Talk:Acts 1:1-5:42

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Verses 2:16-21[edit]

Hi Sean, On your question "How does this prophecy apply to the early apostles and the members in their day?" why do you specifically ask about the early apostles and members versus current members? do you see this as talking about them more than us? --Matthew Faulconer 09:03, 14 July 2007 (CEST)

No, I certainly think the prophecy is explicitly referring to our day. That being said, I was initially curious, while reading through this, as to why Peter cites it and connects it with what is happening at his time. This is not the fulfillment of the prophecy, so what is he trying to say? Looking back at the question, I think I can see that it might be a bit difficult to get that out of my question. --Seanmcox 22:38, 16 July 2007 (CEST)
I've made an update to the question, but feel free to tweak it further. --Seanmcox 22:46, 16 July 2007 (CEST)

Verse 5:30: Hanged on a tree & Judas[edit]

Mjberkey, related to your question about Judas, here's my take. It is a bit conjecture, so hopefully someone who knows can confirm/deny. Peter and the apostles are accused of making the priests responsible for Jesus's death (see v 28--"ye...intend to bring this man's blood upon us"). Peter and the apostles don't deny this accusation. In fact they specifically say in this vese that the priests slew Jesus. But (as I understand your question it is) why do they say "ye slew and hanged on a tree" rather than "ye slew and crucified"? Is it to connect this with Judas's death? I don't think so--though I think there is a connection.

The connection is that (I'm guessing given Deut 21:22-23 you linked to) hanging is the traditional way of punishing someone worthy of death used by the Jews. This is why Judas hung himself--it was an admission that his crime was worthy of death and he used the traditional way of killing someone worthy of death. The reason Peter says "hung on a tree" here instead of crucified is because crucifiction (again I'm sort of guessing) was a particularly roman way of killing. But Peter isn't trying to hold the romans responsible for Jesus's death. His point is that that priests are responsible. So he calls up the imagery associated with punishment by death used by the Jews.

--Matthew Faulconer 23:39, 8 July 2007 (CEST)

That seems reasonable. I like the galatians reference. Both Judas and Jesus were hung on a tree at about the same time, and according to Paul both were made a curse by it. But wasn't stoning the preferred method of execution by the Jews? Did they often hang people as well? --Mjberkey 00:08, 9 July 2007 (CEST)

Good question. and hopefully someone will happen along who can help us understand the relationship between stoning and hanging. (Of course, it would have been pretty hard for Judas to stone himself, even if that was the more common form.)--Matthew Faulconer 00:50, 9 July 2007 (CEST)

Hanging on a tree was between earth and heaven, signifying complete rejection by both, a condition of unwantedness.