The Gospel of Luke & the Acts of the Apostles
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The Gospel of Luke & The Acts of the Apostles The Theme of Jesus’ Kingship vs. Rulers and Authorities Mako A. Nagasawa Foreground Action: The Heir to the Throne Lk.1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. Foreground Action: Jesus and Caesar Lk.20:20 So they watched him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch him in some statement, so that they could deliver him to the rule and the authority of the governor. 21 They questioned him, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and you are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?’ 23 But he detected their trickery and said to them, 24 ‘Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have? They said, ‘Caesar’s.’ 25 And he said to them, ‘Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. 26 And they were unable to catch him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at his answer, they became silent. Foreground Action: Jesus and Power Lk.22:24 And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25 And he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called Benefactors.’ 26 But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials; 29 and just as my Father has granted me a kingdom, I grant you 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Foreground Action: Jesus, Pilate, and Herod Lk.23:1 Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a King. 3 So Pilate asked him, saying, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ And he answered him and said, ‘It is as you say.’ 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I find no guilt in this man.’ 5 But they kept on insisting, saying, ‘He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place.’ 6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time. 8 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had been hearing about him and was hoping to see some sign performed by him. 9 And he questioned him at some length; but he answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing him vehemently. 11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating him with contempt and mocking him, dressed him in a gorgeous robe and sent him back to Pilate. 12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other. 13 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, you brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against him. 15 No, nor has Herod, for he sent him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 Therefore I will punish him and release him. 17 [Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.] 18 But they cried out all together, saying, ‘Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!’ 19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept on calling out, saying, Crucify, crucify him! 22 And he said to them the third time, ‘Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish him and release him.’ 23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that he be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will. Foreground Action: The Ascension of the King Acts 1:1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, Which, He said, you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. 6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, Lord, is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Israel? 7 He said to them, It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Foreground Action: The Apostles and the Jerusalem Council, Part 1 Acts 4:1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 5 On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, By what power, or in what name, have you done this? 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. 13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.