tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8500103446044225262024-03-16T14:50:08.137-04:00Pastor Powell's PonderingsThis blog serves as an outreach for Pastor Randy Powell of the First Baptist Church of Franklin, PA. Feel free to ask questions or send me an e-mail at pastorpowell@hotmail.comPastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.comBlogger1307125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-67825141239487840182024-03-15T08:42:00.000-04:002024-03-15T08:42:49.968-04:00The boldly heretical anti-trinitarianism of Daniel Lancaster (One of the key leaders of the FFOZ and Torah Clubs) in his own words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAR9Ag4hnbnKHOS7AovibvWYrAGFsXJK4DedEb546Zi_GvK5HcYdnT3KStDstzFDQypI9fA7P4tDViLPkywYi_0GfYzBuG-IAO9oIxGhhuOJFJEie_jSKmPt0QVN4hWuVxjQF0-AcuLPZWP7rZwOcNm3iOnwCgEl92JCPAiO2TaZPHK74oqH8SEG7A_s/s1280/jesus%20lamb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAR9Ag4hnbnKHOS7AovibvWYrAGFsXJK4DedEb546Zi_GvK5HcYdnT3KStDstzFDQypI9fA7P4tDViLPkywYi_0GfYzBuG-IAO9oIxGhhuOJFJEie_jSKmPt0QVN4hWuVxjQF0-AcuLPZWP7rZwOcNm3iOnwCgEl92JCPAiO2TaZPHK74oqH8SEG7A_s/s320/jesus%20lamb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Here is the link to the original PDF on the website of Beth Immanuel where Daniel Lancaster serves as the pastor: <a href="https://www.bethimmanuel.org/sites/default/files/4_the_only_begotten_son_0.pdf">The Only Begotten Son - By D. Thomas Lancaster</a></p><p>This was published in 2019 and remains an active link on their website.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Beth Immanuel Messianic Synagogue <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">May 8, 2019 / Iyyar 3, 5779 <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Messianic Jewish Introduction to Discipleship, Part
Four: The Only Begotten Son <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">© 2019 D. Thomas Lancaster www.bethimmanuel.org</span><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{All commentary below from Pastor Powell will be in brackets,
bold and italics to avoid any confusion as to Lancaster’s original words. The bold section titles are original.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Before being immersed, a person should be instructed in
“knowledge about the unbegotten God”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">and “understanding about the only begotten son.” Under this
subject, we touch on some of the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">ideas in Christology—the study of Messiah. This is among the
deepest and most mysterious<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">subjects in the Bible, so this lesson will only introduce a
few of the topics pertaining to the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">sonship of Yeshua. The material dives into some deep waters,
so don’t feel distressed if it goes<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">over your head at time. It’s enough to get a rough idea of
the concepts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{The opening paragraph reveals this to be a
pre-baptism primer for those joining Beth Immanuel, as such we would expect
that the beliefs expressed here have not been arrived at in a flippant manner,
which adds weight to their deviancy from orthodoxy.}<u><o:p></o:p></u></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Son of God<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Yeshua regularly referred to himself as “the Son” and to God
as “the Father.” It wasn’t<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">uncommon for Jews in his day to describe God as their loving
Father. Even to this day, Jewish<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">prayers still address God warmly as “our Father,” and
“Father in Heaven.” But there was<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">something unique about the way Yeshua talked. When he
addressed God, he called him “Abba,”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">a term of special endearment. When he talked about himself,
he referred to himself as “the Son”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">that was sent by the Father. After his death and
resurrection, his followers began to refer to him<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">as “the Son of God,” and the “only begotten son.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten
son, so that whoever<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life.
(John 3:16)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">What do we mean when we say that Yeshua is the Son of God
and why is he called “the only<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">begotten Son?” It’s not just because he was born of a
virgin. It’s blasphemous to even think that<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">the Almighty fathered him through
his mother Miriam. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><b><i>{This is the Hebraic version of the familiar Mary} </i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">In
Greek mythology, the gods routinely impregnate human women who subsequently
give birth to demi-gods, but those mythological and idolatrous ideas have
nothing to do with the story of Yeshua’s miraculous conception or why he is
called the Son of God. So why is he called the Son of God?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{There isn’t much of note in the preceding paragraph,
it all could be a part of a perfectly orthodox explanation of the Incarnation,
if it wasn’t connected to what comes later…}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Today I have Begotten You<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Let’s start with the idea of Messiah. The word “messiah”
means “The Anointed One.” It’s<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">directly related to the Hebrew word Mashiach and the Greek
word Christos. That’s where we get<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">the English word “Christ.” In the days of the kings of
Israel, a new king was anointed with oil to<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">symbolize that God had chosen him and put his Spirit upon
him to lead the people. Every king of<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Israel was called an anointed one.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">God promised that, in the future, the descendants of king
David would beget a son who would be<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">anointed by God’s spirit to restore the kingdom of Israel
and conquer the whole world. The<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">LORD promised King David, “I will be a father to him and he
will be a son to Me” (2 Samuel<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">7:14). We call that promised king “the Anointed One,” i.e.
the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Son of God is a title for the Messiah. The LORD says to the
Messiah in Psalm 2, “You are my<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">son, today I have begotten you” (Psalm 2:7). The word
“beget” means “to give birth to” or “to<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">bring forth.” In Psalm 2, God says that the Davidic Messiah
is called his “son” because he has<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">begotten him.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">When Yeshua was immersed in the Jordan River, the voice of
God declared him to be the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">fulfillment of the promise made to David. He said, “You are
my son.” With these words, the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">voice at the Jordan identified Yeshua as the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Yeshua asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Messiah, the Son of living God!” (Matthew 16:16). The two
titles were connected in Peter’s<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">mind. Not long after that, Yeshua took three disciples with
him up onto a high mountain. They<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">heard the voice of God say, “This is my son! Listen to him.”
That revelation dispelled any<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">lingering doubts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">All of these instances point to the connection between
Yeshua’s identity as the Messiah and the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">promise made to King David, “I will be a father to him and
he will be a son to Me” (2 Samuel<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">7:14). By saying to Yeshua, “You are my son,” the voice at
the Jordan River declared, “You are<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">the Messiah.” By saying to the disciples, “This is my son,”
the voice on the high mountain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">declared, “This is the Messiah.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Up until the next paragraph, there isn’t anything of
concern here, and that’s the pattern with FFOZ and their Torah Clubs. They project an “ordinary Bible study” vibe
right up until they include unorthodox teaching that often slips by Torah Club
members, or leaves them thinking they can “strain out” the heretical bits and
keep the rest. Hold onto your hats for
what is coming next.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Logos Becomes Flesh<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">But what about the idea that the Messiah is God? How is that supposed to work?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes people say that Yeshua is fully God and fully man:
100% God and 100% human.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Mathematically, that doesn’t work very well. That would make
him a 200% being which, by<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">definition, would be two different things, not a single
person. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{And with this flippant math analogy, Lancaster has
rejected the Council of Nicaea. Given
that Jesus is the one and only Incarnation of God, the only example that there
ever was or will be of the divine and human combined in one person, why is he
so sure that Jesus <u>can’t</u> be fully God AND fully man at the same
time? Whatever comes next, whatever
lesser explanation of the humanity and divinity of Jesus that he is about to
offer, orthodoxy has already been abandoned by Lancaster.} <o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">But Yeshua is not a math equation,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">nor is he a recipe calling for equal parts God and equal
parts man, stirred together and baked in<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">an oven. The spiritual world doesn’t work according to those
rules or simple ideas. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{More mockery of the orthodox understanding of Jesus’
full humanity and divinity that the Early Church affirmed at Nicaea. If Jesus isn’t equal parts God and man,
either his divinity or his humanity must be lesser, as we will soon see. That last sentence jumps out at me, our
understanding of the spiritual realm comes from divine revelation, our
knowledge of how it works is up to God.
Thus we do not define the Incarnation, and we certainly don’t declare
what it can/can’t be based on our preferences.
