View Single Post
  #3  
Old 05-29-2009, 04:10 PM
George's Avatar
George George is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Posts: 891
Default RE: "Rightly Dividing" The Book of Acts Part III

Aloha all,

This is the third in a series of studies on "Rightly Dividing the Book of Acts":

When studying the Scriptures it is always necessary for us to rightly divide “the word of truth”. That means that we must always keep in mind the distinction that the Scriptures make between the JEW; the GENTILE; and the CHURCH {where there is neither Jew nor Greek (i.e. Gentile) – Galatians 3:28& Colossians 3:11}.

In addition we must always keep in mind that the Bible is not only a Book about “Doctrine” and about “Spiritual” matters, it is also a Book about “History”; and in order to arrive at the “Truth” of Scripture we must always take the “historical context” into consideration when “rightly dividing the word of truth”.

That simply means that we cannot “project” what we “knowNOW (as Christians) back into the “historical setting”. We must accept the written record WHERE, WHEN and HOW we find it, and not make it “say” or “mean” something other than what it says in the “historical context”.

Here we are in the fourth Chapter of the Book of Acts and it should be obvious (at least to some) that what is taking place here (in the “historical context”) has NOTHING to do with individual salvation (for both Jew & Greek - as preached and taught by the Apostle Paul (i.e. MY “Gospel”), and everything to do with “all the people of Israel” (Jews/Hebrews/Israelites), that is specifically with the relationship between the Lord Jesus Christ and the Nation of Israel.

As you read - Ask yourself: WHO is speaking? And to WHOM is he speaking to?

Quote:
Acts 4:1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, {Only Jews}
2
Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. {Only Jews}
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. {Only Jews}
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
{Only Jews}
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
{Only Jews}
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at
Jerusalem. {Only Jews}
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
{Only Jews}
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
{Only Jews}
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
{Only Jews}
10 Be it known unto you all, and to the all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
{Only Jews}
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
{Only Jews}
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
{In the “historical context” = Only Jews}
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
{Only Jews}
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
{Only Jews}
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
{Only Jews}
16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in
Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. {Only Jews}
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
{Only Jews}
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
{Only Jews}
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
{Only Jews}
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
{Only Jews}
21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
{Only Jews}
22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
{Only Jews}
23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
{Only Jews}
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: {Only Jews}
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
{David - the people of Israel and Gentiles}
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
{the people of Israel and Gentiles}
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
{the people of Israel and Gentiles}
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
{the people of Israel and Gentiles}
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
{Only Jews}
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
{Only Jews}
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
{Only Jews}
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
{Only Jews}
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
{Only Jews}
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
{Only Jews}
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
{Only Jews}
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
{Only Jews}
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
{Only Jews}
How many more times must we read these “specific” addresses to: “the people of Israel”; “all the people of Israel”; “all the house of Israel”; “their rulers, and elders, and scribes”; “the chief priests and elders”;the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees,”; “Ye men of Israel”; “the God of our fathers”; “Men and brethren”; “brethren”; “Ye are the children of the prophets”; “Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel”; before it finally “dawns” on us that the words spoken here are not in regards to the Apostle Paul’s “Gospel”, and certainly cannot be the SAME?

How many more times must we read these “specific” addresses (“to all the house of Israel”) before we realize that the words in the foregoing Chapters of Acts were ADDRESSED specifically BY JEWS and exclusively TO JEWS (“all the people of Israel” - i.e. the nation of Israel) and were in regards to the nation of Israel refusing to believe Christ (His words);refusing to receive Christ – as their Lord and King; and delivering Christ up to the Gentiles; and denying Him; and having Him murdered?

If I “address” a specific Post on this Forum to brother Parish, others may read it – but I “meant” it to be only for him. If I address a specific Post on this Forum to brother Tony, others may “THINK” that I am addressing them, or they may “THINK” I am talking about them - but the fact remains that if I addressed that Post to brother Tony, I meant it to be ONLY for him! If the Apostle Peter used all of these specific addresses (“to all the house of Israel”) all of these times, where do Christians get the idea that these things apply TO them?

With ALL of the SPECIFIC overtures, entreaties, pleas, and adjurations addressed exclusively to “all the house of Israel” by the Apostle Peter in Acts Chapters 2-4 it should be crystal clear to all, that those things spoken of by Peter, cannot possibly be the SAME, as that “Gospel” that the Apostle Paul received (by special “revelation” from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself) AFTER the nation of Israel had rejected Peter’s call (“to all the house of Israel”) to “REPENT” and be “CONVERTED”.

Understanding what took place in these few Chapters should be a simple matter of basic reading comprehension in the English language, WHY is it so difficult to accept exactly WHAT was written; WHERE it was written; and WHEN it was written?