Interpreting Acts

Objective: Identify the challenges involved in interpreting and applying the book of Acts. Instructions The book of Acts details a number of events in the first few decades of the church. One of the questions that arise in the interpretation of Acts is how to apply Acts to our context today. Some aspects, such as the need for Christians to share the gospel, are not controversial. Other aspects, such as speaking in tongues, the bestowal of the Holy Spirit, and the sharing of possessions, are much more controversial. In this response, youll be reflecting on the challenges in interpreting and applying Acts today. Review Chapters 14-16 in Encountering the New Testament. Write a 2-page, double-spaced response that addresses the application of Acts to todays context. Address the following: Explain whether you think the events in Acts should be understood prescriptively (what should happen) or descriptively (what did happen). Identify the potential dangers of misunderstanding the events in the Book of Acts. For this section, create two scenarios: one in which a specific event in Acts is interpreted (and applied) descriptively and one in which a specific event in Acts is interpreted (and applied) prescriptively. Include in each scenario the potential pitfalls and/or benefits of the different approaches. It is not necessary to apply a formatting style for this assignment except when using a source to support your writing (use APA style).