(STB 8) “The Book of the
Acts of the Apostles”
There are seven books, in
particular, in the New Testament that can give Christians a lot of doctrine
trouble
– Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Hebrews, James. Why? They all have,
or seem
to have, works to maintain your salvation.
Doctrine is the set
of rules you are going to live by. It’s your creed, your beliefs, your principles, your
religion, it’s
your everyday life. And this is why the Book of Acts is a trap if
you’re not
careful.
Now, the correct title is The Acts of the Apostles.
“Good” says the Christian “we are to follow the apostles.” However they
don’t
realise that all apostles are not equal. As the saying goes
“Forget the
rest and use the best.” Paul was the best. All the apostles that came
before
Paul had insights, but Paul is not lying when he says “Look, the others
had
little pieces of the jig-saw puzzle, but I’ll give you the big picture.
I’ll
make sense out of it all for you.” He says
“Wherefore
I beseech you, be ye followers of me.”
(1Cor 4:16)
“Those
things … ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do…”
(Phil 4:9)
“And
ye became followers of us, and of the Lord …”
(1Thess 1:6)
“…
God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my
gospel.”
(Rom 2:16)
“…
a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.” (1Cor
9:17)
“… Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:” (2 Tim 2:8)
Paul’s has 13 epistles to the churches - Romans,
1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians,
1&2
Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon.
Paul states: But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith,
longsuffering, charity, patience, (2 Tim 3:10)
Holding
fast the faithful
word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine
both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Titus 1:9)
There is a simple rule of thumb: “If it agrees with Paul, it’s
doctrine for the Christian. If not, it is still true, however it is
meant for
another time – either past or future.”
The first principle to study the
Bible is to know which of the three following groups, God is talking
to.
Give none
offence, neither to the Jews, nor
to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 1 Corinthians 10:32-33.
If you
can’t, or won’t, or don’t, work out the
difference, with these three groups, then interpreting the scriptures
will be
an impossible task.
BACKGROUND and THEME
“Peter is
replaced by Paul”
Although the gospel of Christ had
expanded to every nation of the known world (Colossians 1:23; Romans
16:26),
the book of Acts limits itself to the preaching of the gospel over
Palestine,
North to Antioch, West through Asia Minor and Greece, to Rome.
Basically this
area was backbone of the Roman Empire.
The Book of the Acts of the
Apostles is mainly about the acts of Peter and Paul,
but mostly
Paul.
“…
the gospel of the uncircumcision (these
are the Gentiles which are all other nations
other than the Jews) was committed unto me (Paul), as the
gospel of
the circumcision (the Jews) was unto Peter”
Galatians 2:7.
The
main theme of the Book of Acts, is the extension
of the gospel to the Gentiles.
But
here’s the problem for the present day Jew and
Roman Catholic. He says “Right, I’ll follow Peter.” But there’s the
thing, there
is no choice anymore. Paul severely corrects Peter (Gal 2:11) and
Peter
admits being bamboozled by Paul (2 Peter 3:16). Paul says “Thank you
Peter, you
sit in the back seat now. I’ll take over the wheel.”
It’s
a book of two halves with Peter in
Acts 1-12 and Paul in Acts 13-28.
TIMELINE
It
can be terribly confusing to figure out when and
where Paul went on his 3 main trips + 4th trip
to Rome
at the end. The following is a guide as to what he did and when he
wrote his
14 books of the New Testament.
33
AD
– the
cross and the church is formed after Pentecost
34
- Saul (Paul) threatens the church, puts them in
prison and kills them (Acts 8:3; 9:1)
34
- Saul (Paul) gets saved on the road to Damascus
34
– 37 Saul (Paul) goes into Arabia for three
years. He visits Mt Sinai in Arabia (Gal 4:25).
37
– The gospel of Matthew written by Matthew.
40
– Saul (Paul) visits Peter and James in
Jerusalem (3 years after Arabia Gal 1:18)
43
– Paul caught up to 3rd heaven
(2Cor 12:2-4). This is the “14 YEARS AGO” (2Cor 12:2).
This
is God’s preparation for Paul before his first trip two years later in
45AD.
There are two lots
of 14
years – one that is 14 years ‘ago’ (2Cor 12:2) and one that is
14 years ‘after’
(Gal 2:1)
43
– Barnabas collects Saul (Paul) from Antioch
(Acts 11:22)
44
– Saul (Paul) and Barnabas return to Jerusalem
with money for the saints (Acts 11:29-30)
44
– James Zebedee killed (Acts 12:2). James writes
the book of James before 44AD.
45 - 48 PAUL’S 1st
TRIP (Acts 13-14). Saul has name change to Paul. (12 years after the cross)
50 – Jerusalem meeting. Confronts
Peter (Acts 15:2; Gal 2:11). Paul writes Galatians soon after.
