Great NT Profiles Part 19

Homework Tips Checklist for Parents

THE CENTURIONS

Related Scriptures:

Ø Luke 7:1-10; Matthew 27:54; Acts 10:1-7

• All the scenes of the NT lie in the heart of the Roman Empire.

• Centurions are Roman army officers of prestigious rank and authority.

• There are several centurions mentioned in the New Testament:

• The one who came to seek the aid of Christ for his slave (Lk 7:1-10)

• The one at the cross (Matthew 27:54//Mark 15:39)

• Cornelius in the book of Acts (Acts 10:1-7)

• The ones in relation to Paul (Acts 22:25-29; 23:23)

• Julius was responsible for taking Paul to Rome (Acts 27:1-28:16)

The Danger of Christians in the First Century

• Especially for Gentiles, affiliating with the church would cause cultural and familial disruption.

• Gentiles (especially of the upper classes) would no longer be able to participate in symposia or banquets where “idol meat” was served or libations poured.

• Charges of incest and cannibalism might be expected, along with accusations of treason and misanthropy.

• The proclamation of Jesus as a “king” would appear politically threatening.

The Roman Army and the Pax Romana

• The principal unit outside of Rome was the legion (see Mark 5:1– 20), with a complement of 5,500 to 6,000 men (Roman citizens).

• In addition to legions, Rome employed auxiliary troops, often comprised of conscripts.

• The centurion was the presiding officer over a “century,” which normally consisted of 80 men, not 100.

• The centurions, who may be compared to commanders today, had judicial and administrative, as well as military, responsibilities.

• Centurions also functioned in the auxiliary troops. Some were soldiers who rose through the ranks; others transferred from the legions.

The Healed Servant or Son

• The Capernaum centurion is a non-Jew who seeks healing for a “child” (or “servant”) – Matt. 8:5-13; Luke 7:2-10; John 4:46-54).

• In Luke 7:2-10, the centurion is a God-fearer who loves the Jewish people.

• In this account the healing is done from a distance.

• John 4:46-54 refers only to a “royal official” in Capernaum, but the plot is similar.

• In this account, the miracle serves as a sign of Jesus’ power and prompts belief.

The Centurion at the Cross

• In Mark 15:39, the centurion sees Jesus die and proclaims, “Truly this man was a son of God.”

• In Matt. 27:54, “When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was a son of God.’”

• In Luke 23:47, “When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent/righteous.’”

• In the apocryphal Letter of Pilate to Herod, the centurion, named Longinus, accompanies Procla to Galilee to witness the teaching of the resurrected Jesus. The Gospel of Peter mentions a centurion named Petronius, who is sent by Pilate to guard the tomb.

Cornelius

• Cornelius is the subject of Acts’ longest single narrative (10:1–11:18).

• He was “pious/faithful and fearing God with all his household, doing many charitable deeds for the people, and serving God through all” (10:2). Like the centurion in Luke 7, he is a model “God-fearer” and “righteous Gentile.”

• Angels announce to Cornelius that his “prayers and charitable deeds” are known in heaven and command that he fetch Simon (Peter) from Joppa.

The Giving of the Spirit

• While Peter is speaking the Holy Spirit fell on those hearing the word (10:44)

• Peter repeats the story for the Jerusalem contingent (11:1-18) and hints at it at the Apostolic Council (Acts 15:7-11).

Legendary Development

• “The centurion who pierces Jesus’ side in John is assimilated to the centurion who confesses him “Son of God” in Mark and Matthew. Named Longinus, he is, according to legend, martyred at Caesarea in Cappadocia in 58.

• In Thomas B. Chastain’s “The Robe,” the centurion (identified as a tribune named Marcellus; in the movie version, played by Richard Burton) becomes a believer who is eventually martyred by Nero.

Great NT Profiles Part 18

Homework Tips Checklist for Parents

PHILIP

Related Scriptures:

Ø Acts 6:1-6; 8:4-40; 21:7-9

• Phillip, a second Hellenist in Acts, flees Jerusalem at the start of the persecution during which Stephen lost his life.

• He is often called “The Evangelist” because he starts the process of converting Samaria.

• He is ordered by an angel to take the road from Jerusalem to Gaza providing instruction to an Ethiopian court official.

• Philip continues his missionary activities in Caesarea.

His Name

• Philip is a Greek name well known to both Jews and Christians in the first century.

His Appointment

• Philip was appointed, with Stephen, by the Twelve, to serve (diakonein) at table to ensure the Hellenist widow’s food distribution (Acts 6:1-6).

Waiters or “Bankers”?

• It is commonly thought that the Seven functioned as waiters and served meals to the Greek-speaking widows. The NIV, NASB, and NRSV even include the word “food” in their English translations of Acts 6:1, but there is no word for “food” in the Greek text.

• A different scenario to that of serving meals is that the seven men in Acts 6 administered funds, not food, and that they served at banking tables rather than at dining tables. The Greek word trapezai used in Acts 6:2 can refer generally to four-legged tables or specifically to banking tables.

His Convert

• Simon Magus (Acts 9:9-24). The title begins to appear in the second-century Clementine Recognitions.

• Simon is baptized on the basis of Philip’s teaching (8:13).

• Simon will be rebuked by Peter for wanting to obtain Apostolic authority and power (8:22)

Simon’s Heresy

• Although in Acts Simon appears contrite (8:24), Irenaeus labels him the “father of all heresies.”

