Bible Challenge Day 105: On The Road (Acts 1)

I am happy to be starting Acts of the Apostles, which I have always loved. And I like what Sam Candler had to say in the Bible Challenge commentary for the day. (It helps that I know him a little bit. He lives near my parents and serves at the Cathedral in Atlanta where I attended Church as a child.)

Sam makes two important points. First, Acts continues the story of the Gospel of Luke. Second, 1:8 sets the agenda for the book. Jesus sends his disciples out to be his witnesses (1) in Jerusalem, (2) in Judea and Samaria, and (3) to the ends of the earth. The action follows this three-part scheme, which provides the basic structure of the book.

This makes the point that the disciples are supposed to hit the road. They are not supposed to stay in Jerusalem and enjoy intimacy with Christ and with each other. They are supposed to go out into the world to do the work of Christ.

The emphasis on the road continues from the Gospel of Luke. Much of the action of the Gospel, including many of the most famous parables, takes place on the road.

We see the same thing in my very favorite part of this chapter. Jesus ascends into heaven. The disciples are standing around, looking after him. Suddenly two angels appear and challenge them. “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” Get to work! The rest of the book is about them doing just that.

Fr. Harvey