What we must do, what we only can do, is accept what God has said about
himself, and the Word of God tells us that Jesus of Nazareth is both fully
human and fully divine.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Let’s take a look at how the apostles solved the problem. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Ok, let’s do that…Wait, when does he start quoting
the Apostles? The only two quotes to
follow, from John and Colossians, actually speak firmly against this notion
that Jesus can’t be fully God and fully man.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">In the previous chapter, we learned
that God is the first-cause and that he created the whole universe through the
agency of his Word. The “Word” of God
functions as his avatar, so to speak, expressing his being within the confines of
the created order. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{The warning signs should be shouting by now, “Danger!
Danger!” Why is “Word” in quotation
marks? It shouldn’t be given that it is
how the prologue of the Gospel of John describes the eternal 2<sup>nd</sup>
person of the Trinity, but it is to Lancaster because the Word that he’s
describing is NOT a person at all. We’re
heading toward a form of unitarian monotheism, something that would be
acceptable to modern Judaism (and Islam) but something that has been entirely
rejected by the Church since the very beginning…An avatar? Why are we using a term that has less than
full personhood associated with it? The
term Lancaster refuses to use is “person.”
The Word is not described as a person (and neither is the Holy Spirit),
and honestly neither is the Father, these are simply avatars (manifestations)
of the One, not persons.}</i></b> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">Through his Word he spoke and the
world came into being. His Word hovered over the waters of creation and said,
“Let there be light.” In the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God’s Word
appeared in the form of the Angel of the LORD, and in the days of Moses, his
Word spoke from inside a burning bush. From on top of Mount Sinai, the Word
spoke the ten commandments, declaring, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you
out of the land of Egypt.” The same Word of God came to dwell in the Tabernacle
and spoke to Moses from between the wings of Cherubim over the ark of the
covenant. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Sloppy and careless use of scripture is a hallmark
here. The Spirit of God hovered over the
waters in Genesis 1:2, nor is the Word described by Moses as the one who spoke
Creation into existence in Genesis 1:3.
So why attribute these things, contrary to the text, to the Word? There
is a purpose to Lancaster making these attributions, and saying that the voice
of God in the Burning Bush was an Avatar of the Word along with the appearances
of the Angel of the LORD, it muddies the waters and sets the stage for what he
is about to say…}</i></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">When the time came for God to fulfill his promises to the
house of David by bringing forth the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Messiah, the Word of God divested itself of glory and
clothed itself in a human body. Much as<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">the Word dwelt in the Tabernacle, the Word came to dwell
within the human being named<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Yeshua ben Yosef of Nazareth. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Heresy. Full
stop. The Word did NOT “dwell within” a
human being, He was and is a human being because Jesus retains his humanity in
his resurrected body. At the Incarnation
God <u>became</u> a human being when the Son was born of the virgin and took
upon himself humanity in addition to his eternal deity. It was not being “clothed” with a human body,
but having one, <u>being</u> one of us.
When he switches gears to the Atonement below, this lesser version of
Jesus will have dire implications that leave Lancaster (and FFOZ) with a diet
version of the Gospel, one devoid of power…According to how Lancaster explains
this, Yeshua (Jesus) the man already independently existed, and the Word simply
came to dwell within him. What we have
here is full blown Monarchianism, also known as Modalism, a heresy that was
known in the Early Church and entirely rejected by it even before the Council
of Nicaea (as early as Tertullian, 160-220 AD).
Lancaster is not inventing a new heresy, he is simply recycling an old
previously rejected one.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">The Gospel of John says, “The Word
became flesh (a human<b><i> </i></b>body), and dwelt among us, and we saw his
glory: the glory of the only begotten from the Father,<b><i> </i></b>full of
grace and truth” (John 1:14).<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Make no mistake, this is about as close as the apostles ever
get to saying, “God became a human<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">being.” Of course, they don’t say it in those words, but the
apostle Paul says essentially the same<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">thing in slightly different language. He says, “In him all
the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">form” (Colossians 2:9).
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Yes! Amen! The
Apostle Paul does indeed say that God became a human being, and not just in
Colossians 2:9 (Also see John’s prologue), so why are you denying it? I know that FFOZ wants to make the Gospel
more palatable to the “Jewish perspective” as they define it, but abandoning
the fully deity and humanity of Jesus to do it?
Never.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>A Real Human Being<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Why didn’t the apostles just come right out and say, “Yeshua
is God”? Why beat around the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">bush? They refer to him as the “Son of God, the “glory of
God,” the “representation” and “image<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">of God,” the “exact imprint” of God, and so forth? Why do
they always seem to take one step<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">back from just saying, “Yeshua is God”? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Those statements are a “step back”? Only if you want to proclaim Jesus as less
than fully God and fully man. Nobody and
nothing has the fullness of God’s glory except God. One cannot miss that John’s Gospel proclaims
Jesus as God, equal with the Father, unless what the text is actually saying is
secondary to your agenda. For example: “before
Abraham was born, I am.” In John 8:58. Did Jesus’ audience know he was claiming
to be God? Absolutely, they immediately
picked up stones to kill him.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Well for one thing, that’s not a Jewish way of speaking
about God. They did not want to imply<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">that God was two different beings, nor did they want to give
people the idea that they were<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">teaching polytheism. Besides, that wasn’t what they meant.
The human body of Yeshua is not<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">God nor is it the Word of God. When God dwelt inside the
Tabernacle, the Tabernacle did not<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">become God. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{He said it himself.
Lancaster has made a distinction between the human Yeshua and the divine
Word of God; they’re not the same to him, he wants them to be distinct and
makes sure to say so. The Tabernacle
analogy is ridiculous. Of course a tent
didn’t become God, what does that have to do with Jesus? Don’t miss the line, “that wasn’t what they
meant.” It points back to the early
question about why the Apostles didn’t simply say that, “Yeshua is God.” Lancaster’s answer: They didn’t say it because
they didn’t believe it. A laughable
conclusion based on the text of the NT, even the apostate Bart Ehrman accepts
that the NT text proclaims Jesus to be God (Ehrman erroneously teaches that the
Church edited the text centuries after the Apostles to add this idea).}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">One might say that Yeshua is God in the flesh, so long as we
remember that his flesh is not God.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{“One might say that Yeshua is God in the
flesh”?? Oh really, we are allowed to
say that the Incarnation is God in the flesh and thus accept what Holy
Scripture says and the Church has believed from the beginning! But Lancaster needs to
add a caveat, a distinction that undermines any hope that he will accept this fundamental truth of
orthodox Christology.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">The human body of Yeshua is a real human body. Unlike God,
it began at a fixed point in time,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">conceived and born of a woman. Perhaps this is one reason
why he also referred to himself as<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“the Son of Man.” The term “Son of Man” is an obscure title
for the Messiah, but it is also a<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hebrew idiom that simply means “human being.” Yeshua was the
human being who took up<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Adam’s job of being the image of God. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{So, at least we don’t also have the heresy that the
Divine Jesus only looked human (Docetism). Lancaster is willing to concede that Jesus of
Nazareth was a real human being. The
“unlike God” segway serves as a reminder that Jesus the man and the Word of God
are not one and the same in this heretical view endorsed by one of the primary
leaders of FFOZ and creator of Torah Club materials.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Yeshua was not a fake person that only looked human but was
actually a deity in disguise.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In Greek mythology, the gods occasionally masqueraded as men
to fool people, but that’s not what<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">is happening in the gospels. Yeshua was a real person who
hungered, thirsted, tired, experienced<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">a full range of human emotions, felt both physical and
emotional pain, and suffered temptation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">But the living God in the form of the Word <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{“in the form of the Word” is the Modalist way of not
having a true Trinity with three equal persons, the Word and the Spirit are
simply “forms” of God, “avatars” God wears for specific purposes.}</i></b> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">dwelt within him and permeated his whole being. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Nope. The Word
didn’t “dwell within” Jesus, Jesus <u>is</u> the Word.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The glory of God shone through him.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">When it says that the Word “dwelt among us,” the Gospel
alludes to how God’s presence dwelt<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">in the Tabernacle and the Temple so that he could “dwell” in
the midst of his people. It’s similar<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">with Yeshua of Nazareth. Much as God can be said to dwell in
his sanctuary in a unique way, he<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">chose to dwell within a single human being in a unique way.
