Acts: About Earth’s Children: An Ecological Listening to the Acts of the Apostles

Description

The gospel of Luke presents an ecological symphony that reveals a Jesus connected to Earth. His ministry touches all aspects of creation, human and non-human, and invites disciples into an ecological asceticism. This same spirit continues in the Acts of the Apostles. In this Earth Bible Commentary on Acts, Michael Trainor allows our environmental concerns to shape his interpretative approach, and thus ecological nuances emerge. Luke’s household of disciples, imbued with the spirit of the risen Jesus, to embrace the world and bring to it a word of reconciliation, embark on this mission. This formally begins at Pentecost with their reception of God’s creative and renewing Spirit that empowers them as Earth’s children. From this moment an explosion of activity moves them over Earth’s lands, beginning in Jerusalem, Earth’s navel (Acts 1.1-8.1), into Samaria, the space in-between that navel and Galilee, the garden of God’s earthly delights (Acts 8.2-11.17), to the ends of Earth, Rome (Acts 11.18-28.33). As we trace Luke’s vast geographical journey around the Mediterranean, key moments highlight fresh environmental insights that offer new hope for contemporary disciples seeking ecological affirmation at this particular time in world history. Cover page Halftitle page Title page Copyright page Dedication Contents Abbreviations Figures Illustrations INTRODUCTION Situating the Acts of the Apostles Interpreting Biblical Texts Ecologically Luke’s Context Luke’s Agenda Approaching Acts: ‘Intertextuality’ Insights from Luke’s Gospel Ecological Images in Acts The Basileia-ecotopia An Outline of the Acts of the Apostles Part One 1 Acts 1.1-5. An Ecological Orientation Acts’ Prologue (1.1-5) Luke’s Gospel Remembered Conclusion 2 Acts 1.6-11. The Ecological Mission Jesus’ Final Words to his Disciples (1.6-8) Jesus Ascends (1.9-11) Conclusion 3 Acts 1.12–2.47. The Ecologically Renewed Household The ‘Upper Room’ (1.12-26) Pentecost (2.1-36) ‘All Flesh . . . Shall Prophesy’ The Jerusalem Jesus Household Renewed (2.38-47) Conclusion 4 Acts 3.1–6.7. The Fruitfulness of Earth’s Children Peter’s Address to his Jerusalem Audience (3.12-26) Anti-Judaism in Acts (4.1-23) The God of Creation (4.24-35) Generosity and Greed (4.36–5.11) Witness, Tensions and Growth (5.12–6.7) Conclusion 5 Acts 6.8–8.1a. Earth’s Presence in Stephen’s Story of Israel Stephen, the ‘Wonder Worker’ (6.8) The Structure and Purpose of Acts 6.8–8.1a ‘Earth’ (gē) Language in Acts 7 Conclusion Part Two 6 Acts 8.1b–9.31. Water and Earth Philip, the Ethiopian Court Official, and Water (8.4-40) Saul, ‘The Way’, and Foot Travel (9.1-31) Saul’s Damascus Experience (9.1-19) Conclusion 7 Acts 9.32–11.18. Earth’s Linen Sheet Two Healing Events (9.32-35, 36-43) Cornelius and Peter (10.1-48) Peter Reports to the Jerusalem Leaders (11.1-18) The ‘Great Linen Sheet’ (‘othonē’) (10.11) The Linen Sheet’s Creatures (10.12) Conclusion 8 Acts 11.19–14.28. Earth’s Interconnectivity and the God of Creation The ‘Worldwide Famine’ (limos) (11.28) Peter’s Release and Earth’s Presence: Iron (12.1-11) Peter’s Clothing (12.8) The Suffering ‘Country’ (12.20) The Growth of God’s Word by Barnabas and Saul (13.1-49) The First Missionary Journey of Paul and Barnabas (13.4–14.26) The God of Creation (14.1-28) Conclusion 9 Acts 15.1–16.40. Earth Acts at Philippi The Jerusalem Meeting, Paul’s Second Journey Begins (15.6–16.10) Sabbath Rest by a River (16.11-40) Earth’s Gifts Abused (16.22) Release through Earth’s ‘Quake’ (16.26) Water, Hospitality and Food (16.33-34) Conclusion 10 Acts 17.1–18.1. The God of Life and Breath The Earth (oikouminē) ‘Turned Upside Down’ (17.6-15) Paul’s God of Earth and Heaven (17.16-23) The Life-Giving God (17.24-28) Conclusion 11 Acts 18.2–20.12. The Artisan, Artemis and the Lord’s Supper Paul: Earth’s Artisan (18.1-17) At Ephesus: Artemis and her Silversmiths (19.1–20.1) At Troas: The Lord’s Supper (20.2-12) Conclusion 12 Acts 20.13–26.32. Earth’s Child Identifies with Earth’s Children To the Ephesian Elders: ‘Look after Earth’s Sheep’ (20.17-35) Paul the Ascetic (20.33-35) The Voyage to Caesarea (20.36–21.17) Paul’s Jerusalem Address: About the Ascended Jesus (22.1-21) Earth and Existential Life (22.22-23) Paul’s Final Trial in Caesarea (25.13–26.33) Conclusion Part Three 13 Acts 27.1–28.31. The Final Voyage towards Rome and Earth’s ‘End’ The Initial Voyage and Earth’s Reaction (27.1-8) The ‘Dangerous’ Voyage (27.9-20) Paul’s Vision and Shared Meal (27.21-38) ‘Saved on Earth’ (27.39-44) From Malta to Rome (28.1-31) Rome’s Grain Port: Puteoli (28.11-13) Paul’s Ecological Dwelling (28.23-28) Witnessing to the End of the Earth (28.30-31) Conclusion Part Four CONCLUSION Luke’s Ecological Resonances in Acts Acts in Summary Concluding Ecological Insights Bibliography Index of Authors Index of References