Luke continues to narrate the experiences of the Jerusalem Jesus household. Inner tensions emerge between Greek and Hebrew-speaking widows revealing 'cracks' in the 'idyllic' Jesus household (6.1-6). The apostles respond and Seven, including Stephen and Philip, are appointed to address the issue. Stephen is arrested by the religious authorities (6.8-15). In his long speech--the longest in Acts--Luke offers a way of interpreting the Israelite story that affirms Jesus as authentically linked to Israel and the growth of the Jesus movement (7.1-53). Stephen's critique of the religious leaders results in his death, dying like Luke's Jesus with forgiveness on his lips for his executors (7.54-8.1a). Present at Stephen's execution is Saul (later called Paul), who will become Luke's hero as Acts unfolds. Philip continues to preach the Gospel, first in Samaria (8.4-13) and next to an Ethiopian government official on his way from Jerusalem back to Ethiopia (8.20-40). Philip's baptism of the Ethiopian indicates that the Good News of Jesus is moving beyond the Jewish world into the wider reaches of the Mediterranean world. We await now what happens.

Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.