This miracle, however, drew the ire of the Sanhedrin. The rulers of the earth took counsel against the Lord’s anointed, yet the Apostles replied with the definitive manifesto of the Christian conscience: "We ought to obey God rather than men." The Epilogue of Part I: The Growth of the Word
The Synaxarion describes the first Part of Acts as the "Golden Age of Fellowship." The believers were of one heart and one soul. They held all things in common, ensuring that no one among them was in want. They broke bread from house to house with gladness and sincerity of heart. This was the "Liturgical Life" in its infancy—a community defined by the Apostles' doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayers. The First Miracles and the First Conflict Synaxarion Acts Part 1 [010027601906E000][v0][U...
The disciples returned to the Upper Room in Jerusalem. Here, Part 1 of the Acts emphasizes the first administrative act of the fledgling Church: the restoration of the Twelve. Through prayer and the casting of lots, Matthias was chosen to take the place of the fallen Judas, proving that the apostolic office is a divine stewardship that must endure until the end of the age. The Descent of the Comforter (Pentecost) This miracle, however, drew the ire of the Sanhedrin
On the fortieth day, from the heights of the Mount of Olives, the Lord lifted His hands and blessed them. As He was taken up into a cloud, the Apostles stood in "joyful sorrow," gazing into the heavens until two angels in shining raiment rebuked their stillness. "Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?" they asked, reminding the Church that the departure of the King was but the prelude to His return. They broke bread from house to house with
After the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, there followed a period of forty days where Heaven touched the Earth. The Master remained with His chosen disciples, not in the frailty of the flesh, but in the radiance of the incorruptible body. He spoke to them not in parables for the masses, but in the "mysteries of the Kingdom." He opened their minds to understand the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, showing how every stroke of the pen pointed toward His suffering and His triumph.