But unlike the Tabernacle or the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Temple, Yeshua is a person with his own will, his own
inclinations, and his own consciousness.
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Once you’ve gone off the rails, there’s no telling
where you’ll end up. Now we’re about to hear Lancaster explain how the Word and
Jesus have competing wills. So, Jesus
the man has a separate will/inclination/consciousness that is NOT the same as
the Word? Jesus is some sort of multiple
personality sufferer in Lancaster’s eyes?}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">For example, when praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, he
distinguished between his own will<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">and God’s will. He prayed, “Not my will, but let your will
be done” (Luke 22:42). Come to think<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">of it, just by praying to God he was making it clear that he
made a distinction between himself<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">and God. Otherwise he would have been praying to himself. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Good grief, as he often enough does, Lancaster
demonstrates no real understanding of the orthodoxy he’s rejecting. There’s a reason why we can talk about the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as their own person, it’s a mystery called the
Trinity. One God, three persons. As Athanasius put it, “one ousia in three
hypostaseis”, that is, one substance/essence with three persons. Lancaster doesn’t understand this ancient
doctrine, so he thinks that Jesus praying to the Father would be Jesus praying
to himself, which is nonsense. There was
communication and fellowship within the Trinity before Creation. That this continues when Jesus walked the
Earth in the form of prayer is to be expected.} <o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Apostle Paul explains that Yeshua did not “consider
equality with God a thing to be seized” (Philippians 2:6).<b><i> <o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{And here we’re abusing Paul to advocate for
heresy. Philippians 2:6 is not saying
that Jesus wasn’t equal with God, the Kenosis (“emptying”) passage tells of
Jesus’ humility in that he didn’t cling to the prerogatives of deity but was
instead willing to set them aside. By
the way, Philippians 2:9-11 reveal the coming glory of Jesus when his divinity
is acknowledged by all of creation. As
is common with FFOZ, the passage of scripture they’re citing means the opposite
of what they’re trying to use it for.}</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Divestment<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">How does that work? How can the Word dwell in Yeshua, yet
make room enough for him to<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">keep a distinct will and consciousness of his own? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{It can’t, and it doesn’t need to unless you’ve
embraced heresy, as Lancaster here, and need to somehow try to justify it.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">God’s Word dwelt within him much the way your spirit dwells
within you. Human beings are<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">not merely physical creatures of flesh and blood and bone.
We are more than just mudballs, and<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">more than just monkeys. There is a spiritual spark hidden
inside of us that existed before we<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">were conceived, and it will continue to live on after we
die. The body is like a suit of clothing<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">that the spirit within us wears. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Now Lancaster is dabbling in Docetism by making the
spirit the real essence of us and the body merely a covering. Our body is not at all “clothing” that our
spirit wears. Afterall, the coming resurrection
of the dead is a bodily resurrection. Given
how wrong he is about the nature of humanity, his attempt to use this as
analogy to the unique Incarnation of the God/Man is useless. With each attempt to explain his heresy,
Lancaster further cements the truth that critics of FFOZ, like myself, are not
“making this up.” This is what he chose
to publish, what he is teaching at Beth Immanuel, and what, God help us, others
are accepting because of his so-called “expertise.”}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">When the spirit enters the human body at conception and
birth, it conceals itself in the person.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">You wouldn’t even know its there. It functions within you on
an unconscious level, beneath the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">surface of your awareness. But it’s very much the real you,
deep down inside. In order to become<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">you, your spirit first divests itself of its heavenly
identity and any memories it had. That’s why<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">you don’t remember being a spirit before you were born. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{There’s no telling how far down the rabbit hole we
will go. Now Lancaster is claiming
pre-existence in heaven of the human soul, with an identity and memories that
we “lose” when we’re born. The Second
Council of Constantinople (553 AD) condemned this belief as heresy.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">It’s not exactly the same, but the Word that became flesh in
the person of Yeshua did something<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">similar by divesting its identity to indwell a man and live
a real human life through Yeshua of<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Nazareth: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{And now we see the fruit of the poisoned heretical
vine. God isn’t really living a human
life, Jesus of Nazareth is, God is just indwelling him through an avatar. When you abandon orthodoxy, the consequences
are legion and grotesque.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Although he existed in the form of God, he did not consider
equality with God a thing to<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">be seized. Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a
servant, being made in the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a human
being, he humbled himself by<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Of what did the Word divest itself? He stripped himself of
glory, divesting himself of<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence in order to
inhabit a human life. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{You were almost there, if you replace “inhabit” with
“live” you have orthodoxy. But that’s a
bridge too far for Lancaster, his Jesus isn’t a part of any Trinity.}</i></b> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">This explains why Yeshua would have
appeared to anyone who knew him as a normal human being. He did not glow, and
he did not have a halo floating over his head. This also explains why he didn’t
know everything all the time, and how he could have been tempted, and why he
achieved merit for his obedience. After all, it wouldn’t have been any great
accomplishment for the omnipotent and omniscient God to pass temptations and
trials, but Yeshua earned merit and God’s favor by doing so. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{And now we see what happens with a lesser
Christology, we must also have a lesser Atonement (which actually is no real
atonement at all, as we will see below. FYI,
orthodoxy acknowledges that Jesus’ suffering and temptations were real, he was
a real human being who had laid aside the fullness of divinity’s power during
his time on earth. These “explanations”
from Lancaster are as unnecessary as they are heretical…So, for Lancaster Jesus
of Nazareth also needs to be a separate man who is only indwelt by the Word
(itself only an avatar of God, not a person) in order to make his trials and
temptations “real”?}</i></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He himself was tempted in everything he suffered, so he is
able to help those who are<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He has been tempted in all things as we are, yet he was
without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Although he was a son, he learned obedience from the things
which He suffered. And<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">having been made perfect, he became to all those who obey
Him the source of eternal<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">salvation. (Hebrews 5:8-9)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Nice to see Hebrews quoted, none of these are being
used in a way that the author would have recognized or accepted because he most
certainly believed that Jesus was fully God and fully man, not this weird
amalgam of a human being serving as the clothing for an avatar of God.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Suffering of Messiah<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Disciples of Yeshua believe that his death on the cross
obtained the forgiveness of sins for us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">How is that supposed to work? Doesn’t it seem strange to
believe that the death of one Jewish<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">man, 2000 years ago, could bring us the forgiveness of sins
today? Why would the death of<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">anyone bring forgiveness of sins to someone else?<b><i> <o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{It isn’t a strange notion if you accept the teachings
of the Apostle Paul. One Jewish man’s
death couldn’t do anything for us, the death of the God/Man, the only Son of God,
is what actually matters, but Lancaster has already undermined who the Church
has always believed Jesus to be, which is who Jesus actually is, so…}</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>God’s Favor<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">To begin with, Yeshua found favor in God’s eyes. He lived a
life of complete righteousness in<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">perfect submission to God’s will, but he suffered unjustly.
Th apostles teach, “This finds favor<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">with God, if for the sake of his convictions toward God a
person bears up under sorrows when<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">suffering unjustly” (1 Peter 2:19). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Over and over again.
Peter isn’t talking about the Atonement, he’s not talking about merit
that can be applied to others, this quotation is irrelevant, because it isn’t
at all about what Jesus did for us.} <o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">That’s the same way that Yeshua
earned God’s favor. Now he is able to share that favor with all of his
disciples. When we pray to God or ask him for forgiveness for sins, we do so
not according to our own merit or righteousness, but in the merit and favor
that Yeshua earned with God. We know that we don’t deserve God’s mercy, but Yeshua
does, so we associate ourselves with him. It’s as if we say, “I know that I
don’t deserve your favor or your forgiveness, but please remember your son
Yeshua and include me along with him.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{So, we’re missing something here. What about the punishment for sin? What about the darkness as Jesus hung on the
Cross or the symbolism of the Lamb of God at Passover? What about the deep focus in Hebrews on Jesus
as a better Priest and a better sacrifice?
