Reading for August 18th

 Read Acts 22.22-23.10. In 22.22: Compare the reaction of the crowd to this inclusive mission in Luke's account of Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth (Lk 4.16-30). In verse 23: Shouting (7.57; 14.14), throwing ... cloaks (14.14; 18.6), and tossing dust (13.51) are ritual acts to prevent evil of Paul's words. In verse 24: Flogging was a standard Roman method of interrogation. In verse 25-27: This passage and 16.37-39 give a glimpse into Luke's understanding of the rights of roman citizenship. In verse 28: Since he bears the name of Claudius (23-26 CE), the tribune probably purchased his citizenship during the reign of Claudius (41-54 CE). In verse 30: The tribune's ability to order the chief priests and the entire council to meet discloses the thorough control of the Roman order. In 23.1: Living with a clear conscience before God means fidelity to the law (23.3; 24.14-16). In verse 2: In Jn 18.22, Jesus was also struck on the face for his answers to the high priest. In verse 3: Paul invokes a biblical judgment (Deut 28.22) against the high priest for not obeying the law he was defending (7.53). In verse 5: Paul's quotation of Ex 22.27 is a critique of any "leader of your people" who does not evidently obey the law. In verses 6-9: The hope of the resurrection is a central issue (24.20-21), not merely a device to divide the crowd. Jesus also challenged the Sadducees on the resurrection with a scriptural argument the Pharisees and their scribes accepted (Lk 22.27-40). In verse 7: On the dissension within Israel, see also 14.4. Comments or Questions..