Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Sunday, June 23, 2013 Read – Acts 9:1-9 As we return to the book of Acts today we are introduced to one of the most important stories Luke wants to share with his readers – the story of Saul/Paul. We know that this is an important story because Luke tells it three times (Acts 9:1-31, Acts 22:6-16; and Acts 26:12-18). In many ways the placement of this story here creates a bridge between the two major sections of the book of Acts – the story of the spread of the gospel among the Jewish people and the story of the spread of the gospel through the Jewish people to the Gentiles. Luke has already skillfully introduced his readers to Saul. He was the one before whom those who stoned Stephen laid their coats (Acts 7:58) because Saul was approving of the killing of Stephen (Acts 8:1) and in response to the preaching of Stephen and as a part of the persecution that broke out against the Hellenist Christians, Saul began to ravish the church arresting believers and condemning them to prison (Acts 8:3). If Luke’s readers were wondering why Saul was singled out for comment in the story of Stephen’s martyrdom they now know why. God had something in mind for the persecutor. At the heart of Luke’s story is an appearance of Jesus to Saul. Readers of the book of Acts will recall that Luke has told us that Jesus appeared for 40 days following his resurrection and then was lifted up into heaven (Acts 1:1-11). We noted at that time that it was important for Luke to note that the bodily resurrection appearances of Jesus stopped. The ascension of Jesus is significant for Luke as a marker that Jesus is now at a new location, at the right hand of God where Jesus rules as Savior and Lord. The vehicle for the reign of Jesus on earth is through the Holy Spirit who Jesus pours out upon believers. In Luke’s view it is impossible and totally unnecessary that Jesus should bodily appear again following his ascension. That is the role of the Holy Spirit. As we read Luke’s story about the “appearance” of Jesus to Saul we can note the stark differences between this “appearance” and the pre-ascension appearances. Saul sees only a light that blinds him and hears a voice. Those who accompany Saul see no one (Acts 9:7)! Saul sees no one! There is no bodily appearance of Jesus. When the story is repeated in Acts 22 and Acts 26, again Luke is careful to make clear to his readers that a physical appearance of Jesus does not happen. Careful readers of the scripture will notice that Paul presents a difference point of view regarding the nature of the appearance of Jesus to him. Paul writes, “For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scripture, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scripture, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than 500 brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all he appeared also to me” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Paul considers the appearance of Jesus to him to be of the same quality as his appearances to all the others. What are we to make of this discrepancy? The best way to think about this is to realize that Luke and Paul have different motives in telling about the appearance of Jesus. Paul is defending his apostleship – that he is truly a Christian and that his message is grounded on the foundation of the one and only gospel. We should note that what Paul writes here is almost exactly the core message that we have heard and will continue to hear in the book of Acts – Jesus was killed but God raised him from the dead and that repentance of sins in proclaimed in his name. Paul in not concerned about how we should think about the location of Jesus following his resurrection. It is likely that Paul makes no distinction between a bodily resurrection appearance and an appearance where there is no physical presence. Luke, on the other hand is concerned to deal with at least a couple of things. First, Jesus had made no bodily appearances in a long time and Luke wants to both acknowledge that and proclaim that even though such bodily appearances no longer occur Jesus is still present – he is present through the Holy Spirit. Second, Luke is concerned with order and the apostolic verification of the gospel. There likely were some who claimed that they had received “special revelation” from Jesus – that Jesus appeared to them! Limiting the bodily appearances of Jesus to a distinct length of time (40 days) and to a distinct group of people (the Apostles and their associates) cuts off any perversion of the gospel by those who claim “special revelation” or that somehow God had appeared to them giving them further information. The limited appearances of Jesus in bodily form becomes normative for Luke and for the church. Of course Luke can speak of Jesus “appearing” to others – he obviously does so since he is telling us this story about Saul! – however, those appearance are not of the same quality as the bodily appearance prior to the ascension. Once we understand the difference between Luke’s and Paul’s motives the discrepancy melts away. Luke ends this story on an important note – Saul begins to fast, eating nothing for three days. He is also blind. The story contains a kernel of suspense for Luke’s first readers – what will become of Saul?