8/11/04

 

  Chap.5,verses 29- “we ought to obey…” here Peter restates

what as seen earlier in 4:19-20.  Our primary responsibility is to

yield to God’s authority in our lives, with human authority taking

second place. See Matt.22:37.

  Chap.5, verse 30-32-“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus…” Once again, the bodily resurrection of Christ is the foremost thought in Peter’s presentation.  The nation of Israel (thru its leaders) must repent of Jesus’ death and admit Jesus’ resurrection/ascension.

“slew” – diecheirisasthe= to take in hand, manhandle, kill- here and Acts 26:21 [NKJV=murder].  “tree”-xulou- see Gal. 3:13, I Pet.2:24.

Note “tree” as instrument of healing in Exodus 15:25; a picture of

salvation thru the suffering of Christ.

  “for to give repentance…”- a purpose clause using the an

infinitive in genitive case- Peter again speaks of national repentance by the people of Israel (see 3:19) and the subsequent “forgiveness  of sin”. Peter is still proclaiming the great truths of the OT related to Israel’s conversion- Jere. 31:31-34.  That conversion is what the apostles appear to expect.

  “and we are his witnesses of these things” –that is, the suffering and exaltation of Christ.  “and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey him”—as was seen in

2:38, the receiving of the H.Spirit is contingent upon obedience;

synonymous with repentance.

 

   Chap.5, verse 33-“cut”-diaprio=to cut in half.  See 7:54.

This conviction by the H.Spirit is that they have sinned.

   Chap.5, verse 34-39-describes a narration by Gamaliel, a

“Pharisee….doctor of the law” pleading for the ill-tempered

Sadducees to allow the matter to develop and it will be shown

to be either of God or man.

   Eventually, his advice is accepted—only that they are beaten and

commanded not to speak in Jesus’ name.

   This short speech with references to 2 historical events has been the basis for many liberal scholars to say Luke’s history is questionable.

Much of the misunderstanding relates to the view that Luke read

Josephus using his material, but misunderstood him.

    The first illustration is of “Theudas” said by Josephus to have

occurred in 44 AD (ten years after Gamaliel’s speech).  However,

the Theudas  referred to here may not be the Theudas of 44 AD, but

rather one of many rebels who arose at the time of Herod the

Great’s death in 4 BC.

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  Secondly, Judas of Galilee did lead a rebellion in  6 AD.  Much of the difficulty lies in trying to “read” Josephus as the chief influence

upon Luke’s writing.

  Note also that Saul (Paul) would study under this Gamaliel-

See 22:3—yet Paul joined the effort to persecute the new followers

of Jesus.

 

Chap.5, verses 41-42- for all the fury and noise of the leaders,

The apostles rejoice that they are counted worthy to suffer for the cause of Christ.  Undeterred, they continue presenting the claims

Of Christ both in the Temple as well as in each house.  Their

ceaseless effort draws our admiration.