Acts of the Apostles

We often read Acts 6 with a focus on the institution of the diaconate without realizing that the underlying problem was one of race, class, etc. Let’s read Acts 6 as a solution to the identity politics in the early church.

We can read the Acts of the Apostles as interesting history detached from our lives. Or we can read them as stories about real people  – people like ourselves, people facing the same issues we do today.

I don’t think I ever really appreciated how much of a radical change in thinking observant Jews were asked to make regarding their deeply held identity and beliefs. The Acts of the Apostles reveal the struggles to understand and accept a new way of thinking and living. It did not happen all at once.