Ascended Jesus and Cultic Atonement: Reading Luke-Acts within Second Temple Judaism

Abstract

In this dissertation, I examine the role of the Jerusalem temple in Luke-Acts, arguing for its positive depiction and centrality in cultic worship. While Lukan scholarship has recognized the temple's significance, its implications for worship practices have not been fully explored. This study demonstrates that the temple remains vital in Luke-Acts, in the ministries of Jesus, the twelve disciples, and Paul. A major focus is on sacrificial practices within the temple, where Luke presents the Jerusalem temple as the rightful place for these rituals. The dissertation dissects the Levitical sacrificial system, emphasizing the roles of specific offerings in achieving atonement. The purification process described involves both the temple and the worshipper, highlighting the restoration of their relationship with God. Using Umberto Eco's semiotic theory, especially concerning the cultural encyclopedia of texts, I explore the concept of the heavenly temple in Second Temple Judaism. I show that while Luke does not explicitly mention the heavenly temple, his language reflects a shared conceptual and cultural vocabulary with other early Jewish authors. Ultimately, the dissertation posits that Jesus's ascension represents a sacrificial act that facilitates the purification of both Jews and Gentiles, fulfilling prophetic traditions. Luke's subtle sacrificial language suggests an expectation that his audience would recognize these connections, situating Jesus within a broader sacrificial framework and underscoring the text's deep roots in early Jewish context.