Teaching Team
Peter’s Early Mincha
One of the things I enjoy most in studying the Apostolic Writigns is finding allusions to traditional halacha. To me this not only adds authentication to the Writings but it also helps me in figuring out my own Torah practice. The other day I was reading a commentary on the book of Acts that commented on this verse:
“On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.” (Acts 10:9)
The commentary was by Israeli Messianic scholar Joseph Shulam. Here’s what he had to say:
“As with Corenelius (vs. 3-8) Peter appears to be praying at a specific time – here at noon. Although the text gives no indication whether this is Peter’s regular practice, the precision favors the possibility that noon was (also?) regarded as a statutory hour for prayer. A gemera in Shabbat distinguishes two times for mincha (afternoon prayer) – the major or first, which was recited around 12:30 pm, and the minor or late, which was said between 3:30 and sunset (b.Shabbat 9b). According to this view, Peter may have been praying an early mincha;” (A Commentary on the Jewish Roots of Acts p. 558)
Mincha is the afternoon prayer time that corresponds to the afternoon sacrifice in the Temple. Shulam is suggesting that Peter might have been following a Talmudic ruling by praying at this early time.
Why would he pray early? It is customary not to eat before when prays. This was done so that pray time is not forgotten. We read in the next verse:
And he became hungry, and was desiring to eat. (Acts 10:10)
Here’s the Talmudic passage he quotes:
R. Joshua b. Levi said: As soon as it is time for the mincha service one may not eat anything before he has recited the mincha service. (b.Shabbat 6b)
Perhaps Peter was praying before he ate per the halacha. I have found this practice helpful myself. After all an empty stomach reminds me I need to do something. It’s hard to forget to pray if you don’t eat before hand. For more on the set times of prayer, check out these free pdf dowloads.
Search in Blogs...
Browse through Blogs
- « Top 10 Things People Say On Their First Visit To A Messianic Congregation
- Blogs Index Page
- » The Alhambra Decree
Feeds
Use this RSS feed to track our blogs in your favorite reader.
The FFOZ Blogs RSS Feed
Blogs by Category
- Back Office
- Events and Administration
- Founder’s Blog
- Guest Authors
- Lessons from the Land
- Levertoff Documentary
- Mishlei Musings
- Publications
- Road Trip 09
- Shalom Tour
- Teaching Team
- The Siddur Project
- Torah Club
- Video Blogs
- Site Info Blog
Blogs by Author
- Aaron Eby
- Boaz Michael
- D. Thomas Lancaster
- FFOZ Staff
- Guest Authors
- Media Staff
- Hope Egan
- Seth Dralle
- Toby Janicki
More Recent Posts
- Remembrance and Repentance
- Passover and the Death of James the Just
- Hosting Your First Passover Seder
- Devil's Children
- Vacation Time
- Visit Israel with FFOZ
- A KISS from me to you
- Eating biblically? Let's chew the fat.
- Kosher Sunday School
- Messer and the Messianic Mess
Visitor Feedback:
That is so neat. Praying before eating also reminds me who comes first God; and who gets feed first my soul.
Cocoa | July 12, 2007 9:41 PM
I find the mincha prayers to be the hardest ones to "fit into" a day. However, I find a different spiritual dimension as I try to fit them in. I have to really plan my day and plan my actions so that I know how things are going to happen. It really is spiritually helpful to take this kind of care with my day!
Shalom,
Bill
Bill Beyer | July 12, 2007 10:41 PM
They are very difficult to remember. I read an article one time on mincha prayers called "In the Field". The traditional opinion is that Isaac initiated these prayers in Genesis:
"And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening..." (Genesis 24:63)
He was in the field at mincha time just as we are "in the field" i.e. busy about our day with jobs, school, children, etc. It takes extra discipline to remember this time but it is very rewarding.
Toby Janicki | July 13, 2007 9:46 AM
B"H
Shalom, brothers!
I find this particular topic very interesting. I was wondering if those like yourselves who follow the appointed times of prayer actually follow the traditional prayer services or whether a messianic version is used. I know some would say that even the traditional services are messianic...I guess my point is I purchased an artscroll daily siddur. I have not been able to work it into my daily life b/c it seems so intense. By intense, I mean long!! :)
I believe the shacaris is >25 pages!
any thoughts?
Blessings in Messiah
Yafeh | July 17, 2007 1:03 AM
Yafeh,
Right now we use the tradtional Artscroll siddurs and you are right they can be intimidating. I would recommend you download our white papers on prayer available here:
http://ffoz.org/downloads/white_papers/
Also we are in the development stages of a siddur oursleves. God willing a Shabbat version will coming within the next year.
Shalom,
Toby
Toby Janicki | July 17, 2007 8:52 AM