Interpreting Scripture With Others In Acts Chapter
Interpreting Scripture with Others in Acts
The book of Acts provides several examples of interpreting Scripture with others, demonstrating the importance of communal understanding and application of biblical teachings. In Acts 2, the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, preach to the crowds, quoting Joel 2:28-32 and explaining the significance of the Pentecost event [1]. This early Christian community interprets Scripture together, using the Old Testament to understand the Christ event.
The apostle Paul's sermon in Acts 13 is another example of interpreting Scripture with others. Paul, drawing on his knowledge of the Old Testament, explains the history of Israel and the significance of Jesus Christ to the Jewish community in Antioch of Pisidia [3]. Matthew Henry notes that this sermon marks a significant turning point in the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles, as it revives the work that had begun earlier [8].
In Acts 17, Paul engages with the Jewish community in Thessalonica, "reasoning with them from the Scriptures" (Acts 17:2-3). He explains the necessity of the Messiah's suffering and resurrection, demonstrating how Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecies [2]. The Bereans are commended for their diligence in examining the Scriptures to verify Paul's teachings (Acts 17:11).
The early Christian community's approach to interpreting Scripture with others is characterized by a commitment to understanding the biblical text in its historical and cultural context. Augustine emphasizes the importance of considering the context and intention of the author when interpreting Scripture [5]. He also notes that multiple interpretations of a passage can be valid, as long as they are consistent with the overall teaching of Scripture [6].
The practice of interpreting Scripture with others is not limited to the apostolic era. Throughout Christian history, theologians and interpreters have emphasized the importance of communal interpretation. John Calvin, for example, stresses the need for interpreters to be guided by the Holy Spirit and to consider the broader context of Scripture when interpreting specific passages [7].
The book of Acts highlights the challenges that arise when interpreting Scripture with others. In Acts 17:20, the Athenians are perplexed by Paul's teachings, asking him to explain the "strange things" he is saying [4]. This encounter illustrates the potential for misunderstanding and misinterpretation that can occur when different cultural and theological perspectives intersect.
The early Christian community's experience demonstrates that interpreting Scripture with others requires a commitment to careful exegesis, a willingness to engage with different perspectives, and a reliance on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As the community interprets Scripture together, they are able to deepen their understanding of God's revelation and to apply its teachings to their lives.
The importance of interpreting Scripture with others is underscored by the diversity of interpretations that have arisen throughout Christian history. Different traditions and confessions have approached Scripture with distinct theological and cultural perspectives, leading to a rich and varied understanding of the biblical text. By engaging with these diverse perspectives, Christians can gain a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of Scripture.
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Acts 2:4 cross-references: Exodus 4:11, Numbers 11:25, 1 Samuel 10:10, 2 Samuel 23:2, Isaiah 28:11, Isaiah 59:21, Jeremiah 1:7, Jeremiah 6:11, Ezekiel 3:11, Micah 3:8, Matthew 10:19, Mark 16:17, Luke 1:15, Luke 1:41, Luke 1:67, Luke 4:1, Luke 12:12, Luke 21:15, John 14:26, John 20:22, Acts 1:5, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:11, Acts 4:8, Acts 4:31, Acts 6:3, Acts 6:5, Acts 6:8, Acts 7:55, Acts 9:17, Acts 10:46, Acts 11:15, Acts 11:24, Acts 13:9, Acts 13:52, Acts 19:6, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Corinthians 13:8, 1 Corinthians 14:5, 1 Corinthians 14:18, 1 C”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Acts 17:5 cross-references: Judges 9:4, Job 30:1, Psalms 35:15, Psalms 69:12, Proverbs 14:30, Isaiah 26:11, Matthew 27:18, Acts 7:9, Acts 13:45, Acts 14:2, Acts 14:19, Acts 17:7, Acts 17:9, Acts 17:13, Acts 18:12, Acts 19:24, Acts 19:40, Romans 16:21, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Galatians 5:21, Galatians 5:26, 1 Thessalonians 2:14, James 4:5”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Acts 13:2 cross-references: Numbers 8:11, Deuteronomy 10:8, 1 Samuel 2:11, 1 Chronicles 16:4, 1 Chronicles 16:37, Daniel 9:3, Matthew 6:16, Matthew 9:14, Matthew 9:38, Matthew 17:21, Luke 2:37, Luke 10:1, Acts 6:4, Acts 8:29, Acts 9:15, Acts 10:19, Acts 10:30, Acts 13:3, Acts 14:26, Acts 16:6, Acts 20:28, Acts 22:21, Romans 1:1, Romans 10:15, Romans 15:16, 1 Corinthians 7:5, 1 Corinthians 12:11, 2 Corinthians 6:5, 2 Corinthians 11:27, Galatians 1:15, Galatians 2:8, Ephesians 3:7, Colossians 4:17, 1 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 1:11, 2 Timothy 2:2, 2 Timothy 4:5, 2 Timothy 4:11, Hebrews 5:4”
- Acts “For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.” -- Acts 17:20”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 1.--THE INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE DEPENDS ON THE DISCOVERY AND ENUNCIATION OF THE MEANING, AND IS TO BE UNDERTAKEN IN DEPENDENCE ON GOD'S AID.: 1. THERE are two things on which all interpretation of Scripture depends: the mode of ascertaining the proper meaning, and the mode of making known the meaning when it is ascertained. We shall treat first of the mode of ascertaining, next of the mode of making known, the meaning;--a great and arduous undertaking, and one that, if difficult to carry out, it is, I fear, presumptuous to en”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 27.--ONE PASSAGE SUSCEPTIBLE OF VARIOUS INTERPRETATIONS.: 38. When, again, not some one interpretation, but two or more interpretations are put upon the same words of Scripture, even though the meaning the writer intended remain undiscovered, there is no danger if it can be shown from other passages of Scripture that any of the interpretations put on the words is in harmony with the truth. And if a man in searching the Scriptures endeavors to get at the intention of the author through whom the Holy Spirit spoke, whether he succee”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 41: the others have been voluntary agents in acting, if the Lord Jesus had not directed their hearts? 9. Some, who would be thought more acute, endeavour to evade all these passages, by the quibble, that there is nothing to hinder us from contributing our part, while God, at the same time, supplies our deficiencies. They, moreover, adduce passages from the Prophets, in which the work of our conversion seems to be shared between God and ourselves; “Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hos”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 13 (introduction): We have not yet met with any things concerning the spreading of the gospel to the Gentiles which bears any proportion to the largeness of that commission, "Go, and disciple all nations." The door was opened in the baptizing of Cornelius and his friends; but since then we had the gospel preached to the Jews only, Act 11:19. It should seem as if the light which began to shine upon the Gentile world had withdrawn itself. But here in this chapter that work, that great good work, is revived in the midst of the years; and though the Jews shall still have the ”