Good work may not be appreciated. If we expect any reward, we had better not do good in the first place. Most of the time, we will be disappointed if our motive is reward or appearing good before others. Therefore, we should do good for goodness' sake. Even so, we can come into troubles. This was what happened to Peter and John when they healed a man who had been lame since birth.
Alerted by the crowd, the priests, the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees came. They were
annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead (Acts 4:2).
The Sadducees were a political-religious party. They only accepted the Torah and rejected the Prophets and Holy Writings of the Hebrew Scripture. In a sense, they were ultra-conservative. In particular, they rejected the belief in the resurrection from the dead. In the gospels, they challenged Jesus with the hypothetical case of seven brothers marrying the same woman in succession according to the law stipulated in Deuteronomy 25:5-10.
Meanwhile, the Christian community had expanded to 5000 since Pentecost (Acts 4:4).
annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead (Acts 4:2).
The Sadducees were a political-religious party. They only accepted the Torah and rejected the Prophets and Holy Writings of the Hebrew Scripture. In a sense, they were ultra-conservative. In particular, they rejected the belief in the resurrection from the dead. In the gospels, they challenged Jesus with the hypothetical case of seven brothers marrying the same woman in succession according to the law stipulated in Deuteronomy 25:5-10.
Meanwhile, the Christian community had expanded to 5000 since Pentecost (Acts 4:4).
On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem,
with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family (Acts 4:5-6).
In New Testament time, Jewish High Priest was appointed annually. In the gospels, only Mark does not mention the name of the High Priest. The remaining three all mention Caiaphas the High Priest in the Passion narrative of Jesus. Caiaphas was still the High Priest before Passover. After Pentecost, Annas was the High Priest. So, High Priest changed office some time between Passover and Pentecost. Perhaps Passover marked the beginning of a new Jewish year.
with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family (Acts 4:5-6).
In New Testament time, Jewish High Priest was appointed annually. In the gospels, only Mark does not mention the name of the High Priest. The remaining three all mention Caiaphas the High Priest in the Passion narrative of Jesus. Caiaphas was still the High Priest before Passover. After Pentecost, Annas was the High Priest. So, High Priest changed office some time between Passover and Pentecost. Perhaps Passover marked the beginning of a new Jewish year.
When Peter stood up to defend, he was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8). He had become the mouth-piece of God. This time, he was less sympathetic. Peter sharply criticized the Jewish authority for rejecting Jesus. He was passing judgment over them.
This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner (Acts 4:11).
The same verse, Psalm 118:22, has been quoted by Jesus when he told the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (e.g. Mark 12:1-11) to warn the Jewish authority. But Jesus was less explicit in identifying the Jewish authority as the builders. Time has changed. Peter could not be more explicit. The early Church had already embraced Jesus as the head of the corner.
This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner (Acts 4:11).
The same verse, Psalm 118:22, has been quoted by Jesus when he told the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (e.g. Mark 12:1-11) to warn the Jewish authority. But Jesus was less explicit in identifying the Jewish authority as the builders. Time has changed. Peter could not be more explicit. The early Church had already embraced Jesus as the head of the corner.
Nowadays, we do not build our own houses. So, we may not appreciate the importance of the head of the corner. Yet, we know what guidelines are. Making mistakes is inevitable in life but following good guidelines can prevent us from making mistakes. The Jews in the first century had followed a bad guideline. They expected a military Messiah and rejected a suffering Messiah. In the end, they paid a heavy price in their rebellions against the Romans in 66-70 A.D. and again in 132-136 A.D. Shall we not learn from their mistakes?
On a personal level, we can follow any favourite role-models of our likes. Why not make the risen Lord our model and follow him?
On a personal level, we can follow any favourite role-models of our likes. Why not make the risen Lord our model and follow him?
Dear Lord, You have promised us eternal life and invited us to follow You. May our daily contemplation on Your words keep You close to our hearts. Amen.
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