“In the last days…” (Acts 2:17): Eschatology, Cultural Diversity, and the Challenge of Inclusivity in Acts

In the eschatos, argued Peter in Acts 2:17–21, God’s salvific activities will transcend Israel (homogenous culture) to include everyone (cultural heterogeneity). The unfolding of the narrative of Acts suggests that the early followers of Jesus, in their communities, experienced cultural diversity and the consequent real-life challenges of inclusivity. This challenge, most of the time, explains the way an individual collaborates with others, and also how particular social groups accept or dissociate with others.

The unfolding of the narrative of Acts suggests that the early followers of Jesus, in their communities, experienced cultural diversity and the consequent real-life challenges of inclusivity.

This paper seeks to examine some texts in Acts (6:1–7; 11:1–18; 15:1–35; 21:17–26); how these texts, fulfilling the eschatos expectation, project a situation of cultural heterogeneity among the followers of Jesus; the challenges that erupted from the culturally diverse contexts; and how these early Christians addressed the challenges. Also, how might the handling of these challenges by the early church provide some insight for the church today in its experience of cultural diversity.