Week 27—Friday Acts 19:1-7, 18-20
Acts 19:1-7, 18-20
THE ACTS OF THE CHRISTIANS
We saw yesterday that the link between the Word become flesh in Jesus and the Word become flesh in the apostles was entitled “The Acts of the Apostles”—“The Acts” and not the Teaching. The teaching was an interpretation of the acting—the acts of him and of them.
But another twist is given to turn this Acts of the Apostles into something to be contemplated instead of something to be emulated. It is made into the “Acts of the Apostles”—and the Apostles is confined to the Twelve. Originally it wasn’t. Every disciple became an apostle—one taught became one sent. For instance, Paul says that “Andronicus and Junias . . . are eminent among the apostles, and they were Christians before I was” (Rom. 16:7, NEB). They were “apostles,” but they didn’t belong to the “Twelve.” And Paul was an apostle, but he didn’t belong to the Twelve. He says, “Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord” (1Cor. 9:1-2). Here Paul’s credentials were changed people—“You are the seal of my apostleship”; you are my credentials. Paul was more concerned over apostolic success than apostolic succession. Paul was not in that so-called line of apostolic succession. A layman, “Ananias a disciple,” laid his hands on Paul that he might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. A guide in Jerusalem was showing people around and said, “This hen is a direct descendant of the cock that crowed at Peter’s denial.” A man from Texas replied, “I’m not interested in her pedigree, I want to know if she lays eggs and how many.”
This “Acts of the Apostles” means the Acts of Disciples who had turned Apostles, whether they were of the Twelve or not. Every learner, a disciple, became an apostle—one sent. So the Acts of the Apostles was really the Acts of the Christians. This is important—very.
O Lord and Savior, save us from confining your manifestations to a chosen few, thus excusing ourselves from being a part of your redemptive movement. There must be no mental barriers to keep me from feeling your full impact—none. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I as a Christian will write a new chapter of the Acts today.