of showing practical conte8tualiEation. hat needs to be

adusted when people of different cultural bac3grounds come together to worship hat

adustments need to be made in preaching to be culturally appropriate in a multi#cultural

setting without changing content of the message )hese questions will help to ma3e the :oo3

6-

$ee3 The "entile Aission p76+$ee3 The "entile Aission p7

-6


17/19

of Acts practical. =od(s mission is ongoing and belie!ers should trust him for opportunities to

share the gospel. He has sent his Holy 'pirit to empower the church for missional witness.

=od(s pro!idence pro!ision protection di!ine authority and power will guide belie!ers to

bring people from many nations to Him.

'o!clusio!

)his essay addressed how &u3e de!eloped his defence for Paul(s mission to the =entiles. )he

de!elopment of &u3e(s defence for Paul(s mission to the =entiles was in!estigated and

e8plored. )he =ospel of &u3e Acts and Old )estament passages were loo3ed at showing a

continuous Bew#=entile debate. An enquiry into &u3e(s gradual argument on the =entile

mission was made. )he full scale =entile mission of Paul was loo3ed into. A present dayapplication for cross#cultural mission has been suggested.

-7


18/19

eere!ce List

:arnett P. -9/.>s the 7ew Testament istory3 =evised. 'ydney 'outh* Aquialla Press

:errett C. . -99/.#$T95 The >nternational $ritical $ommentary > C>. "dinburgh*

)>) Clar3.

:light R. C. 2nd6dition5 200'5 #n 6xegetical 9ummary of ue 12+2,. Dallas* '%& %nternational.

:oc3 D. &. -996.ue4&3 *05. Downers =ro!e %&* %nteràrsity Press. "lectronic 4&ogos

software5

:osch D. B. -99+. Transforming Aisssion5 .aradigm shifts in theology of mission. 2ew Yor3* Orbis

:oo3s.

:ruce . . -9/. The ard 9ayings of ;esus. &ondon* Hodder > 'toughton.

Childress =. +,,. pening up ues "ospel. &eominster* Day One Publications.

Dunn B. D. =. -900. 8nity and diversity in the 7ew Testament5 #n inBuiry into the character of

earliest $hristianity. &ondon* 'C$ Press &td.

=reen $. +,,+. 0 4ears of that changed the world5 # fresh loo at the boo of #cts. 2ottingham*

%nter àrsity Press.

%mmanuel :. +,,6.=epent and turn to "od5 =ecounting #cts. Perth* H%$ %nternational $inistries

%nc.

ee H. C. -990.6very 7ation 8nder eaven5 T6 #$T9 / T6 #.9T695 The 7ew Testament

in context. Harrisburg* )rinity Press %nternational.

eener C. '. +,-+. ntroduction5 1:1+2:,*. =rand

Rapids* :a3er Academic.

$arshall %. H. -9/,.#cts5 Tyndale 7ew Testament $ommentaries. %nteràrsity Press* 2ottingham.

$ee3 B. A. +,,/. The "entile Aission in ld Testament citations in #cts5 Text ermeneutic and

.urpose5 ibrary of 7ew Testament studies '!. &ondon* )>) Clar3.

-


19/19

Parsons $. C. +,,/..adeia $ommentaries on the 7ew Testament5 #$T9. $ichigan* :a3er

Academic.

'chenelle 1. +,,0. Theology of the 7ew Testament. $ichigan* :a3er academic.

'eccombe D. The 7ew people of "od in $arshall %. H > Peterson =. 4eds5. -99/. @itness to the

"ospel. The Theology of "od5=rand Rapids* illiam :. "erdmans Publishing Company.

'tott R. . -99,. )he $essage of AC)'. )he :ible 'pea3s )oday. &eicester* %nter `arsity Press.

)albert C. H. -9/+.=eading ue5 # 7ew $ommentary for .reachers. "sse8* 'PC.

)albert C. H. -9/6.=eading ue: # literary and theological $ommentary on the third "ospel. 2ew

Yor3* Crossroad.

1tley :. +,,6.ue the istorian: The "ospel of ue5 9tudy "uide $ommentary 9eries5 7ew

Testament

how does luke develop his defence of paul’s mission to the gentiles - resubmission

Documents