This is the “14 YEARS AFTER” he
returns from Arabia (Galatians 2:1). (early 37 to late 50 = 14)
50 – 53 PAUL’S 2nd
TRIP (Acts 16-18:22). He
writes 1&2 Thessalonians at Corinth (Acts 18:11)
54 - 58 PAUL’S 3rd
TRIP. Paul writes 1Corinthians at Ephesus
(Acts 19:8); writes 2 Corinthians in 57AD;
at Macedonia (Acts 20:1; writes Romans
at Corinth around 57AD as well (Acts 20:3)
58 – 60 Paul put in prison at
Caesarea. Luke probably writes the gospel of Luke
about
this time.
60 - 61 PAUL’S 4th
TRIP to Rome as a
prisoner.
61 – 63 House arrest, Rome, for 2
years. Paul writes Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians,
Philemon
63 - Released. Paul writes Titus,
1Timothy and
Titus between 63-66
64 – Emperor Nero burns Rome and
blames the Christians. He re-captures Paul around 66AD.
65 – Peter writes 1&2
Peter
66 – Jude writes the book of Jude
66 – 68 Paul put in prison. Paul
writes 2Timothy and Hebrews.
68 – Paul beheaded (35 years after the cross)
POINTS TO CLEAR
UP IN ACTS
1. TONGUES. (Acts 2:4) Are they for today?
No. They were exclusively for the
Jews, starting at Pentecost up to when Paul is beheaded in 68AD.
Tongues were a
sign of judgment, as God had only ever spoken to the Jew through
their
prophets, with the Hebrew language. They were now being put
aside for
2,000 years. God was speaking in other languages. Their exclusive
access to
God the Father was over.
Known tongues were the 17, and ONLY THE 17, proper
languages (Acts 2:9-11)
Unknown tongues were the 17, and ONLY THE 17, proper
languages (Acts 2:9-11). They were proper languages but just
not known
by anybody at a gathering or meeting.
Today’s mouth noises are just
babble. They are not of the 17 tongues.
2. WAS PENTECOST
THE DAYS OF JOEL?
“But
this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” Acts
2:16.
Let’s
compare the two accounts:
1. I
will
pour out my spirit upon all flesh; … your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams, … young men shall see visions.
And
also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those
days will
I pour out my spirit. Joel 2:28-29
NONE OF THIS HAPPENED AT PENTECOST!
2. … wonders
in the heavens … in the earth… blood … fire
… pillars
of smoke. The sun shall be
turned into darkness … moon into blood Joel
2:30-31.
NONE OF THIS HAPPENED AT PENTECOST!
3. … before
the great & the terrible day of the LORD come. Joel 2:31. was
Pentecost a terrible day? NO!
4. Joel is
foretold for the day of the LORD. This is the seven year
wrath of
God. This is the tribulation.
5. …whosoever
shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered:
(Joel 2:32). They
weren’t being delivered at Pentecost! However, if they would
call on
the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38), they would be saved.
In Joel
they will call upon the LORD who is Jehovah.
At Pentecost, they call on the Lord who is Jesus. Also,
Pentecost
was voluntary. Joel is forced upon Israel. It will be a
mandatory
deliverance.
6. ….for in
mount
Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, ... and in the remnant
whom
the LORD shall call. Joel
2:32. Pentecost was not
about a remnant being delivered.
7.
Joel does not talk of anyone speaking in tongues, of rushing
wind
or cloven tongues of fire.
8.
The
Spirit is never poured out anywhere in the New Testament upon
any
flesh. However God’s Spirit touches the flesh, when a person is born
again (Col
2:11-14), in that, the soul is cut from the flesh in a spiritual
circumcision
that separates the soul from the body of flesh.
9.
The
Jews at Pentecost knew they were not in the last days. These
two events are
separated by 2,000 years.
10.
So the “…this is that…” refers to the same
Spirit that will work at both times. Peter is merely calming down
the
agitated and confused Jews at Pentecost by saying “Don’t be alarmed.
This is
not an evil spirit. It is God’s Spirit that is working here. It is the
same
Spirit that will work in the future – in the days of Joel. Be
comforted!
Everything is OK.
Peter
says “THIS (Spirit
at work here at Pentecost) IS THAT (Spirit which will work in
the last days
mentioned in Joel).”
3. PETER’S
GOSPEL TO THE MEN OF ISRAEL. (Acts
2:38) Is that for today?
Peter’s gospel is one of works
Then
Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
(water)
every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins (past), and ye shall
receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38
Peter’s
gospel could only bring remission of
past sins, not future sins.
Furthermore,
water baptism is a work.
