Quote from Forum Archives on April 29, 2009, 11:12 am

Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>

Forthright Magazine
www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross

Got Twitter? Facebook? Yahoo? Google?
Forthright Press is wired for you.
forthrightpress.com/#SignUpFree

COLUMN: HANDS-ON FAITH

Parthians, Medes and Ethiopians
by Barry Newton

Familiarity with Acts 2 could stimulate some subtle
dissonance with this title, "Parthians, Medes and
Ethiopians." After all, the third nationality Luke
recorded should be Elamites, not Ethiopians. So why the
switch?

Perhaps noticing how comfortable Luke could be in
describing Jews by their national identities can assist
in unraveling a conflict among commentators in Acts 8.
Some have suggested that the Ethiopian eunuch who went
to Jerusalem to worship was not a Jew or a Jewish
proselyte, but rather a God-fearing Gentile.

What difference does this make? If correct then many
have taught inaccurately about Cornelius being the
first Gentile convert. Also, from a literary viewpoint
Cornelius' conversion would appear to be an
uncharacteristic and awkward backstep.

What evidence is there suggesting either that the
eunuch was a Jew or a Gentile God-fearer?

Does his ethnic identification simply as an Ethiopian
imply he was non-Jewish? The fact that Luke identifies
him by his nationality does not preclude him from being
Jewish as seen by Luke's earlier reference to Jews as
being Parthians and Medes. Furthermore, we know that
there were Jewish communities in that area as evidenced
by Zephaniah 3:10 and the Elephantine papyri.

What about the literary perspective regarding this
worshiping-at-Jerusalem Ethiopian eunuch? Only after
the Eunuch's conversion when the Spirit is poured out
upon the God-fearer Cornelius does the Jerusalem church
acknowledge, "God has granted even the Gentiles
repentance unto life"(Acts 11:18). It would seem quite
odd given their keen awareness of Philip's other
evangelistic activity, that such a huge religious
milestone at Philip's hands would have gone unnoticed
by them.

Furthermore, given the smooth literary flow of Acts
which is so methodical in advancing ideas, Peter's
statement to Cornelius, "I now realize … that God does
not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation
who fear him and do what is right"(Acts 10:34) would
represent an awkward backstep if the eunuch had been
the first Gentile convert.

While not conclusive, it is only after Luke records the
conversion of Cornelius' household does Luke specify
that in contrast to preaching to the Jews some began to
speak to the Greeks also (Acts 11:20).

Finally, Jesus told Peter that he would be given the
keys to the kingdom. If this means that he was to be
the person who would open up the gates of the kingdom
by preaching to the Jews and Gentiles, then Philip
could not have preached to a Gentile God-fearer. Peter
did preach to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost. And
Luke makes a big deal of God showing that Peter should
preach to and accept those Gentiles who come to faith.

There does not seem to be any barrier to the eunuch
being a Jew. In my opinion, the weight of the evidence
appears to lean toward embracing the traditional view
that Cornelius' household represented the first non-
Jewish converts.

--
Read this article online, write your reaction, and
read others' comments as well. Click here:
tinyurl.com/cpd9wx

COLUMN: REALITY CHECK

Setbacks
by Stan Mitchell

"And he rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed to Egypt and remained there until the
death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had
spoken by the prophet, 'Out of Egypt I called my son.'"
(Matthew 2:14,15, ESV).

The young men filed into the locker room subdued. They
sat and buried their heads in their hands; some wept
openly. They had worked so hard this season, had
overcome so many obstacles, and they had lost in the
state championship game. So near, yet so far.

They were devastated.

Then coach Harmon entered, clip board under his arm.
His hair was white, his face rugged, his voice like a
bulldozer in low gear.

"Gentlemen," he began, "tonight was a setback. It
wasn't part of the plan to lose in the final; we wanted
to win. But there are only two seniors in this squad.
The rest of you will be here next year, with another
opportunity.

He held up an envelope. "Look at the stamp on this
envelope. You know what the difference is between most
people and a postage stamp?" He looked around at the
faces of the young men he led. "The difference is that
a postage stamp sticks to one thing until it gets
there!"

Jesus, the just born king of the Jews, spent his first
few years in distant Egypt. It appeared a setback. How
could he save Israel while in Egypt? It probably wasn't
in Joseph's plan, but setbacks are temporary; surrender
is permanent. Take on the adhesive strength of a
postage stamp - stick to the right destination till you
get there!

----
Read this article online, write your reaction, and
read others' comments as well. Click here:
www.forthright.net/reality_check/setbacks.html

You can help get the word out. Here's how:
www.forthright.net/editorial/lend_a_hand.html