The explanation that the man Jesus (remember, Lancaster already declared
that the Word and Yeshua are separate) is able to share some extra merit with
you and me is far from a sufficient explanation. This is not what the NT writers have to say
about Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection.}</i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Law of Sin and Death<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Bible also speaks about a principle called “the law of
sin and death” (Romans 8:2).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">According to this principle, human suffering and death come
into the world only as a<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">consequence for sin. If there was no sin in the world, there
would be no human suffering or<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">death. We would live in paradise. But this theory raises a
serious problem. How do you explain it<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">when innocent people suffer and die? What about when a very
righteous person suffers and dies<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">as a martyr? Obviously innocent people, like small children,
cannot be said to have suffered and<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">died to pay for their sins. They didn’t have any sins.
Neither can it be said that the righteous<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">suffer and die for their sins. Surely there are plenty of
worse sinners who go unpunished. Where<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">is the fairness? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Lancaster is attempting to delve into Theodicy, also
known as “the problem of evil.” We do
indeed live in a world where sin is far from sufficiently punished and
righteousness often goes unrewarded. What
is lacking in this discussion is any connection to Paul’s theology in Romans. The
universality of human sin, and the inheritance of the sin nature in each
generation is not present. Also, where
is the truth that all have individually sinned and fallen short of the glory of
God? (Romans 3:23) When you leave that fundamental truth out of your
explanation of God’s response to humanity’s plight, things go awry, as the next
sentence will show.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Judaism explains that when righteous people suffer and die,
it comes not as a consequence for<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">their own sins, but for the sins of others. God even uses
the suffering and death of the righteous<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">as a way to atone for others who otherwise would not deserve
his mercy. According to this idea,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">an extremely righteous person might suffer for the sins of
his whole generation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{“Judaism explains” is weak sauce. Where does this come from, which rabbis
taught this? Is this an idea that
predates the life of Jesus, or a modern one?
Lancaster offers no explanation.
In the end, where it comes from doesn’t really matter because it isn’t a
biblical idea. God is a just God. There are no “righteous people” who don’t
need a savior (Romans 2-3), everyone dies for their own sins, everyone needs
Jesus. How then could the acts of
righteousness done by sinners (for that is what we all are) produce extra merit
before God that could be applied to others?
This notion cannot be squared with Paul’s meticulous explanation of the
Gospel in Romans, and fails utterly to connect with Ephesians 2:8-9. If “Judaism” (Or at least Lancaster’s view of
it) believes that a human being could “suffer for the sins of his whole generation”
it is flat-out wrong. No person could
ever obtain enough merit for him/herself, let alone for others.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">The apostles applied this same reasoning to explain Yeshua’s
suffering. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{No evidence that the Apostles believed anything of
the sort is offered, none exists, because they most certainly did not.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">Since he was tempted in all things
but without sin, he accrued merit with God. When he suffered and died, it
tipped the scales of justice far out of balance. To bring the scales of justice
back into balance, his suffering must have been on behalf of the sins of
others. This is what the prophet Isaiah predicted the Messiah would do: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{The scales of justice? God has to balance the cosmic scales? The thing is, the injustice of Jesus’ death
was infinite. He had no sin, zero. This
isn’t a cosmic math problem, Jesus’ death paid for the sins of tens of billions
of people (and counting as the years lengthen) because he was fully God and
fully man with zero sin, which left death with no claim upon him.}</i></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He bore our griefs, and he carried our sorrows. But we
considered him to be plagued,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">struck by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced through for
our transgressions; he was<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">crushed for our iniquities. Upon him fell the discipline to
bring us peace, and by his welts<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(from scourging) we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Yes! Isaiah
53:4-5 is very relevant. Isaiah is
talking about Substitutionary Atonement, Lancaster isn’t.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Higher than the Angels<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">In the Bible, angels are also called “sons of God,” but the
Messiah occupies a station higher than<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">the angels. He is the Son of God on a higher level than they
can claim.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my
Son, today I have begotten<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be
to me a son?” (Hebrews 1:5)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Messiah is called God’s firstborn and only begotten son.
But how does that square with the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">idea that he existed since the beginning of creation?
Physically, we know he was begotten<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">through Miriam the wife of Joseph and born in the town of
Bethlehem, but spiritually, he was<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">with God in the beginning. He is called “firstborn” because
he is God’s agent <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Again, the Word is an “agent” in Lancaster’s view,
not a person.}</i></b> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">through which all things came into
being, that is, the Word. If God is the first-cause, the Word is the action
that initiates the first effect. This is why Yeshua is called “the beginning of
God’s creation”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">(Revelation 3:14) and “the image of
the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">1:15). In the days of the Bible, a
firstborn son took a double portion of his father’s inheritance. By<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">calling the Messiah the
“firstborn,” this implies that the Messiah was “begotten” before the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">angels were created. Because he is
the firstborn over God’s household, the angels must pay<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">homage to him as their superior: When
he brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship
him.” (Hebrews 1:6) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{As far as I can tell, this whole section is
justifying why Hebrews claims that Jesus (who is a man inhabited by God’s
avatar the Word in Lancaster’s view) is above the angels when he was born after
they were created. If Lancaster believed
that Jesus was the 2<sup>nd</sup> person of the Trinity, God from God, true God
from true God, light from light, etc. he could just agree with the author of
Hebrews without all of the odd talk about inheritance law.}</i></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Resurrection of Yeshua<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Disciples of Yeshua believe some enormous claims about him.
