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

“Those things … ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do…” (Phil 4:9)

“… God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Rom 2:16)

“… 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.

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.

It can be terribly confusing to figure out when and where Paul went on his 3 main trips + 4^th 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.

34 - Saul (Paul) threatens the church, puts them in prison and kills them (Acts 8:3;9:1)

34 – 37 Saul (Paul) goes into Arabia for three years. He visits Mt Sinai in Arabia (Gal 4:25).

40 – Saul (Paul) visits Peter and James in Jerusalem (3 years after Arabia Gal 1:18)

43 – Paul caught up to 3^rd 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)

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 1^st 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 2^nd TRIP (Acts 16-18:22). He writes 1&2 Thessalonians at Corinth (Acts 18:11)

54 - 58 PAUL’S 3^rd 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.

61 – 63 House arrest, Rome, for 2 years. Paul writes Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon

64 – Emperor Nero burns Rome and blames the Christians. He re-captures Paul around 66AD.

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.

“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” Acts 2:16.

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?

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.

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 has no works – only believe, no water and redemption, being for past, present and future sins.

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

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.

Paul’s gospel makes Peter’s gospel obsolete (useless and out of date). If you want to send people to hell today, just preach Peter’s gospel of water baptism for the remission of past sins.

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 3^rd rate, crystal ball, fortune telling. It’s just people puffing themselves up.

We can pray for healings according to the Lord’s will (James 4:15), but physical healings are not a guarantee. The healing mentioned in both testament (Isaiah 53:5;
1 Peter 2:24) is for sin not the body.

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.

Secondly, no prophecy is needed today. It’s all been foretold. Contrary to popular preaching, the world is not in for a huge revival. Just the opposite. Pure lies to deceive the simple and extort money.

Many have tried to their utter failure. Nowhere in Paul’s writings to the churches does he even suggest this. If you were an apostle, God gave this to you as a special miracle (Peter Acts 3:6-7; Paul Acts 19:11)

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 3^rd 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.

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.

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.

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.

The penalty for past, present and future sins has been paid for – not just past sins (remission). “… Jesus Christ… Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Revelation 1:5

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

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