Poetry Reading: The Book of Acts

I was invited to teach the book of Acts at the survey of the Bible class at church. Acts is a great book because it talks about the beginning of the New Testament church. And all the things the first apostles did we are equipped to do through the power of the Holy Spirit. I only had 30 minutes to teach on it. As I prepared, I started by trying to go through chapter by chapter and summing up what happened. Or summing up the main idea. There's so much interesting stuff that I was getting caught in the minutiae. Being the kind of weird-o that I am, I joked with myself that maybe I could write it into a series of Haikus. Or teach it in sign language or something else off the wall. Then I'd get back to the summary. Then I think I saw a commercial that quoted "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and I couldn't get the meter or the cadence out of my head. And I started to wonder if the book if Acts could be told in poetry form. Risking my pride at being an intellectual kind of person and risking never being asked to teach again, I gave it a try...And used it tonight after giving a bare-bones overview of the book. It seemed to be well-received so I feel OK to put it here on my bloggy-blog.

So, here it is...The Book of Acts in 24 stanzas...

A Visit from The Spirit

by
Helen Ann Betz

Based on the poem
“A visit from St. Nicholas”
(Twas the night before Christmas)

Twas the time after Easter and all through the town,
The disciples were giddy over Truth they had found.
Jesus left them in body but never to fear
The Holy Spirit, he said, soon would be here.

First order of business was to find someone new -
Replace evil Judas who betrayed the best Jew.
Matthias it was and his hat he did toss
‘Cause He was invited to the day of Pentecost.

As the Feast was in gear, a mighty wind blew,
Causing all to look up, their faces askew.
Tongues of fire it seemed above their heads sat
The promised Spirit had come and filled them up fast.

Newly equipped with powers from high
The 12 spoke in new tongues and could even prophesy.
Shy Peter spoke boldly and told the folks there,
Believe in the scriptures, Jesus doomed Satan’s lair.

On this Gospel message a new church was built,
People loved and they lived and they served without guilt.
They partied some more because they were free,
Deaf ears would hear and blind eyes would see.

On Peter, on John, on James and the rest,
They took to the streets to show off God’s best.
They healed the sick and raised the dead,
Even demons in men were so scared they fled.

Despite all the joy and the ending of fear,
The Sanhedrin snarled “No happiness here!”
Faced jail they did often, on charges of naught.
But asked for more power and went on and taught.

Now Stephen was called on to hold down the fort
For disciples who did better on the road or in court.
He had passion and love for his Lord Jesus Christ.
And was the first one among them to lay down his life.

As Stephen fell to his death on the ground,
Calling out forgiveness for those not yet found,
A man named Saul stood above him with glee,
Dead disciples was his passion - what he loved to see.

In the face of Steve’s death Christ’s people were scattered.
This caused them no grief nor was their fellowship tattered.
To Judea and Samaria they ran and they raced
And told them all there of Joy in God’s grace.

Samaria you say, why would good Jews go there?
If their people were enemies and little they cared?
This was to show that God’s love would abound
And among all people his peace could be found.

While more sinners learned and came to the cross,
Jesus aimed at the one who caused much loss.
The killer of Stephen, Old Saul of Tarsus,
Who’d guess that this one would be one of us?

Blown down by the Spirit in a flash of bright light
Jesus called to him, “Saul, what you’re doing ain’t right”.
And despite hesitation on the part of the ‘postles,
Saul became Paul – A bold speaker of Gospel.

Now Peter was preaching with Holy Hysteria
In places like Phoenecia, Cyprus and Syria.
He had a strange vision given by God
That all things were clean - give the Gentiles a nod.

Together from there the Jews and the Gents
Created a church that broke down the fence.
And all of God’s people no matter their race
Would know and gaze clearly in Jesus’ sweet face.

Christian was now the term for the people
Who would one day preach in buildings with steeples.
Peter the rock was found now in chains
But freed by an angel to speak once again.

Paul and Barnabas and their friend John-Mark
Travelled on missions facing days of deep dark.
They were run out of town for what they said,
Even stoned by unbelievers and left for dead.

The church faced pains like a child growing up
But God led the way through leaders he’d trust.
Instead of harsh rules they found a way
To bring encouragement and joy every day.

No act of the flesh could ever outdo
What Jesus had done on the cross in lieu.
While law was good and great in its use
It could not and would not be the Good News.

After a split with his friends John-Mark and Barney
Paul went with Silas on more mission journies.
To Asia and Bithynia, Traos and Greece,
The Spirit led them to bring God’s peace.

They brought it to Lydia, a jailer and more
So straight into Europe God’s spirit did pour.
A church in Phillipi established with cheer
Undaunted by hatred and anger so near.

Oh, no, look out southern province of Greece,
Here come the Christians with more love and peace.
Citizens and leaders fell left and right
To the overwhelming truth of the end of the fight.

The rest of this book is in large part that Paul
Faithfully heeded his ministry call.
He faced many trials but letters he’d pen
To all the new churches so grace they’d defend.

The story’s not over, oh, far from that.
For believers today ought to stay on the mat.
Fighting sickness and lies, bringing life to the dead
Following suit like our ancestors and by the Spirit be led.

© HAB 2008