Pericope In Act 2 Essay

There are a few similarities between each of the pericopes assigned for this analysis. In almost all of the conversion accounts, there is some kind of some indication of the gospel being preached to the people directly (with the exception being Paul’s conversion, however the laying on of hands is mentioned in this specific account), and some kind of acceptance of the words that had been spoken to them. In Acts 2, Peter teaches to the Jews attending Pentecost. During this sermon, Peter refers to the crowd as the people who crucified Christ, but proceeds to tell them of God’s grace extended through Christ’s sacrifice which carries generations beyond. Each pericope adds a new facet of conversion which had not been previously seen. Following this formula, Peter’s sermon at Pentecost
is the first to include God’s promise and gift of the Holy Spirit. The next conversion account to look at is that of the Samarian people, specifically a magician named Simon.
God had sent Philip to minister in Samaria, and as he was preaching, many people believed and were amazed. After this specific event takes place, Peter and John are sent to investigate in Samaria. After they arrive, they lay hands on the new converts and the Holy Spirit fills them at that moment. This passage introduces the concept that non-Jews are welcomed into the kingdom of God, and it is also the first account of laying on of hands to invoke the Holy Spirit is recorded, and the concept of being baptized while not having the dwelling of the Spirit. Third is the pericope of the Ethiopian Eunuch’s conversion. The text states the eunuch was reading the scroll of Isaiah while on his way back from Jerusalem to his homeland. At this same time, Philip is led by the Spirit to approach the eunuch. After explaining the text to the eunuch, Philip preaches the gospel to the eunuch which leads to the eunuch’s conversion. This specific conversion account introduces the concept that those shunned or rejected by society are given provision in God’s kingdom and are able to receive
salvation. After the account of the eunuch, the next account is that of Saul’s conversion. While on his way to Damascus to continue his persecution of the early church, Jesus appears to Saul. Following the theophany Saul becomes blinded, and he is escorted into the city by the men who accompanied him. While Saul is inside the city, God sends a disciple named Ananias to lay hands on Saul and heal him of his blindness. When Ananias goes to lay hands on Saul, Saul makes the choice to convert and is also baptized. Saul begins to preach and proclaim Christ in the local synagogues quickly after his conversion, an act pointing towards the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The final assigned pericope is short but no less significant. Peter is preaching to Cornelius and other gentiles when the gentiles suddenly receive the Holy Spirit come upon them. The gentiles begin to speak in tongues and enthusiastically praise God. This final passage illustrates that the Holy Spirit does not exclude, but rather is capable of using anyone for its purpose and dwelling within them, whether they are circumcised or not. In conclusion, each of the studies passages communicates a new aspect of conversion that critically carries over to conversion today. In the passages, the transformative nature of the Holy Spirit is seen, along with the Holy Spirit encompassing all people for its purposes as opposed to just the Jewish Christians. Laying on of hands is seen to be directly connect to the Holy Spirit’s dwelling, and it is seen that even the most casted out people are still loved and welcomed by God. Most importantly, it is seen that God’s promise of salvation continues on far beyond the present generation, and that the dwelling of the Holy Spirit dwells within its people despite the errors committed in their past.