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Comparing the evangelistic Speeches of Acts
 
In addition to repeated narratives, there are many similar uses of imagery, etc., and characteristic techniques for recording speeches -- many common elements within the speeches given to Jerusalem, Diaspora Jews, and to Gentiles. The following tables attempt to give a series of examples of common elements. These elements are not always verbally identical, but do demonstrate many common conceptions (adapted from Joseph A. Fitzmeyer, The Acts of the Apostles, Anchor Bible [Doubleday, 1998], 107).

1              Direct Address Appropriate for the Situation
 
2:14a Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:
  		3:12a When Peter saw this, he said to them:
  		4:9 “If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed.”
  		-- -- 13:16a Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said:
  		14:15a “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you.”
  		17:22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.”
 
2              Appeal for Attention
 
2:14b “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.”
  		-- 4:10a “then know this, you and all the people of Israel” -- 10:37 “You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached” 13:16b “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!” 14:15b “We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.”
  		17:23c “Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.”
3              Misunderstanding of Listeners Noted
 
2:15 “These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel”
  		3:12b “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?”
  		4:9 “If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed”
  		5:29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”
  		-- -- 14:15a “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you.”
  		17:22 “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: “To an Unknown God.”
 
4              Quotation of Scripture Introducing Body of Speech
 
2:17-21
Joel 3:1-5
  		3:13
Exod. 3:6, 15
  		-- 5:30
(allusion to ) Deut. 21:22 		-- 13:17-23
(summary of salvation history) 		14:15
(God as creator) Exod. 20:11; Ps. 146:6 		17:24
(God in his heavenly temple) 2Sam. 22:7
5              Christological/Theological Message
 
2:22 “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” 3:13 “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.”
  		4:10 “then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.”
  		5:30 “The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead––whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.”
  		10:37 “You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached––38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39 We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen --by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appoint-ed as judge of the living and the dead.” 13:27 “The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.”
  		14:16 “In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
  		17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”
6              Proof from Scripture regarding Message
 
2:25-31, 34-35
Ps. 16:8-11
Ps. 132:11
Ps. 16:10
Ps. 110:1
  		3:18 “But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer.”
 
3:22-25
Deut. 18:15-16
Deut. 18:19
Lev. 23:29
Gen. 22:18; 26:4 		4:11
Ps. 118:22
  		-- 10:43 “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
  		13:33-35
Ps. 2:7
Isa. 55:3
Ps. 16:10
  		-- 17:28
(Artus quoted––“as even some of your own prophets he said”)
7              Reply to Problem Posed by Misunderstanding
 
2:33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “`The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ‘ 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
  		3:16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.”
  		4:10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.”
  		-- -- -- 14:15 “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.”
  		17:29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone --an image made by man’s design and skill.”
 
8              Call for Repentance/Proclamation of Salvation
 
2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
  		3:19 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”
  		4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
  		5:31 “God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 10:43 “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
  		13:38 “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.”
  		14:15c “We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God”
  		17:30 “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
9              Focus of Message on Audience
 
2:22 “Men of Israel”
 
2:29 “Brothers” 		3:17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.”
 
3:25 “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers.” 		4:12 “for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” -- 10:36 “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.”
 
10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 		13:26 “Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
 
13:32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers”
 
13:38 “Therefore, my brothers” 		-- 17:30 “ all people everywhere”
 



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