Thursday 07 May 2009

Background

In this passage, Luke describes some of the activities of thetravelling leaders of the early Church. Things were moving fast -at least as fast as the sailing boats of the 1st centuryMediterranean permitted - as different groups of Christians becameestablished as churches within their own communities.

But one consequence was that many of these church groups no longerincluded first-hand witnesses of Jesus' life and ministry. The newchurches were far away and the years were passing. There must havebeen real concerns then as to whether all these new Christiangroups were 'on message'. There was also, at least in some places,the continuing issue of potential conflict between Jewish religioustraditions and the strange new ways of the Christians.

Here we have Paul and his companions involved with old-stylereligion in a local synagogue - and yet being asked to contribute anew-style message. So, in a few short words (or maybe a longerdiscourse expertly summarised by Luke), Paul sets out the entirekernel of the Old and New Testaments.

It was a clever message, probably aimed at defusing the tensionsbetween the old and the new, because it clearly established Jesusas following in a long succession of God's leaders, right back tothe time when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. Jesus wastherefore undoubtedly God's man for the times - as well as beingthe promised Saviour of God's people.

To Ponder

How have you experienced similar tensions betweenold and new ways of being 'church'?

How important is it for local churches to be 'onmessage' and to receive clear statements on important issues offaith from leaders?

How essential is it for today's Churches tounderstand that they follow in a long line of succession from theOld Testament?