All Scripture citations are from the King James Version.
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place (Acts 1:24-25).
A. Prayed
1. Luke teaches that the Lord Jesus is the recipient of prayer in Acts 7:59-60; 9:14, 21; 22:16. Therefore it is not contrary at all for Luke to have the Lord Jesus being prayed to here.
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...the-Lord-Jesus
2. Murray Harris: Concerning the Lord Jesus: "Recipient of prayer (Acts 1:24)" (Jesus as God: The New Testament Use of Theos in Reference to Jesus, page 316).
3. William Mounce: The fact that people pray to both God (Mt. 6:9) and Jesus (Acts 1:24) is part of the proof of Jesus' deity (Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words, Pray, page 531).
4. A.H. Leitch: Christ possesses the attributes of God: omniscience (Acts 1:24) (The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible 2:94, deity of Christ).
5. William Furneaux: The first recorded prayer to the Risen and Ascended Lord. They turn instinctively to Him; as confidently, as naturally, as if He were still visibly with them. Peter was probably the spokesman, and it is interesting to note the use of the words 'who knowest the heart', since he employs it later (15.8). It was, too, he who said (John 21.17), 'Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.' (The Acts of the Apostles, page 25).
6. It is interesting to note two citations by W. E. Vine. Concerning the Greek word for "prayed" (proseuchomai) he writes that it "is always used of prayer to God" (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Pray, page 871) but on John 16:23 he writes, "The Lord did not mean that no prayer must be offered to Him afterwards. They did address Him in prayer, Acts 1:24; 7:59" (John - His Record of Christ, page 154).
A contradiction? No, because the Lord Jesus is God.
So when Frank Matera in his 'New Testament Christology' writes concerning the use of "Lord" in this passage, "This is not to say that they are identifying Jesus as God, but they are clearly ascribing God-like prerogatives to him" (page 65) he not only contradicts Mounce and Vine but his assertion is also shown to be in error in that kardiognwsta is also applied to Christ which means He is omniscient (God) (See Part "C" Number "1").
B. Lord
1. J.A. Fitzmeyer in the EDNT didn't express any doubt at all that Lord (kurios) does not apply to the Lord Jesus in Acts 1:24 (2:330, kurios). The evidence (above and below) demonstrates the exact opposite of his claim.
2. After Christ's resurrection "Lord" is the appellation primarily for the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 8:6). Notice that Luke does not record "the Lord Jesus" until He was already resurrected (Luke 24:3). "The phrase declares the new status of the risen Jesus; he is Lord" (The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Luke, I. Howard Marshall, page 884-885)
3. Lord is applied to the Lord Jesus in Acts 1:6 and then again just before the prayer by Peter in Acts 1:21.
4. Luke records Peter connecting Christ's resurrection and His Lordship in the first New Covenant gospel presentation (Acts 2:30-36). The Lordship of Christ ("Lord Jesus" cf. 1:21) and His resurrection (1:22) were closely associated by Luke immediately before the prayer to the "Lord" (1:24).
5. When Luke uses the "Lord Jesus" immediately followed by the appellation "Lord" elsewhere we see that the second use of "Lord" refers to the Lord Jesus.
Lord Jesus (Acts 7:59)
Lord (Acts 7:60)
Lord Jesus (Acts 1:21)
Lord (Acts 1:24)
We have the same author, of the same book, concerning the same theme (prayer), with the same use of "Lord", with the same speaker in each section.
6. Luke records Peter referring to the Lord Jesus as "Lord of all" to the Gentiles in Acts 10:36. Being Lord of all people corresponds to Jesus being the Lord who is the heart-knower of all people (Acts 1:24).
Lord of all people = Lord, the heart-knower of all people
In fact, 'Lord of all' was a title of deity in that it was "a pagan predicate of God" (The Acts of the Apostles: A Commentary, Ernst Haenchen, page 352).
"To [Zeus] Kronides (the Son of Kronos), Most High (hypatos). I will sing of Zeus, chiefest among the gods and greatest, all-seeing, the lord of all, the fulfiller who whispers words of wisdom to Themis as she sits leaning towards him. Be gracious, all-seeing Kronides, most excellent and great!" (THE HOMERIC HYMNS Homeric Hymn 23 to Cronides, trans. Evelyn-White, Greek epic C7th to 4th B.C.
