In Luke 9:51-53 we read “When the days were approaching for his ascension, He [Jesus] was determined to go to Jerusalem.” As I have previously noted this summarizes one of the most important motifs of the first episode of Luke-Acts. Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem where the climactic events of his life would occur prior to his ascension back into heaven.

The second episode of Luke-Acts begins with the ascension as the focus as well. While there is so much that we will have to refrain from discussing regarding the ascension, it is important that we at least acknowledge that it is central to the author’s Christology as well as his ecclesiology.

On one hand the ascension shifts the focus from the work of the Son to the work of the Spirit. It is here that Jesus returns to heaven while the Spirit assumes the role of guiding the disciples of Jesus. This is made evident in Acts 1:4-5. On the other hand is the question of the Kingdom of God, which we do not have the time nor space to explore, which is mentioned in 1:6-7. Jerusalem as the geographical focal point of Luke and Rome as the geographical focal point of Acts likely have something to do with his political theme.

What we must focus our attention on at the moment is how Acts continues the geographical, or travel, motif of Luke. In Acts 1:8 Jesus informs the disciples that the Holy Spirit will come upon them. When this occurs the disciples will be his witnesses in three geographical settings that frame the book:

(1) Jerusalem and Judea: This is where Jesus was destine to go in order to be crucified, buried, and resurrected. It is near Jerusalem where he ascends back into heaven. It is Jerusalem where he commands his disciples to gather to wait for the arrival of the Holy Spirit.

(2) Samaria: This is the bridge between the Jews and the Gentiles. Samaritans are half-Jews; half-Gentiles. The disciples prejudice against the Samaritans was already made evident in Luke 9:51-56.

(3) “Until the End of the Earth”: It is my contention that while we may now, in the year 2009, understand this to be South Africa, or Argentina, or South Korea, it is Rome literarily. This is why Acts ends with Paul in Rome. I disagree with those who think Luke had to stop writing in order to flee Rome because Paul had been martyred there and Luke was afraid for his life. Luke does not end the story on a whim, nor does he appear fearful, but rather of Paul he wrote, “And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered. (Acts 28:30-31) This does not sound like the ending many make it out to be at all.

Rome is to Acts as Jerusalem is to Luke. Rome is briefly mentioned in 2:10 and 18:2, but the Rome motif does not parallel the Jerusalem motif of Luke until 19:21. It is here that the words of the Apostle Paul echo the narrators description of Jesus, as quoted above, in Luke 9:51-53. The Apostle says, regarding his plans after visiting Jerusalem (of all places), “After I have been there, I must go to Rome.”

Jesus had to go to Jerusalem to fulfill his role as a prophet, as the Messiah. Jesus had to begin the work of the Kingdom of God in Jerusalem as the prophets foretold. Now the Kingdom must be announced to the “uttermost parts of the earth” and from a Lukan perspective that is being fulfilled as the Apostle Paul sets his sights on the capitol of the pagan world–Rome.

In 23:11, as Paul avoids being torn apart in a riot, the Lord Jesus appears to him. The words of Jesus are quoted saying, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.” The next several chapters narrate Paul’s journey to Rome ending with 28:14-16 being the announcement that Paul had arrived in Rome.

In vv. 17-29 we see a Lukan narration of a Pauline concept–God has turned to the Gentiles during this era of human history. In v. 28 Paul says to his fellow Jews, “Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.” This is a great summary of Luke’s whole narrative. Jesus began in Galilee. Jesus went to Jerusalem as he had to do. It is from Jerusalem, as the prophets foretold, that the works of God would be declared. This is made manifest by the Holy Spirit welcoming not only Samaritans, but also Gentiles, into the Kingdom by the same signs in which the Spirit welcomed the Jews. But the Jewish era is fading into a Gentile era, which is made most evident by the fact that the Apostle Paul is preaching the gospel, proclaiming the kingdom, and teaching Jesus in Rome herself!

We must now discuss how Acts 2:1-7; 8:14-17; 10:34-48; and 19:1-8 play into this grand narrative. We will begin doing so with the next posting. Until then feel free to give me feedback on my Galilee to Jerusalem; Jerusalem to Rome thesis.