You’ve
got to physically go to where some water is,
climb in the pool/sea/bath-tub and physically go under the water. Then
you have
to come up. If you do this today for your salvation, you’ll just go
down a dry
sinner and come up a wet sinner.
Paul’s gospel is not of works
Peter’s gospel is NOT
Paul’s gospel.
Paul has no works – only
believe, no water and redemption, being for
past, present
and future sins.
The two gospels are as similar as
chalk is to cheese.
As the
jailer asked “…Sirs, what must I do to be
saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou
shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts 16:30-31
And
of course “to believe” is not a work.
For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works,
lest
any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Furthermore,
But to him that worketh not,
but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is
counted
for righteousness. Romans 4:5
Peter’s gospel to the men of
Israel is not Paul’s gospel that is to be preached to everyone
today - that
is to the Gentiles and including the Jews. For the Jew to go to heaven
today,
they must believe Paul not Peter.
4.
PAUL
ENDORSES PROPHECY. IS THAT FOR TODAY?
(1Cor
12:10)
Paul
prophesied (1Thess 4:16-18;
1Thess 2:1-4,5-8,9-12)
No.
But he does say prophecy is OK because the New Testament
canon (the 27 books) had not been completed when he writes 1
Corinthians.
That is, the following books had yet to be written:- 2
Corinthians,
Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Titus, 1&2
Timothy,
1&2 Peter, Jude, Hebrews and Revelation. Once they were written,
the New
Testament would be closed. There would be no more prophecy. Today’s
prophecies
are pure lies, and nothing more than 3rd rate, crystal ball,
fortune
telling. It’s just people puffing themselves up.
5.
CAN WE DO
HEALINGS TODAY? Paul
did
(Acts 19:11) IS THAT FOR TODAY?
6.
APOSTLES AND
PROPHETS? Paul
was. ARE THEY FOR TODAY?
No.
The cornerstone of the church was Christ.
(Ephesians 2:20)
Then
foundation of the church are the apostles
and the prophets. (Ephesians 2:20; 2Cor 12:12)
The
bricks are the evangelists, pastors
and teachers (Ephesians 4:11)
To
be an APOSTLE you had to 1. Physically
accompany the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:21-22) 2. Witness his resurrection.
7.
IS
EXORCISM FOR TODAY? Paul
did it
(Acts 16:18). IS THAT FOR TODAY?
8.
PAUL GOT
WATER BAPTISED
(Acts 9:18)
SHOULDN’T I DO THAT AS WELL?
No.
Paul was merely following the standard
procedure for then. He knew very little of what God would show him in
the
future. He had to go into Arabia for three years (Gal 1:17); then he
had to
consult with Peter and James (Gal 1:18), then he was taken up into the 3rd
heaven (2Cor 12:2-4). Even then, he water baptised a couple of people
(1Cor
1:16) till God showed Paul that water baptism was getting in the way of
people’s salvation.
“Well,
I’ve been water baptised. I guess that makes
me saved?” “I got water baptised as a baby. I’m going to heaven.” So
Paul says For
Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not
with wisdom
of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 1 Corinthians 1:17.
9.
CAN I LOSE MY SALVATION?
No
you can’t. Peter preaches remission
of sins (Acts 2:38), that is, the forgiveness of past sins (Rom
3:25). Then
Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive
the gift of
the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38.
See
point 3 above. Peter’s preaching was for
another dispensation, and has been superceded (replaced) and
made obsolete
(useless and out of date) by Paul’s gospel which is for the redemption
for sins.
Who
hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
and hath (constantly
working) translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In
whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness
of sins:
Colossians 1:13-14.
We
can never be lost. Want more proof?
For
by one offering he hath perfected for ever
them that are sanctified. Hebrews 10:14.
Christians
are sanctified (set apart).
If you are in Christ, you have been set apart.
Yes.
Being in Christ, we are set apart. Christ
is our sanctification.
But of him
are ye in Christ Jesus, who of
God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification,
and redemption:
1 Corinthians 1:30.
Those
in Christ have been redeemed. They are
sanctified.
10.
WHAT IS
THE CHURCH?
The entry
criteria for getting into Peter’s
church (Acts 2:38, 47) was not the same for getting into Paul’s
church,
which is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. When the
Jews were wandering in the desert for 40 years, they
were called the church (Acts 7:38). But they had not
been put
into Jesus Christ. They were not redeemed. This was not Paul’s
church.
2. When Peter
preaches his gospel to the men of Israel, many were added
to the church. They were not redeemed. This was not
Paul’s
church.
3. Paul
writes to the church at various places. They have been redeemed
by simply believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
The
definition for a church is a group of
worshippers called out by God. There is only one church now, those IN
Christ … and gave him to be the head over all things to the
church, Which
is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians
1:22-23
Harley
Hitchcock
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