9
audience has substantially narrowed and partially changed.
23
But a recognition of John's
concern for true believers to demonstrate that faith by perseverance during the
increasingly hard times that his church was experiencing in the 90s also goes a long way
toward explaining the inclusion of this material. The same applies to the distinctive
(though not unique) Johannine emphasis on the crowds who fall away (see throughout
chap. 6) and on Judas' treachery (see esp. 6:70; 13:10-11, 18-30).
The Book of Acts
The same Sanhedrin that condemned Jesus to death in the Gospels' passion
narratives understandably re-emerges as the first major opponent of the fledgling church
in Jerusalem (Acts 4-5). It was not just Jesus' personal claims--both theological and
ethical--that the Jewish leadership found dangerous. His disciples are replicating his
ministry with the same threatening, supernatural power.
24
The stoning of Stephen and the
persecution of the Hellenistic Jewish Christians more generally (while the apostles,
representing Hebraic Jewish Christianity are allowed to remain in Jerusalem--Acts 6:1-
8:3) does suggest some unevenness in the awareness and implementation of the most
radical implications of Jesus' message.
25
But while the book of Acts speaks of Jewish opposition to the gospel throughout
its narrative, internal problems in the young Christian community emerge as well.
Ananias' and Sapphira's severe judgment (5:1-11) proves particularly troubling to the
modern reader, as do Peter's harsh words to Simon the magician after his apparent
conversion, rendered more literally by J. B. Phillips' paraphrase than in most
22
For both groups, see esp. Raymond Brown, The Community of the Beloved Disciple (New York: Paulist,
1979), 51-61.
23
Stephen Motyer, Your Father the Devil? (Carlisle: Paternoster, 1997), esp. pp. 160-210.
24
On the numerous ways the apostles in Acts replicate Jesus' ministry in Luke, see esp. throughout Charles
H. Talbert, Reading Acts (New York: Crossroad, 1997).
25
See esp. Martin Hengel, Between Jesus and Paul (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1983), 1-29.