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Old 06-16-2009, 03:11 PM
Winman Winman is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
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As far as what John the Baptist preached, Paul makes that clear in Acts.

Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

This is the gospel, believe on the Lord Jesus for forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. Nothing of the restoration of the kingdom mentioned.

And before Paul turned to the Gentiles, what did he preach to the Jews?

Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

So, here was Paul preaching to Jews about the forgiveness of sins, not the restoration of the kingdom. But since they judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life, he turned to the Gentiles.

But did Paul stop preaching to the Jews here? No, the very next chapter finds him in the synagogue preaching again to Jews.

Acts 14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.


And you see Paul preaching to Jews all the way to Acts 28 in Rome.

Acts 28:17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

So, here again in Rome, Paul is still preaching to Jews to believe on Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Some did believe, but others not, and so Paul states that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles.

And here is where Peter shows forgiveness of sins was preached in early Acts.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Not one mention of the restoration of the kingdom.