Welcome to the Women’s Weekly Bible Challenge! I’m Lisa Ann
Spencer.
Today is part 4 of the study, When the Holy Spirit Speaks
to Women, but presently we are carefully considering the book of Acts and
the changes that are taking place, which helps us understand the transition
from the Apostle Peter’s ministry regarding Israel’s Earthly Kingdom, to the
ministry of the Apostle Paul regarding the Body of Christ and the Heavenly Kingdom.
REVIEW
We saw that trouble began with Ananias and Sapphira, who did
not have faith that God would do what He promised. Next, we had the Grecian
Jews murmuring because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration of
food; and thirdly the Grecian Jews stirred up the leadership of Israel in
Jerusalem, and they murdered Stephen, the evangelist, who was filled with the
Holy Ghost. We saw that the Jews
scattered outside of Jerusalem, excepting the 12 Apostles who remained. Those that were scattered preached to none
but the Jews only. We saw that Philip the evangelist went to Samaria, preaching
to the Jews; then he went south towards Gaza and preached to an Ethiopian
Eunuch, who is also a Jew.
📔NOTE: The scattering of the Jewish church may mark the
writing of the book of Hebrews, as indicated by Hebrews 13:13-16, which must
have been written by one of the 12 Apostles who would have the authority to
release the believing Jews from continuing in the Temple service (Hebrews 7:12). Instead of offering sacrifice in the Temple,
they would offer a sacrifice of praise.
THE CHURCH HAD REST
After Saul’s salvation, the persecution against the church
at Jerusalem stops. Acts 9:31 THEN had
the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were
edified: and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy
Ghost, were multiplied.
So after the dispersion, many of the Hebrews, the natives of
the land of Israel, returned and continued in the daily Temple service as we
see in Acts 21:17-20, two decades later when Paul meets with James. Also, the Grecian Jews would continue to come
to the Temple three times a year as required by the Law of Moses. [We must also note that there are many false
brethren among the believing Jews, so it is difficult to discern if the Temple
service is being officiated by believing Israel or non-believing Israel
(Galatians 2:4; 2 Peter 2:1).]
Note: This context helps us understand that the book of Hebrews
is also written for a future time of persecution that will once again come upon
the nation of Israel. Hebrews 1:2 points
out that Hebrews is written to the people living in “these last days”, that
being the last day of Old Testament prophecy that will come upon Israel, known
as Daniel’s 70th week, the time of Jacob’s trouble, and the 7 year
Tribulation.
Click here to read Acts 21:17-25
Acts 21:25 is so important.
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and
concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves
from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from
fornication.
James is asking Paul to keep this vow publicly so that all
the believing Jews will know that he is a keeper of the Law of Moses; but to
prevent confusion, he acknowledges that Paul’s Gentile converts are not
expected to keep the Law of Moses, as was determined by a special meeting held
in Jerusalem in Acts chapter 15. You can
read the letter that James and the Apostles wrote to the believing Gentiles
here: Acts 15:23-29.
We must all acknowledge this distinction in the two
ministries, in the two gospels, or we will forever be confused by the
Bible. Most churches today, about 99.9%
of them, do not acknowledge this distinction.
They blend Paul’s gospel of grace with the 12 Apostle’s gospel of the
kingdom and create a confusing mess.
Works of the Law have never been a requirement for Gentile believers.
ACTS CHAPTER 9 – MID-ACTS DISPENSATIONAL BEGINNINGS
Acts chapter 9 is yet another pivotal moment in the book of
Acts, and other than the Cross of Calvary, it is the most important event in
the history of the church. I’m sure you
are familiar with Saul’s conversion, but I would encourage you to read Acts9:1-16 to review it for yourself.
Saul refused to be saved under the gospel of the kingdom that the 12 apostles had preached to Israel. He acknowledged that he was a blasphemer, but God forgave him because he did it ignorantly and in unbelief. Unlike the leaders of Israel who stopped their ears at the words spoken by the Holy Ghost through Stephen, Saul, when encountering Jesus Christ, did not resist Him. He immediately believed and was saved.
It is
important for us to notice that Saul is called “a young man” in Acts 7:58.
God had great mercy on Saul, the blasphemer.
1 Timothy 1:12
God saved Saul under a different gospel: the gospel of the
grace of God, and established him as a pattern to everyone who should believe
on God after Saul’s conversion.
1 Timothy 1:15
SUMMARY
Believe the words of the Bible.
It is so important for all of us to understand the
transition that is taking place in the book of Acts, from Peter’s ministry to
the Circumcision to Paul’s ministry to the Uncircumcision (Galatians 2:7-9). Do not allow anyone to pervert the simplicity
of the Gospel, how that we are saved by the free gift of eternal life, without
the works of the Law, by trusting in Jesus’s work on the cross which paid our
sin debt.
ACTS Chapter 10-11
God sent Peter to a devout Gentile, who feared God and gave
much alms to the people of Israel. Cornelius is not a Pagan, idol-worshiping Gentile like the ones to whom Paul was
sent. Consider that at least 16 years have
passed since the day of Pentecost. The
Jews have never gone to a Gentile because God never told them to. Here, God gives Peter a vision three times to
convince him to go into the house of a Gentile. And what did he say when he got
there?
Acts 10:28
God is showing Peter that He is making a change that is not
recorded in the Prophecy of the Old Testament scriptures.
Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
When the Holy Ghost fell on the Gentiles, the believing Jews
were ASTONISHED! Why?
The Old Testament prophecies were very clear: the Gentiles
would only be blessed THROUGH ISRAEL.
First Israel must rise as the head of nations, then the Law would go
forth out of Zion to the entire world.
The Gentiles would come to Israel to learn about God, and the Gentiles would support Israel with their
tithes. What happened at Cornelius’s
house is off the script. It is the
beginning of what Paul calls, The Mystery, because it is not Prophecy.
So, did Peter then go out and start preaching to
Gentiles. NO.
ACTS CHAPTER 12
God needed Peter to be a witness to the change He was
making. No one would believe Paul if he was the only one claiming that God called him to preach to the Gentiles. God saved Peter from death in Acts chapter
12, in order for Peter to give his testimony at the Jerusalem council in Acts
15 on behalf of Paul.
After Peter is rescued by the angel of the Lord, Peter goes
to Mary’s house, the mother of John Mark.
This passage ends with Peter departing and going into "another place". Peter’s ministry
diminishes, and Paul’s ministry is established beginning in ACTS CHAPTER
13.
Next week, we will pick up with Part 5 of our study When the Holy Spirit Speaks to Women, by considering the women of the book of Acts. I hope you'll join me.
This material is covered on my YouTube channel:
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