Sirach 36 – Jerusalem Bible note says
the prayer here “reveals the sentiments of pious Jews about the year 190 just
before the Maccabaean revolt” (1085). As a teacher of history, I find the
Maccabaean revolt interesting to contemplate. In a way it was a revolt of very
conservative religious leaders who were fed up with the dissolution of strict
Jewish culture and practice. The young people of their day were fascinated by
and drawn to the “worldly” values and universalism of the Hellenists. Probably
most Quakers today would not have felt any sympathy for the Maccabaeans. They
were the religious conservatives of their day.
The
author here asks God to extend his realm beyond the Jews to all nations. “Let
them acknowledge you, just as we have acknowledged that there is no God but
you, Lord” (36:4).
“Rouse
your fury, pour out your rage, destroy the opponent, annihilate the enemy” (36:6).
“Show
compassion on your holy city . . .Bear witness to those you created in the
beginning [the Patriarchs?], and bring about what has been prophesied in your
name. Give those who wait for you their reward, and let your prophets be proved
worthy of belief” (36:12-15).
“The
man who takes a wife has the makings of a fortune [or ‘the best of
possessions’], a helper that suits him, and a pillar to lean on . . .when a man
has no wife, he is aimless and querulous [‘a tramp and a wanderer’]” (36:24-25).
Acts 17:1-14 – Mission to Thessalonika - They pass
through Amphipolis and Apollonia on their way to Thessalonika, where there was
a synagogue. They stay for three weeks, presenting their message, using arguments from scripture (17:2)
to show that Jesus was the Christ. A number of Jews, Greek fellow-worshippers
and some wealthy women are converted – Aristarchus is one. Some members of the
synagogue, however, are angry and stir up the city. They accuse Paul and the
others of trying to claim Jesus as a rival emperor (17:7).
Ray Brown points out that the “charges” brought against Paul
“resembles the list of charges against Jesus before Pilate in Luke 23:2—a list
found only in Luke” (310). The charges against Jesus are inciting people to
revolt, opposing the payment of tribute to the Roman emperor and claiming to be
a king (Christ). Here Paul is accused with the entire Christian community of
“turning the whole world upside down” and breaking “every one of Caesar’s
edicts by claiming that there is another emperor, Jesus” (17:6-7).
Paul
and Silas are sent away to Beroea (just south of Thessalonika) where they find
the Jews more accepting. Every day “they studied the scriptures to check
whether it was true” (17:11). Interesting this
searching of the Old Testament – they will find so much in their to link Jesus
to the narrative in multiple ways. Interesting
also that Luke points out so directly that many women – apparently quite
influential and wealthy in this region – are drawn to the message of Paul and
Silas. The angry people from Thessalonika come after them, and Paul moves
further south to Athens while Silas and Timothy remain for a while.
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