Acts 23 – 24
Many look at Acts for deep spiritual truths when it’s mostly solid examples of how we should live. The prosperity preachers like to cherry pick verses that imply we will have riches and comfort if we ask. None of Acts imply that the life of a Christian is anything but sacrifice. I think we need to stop praying for wealth from God and focus more on his mission for us. Fortunately we live in a time where, at least in the USA and most of the “western world” we don’t have to worry about persecution in the same form as Paul and the disciples. Our “persecution” is more ridicule and less jailing.
Verse 23:8 differentiates between the Sadducees and the Pharisees:
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
Interesting how the Sadducees do not believe in basic fundamentals of our faith. Angels were depicted in Genesis as were spirits. Also, they must have been familiar with the story of Elijah who was resurrected. Or Job who had angels mentions. Why would they not believe the fundamentals of the religion? If you can’t believe that than how can you believe in an all-powerful God who parted the Red Sea.
I often wonder how groups like this come to being. I know there are some great contrasts between the “denominations” in Christianity. I think the largest one is the Trinity and understanding of that. There are slight nuances to outright denial with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. But they all believe in angels, the resurrection and spirits. Those seem to be a fundamental belief with God. Question I have if they don’t believe in angels, does that mean they do not believe in demons?
Verse 24:14 caught my eye because of the word “sect” and how it’s used:
But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
“The Way” appears to be a sect of Christian Jews who follow Christ. It’s unclear if that is what they call themselves or that is what others call them. Seems like an odd choice for a non-believer. This was actually introduced in chapter 9 where they were calling themselves the Way. Honestly it’s a great name since Jesus is the “way, the truth and the life”. I wonder why more churches haven’t used that name.