Reading for August 17th

 Read Acts 21.37-22.21. In 21.38: The Egyptian was a famous Jewish "prophet" who led a rebellion in the era of Felix, around 54 CE (Josephus, War 2.261-263: Antiquities 20.168-172). The assassins were cloak-and-danger killers fighting Rome (Josephus, War 2.254-257; Antiquities 20.186-188). In verse 40: On the Hebrew language, see 22.2. In 22.1-22: Luke 26.2-23, this defense (Gk., "apologia") speech (see also 24.1-21) retells the story of Acts 9.1-31. In verse 3: Gamaliel has already appeared in 5.33-39, advocating that the council be restrained in its response to the apostles. Being zealous for God is closely tied to strict observance of out ancestral law (see also "zealous for the law" in 21.20; Gal 1.14; Rom 10.2-4). In verse 4: This Way means the followers of Jesus as messiah (9.2; 19.9, 23). In verse 12-14: Ananias is now credited with being devout according to the law (9.10), and he speaks for God of our ancestors (9.17). For Jesus' identity as the Righteous One, (see Lk 23.47; Acts 3.14; 7.52). In verse 17-18: The story of Paul's trance in the temple, only told here, recalls Peter's trance (10.10; 11.5) and echoes the call of Isaiah in the Temple (Isa 6.1-13). In verse 21: Paul's commission is now even more like Isaiah's "light to the gentiles" (see Acts 1.8)), and the people of Israel are not mentioned (v. .14). Comments or Questions..