Atos 24

Atos 24

Meyer says the name is apropos because of “the characteristic direction of life as determined by faith on Jesus Christ” Marty adds that "The designation of believers as belonging to the Way referred to a distinctive moral and spiritual way of life. Significantly, this is in contrast to Jewish halacha, meaning the way of walking, of rabbinic explanations of Mosaic law. Instead of following halacha, these believers follow the way of the Messiah. Notice that the Greek is very specific here - Luke says not "a Way" but "the Way." Christianity is not one of many ways to God but is "the way," the only way! Proverbs describes the approach of most people in the world declaring "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." (Pr 14:12). Jesus made it clear that He alone was the way (cf Acts 4:12+) when He declared “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; (absolutely) no one comes to the Father but through Me." (Jn 14:6). Even the demon possessed girl knew that Paul and Silas were proclaiming "the way of salvation." (Acts 16:17+). In Acts 18:25+ Apollos "had been instructed in the way of the Lord." In Paul's third mention of his conversion on the Damascus road, he declares "I saw on the way a light from heaven." (Acts 26:13+) In other words on the way to persecute Christians he encountered the Way of salvation, the Savior Himself! Stated another way, as Saul journeyed on his way to arrest members of the Way, he himself was arrested by the One Who alone is the Way! What divine irony! Compare parallel uses of the way - "the way into the holy place" (Heb 9:8), "the way of truth" (2 Pe 2:2), "the way of righteousness" (2 Pe 2:21) Jesus warned there were two ways, one broad, the other narrow, but only one way leads to eternal life... Enter (aorist imperative) through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Mt 7:13-14+) Comment: Jesus' words are paralleled by the psalmist's description of the two ways in Psalm 1 - "For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish." (Ps 1:6+) Longenecker comments that "The origin of the absolute use of “the Way” for Christians is uncertain, though it surely had something to do with the early believers’ consciousness of walking in the true path of God’s salvation and moving forward to accomplish his purposes." (Expositors Bible Commentary) Did you notice the four names Luke used for believers in Acts 9? Disciples (Acts 9:1, 10, 19, 25, 26, 36, 38) The Way (Acts 9:2) Saints (Acts 9:13, 32, 41) - first time they are called "saints" in Acts (cf Acts 26:10). Brother (Acts 9:17) PAUL'S GOD IS SAME AS GOD OF THE JEWS I do serve the God of our fathers - This is a very Jewish affirmation and again shows how the early church was still closely linked to Judaism. Notice how Peter and Stephen's statements also serve to link Christianity to Judaism. Acts 3:13+ (PETER) The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. Acts 5:30+ (PETER AND THE APOSTLES) “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. Acts 7:32+ (STEPHEN QUOTING MOSES - Ex 3:6). "‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB.’ Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look." Vincent on God of our fathers - A familiar classical phrase, and therefore well known to Felix. Thus Demosthenes calls Apollo the πατρῷος(ancestral god) of Athens. Socrates is asked (Plato, “Euthydemus,” 302), “Have you an ancestral Zeus (Ζεὺς πατρῷος )?” So, frequently, in the classics. Similarly, the Roman phrase, Di patrii, “the gods of the forefathers. ” On the Roman reverence for the ancestral religion, see note on Acts 16:21+. The Roman's own sentiment would prepare him to respect Paul's.