Page 59 - Acts Student Textbook

How did those who run away from the persecution preach the Gospel?

The text says that those who ran away from the persecution in Jerusalem went out "speaking the
word to no one except to Jews alone" This shows that the early church was not certain whether
preaching to the Gentiles was appropriate. The conservatives would quote the words of Jesus in
Matt. 10:5, while the visionaries would quote Matt. 28:18-20 or Acts 1:8. This theological issue will
resurface in Acts 15.

Who established the church at Antioch?

Interestingly, Luke tells us that "men of Cyprus and Cyrene" are the ones who went to Antioch and
established the church there (11:20).These are the same Greek-speaking Jewish believers as in Acts
6-8, who began to preach the universal implications of the Christian gospel in Jerusalem. Barnabas
was also from this geographical area.

How does Luke view Jesus’ deity?

In his summary statement of the great movement of God through evangelistic preaching, Luke says,
"the hand of the Lord was with them and a large number who believed turned to the Lord" (11:21).
Here Uttly says “This is an OT idiom for the acknowledgment of YHWH's presence and power for the
accomplishing of His purpose in human activity (cf. 2 Sam. 3:12). It is interesting to note that the
term "Lord" (Kurios) is used in the first of this verse to refer to YHWH (cf. LXX Exod. 3:14; 2 Sam. 3:12;
Isa. 59:1). However, in the latter part of the verse it is used to refer to Jesus Christ. This transference
of titles is a common literary technique of the NT authors to assert the deity of Jesus. Notice where
Paul quotes Old Testament texts referring to YHWH and applies them to Jesus (i.e., Rom. 10:13; 1
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Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:10-11).” Therefore, we can safely conclude that Luke’s theology, just like every
other NT author, asserts Jesus’ deity.

How should we understand the “Hand of the Lord” Passages (11:21)?

This is a very common expression in the Bible. Here Uttly provides a very helpful explanation, “The
"hand of the Lord" is an OT anthropomorphic idiom. YHWH is an eternal spirit present through time
and creation. He does not have a physical body. However, the only vocabulary humans have to speak
of anything personal is physical, human terms. We must remember the limits of fallen, temporal,
earth-bound human language. It speaks of the spiritual realm in metaphors, analogies, and
negations. It expresses truth, but in non-exhaustive ways. God is far greater than our ability to know
and express. He communicates truly to us, but not exhaustively. We can trust the Bible as God's self-
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revelation, but we must realize God is greater still! Human language both reveals and limits!”

How should we understand the Primary role of the Prophets in the NT?

In 11:27 Luke talks about the "prophets." Prophets are mentioned several times in the NT (cf. 13:1;
15:32; 21:10; 1 Cor. 12:28; 14:1-5, 29-33; Eph. 2:20; 4:10). It is not always certain whether their
function is primarily foretelling, as here, or forth-telling, as in 1 Corinthians 14 and Acts 2:17 (cf. 13:6;
15:32; 1 Cor. 12:28; 14:1-5, 29-33; Eph. 2:20; 4:10).

In the OT prophets are seen as the spokesmen of God, explaining His revelation either in written or in
word of mouth; however, NT prophets are not the mediators of God's revelation in the same sense.

33 Ibid, (11:21).
34 Ibid
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