Lesson 4

Question 1

Some have noted that Acts should be entitled “Acts of the Holy Spirit.” Show how Acts 1:1-11 supports this statement.

Answer 1

1. The Holy Spirit is the instrument to choose disciples, contra the NIV translation (Acts 1:2)
2. The Holy Spirit is called the “promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4)
3. The Holy Spirit is the instrument by which Jesus will use to baptize (Acts 1:5; Luke 3:16)
4. Kingdom of God (Acts 1:6-8)
   a. To “restore the kingdom to Israel” (refers back to Acts 1:3)
   b. Jesus does not answer what type of kingdom but rather answers the “when” question
   c. The Holy Spirit provides power to be Jesus’ witnesses between advents (Acts 1:8)
   d. “Witness” is an eyewitness of the historical resurrection of Jesus (Acts 1:22; 3:15; 13:31; 22:14-15)
5. Although Jesus is gone, he is coming back again. It is implied that the Holy Spirit is the connection between advents of Jesus (parousia emphasis in Acts 1:11)

Conclusion: the beginning of Acts makes explicit the connection between the Holy Spirit and Christ

Question 2

Why is it important that Peter’s imagery of “Lord” and “Christ” be rooted in the OT rather than Hellenistic paganism?

Answer 2

1. Peter uses OT texts to connect OT titles and offices to Jesus
   a. Jesus is referred to as YHWH from Joel
   b. Implied as Christ and contrasted with YHWH from Psalm 16
   c. Called Adonai and implied as Christ from Psalm 110
2. Many liberals explain this YHWH / kyrios confusion as a result of Hellenistic incompetence. They do not deny that Acts 2:21 equates YHWH with Jesus, but they think this did not happen until Christianity moved away from Palestine
3. It is more consistent to see this phenomenon as a result of the concept of the Trinity
   a. See Acts 2:33; 2:21 & 2:38 “name.”
   b. YHWH sometimes refers to God the Father or God the Son or the whole Trinity
4. “Both Lord and Christ”: Lord is probably some combination of “master” and YHWH
5. What R-H events did Peter use with Scripture to prove that Jesus was both Lord and Christ?

Question 3

Concerning “God has made him both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36), give Dr. Cara’s rationale for concluding that the meaning of “Lord” is some combination of master and YHWH.

Answer 3

Adonai means (my) “Master” or “Lord.” In the great majority of cases it is the title for the God of the OT. It may refer to divinity of X here. Thus, “God has made him Lord” connects him (Jesus) and Lord (YHWH).