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Zeus.html
Notice as well that the lord of all is "all-seeing" which quite suitably connects to the omniscience of our Lord Jesus in the next word used in this prayer - kardiognwsta.
C. Knowest the hearts of all
1. The Greek word (kardiognwsta) means omniscient. See:
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...cience)
2. Those who oppose the Lord Jesus is prayed to in this passage primarily focus on the fact that the only other time the specific word kardiognwstes is used is when it is applied to God in Acts 15:8.
That this would somehow "cancels out" kardiognwstes being applied to the Lord Jesus in Acts 1:24 is completely without merit. Peter (the spokesman) and Luke (the author) affirmed both the omniscience of the Lord Jesus as well as the fact that He is the proper recipient of prayer/worship elsewhere in their writings.
3. Peter
a. Peter, who most likely led this prayer, affirmed the omniscience of the Lord Jesus before His Ascension (John 21:17). See "Jesus as the heart-knower of all (καρδιογνώστης = omniscience)": http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...ce%29%E2%80%8F
b. Peter would once again express his belief that the Lord Jesus is omniscient in 1 Peter 2:25. On this passage the TDNT associates it with Acts 1:24. Concerning episkopos:
In particular, God sees into the human heart. In this respect the LXX links martus and episkopos at Wis. 1:6 Cf. Ac. 1:24, where God is called kardiognwstes (2:614, episkopos, Beyer).
See: "Jesus as the heart-knower of all (καρδιογνώστης = omniscience)": http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...ce%29%E2%80%8F
c. Peter taught that the Lord Jesus was to be prayed to/worshiped (1 Peter 3:12, 15; 2 Peter 3:18)
See: "Peter: The Worship of the Lord Jesus" http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...the-Lord-Jesus
and
"Doxologies to the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18): http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...d-Jesus-Christ
4. Luke
a. Luke taught that the Lord Jesus was prayed to in Acts (See Part A #1) which would necessitate that He knows the totality of the hearts.
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...the-Lord-Jesushttp://www.godrules.net/library/robert/robertluk6.htm
3. Vincent: 8. He knew (hdei). Imperfect. He was all along aware.
http://www.godrules.net/library/vincent/vincentluk6.htm
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place (Acts 1:24-25).
A. Prayed
1. Luke teaches that the Lord Jesus is the recipient of prayer in Acts 7:59-60; 9:14, 21; 22:16. Therefore it is not contrary at all for Luke to have the Lord Jesus being prayed to here.
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...the-Lord-Jesus
2. Murray Harris: Concerning the Lord Jesus: "Recipient of prayer (Acts 1:24)" (Jesus as God: The New Testament Use of Theos in Reference to Jesus, page 316).
3. William Mounce: The fact that people pray to both God (Mt. 6:9) and Jesus (Acts 1:24) is part of the proof of Jesus' deity (Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words, Pray, page 531).
4. A.H. Leitch: Christ possesses the attributes of God: omniscience (Acts 1:24) (The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible 2:94, deity of Christ).
5. William Furneaux: The first recorded prayer to the Risen and Ascended Lord. They turn instinctively to Him; as confidently, as naturally, as if He were still visibly with them. Peter was probably the spokesman, and it is interesting to note the use of the words 'who knowest the heart', since he employs it later (15.8). It was, too, he who said (John 21.17), 'Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.' (The Acts of the Apostles, page 25).
6. It is interesting to note two citations by W. E. Vine. Concerning the Greek word for "prayed" (proseuchomai) he writes that it "is always used of prayer to God" (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Pray, page 871) but on John 16:23 he writes, "The Lord did not mean that no prayer must be offered to Him afterwards. They did address Him in prayer, Acts 1:24; 7:59" (John - His Record of Christ, page 154).
A contradiction? No, because the Lord Jesus is God.
So when Frank Matera in his 'New Testament Christology' writes concerning the use of "Lord" in this passage, "This is not to say that they are identifying Jesus as God, but they are clearly ascribing God-like prerogatives to him" (page 65) he not only contradicts Mounce and Vine but his assertion is also shown to be in error in that kardiognwsta is also applied to Christ which means He is omniscient (God) (See Part "C" Number "1").
B. Lord
1. J.A. Fitzmeyer in the EDNT didn't express any doubt at all that Lord (kurios) does not apply to the Lord Jesus in Acts 1:24 (2:330, kurios). The evidence (above and below) demonstrates the exact opposite of his claim.
