Reconciliation Ritual in Acts

The last post ended with the explanation that Sapphira and Ananias had to have begun some type of reconciliation ritual that was patterned in some way after the baptismal liturgy of dying to sin and rising, again, to new life of the Spirit.

I propose to you that in the Acts of the Apostles we not only have this example of reconciliation but others too. Each suggest that a religious leader among the people, like Peter or Paul, was the one who presided to bring forth God's forgiveness from Jesus' life-giving words. Sounds reasonable enough since this authority, that comes from the Spirit, was entrusted to the disciples in the gospels, especially to Peter.

I'm going to suggest that this was why a local church sent for Peter to come to a certain disciple, Tabitha, in Acts 9. Here we are told that she didn't reenter the waters (of baptism) but they washed her instead. I suggest that Tabitha participated in seven days of fasting and that's why she was laid out faint when Peter arrived.

Where did I come up with this seven day fast? I'll address it in the next posting.