Getting Biblical in Daily Life
Christian Perspective
Acts of the Apostles is all about the beginnings of the Christian church. From humble origins, Christianity rose to become the largest religion on the planet with around 2.1 billion followers. Even the start of the term "Christian" is recorded in Acts—"It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called 'Christians'" (11:26). So yeah. Acts is kind of a big deal to Christians.
There are a few events in Acts that the majority of Christian denominations celebrate or recognize. Not that this means they celebrate or recognize them in the same way. Christians haven't done anything the same way since the first century (see: Acts). You can't expect them to start now.
Speaking of disagreement, the first church council ever was held in Acts. Usually called The Council of Jerusalem (15:5-6), this session was called to settle the question of Gentiles and circumcision. Loads of church councils were held after this. The First Council of Nicaea in 325 CE established that Jesus and God were one person and figured out how to find the date of Easter. In 1965, the Second Vatican Council put forth all kinds of reforms for the Roman Catholic Church. Obviously, not all Christians abide by the rulings of all the councils. That would be way too easy.
The celebration of Confirmation also comes from some of the episodes in Acts (8:14-17). When the disciples lay their hands on someone and pray that they receive the Holy Spirit, that's essentially what's still happening today when someone is confirmed into the church. Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and Mormons all still perform confirmation rituals similar to those in Acts.
Pentecost is also a pretty important event on the Christian calendar. Even today, Christians still celebrate the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles… otherwise known as that time the creepy tongues of fire floated into the room.
The Ascension of Jesus is a big one too. This even made its way into the Nicene and Apostles's Creeds, which most Christian denominations still use today. It's the whole Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father bit.
Lots of Christians love celebrating those events from Acts, but what about specific denominations? What do they get out of Acts? We're so glad you asked.
Mormon Perspective
Members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints believe that the original message of Jesus was distorted after he died. They think that this passage in Acts—"So that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets" (3:20-21)—points to a period in the future where all the good stuff Jesus had to pass on will be restored in its original glory. Naturally, this is already happening through the Mormon church.
Jehovah's Witness Perspective
Many Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to receive blood transfusion because of Acts 15:28-29—"It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: that you abstain […] from blood." The ban sometimes leads to court cases where children, who might die without transfusions, are given blood against the wishes of their parents.
Pentecostal Perspective
Pentecostal Christians are pretty into Acts of the Apostles. In fact, their name even comes from one of the big moments in the story—Pentecost. Their faith places a big emphasis on a having a relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. Pentecostal Christians are baptized both in water and with the Holy Spirit (sometimes at the same time and sometimes not, per Acts).
Jewish Perspective
Though contemporary Jewish people don't accept Act's main proposition—that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah—Judaism is still front and center in this book. As Jewish New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine puts it, "I think Jews need to know this material, because […] much of the New Testament is actually Jewish literature" (source).
Reading Acts of the Apostles is like peeking through a window into the state of first-century Judaism. You have a picture of a community that was once part of Judaism but is slowly breaking off. You also have a portrayal of Jewish groups around the Roman Empire from an entirely different perspective. Pretty fascinating stuff.
The one big negative about Acts is the way it's been used against the Jewish community over the years. The disciples say some pretty harsh things to the Jewish people in the story:
- "Jesus of Nazareth [who was] handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law." (2:23)
- "Let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead." (4:10)
- "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers." (7:51-52)
- "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." (18:6)
Some not-so-nice folks have pointed to these passages to confirm what their prejudiced little minds already tell them—God thinks it's fine to hate and oppress Jewish people. Sigh.
These verses also add fuel to the crazy idea that Jews are "Christ-killers." A nicer (not really) word for it is Jewish deicide. It's the idea that the Jewish people as a whole bear the guilt for Jesus's crucifixion. Oddly enough, it's not just that specific group of Jewish folks back in Jerusalem, but all Jews (past, present, and future) for all time who get implicated. Double sigh.
We're gonna go out on a limb and say that all these meanies are wrong.
If you think that Acts of the Apostles is anti-Jewish, then you're forgetting one tiny little fact: Jesus and his disciples were Jewish (source). They mix with other Jews, visit and teach in the temple, quote from Jewish scripture, debate Jewish law, and even take part in Jewish rituals and celebrations. Sure they take issue with specific Jewish people who try to stone them to death, but they're otherwise pretty down with Judaism.
Islamic Perspective
Most Christians probably don't know how much Muslims dig Jesus. In true name-dropping form, the Qur'an mentions him about 25 times, as 'Iesa, a prophet and messenger. Muslims claim that Jesus actually laid the groundwork for Muhammad to introduce Islam to the world (source) and that all Muslims must believe in what Jesus has revealed (source).
But as far as Acts goes, Muslims would probably disagree on a few key issues. Mainly the whole crucifixion thing. While the apostles teach everyone that Jesus's death and resurrection are essential to understanding who he is, Muslims don't believe these events ever happened at all.
Even though most scholars think the crucifixion is pretty much a historical certainty, the Quran says that Jesus did not die at the hands of the Romans. They say that the enemies of Jesus would boast, "'Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him […] Rather, Allah raised him to Himself" (source).
Of course, Muslims don't mean any disrespect by this. It's actually the opposite. They think Jesus is far too great a guy to have been executed. Islamic tradition teaches that Allah just made it look like Jesus died on the cross, even though he actually ascended into Heaven unharmed. It's inconsistent with Islamic ideas about God that someone so faithful would be allowed to suffer and die. Of course, Acts doesn't see it that way at all.
One other thing: You know the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit situation that Acts keeps going on about? Muslims don't agree with that tenet of Christian faith either. They tend to be pretty firm about there being only one God:
Do not say, "Three," desist—It is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. (source)
Translation: it's a no-go for the Trinity.
The Quran does promise that "those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muhammad…] will have their reward with their Lord" (source). So maybe there's hope for the apostles after all.