2. After Christ's resurrection "Lord" is the appellation primarily for the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 8:6). Notice that Luke does not record "the Lord Jesus" until He was already resurrected (Luke 24:3). "The phrase declares the new status of the risen Jesus; he is Lord" (The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Luke, I. Howard Marshall, page 884-885)
3. Lord is applied to the Lord Jesus in Acts 1:6 and then again just before the prayer by Peter in Acts 1:21.
4. Luke records Peter connecting Christ's resurrection and His Lordship in the first New Covenant gospel presentation (Acts 2:30-36). The Lordship of Christ ("Lord Jesus" cf. 1:21) and His resurrection (1:22) were closely associated by Luke immediately before the prayer to the "Lord" (1:24).
5. When Luke uses the "Lord Jesus" immediately followed by the appellation "Lord" elsewhere we see that the second use of "Lord" refers to the Lord Jesus.
Lord Jesus (Acts 7:59)
Lord (Acts 7:60)
Lord Jesus (Acts 1:21)
Lord (Acts 1:24)
We have the same author, of the same book, concerning the same theme (prayer), with the same use of "Lord", with the same speaker in each section.
6. Luke records Peter referring to the Lord Jesus as "Lord of all" to the Gentiles in Acts 10:36. Being Lord of all people corresponds to Jesus being the Lord who is the heart-knower of all people (Acts 1:24).
Lord of all people = Lord, the heart-knower of all people
In fact, 'Lord of all' was a title of deity in that it was "a pagan predicate of God" (The Acts of the Apostles: A Commentary, Ernst Haenchen, page 352).
"To [Zeus] Kronides (the Son of Kronos), Most High (hypatos). I will sing of Zeus, chiefest among the gods and greatest, all-seeing, the lord of all, the fulfiller who whispers words of wisdom to Themis as she sits leaning towards him. Be gracious, all-seeing Kronides, most excellent and great!" (THE HOMERIC HYMNS Homeric Hymn 23 to Cronides, trans. Evelyn-White, Greek epic C7th to 4th B.C.
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Zeus.html
Notice as well that the lord of all is "all-seeing" which quite suitably connects to the omniscience of our Lord Jesus in the next word used in this prayer - kardiognwsta.
C. Knowest the hearts of all
1. The Greek word (kardiognwsta) means omniscient. See:
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...cience)
2. Those who oppose the Lord Jesus is prayed to in this passage primarily focus on the fact that the only other time the specific word kardiognwstes is used is when it is applied to God in Acts 15:8.
That this would somehow "cancels out" kardiognwstes being applied to the Lord Jesus in Acts 1:24 is completely without merit. Peter (the spokesman) and Luke (the author) affirmed both the omniscience of the Lord Jesus as well as the fact that He is the proper recipient of prayer/worship elsewhere in their writings.
3. Peter
a. Peter, who most likely led this prayer, affirmed the omniscience of the Lord Jesus before His Ascension (John 21:17). See "Jesus as the heart-knower of all (καρδιογνώστης = omniscience)": http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...ce%29%E2%80%8F
b. Peter would once again express his belief that the Lord Jesus is omniscient in 1 Peter 2:25. On this passage the TDNT associates it with Acts 1:24. Concerning episkopos:
In particular, God sees into the human heart. In this respect the LXX links martus and episkopos at Wis. 1:6 Cf. Ac. 1:24, where God is called kardiognwstes (2:614, episkopos, Beyer).
See: "Jesus as the heart-knower of all (καρδιογνώστης = omniscience)": http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...ce%29%E2%80%8F
c. Peter taught that the Lord Jesus was to be prayed to/worshiped (1 Peter 3:12, 15; 2 Peter 3:18)
See: "Peter: The Worship of the Lord Jesus" http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...the-Lord-Jesus
and
"Doxologies to the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18): http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...d-Jesus-Christ
4. Luke
a. Luke taught that the Lord Jesus was prayed to in Acts (See Part A #1) which would necessitate that He knows the totality of the hearts.
http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...the-Lord-Jesushttp://www.godrules.net/library/robert/robertluk6.htm
3. Vincent: 8. He knew (hdei). Imperfect. He was all along aware.
http://www.godrules.net/library/vincent/vincentluk6.htm
Comment