How do we know that these<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">things are true? He claimed to be the Son of God and the
Messiah. He claimed to submit to<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">God’s will completely. The apostles claimed that he lived a
sinless life, and they claimed that,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">thanks to the merit and favor he earned with God, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Merit and favor are all we have here, nothing about
sin being paid for.)</i></b> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">his disciples can obtain the
forgiveness of sins and eternal life, i.e. the resurrection of the dead and a
share in the World to Come. They also claimed that he will come again and bring
the Messianic Era to earth. We believe
all of these things on the basis of his resurrection from the dead. If Yeshua
was a deceiver, a false prophet, a liar, or even a self-deluded madman, God
would not have endorsed his claims by resurrecting him from the dead. The
resurrection of Yeshua and the empty tomb that he left behind testify that
everything he said is true and valid, and everything his disciples<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">believed and taught about him are
also true.<b><i> <o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{Somehow, some way, we’re found the truth again. The Resurrection is indeed foundational to
our belief in Jesus.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">The resurrection of Yeshua endorses all of his Messianic
claims and his teachings about the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">coming kingdom. His resurrection also provides evidence for
hope in a future resurrection of the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">righteous and a share in the world to come. Finally, the
resurrection of Yeshua proves that he is<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">the Son of God. In fact, it declares him to be God’s son:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He was physically descended from David, but he was declared
to be the Son of God in<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">power according to the Spirit of holiness by his
resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:3-<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">4)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In summary, Yeshua is regard as the “only begotten son” of
God on the basis of three<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">indisputable things. He is the Messiah the son of David, and
therefore the heir to the Davidic title<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“son of God” as it says in Psalm 2, “Your are my son, today
I have begotten you.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He is the Son of God on the basis of the divine Word made
flesh. The Word was begotten of the<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">first-cause from the before the beginning as the firstborn
“son” over creation, and the Word<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">inhabits and fills him. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>{The distinction between Yeshua the man, and the Word
continues, the Word didn’t become man in the Incarnation, it merely “inhabits
and fills” a man. This is not at all
sufficient, and was rejected soundly by the Early Church as heresy.}<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">Finally, he is declared the “Son of
God … by his resurrection from the dead.” The evidence of<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">the resurrection confirms his
claims. Yeshua invites his followers to join the family as sons and daughters
of God too. When we become his disciples, we join his family. He becomes the
elder brother, and we become children of his Father. We enter into the family
and enjoy the same intimate relationship that the Father and Son share
together:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">For in the Messiah Yeshua you are all sons (and daughters)
of God, through faith.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(Galatians 3:26)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">And because you are sons (and daughters), God has sent the
Spirit of his Son into our<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">hearts, praying, “Abba! Father!” Since you are no longer a
slave, but a son, now, as a son<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(or daughter), you are an heir through God. (Galatians
4:6-7)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i> </i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i> </i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Pastor Powell’s Conclusions: As someone who has taken
on the role of teacher, and who is actively sharing his views with a global
audience, the beliefs of Daniel Lancaster are profoundly important for they
permeate what he teaches (i.e. the published materials of FFOZ and Torah
Clubs). Contrary to what his (and
FFOZ’s) defenders claim, these teachings are deeply and profoundly unorthodox
and literally heretical given that they were specifically rejected by the Early
Church and declared to be heresy by its Councils.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>1. This teaching is Modalism, it is anti-Trinitarian,
a rejection of the Council of Nicaea, and wholly unacceptable, it has more in
common with the teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses about Jesus than it does
with anything in historic Christianity.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>2. A lesser view of Jesus taints the purpose and
meaning of the Cross. Instead of
Substitutionary Atonement (or any variation of atonement thereof), we have here in its place the notion of the
balancing of the scales of justice, instead of sins that have been paid for, we
have sins that God chooses to ignore because of Jesus’ extra merit. This too falls short of what the Gospel
proclaims and the New Testament teaches.<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p>
<b><i><span face=""Aptos",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3. Teachings like this eviscerate any “about us”
statements that are put forth by Beth Immanuel or FFOZ (see below). While it may be convenient or strategic to
allow people to assume that they haven’t rejected the Trinity, this is the
direction in which they are leading people, and it is neither a part of
historic Christianity nor Messianic Judaism, but instead a cult that like the
JW’s and LDS before them, have chosen to follow “prophets” into the wilderness.</span></i></b></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Also from Pastor Powell - <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For comparison: Below is the Statement of Faith created by
FFOZ (<a href="https://ffoz.org/about/statement-of-faith">FFOZ Statement of
Faith</a>)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Note that at first glance this statement does not appear to
be anti-Trinitarian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when read
in light of Daniel Lancaster’s stated beliefs above, phrases like “he reveals
himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” are recognizable as a form of
Modalism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, the opening phrase, “There
is one God” is seen more clearly as not simply the assertion of traditional
Christian monotheism, but rather of a Unitarian Monotheism more akin to the “Jewish
perspective” (as FFOZ defines it).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With respect to Jesus, their statement of faith doesn’t
mention that the Word is only an avatar, or that the man Jesus (Yeshua) had a separate
will and consciousness from that of the Word (as claimed by D. Lancaster in the
text above), but if the Word is only a manifestation of God, and not a true
person, this sort of lesser Christology is inevitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus cannot be fully God and fully Man (as
Christian orthodoxy proclaims) if the deity indwelling him is only a power and
not a person.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With respect to the Holy Spirit, once again we’re looking at
what is missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In FFOZ’s statement of faith
we only find mention of what the Spirit does, nothing that speaks to who the
Spirit is.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As such, this statement of faith from FFOZ follows the pattern
that I have highlighted over and over again: publicly acceptable softer and
ambiguous versions of their beliefs combined with deeply unorthodox teachings
mixed in and/or revealed to insiders (see for example the Malchut 2022 videos
in parts 2 & 3 of my seminar).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
the answer to the objection that has been raised over and over by true
believers as to why their local Torah Club isn’t the same as what my research
into FFOZ has revealed: The truly disturbing beliefs are mostly shielded from
public scrutiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This pattern follows
other cult-like tendencies that have been documented (like the severing of
family/church ties), and is yet another cause for concern about this
organization and this movement.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">God<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There is one God: “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the
LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). “He is God; there is no other besides Him”
(Deuteronomy 4:35), the unbegotten God, first cause, and single source. He
discloses Himself in the testimony of creation and through the Scriptures of
the Jewish people, and he reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
interacting with His creation as the Father working through the Son and in the
power of the Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians
4:4–6)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yeshua<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yeshua is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Eternal One in
whom all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form, and who is the Word who
became flesh and dwelt among us, and whose glory we beheld, the glory of the
uniquely begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth (John 1:1–14; Colossians
2:9).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
Holy Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Spirit of God comforts, teaches, leads, indwells, and
empowers all whom God regenerates (Acts 9:31; 1 John 2:27; John 16:13; 1
Corinthians 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:7).<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-89704539823776904492024-03-12T07:50:00.005-04:002024-03-12T07:50:45.801-04:00Sermon Video: The anguished prayer of Jesus before his Passion - Luke 22:39-46<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UqfeZ_uHyAI" width="320" youtube-src-id="UqfeZ_uHyAI"></iframe></div><p>In the hours before his Passion began, with less than a day before his agonizing death on the Cross, Jesus spent intentional time alone in prayer. That he made this choice is a powerful example to us, as is what he prayed for: deliverance. It wasn't going to come, it couldn't, for only Jesus could complete the plan of Redemption as the God/Man, but Jesus asked anyway. Why? Not because he was anything less than fully God, he asked because he was also fully human. The wondrous mystery of the Incarnation here reminds us that Jesus felt the anxiety of the road ahead, as any person would, and yet his divinity ensured that this moment would also include an iron commitment to what was needed to save humanity.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-1498321476673895212024-03-09T18:50:00.001-05:002024-03-09T18:56:28.244-05:00What does the New Testament say about the relationship of Jesus’ followers to 2nd Temple Judaism?<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Downloadable Word version of this post: <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NmpBUrsJtUBsR4h5NMqP-qEGi_m6sBqF/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=116286635125543167832&rtpof=true&sd=true">2nd Temple Judaism and Jesus' Followers in Acts</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3WXZNDO39uP2AuvYPXhQCM37pNlLyOO6zOhQ88ChPM6sM5htayYJApXRA2AoK9LO5aXvgemisbLN6E6ZSbIrkxAGIeQZrTytIWHcv3Fc_2hMFJvFl9wtClEylKoj27iGhv6dgbjcMKvQwAjVAXwNn0VGgcl_6EopA49NmhyphenhyphencCT-cCnOPrDl4Wj3TE8Y/s603/Peter_heals_the_lame_man_outside_the_temple._Mezzotint_by_P._Wellcome_V0034961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3WXZNDO39uP2AuvYPXhQCM37pNlLyOO6zOhQ88ChPM6sM5htayYJApXRA2AoK9LO5aXvgemisbLN6E6ZSbIrkxAGIeQZrTytIWHcv3Fc_2hMFJvFl9wtClEylKoj27iGhv6dgbjcMKvQwAjVAXwNn0VGgcl_6EopA49NmhyphenhyphencCT-cCnOPrDl4Wj3TE8Y/s320/Peter_heals_the_lame_man_outside_the_temple._Mezzotint_by_P._Wellcome_V0034961.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Time Frame: between Jesus’ death in
AD 33 and the revolt against Rome that began in AD 66<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Part 1:<i> The Acts of the Apostles</i>
– by Luke<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">An organization named The First Fruits of Zion (part of the
larger Hebrew Roots Movement) claims that in accordance with their understanding of the plans and
purpose of Jesus and his Apostles, both Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus
during this period were <b>solely</b> a reform movement <u>within</u> Judaism,
worshiping <b>exclusively</b> in Synagogues on the Sabbath, with <b>all</b> of
them <b>fully</b> following the Torah (with the notable exception that
circumcision wasn’t required of Gentile believers).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They contend these followers of Jesus had no
intention of founding a new religion or creating the Church, they only wanted
to be a part of Judaism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This thesis is
the basis for subsequent unorthodox (and heretical) teachings from FFOZ that
all believers of Jesus remain beholden to all aspects of the Law of Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their claim that Jesus’ followers were limited
to being a part of Judaism is the supposed historical basis for their new
“gospel.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a close examination of the
text of <i>Acts</i> will show, it is a false thesis, and that falsehood matters.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Why are we
limited to what the Bible has to say about the Early Church? Why not just look at what historical sources
can tell us?<o:p></o:p></span></p><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The following from D.A. Carson’s Exegetical Fallacies (1996,
2<sup>nd</sup> Edition, p. 131-132, emphasis mine) illustrates the folly of not
putting the text of the New Testament at the <b><u>center</u></b> of our
understanding of the Early Church:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>1. Uncontrolled historical reconstruction<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i>The fallacy is in thinking
that speculative reconstruction of first-century Jewish and Christian history
should be given much weight in the exegesis of the New Testament documents.</i></b><i> A substantial block of New Testament scholars
have traced a network of theological trajectories to explain how the church
changed its thinking from decade to decade and from place to place. The church was once “enthusiastic” and
charismatic, then settled into “early catholicism” with its structures,
hierarchies, formulas, and creeds. It
looked forward at one time to the impending return of Christ, only to be forced
by his continued absence to construct a theory of a delayed Parousia and settle
down for the long haul. It began in a
Jewish context by calling Jesus the Messiah and ended in a Gentile context by
calling him Lord and ascribing deity to him.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i> Now there is just enough truth in
this reconstruction that it cannot simply be written off. The book of Acts itself demonstrates how the
church came to wrestle with the place of Gentiles in the fledgling messianic community,
faced the problem of the relation between the Mosaic covenant of law and the
gospel of grace in Christ Jesus, and learned to adapt its presentation of the
good news to new contexts. Nevertheless,
the reconstruction of church history that is held by many biblical scholars
goes much further, and concludes, for instance, that the references to elders
in Acts and the Pastorals prove those documents are late, because elders belong
to the “early catholic” period of the church.
<b>Again and again the New Testament documents are squeezed into this
reconstructed history and assessed accordingly</b>. <o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i> </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The problem is that we have almost no
access to the history of the early church during its first five or six decades
apart from the New Testament documents.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><u>A little speculative reconstruction of the flow of history is
surely allowable</u> if we are attempting to fill in some of the lacunae left
by insufficient evidence; <u>but it is methodologically indefensible to use
those speculations to undermine large parts of the only evidence we have</u>.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i> </i></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thus, according to one of the world’s foremost scholars of
the New Testament, it is sheer folly (“indefensible”) to use a theory of Early
Church history, especially during the first generation or two, to <b>override
and reinterpret</b> what the actual text of New Testament scripture says,
because that very scripture <b><u>is</u></b> the primary source of evidence,
therefore it must remain central to its own interpretation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What then
does the New Testament say about how Jesus’ followers conducted themselves and
what they were attempting to do during this period when the Temple in Jerusalem
still stood? The primary focus of this
study will be the following key areas:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1. The
relationship to Judaism: Did Jews who didn’t accept Jesus as the Messiah accept
as equals those who did, AND with them the Gentiles who believed in Jesus, into
their synagogues as co-religionists?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">2. Keeping
the Law of Moses: Did the followers of Jesus obey the Sabbath and only worship
on it, did they keep kosher, did they make sacrifices at the Temple, did they
consider themselves to be obligated to Torah in every way? If there is evidence that Jewish Christians
did, or were instructed to do, any of these things, is there evidence that
Gentile Christians did, or were instructed to do, these things as well?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">3.
Founding/building/creating their own organization (i.e. the Church): Did the
first generation of Jesus’ followers speak or act like people trying to hold
onto a place within 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism, or a people busy building
something that was built upon, but distinct from, it? In other words, did they act as an
independent entity?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">* Note * None of the NT writings make mention of the
destruction of the Temple or the revolt against Rome that began in 66 AD. The affect, then, that this massive
development had on 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism, and on the Early Church, is
outside of the scope of a study of the NT text itself.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Because <i>Acts</i>
is a narrative that covers events that begin mere days after Jesus’
resurrection in AD 33, and continues from there until Paul’s imprisonment in
Rome in AD 63, the possibility of </span><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">development</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> during this crucial time period of the relationship between
2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism and Christianity, and/or between the Jewish
people and their leaders with the Jewish Christians and then the Gentile
Christians, <b><u>is to be expected</u></b>.
It took the Early Church’s leaders time, {See for example: The Council
of Jerusalem which does not take place until chapter 15}, to wrestle with all
of the implications of Jesus’ resurrection and the work of the Spirit,
especially when that work exploded with rapid growth among the Gentiles. Therefore, both continuities, when they occur,
from chapter 1 to chapter 28, and the expected changes over time, will be
highlighted.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">{Each cited text will be categorized
to help create data for analysis according to the following criteria: <span style="color: #00b050;">(1) Explicitly states inclusion within 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism and/or the Jewish community</span>, <span style="color: #92d050;">(2)
hints at some level of inclusion within 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism and/or
the Jewish community,</span> <span style="color: #7030a0;">(3) is ambiguous with
respect to inclusion or exclusion</span>, <span style="color: #ffc000;">(4) hints
at some level of exclusion from 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism and/or the Jewish
community</span>, <span style="color: red;">(5) explicitly states exclusion from
2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism and/or the Jewish community}</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">*Note* This resulting data is far from scientific, nor is
this analysis meant to be a rigorous statistical model. The selection of relevant texts, the placing
of them into the categories I created, and ultimately the evaluation of them
and assigning of a score is, and must be, a subjective process. What then is its value? If it allows us to step back from the text
and evaluate the issue at hand with greater clarity, I will consider this
endeavor a success.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">*Note* The book of <i>Acts</i> contains numerous
examples of hatred and violence between 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism /
individual Jewish people, and the followers of Jesus (both Jewish and
Gentile). This does not, at all, justify
any subsequent hatred or violence. Antisemitism
in all of its forms is abhorrent to God and to true Christianity. The Church’s most glaring sin in its 2,000
year history is its treatment of Abraham’s descendants. Thus, while the text and commentary below
reflect the situation as it occurred between AD 33 and AD 66, and not
minimizing that volatility is necessary to respect both history and Luke’s
account of it, there is zero tolerance on my part for any hint of antisemitism.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">The Raw
Data:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">182 passages from the book of <i>Acts</i>
were categorized and evaluated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
passages range from half a sentence to several paragraphs in length.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The 182 passages were placed in 10 categories:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">49: Action - How Christians viewed 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism (the Jewish people, or their leaders)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">41: Reaction - How 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism (the Jewish people or their leaders) viewed Christians<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">18: How Jesus’ followers reacted to
turning points and momentous decisions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">D.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">3: How 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism
(the Jewish people or their leaders) reacted to the inclusion of Gentiles into
the Christian movement<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">E.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">19: How Christians responded to the
inclusion of Gentiles into their movement<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">F.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">10: How Jesus’ followers chose to
pray, worship, or fellowship<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">G.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">17: Jesus’ followers building their
own structures, procedures<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">H.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">6: How Christians describe themselves<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">I.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">13:
How Gentile non-believers describe Christians<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">J.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">6:
Miscellaneous <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Ratings totals:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">0 – Instances of explicit statements
of inclusion within 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">21 – Hints at some level of inclusion
within 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">52 – Ambiguous statements with
respect to inclusion/exclusion<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">D.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">97 – Hints at some level of exclusion
from 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">E.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">12 – Explicit statements of exclusion
from 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Ratings totals by category (from left
to right, 1 to 5, this is: inclusive to exclusionary):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">0, 12, 21, 14, 2<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">0, 6, 6, 29, 0<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">0, 0, 3, 9, 6<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">D.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">0, 0, 0, 3, 0<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">E.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">0, 3, 1, 11, 4<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">F.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">0, 0, 3, 7, 0<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">G.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">0, 0, 1, 16, 0<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">H.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">0, 0, 1, 5, 0<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">I.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">0,
0, 11, 2, 0<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">J.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">0,
0, 5, 1, 0<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">Conclusions
suggested by the data:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>i.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">182
passages are a significant number. Others
would divide the various passages into either more or less slices, but the end
result would still be large.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">This topic was important to Luke’s
purpose in writing <i>Acts</i>, thus it was also important to the Early Church,
and because we believe that Luke’s word are the product of Inspiration, the
Holy Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>ii.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The first-generation followers of Jesus had a lot to say about 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism (50), and 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism had a lot to say about
Jesus’ followers (40)<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus’ followers had a more hopeful
view of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism (0, 12, 21, 15, 2) than 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism had of Jesus’ followers (0, 6, 6, 28, 0)<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">b.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">NOTE: Instances of rage that led to
violence, even murder or attempted murder, were categorized in section B as a 4
not a 5 because they were not accompanied by an explicit statement (although
actions speak loudly too) of exclusion.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>i.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Question: Does labeling someone or a group of people as heretics and
seeking their death without trial itself constitute an exclusionary
decision? If so, the evidence of 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism (category B) rejecting Jesus’ followers would be significantly
higher (Most of the 4’s would be 5’s).<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>iii.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Some of the Jewish Christians in <i>Acts</i> held an inclusionary view of
their movement within 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism, as evidenced by their
insistence that Gentile Christians be circumcised, for example, but EVERY such example
of this attitude is countered in the narrative by strong pushback from Paul,
Barnabas, Peter, and James, among others.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">From the editorial view of how Luke
organized the narrative, it is clear that he wanted to ensure that the Church’s
eventual consensus, as evidenced by the Jerusalem Council, that Gentiles
required no preconditions to join the movement, was the loudest voice in the
narrative.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">b.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Where there voices in the Early
Church that wanted their movement to be a part of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple
Judaism? Yes. Were these voices reflective of the
leadership of the Early Church, or more importantly, the will of God, according
to Luke’s account? No, no they were not.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>iv.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The strongest statements of exclusion from 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism
to come from Jesus’ followers occur in the narrative when responding to
momentous events surrounding the inclusion of Gentiles, particularly Peter’s
response to Cornelius and the Jerusalem Council’s response to the Jewish
Christians who insisted upon Gentile circumcision.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In each of these cases, the
Christians are following God’s lead, in other words, they are acting in
response to that which God has already done, not taking their own initiative.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">b.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The key texts that speak strongly of
exclusion are:<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>i.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">13:38-39
(section A)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>ii.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">28:25-28
(section A)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>iii.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">10:9-20
(section C)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>iv.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">10:24-29
(section C)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>v.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:10-11
(section C)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>vi.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:19
(section C)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>vii.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:20
(section C)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>viii.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:28-29
(section C)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>ix.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">10:34-35
(section E)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>x.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">10:44-48
(section E)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>xi.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">11:15-18
(section E)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>xii.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">21:25
(section E)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>v.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There are zero statements in <i>Acts</i> either from the leaders of 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism, or from the leaders in the Early Church, of explicit inclusion
within 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Every instance of ongoing Torah
observance in <i>Acts</i> is performed by a Jewish Christian who was observant
before their faith in Jesus that took place while the Temple still stood.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>i.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Note: It is not the wisdom/propriety/requirement of Jewish Christian’s
Torah observance that is at issue with the Hebrew Roots Movement (First Fruits
of Zion), but that of Gentile Christians.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>ii.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Thus what Peter, James, or Paul may have done as Jewish Christians raised
under Torah observance, and why they made these choices, is of far less
relevance than the teaching materials of HRM/FFOZ that are aiming to yolk
Gentile Christians with the Law will claim them to be.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">b.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Luke records many highlighted and
momentous instances of gentile inclusion within the Christian community without
any preconditions.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>i.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In many of these examples the acceptance, often by way of baptism, follows
immediately after a declaration of faith is made.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">c.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Luke records no instance of Gentile
Torah observance.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>i.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But does push back hard on the notion of Gentile circumcision.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">d.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Luke records no instance of prayer or
worship that affirmed Jesus as Lord taking place within a synagogue or any
existing 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple system.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>i.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul constantly preaches the Gospel in synagogues, but is almost
universally opposed when he makes the Gospel fully known.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><b style="text-indent: -1.5in;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><b style="text-indent: -1.5in;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">Conclusions
suggested by the tenor and tone of the text:</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">1.</span></b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span></i><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Acts</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> is a story of confrontational, often
violent, beginnings. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; mso-text-indent-alt: -9.0pt; text-indent: -1.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span> </span>a.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Those pushing a theory of inclusive
cooperation are swimming against the current.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2.</span></b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Acts</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> demonstrates a deep and abiding love
from the 1<sup>st</sup> generation of Jesus’ followers toward the Jewish people,
one that persisted in the face of violent persecution.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">3. </span></b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Acts</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> demonstrates a deep and abiding disdain/hatred
from the followers of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism toward Jesus’ followers,
one that was centered in Jerusalem, but evident as well in the Diaspora.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">4.</span></b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">While there is clear evidence of continuing
development of the ideas involved in the relationship between Judaism and
Jesus’ followers (i.e. the Church) as the narrative of <i>Acts</i> unfolds,
there is not a dramatic shift or break, rather the text shows consistent
attitudes held by both the leaders of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism and the
leaders of the Church.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">Conclusion of this study:</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A fair reading of the book of <i>Acts</i>
reveals a growing divide between 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism and Jesus’
Followers (The Way, Christians, the Church), one that is marked by outreach
with the Gospel toward their brethren on the part of Jewish Christians, and
opposition, hatred, and violence in return.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Acts</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> contains not even a hint of Gentile
Christian Torah observance, no example of this, or suggestion that it might
have been expected or desired is to be found in Luke’s narrative.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Thus, those seeking to establish Gentile
Christian Torah observance in the Church today, with the Hebrew Roots Movement
and the Frist Fruits of Zion being the prime examples of this effort, will be
doing so <b><u>against</u></b> the purpose, arguments, tenor, and tone of the
best evidence we have of the first generation of the Church, which is the book
of <i>Acts</i>. That <i>Acts</i> is also
the Word of God, authoritative for those who follow Jesus, powerfully adds to
the weight against this attempt, and is ample reason for pastoral and lay
leaders in the Church to oppose this unorthodox teaching.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">The relevant
texts from <i>Acts</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">A.
