(The following questions were developed to answer some of the fundamental questions of concern to Law and Gospel preachers. These questions are not meant to be exhaustive, but they work with many other fine sets of exegetical questions. For more on Law and Gospel preaching, see my brief guide, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted, available from wipfandstock.com or amazon.)
1. How does the Word function in the text? Like the story of the Ethiopian court official from Acts 8, which we studied in Easter 5, this story is an announcement of the wideness of God's mercy: "The Holy Spirit is poured out even on the Gentiles!" This is a decidedly gospel function. This story shows again the power of the preaching of God's word to bring faith.
2. How is the Word not functioning in the text? Also like the story from Acts 8, this story contains only a hint of Law, as Peter asks if "anyone can withhold water for baptizing these people." This question, expectant of a negative reply, gives us a hint of our predilection to reserve God's grace only for those of whom we approve.
3. With whom are you identifying in the text? We could identify with the Gentiles who received the Spirit, but it seems better for our purposes if we identify with those who witnessed this outpouring. We are those who are astounded. We are those whose astonishment is a clue to our prejudice and bias toward or against certain folks regarding their eligibility of God's grace.
4. What, if any, call to obedience is there in this text? The call to obedience is indirect, albeit clear: do not withhold water for baptism to anyone who desires it.
5. What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text? Without the presence of the Law we shall have to use our imagination in creating couplets. Some ideas: in bondage to our prejudices/freed from our prejudices; closed to God's movement in the world/drawn up into God's good work; skeptical/rejoicing.
6. Exegetical work: Third century theologian, Origin of Alexandria, calls to our attention the fact that the beginnings of these astonishing events is the preaching of the Word. "See then, how ... when Peter is speaking to Cornelius, Cornelius himself and those with him are filled with the Holy Spirit. Hence, if you speak God's word and do so faithfully with a pure conscience, it can come about that while you are speaking the fire of the Holy Spirit will inflame the hearts of your hearers and immediately make them warm and eager to carry out all you are teaching in order to implement what they have learned." (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, NT, Vol. V, p. 139). John Calvin, in his commentary centuries later, follows a similar track: "For as Peter was speaking God poured out his Spirit to show that he does not send teachers for the purpose of beating the air with the sound of empty words, but so that he might work powerfully through what they say and quicken their words by the power of his Spirit for the salvation of the godly." (Reformation Commentary on Scripture, NT, Vol. VI, p. 146). A modern commentator, William Willimon, agrees that it is God at work through the Word, not only in this scene, but in the whole scenario detailed in Acts 10. As Willimon succinctly says, "The author of this plot is God." (Interpretation series, Acts, p. 99).
7. Consider the insights of the pioneers of the New Homiletic? Preachers need to introduce disequilibrium into their sermons, said Eugene Lowry, in order to later introduce equilibrium. How will we do that this week?
Blessings on your proclamation?
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