• In Gnostic tradition, he is the consort of Helena (a Sophia-figure) whom he rescued from a brothel (symbolizing the prison of the flesh).

• In church legend, he duels with Peter in Rome. Claiming the ability to fly, he launches himself, but Peter causes his downfall.

Ethiopian Eunuch

• Philip finds “a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and who had come to Jerusalem to worship” (8:27).

• We are told his name is Simeon Bachos by Irenaeus.

• Simeon is also called the Niger (Acts 13:1)

• He was a black Gentile from the lowest class, possibly a slave class.

• Possibly taken away from his family and brought to the palace.

• He was a eunuch made to be a servant.

• He becomes a high-ranking court official.

Reading Isaiah

• Acts claims he read Isa. 53:7–8; of direct pertinence to the chamberlain’s situation is Isa56:4-5 (see also Wis. 3:13–14):

• “To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, and who choose that which pleases me and strengthen my covenant, I will give to them … a monument [Hebrew: yad, that is, “phallus” or “seed”] and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.”

In Caesarea

• According to Acts 21:8-9, Philip has a house in Caesarea where Paul and his companions stayed for a week.

• Living there were Philip’s four virgin daughters, who had the gift of prophecy.

Philip’s Daughters

• Several early Christian writers mention Philip’s daughters.

• Eusebius regarded their ministry as the benchmark for prophetic ministry in the early church.

• He also quotes Papias who said people travelled great distances to visit these females.

• They seemed to exercise their ministry freely and powerfully and were in high demand.

Question to Consider

• What do the roles of the seven Hellenistic and twelve Apostles suggest about church leadership?

Great NT Profiles Part 15

Homework Tips Checklist for Parents

PONTIUS PILATE

Related Scriptures:

• Luke 13:1-5; Matthew 27:1-28; Mark 15:1-15; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-19:42; Acts 3:13-15; 4:27-31; 13:28-33; 1 Timothy 6:13-16

• Pontius Pilate was the fifth governor (prefect) of the Roman province of Judea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26/27 to 36/37 CE. It is believed he hailed from the Samnium region of central Italy.

• Pilate appears in the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus and the

• Jewish philosopher Philo.

• In the New Testament, he is at best opportunistic, culturally insensitive, and often cruel.

Governorship

• Jesus was crucified during Pilate’s governorship, which lasted from 26 to 36 C.E.

• Pilate was appointed by Tiberius himself known for anti-Jewish sentiments.

• Pilate was known for his lack of respect for the Jewish population and cruelty (Luke 13:1-5)

Clash with the Jewish Population

• Pilate is known to have treated Jewish customs with contempt.

• Almost immediately upon his arrival in Palestine in A.D. 26, he was at odds with the Jews.

• There are three major clashes.

Clash 1

• His first act of provocation was the introduction into Jerusalem of Roman standards with embossed figures of the emperor.

• Previous prefects had been careful not to offend Jewish religious views by not allowing any sign of emperor worship when the troops entered Jerusalem.

• This act aroused great indignation and as a result the Jews sent a delegation to Caesarea who pled for five days for the removal of the standards.

Clash 2

• Pilate seized funds from the national treasury known as the Corbonas in order to construct an aqueduct.

• Later when Pilate visited Jerusalem, the Jews met him with anger.

• He orders his soldiers to mingle among the crowd dressed as civilians with hidden clubs.

• On a prearranged signal, they drew their clubs and began to beat the protestors, killing many.

Clash 3

• In AD 36 a Samaritan false prophet promised his followers that he would show them the sacred vessels, which, according to tradition, Moses had buried on Mount Gerazim.

• Many believed him and gathered with arms at the foot of the mountain. Pilate blocked the projected route with heavily armed infantry.

• Some of the followers were killed in battle, others imprisoned, and others executed.

Dismissal

• The Samaritans complained to Vitellius, prefect of Syria, who shortly afterwards sent Marcellus to take temporary charge of Judea, ordering Pilate to report to Tiberius.

The Gospel Portrait

All four Gospels portray him as a vacillating judge.

The Trial of Jesus

• The Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate early on Friday morning of the passion week (Matt. 27:1-2, 11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-38).

Barabbas

• All four Gospels show an interest in the release of Barabbas.

Only in Matthew

• Only in Matthew does Pilate wash his hands to symbolize his innocence (27:24)

• Only in Matthew do “all the people” cry, “His blood be on our heads and on the heads of our children” (27:25)

Only in Luke

• Only in Luke does Pilate declare Jesus “innocent”. Luke emphasizes it three times.

• Pilate (23:4)

• Herod Antipas (23:11)

• Roman centurion (23:47)

Only in John

• John’s account shows Pilate desperate to release Jesus. (John 18:31).

• Pilate finally gave in to the pressure of the Jewish leaders when they threatened him with the accusation of not being a friend of Caesar (John 19:12).

Questions of History

• Pilate seems to disappear from history after his rule.

• According to Josephus and the Roman historian Tacitus, Pilate was removed from office and sent back to Rome.

• According to some traditions he was executed by Emperor Caligula or committed suicide, with his body thrown into the Tiber River.

• The early church father Tertullian claimed he became a follower of Jesus and tried to convert the emperor to Christianity.