Dear Folks,

Looking at Acts of the Apostles, we learn a lot about church and about evangelization.  I zipped through it this Easter, and looking at how the Gospel is shared:

Peter: 2:14-36; 3:12-26; 4:8-12; 9-34-43; 11:5-17 (explaining his experience in chapter 10)

Paul: 13:16-41; 14:15-17: 17:22-31; 22:1-21 (explaining his experience in Ch. 9); 24:10-21; 26:2-23 (explaining his experience in Ch. 9). 

See also Steven in chapter 7 and Philip in chapter 8. 

We see a number of things:

1. It is very Christ centered. 
2. It speaks to the perspective of the audience (See how St. Paul in chapter 17, talking to Greek philosophers, differs from how he talks to Jews). 
3. Peter and Paul, the two greatest models of evangelization, both reference their own experience (See chapters 11, 22, and 26, in which we see Peter and Paul telling stories that we have already see recounted in chapters 9 and 10). I suggest it is to teach us that part of telling the story of Jesus is telling how Jesus has worked with us and brought us to where we are today. 
4. It connects to people’s experience (Much to learn).
5. It connects to the Scriptures (Much to learn).

As we go through Easter, consider what God is calling each of us to do.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim