more precision by taking the form of ' the Lord Jesus ' (433 816 1 1^0 195,13,17) ^nd even ' the Lord Jesus Christ' (28^^). All of these designations are placed also on the lips of actors In the history recounted. Thus Peter speaks of Jesus as 'the Lord' In [2^^] 2^^ ii^^ 12", as 'the Lord Jesus' in i^^ 15", and as 'the Lord Jesus Christ' in 11"; Paul as 'the Lord' in i^"^'^^'^^ 20^* 26^^ as 'the Lord Jesus' In 16^^ 20^^'^^ 21^^, and as ' the Lord Jesus Christ ' In 20^^ ; and others speak of Him as 'the Lord' In 8--'^ 9^^ i6^^ as 'the Lord Jesus ' in 7^^ and as ' the Lord Jesus Christ ' in 15-®. It is quite clear that ' the Lord ' is a favorite designation of Jesus In this book, and was such also In the com- munity whose usage it reflects. ^^ And it Is equally clear
10[247][cl4] 825 qI, 10, 11, 15, [17], 27, 29, 31, 35, 42 jj21,21,23 j^lT 132,49 1^^3,23 1535, [38], 40 i6[14],[32] i88,9,25 1^20 23II.
11 Cf. Sven Herner, Die Anivendung des Wortes xupioq im N. T., p. 20: "The frequent employment of the word xupio^ in Acts is
210 The Designations of Our Lord
that In the use of this term what is primarily expressed is the profoundest reverence on the part of the com- munity and the highest conceivable exaltation and au- thority on the part of Jesus Himself. It belongs to the situation that it is often extremely difficult to deter- mine whether by ' Lord ' Jesus or God is meant.-''^ That is to say, so clearly is Jesus ' God ' to this writer and
shown not merely in the cases where it refers to God, but even more where it is Christ that is spoken of. Acts loves to call Christ ' Lord.' According to 2^" God has made Jesus Lord and Christ; He is 'the Lord over all' (lo^®), and, therefore, He is often spoken of by the designation of 'Lord' (a'-o-i.s* 9i,[5,6]io,ii,i5,i7.27 „i6 [jgio 1325] 20-^ [22i°'i6] 23!^ [26^^]). To these must be added the passages in which Christ is addressed with the term 'Lord'(i^ ^59,60 ^s.cej.io.is 228,10,19 26^*^), and a series of citations in which He is called 'Lord,' but in connection with a 'Jesus' or 'Jesus Christ' (i^i 4^3 gis [^28
I048] „17,20 [i^lO] 1511,26 i631 195,13,17 2021.24,35 21I3 2831). ActS
speaks therefore extremely often of Christ by the designation ' Lord,' even if we neglect the passages adduced at an earlier point, where decision is uncertain whether God or Christ is meant."
12 Cf. Sven Herner, op. cit., p. 16: "Whereas the Gospels depict the life of Jesus on earth, the narrative in Acts revolves around the Jesus exalted to the right hand of God, whom God has made Lord and Christ (236). It is He who leads to eternal life; He is the Lord of life (31^). He is the Saviour, and there is salvation in no other (4^2). He deals out His blessings (31^) and pours out the Holy Spirit on be- lievers (2^3). His power is not bounded by the limits of space (26I"), and His flesh shall not see corruption (2^1). He is not only the Lord and Master according to the ordinary representation of the Gospels (cf. e.g. Mt 2i3, Mk ii3, Lk 19^1 with Mt 261^ Mk 14I*, Lk 22I1 and John 13I3), but He is the Lord over all (lo^^). Accordingly Acts can leave it undetermined whether certain assertions are to be made of God or Christ; a designation is employed which is common to both, and it can often not be decided whether God or Christ is meant, — indeed some- times it seems almost as if Acts had chosen a common designation just because it was unnecessary more precisely to express whether what was spoken of was to be ascribed to God or Christ. It is thus character- istic of Acts that a large number of passages occur where we cannot be
The Designations in Acts 2II
those whose speech he reports that the common term ' Lord ' vibrates between the two and leaves the reader often uncertain which Is Intended.-^^ The assimilation of Jesus to God thus witnessed is illustrated also In other ways. Thus, for example, in Peter's Pentecostal sermon Jesus is conceived as sitting at the right hand of God (2^^) and as having been constituted "both Lord and Christ," where the conjunction is significant
(2^^) : and more explicitly still He Is designated in a later discourse of the same Peter, " Lord of all "
(10^^), that is to say, universal sovereign, a phrase which recalls the great declaration of Rom (f to the effect that He Is " God over all," as indeed He who sits on the throne of God must be.-^*
sure whether xupio? means God or Christ (i^* z*^ 5I* 325,39 ^31,35,42
jj21,21,23,24 i,2,10,ll,12,[44],47,48,49 14.3,23 ie35,36 i614,15,32 ig8,9,25 1910,20 2ol9 2ll*)."