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New Testament History |
The first reunion in JerusalemPeter and John left Jerusalem for a mission shortly before the first reunion (Acts 8:14).[1] Simon of Samaria converted and abdicated again (Acts 8:18-24) before Peter returned to Jerusalem (Acts 8:25) for the reunion.[2] The man who instigated the Samaritans shortly before Pilate’s deposition[3] (in the winter of 36/37 AD)[4] was Simon of Samaria.[5] All the Apostles (Acts 6:2 “the Twelve”) assembled for the first time in Jerusalem 3 years after the crucifixion,[6] in 36 AD, at which time the Hellenists were complaining about alms (Acts 6:1). A.C.E. saw this first reunion on Thursday 14 June 1821.[7] 14 June 36 AD coincided with Thursday 1 Tammuz (Reingold and Dershowitz) or Thursday 1 Sivan (Parker and Dubberstein). The reunion took place at the Festival of the New Moon that preceded Pentecost. It was 3 years and 1 month after the ascension (14 May 33 AD-14 June 36 AD). The supremacy of Peter was recognised during a solemn ceremony,[8] Stephen and six other deacons were appointed (Acts 6:5),[9] and the Apostles brought together all that belonged to the body of the Church.[10] The Holy Virgin was living in Bethany at that time.[11] Before living in Bethany, the Holy Virgin had lived on Mount Zion (in Jerusalem) during the 3 years after the crucifixion (Nisan 33 AD-Nisan 36 AD).[12] The last week of Daniel’s prophecy of weeks (Dan 9:27, Tishri 29 AD-Tishri 36 AD) ended at the recognition of Peter on 1 Sivan 36 AD. After the reunion, James the Less stayed in Jerusalem; Peter was between Joppa and Lydda; Zachaeus went to Cedar; Thaddaeus to Geshur; Thomas to Samaria; John to Ephesus; and another Apostle to the Egyptian frontier.[13] Shortly after the first reunion, the Apostles were again summoned to Jerusalem because of a new complaint about the alms.[14] Stephen was summoned in the Temple but set free again.[15] After the complaint had been arranged, the Apostles went from Jerusalem to some frontier regions and to Samaria.[16] On the way from Samaria to Joppa, Peter baptised several persons.[17] Peter’s evangelisation incited an upheaval in Jerusalem, which caused Stephen to be imprisoned again, such that the people called the Apostles back to Jerusalem.[18] The Christian settlement near Bethany, which had been given to them by the Jews,[19] was destroyed.[20] The resurrection of Tabitha (Acts 9:36-43), the vision of the vessel with the beasts (Acts 10:9-16), and the conversion of Cornelius (Acts 10:17-48) took place between the return from the second complaint[21] and the second summons to Jerusalem (Acts 11:2). The expression “the Italica cohort” (Acts 10:1) implies that the events took place outside of the period 41-44 AD.[22][1] A.C.E., Vie, 6:289: “Par de suite de la dernière persécution, Pierre et les autres apôtres s’étaient dispersés dans la Judée pour y prêcher l’évangile. […] Jacques le Mineur seul était resté à Jérusalem avec quelques disciples […]. Après cette absence, je revis tous les apôtres réunis à Jérusalem, au cénacle ; je les vis reconnaître, par une cérémonie solennelle, l’autorité et les prérogatives de Pierre.” [2] A.C.E., Vie, 6:291, 323. [3] Josephus, A.J. 18.85-87. [4] Mahieu 2012: 406. [5] Acts 8:26-40 describes the baptism of the servant of Queen Candace. This queen reigned for 10 years according to the Ethiopian king list (41-51 AD). Philip baptised the servant near Bethoron: A.C.E., Life, 3:178. [6] A.C.E., Life, 4:7. Maria de Agreda, Cité, 6:51, situates a division into provinces one year after the crucifixion. [7] A.C.E., Visionen Juni 1821, 57: “13.-14. Juni 1821. Apostelgeschichte: Wahl der sieben Diakonen.” A.C.E., Vie, 6:289, links the first reunion with Wednesday 13 June 1821. The publication of the visions on the public ministry confused the evening introducing the day of the vision (13 June) with the day of the vision (14 June). [8] A.C.E., Life, 4:444. [9] A.C.E., Life, 4:444-445. [10] A.C.E., Life, 4:7. [11] A.C.E., Vie, 6:289. [12] A.C.E., Visionen Juli 1821, 121; A.C.E., Mary, 346. [13] A.C.E., Vie, 6:292. [14] A.C.E., Vie, 6:292, 293-294. [15] A.C.E., Vie, 6:293 (the vision of Sunday 1 July 1821). [16] A.C.E., Vie, 6:294. [17] A.C.E., Vie, 6:295. [18] A.C.E., Vie, 6:294-295 (the visions of Monday 16 July 1821 and Saturday 4 August 1821). [19] A.C.E., Vie, 6:282-283. [20] A.C.E., Life, 3:457: “at the time of the stoning of St. Stephen, when the colony between Ophel and Bethania was destroyed”; A.C.E., Vie, 6:294-295 (the vision of Monday 16 July 1821): “Les Juifs détruisent les maisons des chrétiens et jusqu’aux établissements qu’ils leur ont accordés eux-mêmes.” [21] A.C.E., Vie, 6:292, 323. [22] Schürer 1973: 1:365. |