1. Jerusalem Community Acts 2:42 – 5:11

2. Life of the Early Church • “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachingand to the fellowship, to the breaking of breadand to the prayers” (Acts 2:42) • Perseverance in these areas; major themes of the early Christian church (J. Gonzales)

3. Life of the Early Church (cont.) • Apostles'Teaching – verbal, but also through wonders and miraculous signs (2:43) • Fellowship – gathering together, sharing of goods, and meeting needs (2:44-45) • Breaking of Bread – a new developing form of Christian worship (2:46) • A celebration • Prayers – praising God, Jewish traditions (2:47)

4. Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar • Acts 3:1-8 • By Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld • 1851-60 • Engraving

5. Lame ManHealed • Acts 3:1-8 • Unknown artist

6. Miracle Story: Five Stages • Introduction: Peter and John go to Jerusalem Temple; crippled man brought in (3:1-2) • Conflict/Delay: Crippled man asks for money; Peter addresses him; he expects money (3:3-6a) • Action: Peter tells the man to get up; takes him by the right hand; lifts him up (3:6b-7a) • Confirmation: The man jumps up, stands, walks, enters the temple (3:7b-8) • Reaction: People notice, observe, are amazed (3:9-10)

7. Observations • John – more proactive in 1st depiction • Crippled man carried to the temple gate • Observers inside the temple • Man walks and jumps • Peter raises his arm in the air – shows that the healing power is of God, not his own • Gate called Beautiful – Nicanor’s gate? • Beautiful because it was of burnished bronze

8. Believers Share Possessions(Acts 4:32-37) • Share everything (32) • No needy person among them • People sold their land and houses • Placed the money from the sales at the apostles’ feet • Distributed to those in need

9. Why? • J. Gonzales: • A result of the gift of the Holy Spirit • Eschatological expectation • One of Luke’s themes is helping the poor and giving up one’s possessions • Eschatological reversal • Method for distribution of resources – apostles • Ideal community?

10. Barnabas • Acts 4:36-37 • Positive example • By Johann Cristoph Weigel • 1695 • Woodcut

11. Ananias • Acts 5:1-5 • Negative example • By Caspar Luiken • Dutch, 1712 • Copper engraving

12. Sapphira • Acts 5:1-2, 7-10 • Negative example • By Nicolas Poussin • 1652 • Oil on Canvas

13. Sapphira • Unknown Artist • 1702 • Woodcut

14. Observations • Money laid at the apostles’ feet (5:2) • Ananias & Sapphira both lie (5:3-4, 8-9) • Both are struck dead (5:5,10) • Great fear seizes the people (5:5,11) • Young men carry out the bodies (5:6,10) • Pointing to Ananias & Sapphira, and pointing up • Lying to the Holy Spirit / God (5:3,4)

15. Observations (cont.) • No young men to carry out Ananias' body • Unclear if other men with Peter are apostles or observers • Depiction of a dove – reference to Holy Spirit • “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” (Acts 5:9) • “…you have lied to the Holy Spirit…” (5:3b)

16. Conclusions • Goals and actions of the early Christian church • Both Jewish and new practices • Miracle – through the power of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles • New community – both positive and negative examples • The Spirit – love and truth • Sin of Ananias and Sapphira = lying • Ideal community/Church vs. reality