Initiative: What were the attitudes demonstrated and actions taken by Jesus’
followers toward Judaism (i.e the Mosaic Law and Torah), the Jewish people,
and/or their leaders?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">3:24 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the
prophets who have spoken have foretold these days.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>25 </sup></b>And
you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your
fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will
be blessed.’</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>26 </sup></b>When God
raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by
turning each of you from your wicked ways.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Two noteworthy things in Peter’s presentation:
(1) He hearkens back to the promise of God to Abraham in Genesis 12, not to the
Mosaic Law that underpins 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism, (2) and he tells the
crowd that their current manner of relating to God is far from pleasing to him,
in fact it amounts to, “wicked ways.”}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">4:</span></sup></b><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">11 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Jesus is<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“‘the
stone you builders rejected,<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">which
has become the cornerstone.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">12 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Salvation is found in no
one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must
be saved.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Brought before the
leaders of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism, Peter proclaims to them that they
were in error, quoting Psalm 118:22, and points to Jesus, personally, as the
only path of salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: Nowhere in
this defense does Peter call them to renewed/purified Torah observance, nor
does he offer them any prophetic guidance in an effort to reform the system
which they control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Peter, Jesus is
the answer, and him alone.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">4:19 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in
God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>20 </sup></b>As
for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Peter defies the authority of the Sanhedrin, at
the very least making him and his fellow followers of Jesus rebels against this
generation’s expression of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism, proclaiming fealty to
Jesus to be of greater concern than fealty to 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism’s
leadership.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">21 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as
they had been told, and began to teach the people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The disciples return to the Temple courts to
teach the people, at the direction of the Angel of the Lord who had just
released them from jail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point,
it is clear that the disciples have no intention of giving up with respect to
Gospel witness to their own people, even risking imprisonment to continue with
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What this doesn’t show, and we can’t
know because Luke doesn’t share it with us, is whether or not they retained any
hope for the religious leadership and structure of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple
Judaism (They do hold out hope of the Jewish <u>people</u> accepting Jesus to
the very end of <i>Acts</i>.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At some
point they realized repentance from 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism’s leadership
was a forlorn hope, that the door was closed, but it is difficult to determine
from the text of <i>Acts</i> if this was a gradual process or if it had a
decisive moment (i.e. the persecution outlined in 8:1).}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">5:29 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must
obey God rather than human beings!</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>30 </sup></b>The God of our ancestors raised Jesus
from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>31 </sup></b>God exalted him to his own right
hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance
and forgive their sins.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>32 </sup></b>We
are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God
has given to those who obey him.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Peter defies the Sanhedrin, proclaiming them to
be in opposition to God, and claiming the Holy Spirit is with them in the need
to proclaim the Gospel…Note: The bringing of Israel to repentance envisioned
here does not take place in the narrative of <i>Acts</i>, it remains a future
hope from Luke’s narrative ends.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">5:41 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The apostles left the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for
the Name.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>42 </sup></b>Day after day, in the temple
courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and
proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Being flogged by the Sanhedrin doesn’t stop them
in the least, it appears to have, if anything, empowered their commitment to
the cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The defiance of the
leadership of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism continues, both in the temple
courts and throughout the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: Jesus
remains centric to this endeavor, it is for “the Name” that we are told they
are willing to suffer, not the Torah or the Law.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">51 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“You stiff-necked people! Your
hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors:
You always resist the Holy Spirit!</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>52 </sup></b>Was there ever a prophet your ancestors
did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the
Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>53 </sup></b>you who have received the law that was
given through angels but have not obeyed it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The conclusion of Stephen’s speech to the
Sanhedrin, it is very antagonistic, but could be viewed as both being in the
same tradition of the prophets of old who scathingly called on their people to
repent, or as a proclamation by a member of a new movement that sees no hope
left in the system its member had left.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">9:13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many
reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in
Jerusalem.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>14 </sup></b>And he has come here with authority from
the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The community of Jesus’ followers in Damascus was
well aware of the hostility toward them from men like Saul, at the least,
whatever connection they may have retained to the larger Jewish community in
Damascus was under threat.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">9:19b</span></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> Saul spent several days with the
disciples in Damascus.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>20 </sup></b>At once he began to preach in the synagogues that
Jesus is the Son of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">As will be his pattern throughout <i>Acts</i>,
Saul (Paul) begins his Gospel evangelism effort in the local synagogue wherever
he happens to be.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">11:19 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Now those who had been scattered by the
persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as
Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The <u>initial</u> response of the Jewish
Christians to being forced to flee from Judea for their lives was to only share
the Good News of Jesus among fellow Jews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luke doesn’t tell us what their reasoning or rationale was on this
matter, we can assume that they did not yet fully understand how the work of
Jesus affected the age-old Jewish/Gentile barrier.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">13:5 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the
word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as
their helper.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Barnabas and Saul have embraced God’s direction
that the Gospel must also now go to the Gentile, but they still continue the
previously established strategy of beginning evangelistic efforts in each town
by going to the local synagogue first.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">13:14 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">From Perga they went on to Pisidian
Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>15 </sup></b>After
the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue
sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the
people, please speak.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">As was the custom, the synagogue is the first
step in evangelism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that this
community had not heard anything from Jerusalem to put them on their guard
against the followers of Jesus as they were willing to follow the standard
practice of letting any visiting teachers speak (something Jesus himself did
over and over again as he traveled).}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">13:38 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that
through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>39 </sup></b>Through
him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you
were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{5, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Concluding his presentation in the synagogue,
Paul (now no longer called Saul in <i>Acts</i>) claims that everyone can be
saved by Jesus, and declares that this mercy from God was not obtainable under
the Law of Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later the author of <i>Hebrews</i>
will spell this truth out in great detail, for now Paul is publicly teaching
that what Jesus has accomplished is <b><u>beyond</u></b> the previously known
capacity of the Law.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b>13:<span class="text"><sup>51 </sup></span></b><span class="text">So they shook the
dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>52 </sup></b>And the disciples were filled with
joy and with the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Reminiscent of Jesus’ command when he sent his
followers into the villages of Judea, Paul and Barnabas distance themselves
from the Jewish community in Pisidian Antioch because of its opposition to
their work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They took this action while in
a state of deep fellowship with the Holy Spirit.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">14:1</span></b></span><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual
into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great
number of Jews and Greeks believed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The practice of starting at the synagogue in new
towns continues, this time with considerable initial success.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">14:3 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time
there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his
grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Opposition at Iconium, vs. 2, wasn’t enough to
deter Paul and Barnabas from pressing on.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">14:21 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">They preached the gospel in that city and
won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra,
Iconium and Antioch,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>22 </sup></b>strengthening the disciples and
encouraging them to remain true to the faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent4;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">After his attempted murder at Derbe, the Apostle Paul
continues on, undeterred by the violent opposition he has faced on this journey
from the various synagogue leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, Paul is willing to make the return journey through this same towns,
risking life and limb once more.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">16:1</span></b></span><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where
a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a
believer but whose father was a Greek.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>The
believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>Paul wanted to take him along on the
journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for
they all knew that his father was a Greek.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The case of Timothy is a fairly unique one, he
had been raised, evidently without much connection to his ½ Jewish heritage
given that he was an uncircumcised adult, but he had also at some point
previously believed in Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The choice
of Paul to circumcise him is given a rationale by Luke, and it isn’t a
theological one about the role of the Mosaic Law in the New Covenant, rather it
is for the sake of the Jewish communities in the Diaspora to which they will be
going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The implication is that an
uncircumcised Timothy might have caused an uproar there, limiting the
opportunity for these people to hear the Gospel message, making this a
variation of Paul’s theme in 1 Corinthians about being, “all things to all
people.”}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">17:1</span></b></span><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When Paul and his companions had passed through
Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a
Jewish synagogue.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>As was his custom, Paul went into the
synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the
Scriptures,</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>explaining
and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the
dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>4 </sup></b>Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined
Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a
few prominent women.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The custom of entering synagogues first remains
Paul’s habit after the Jerusalem Council, thus the full and free inclusion of
the Gentiles by faith alone hasn’t impacted Paul’s desire to see his own people
accept Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The initial reaction of
acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah is a positive indication, although that
goodwill is undone by the actions of the next verse, see section B.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">17:10 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul
and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish
synagogue.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>11 </sup></b>Now the Berean Jews were of more noble
character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with
great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul
said was true.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>12 </sup></b>As a
result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women
and many Greek men.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">A “What if?” scenario.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would have changed in Church History had
the reaction to the Gospel among the Jewish people in Judea and the Diaspora
been the same as that of the community at Berea?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, as the next verse attests (see
section B), that road wasn’t taken.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">17:17 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So he reasoned in the synagogue with both
Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with
those who happened to be there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">In Athens Paul continues his pattern of beginning
with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="chapter-2" style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">18:4 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Every
Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and
Greeks.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">5 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">When
Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself
exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Paul’s effort at the synagogue continues, although this time
without much to show for it in Corinth.}</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">18:6 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But when they opposed Paul and became
abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your
blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will
go to the Gentiles.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">This could also be listed under Part B to
highlight the Jewish reaction to Paul, but his own antagonistic, even angry,
response is the more relevant passage as it demonstrates a frustration on the
part of Paul that up until this point hasn’t been evident in <i>Acts</i>.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">18:18 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he
left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by
Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at
Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The assumption is that this was a Nazarite vow,
an indication that on some level at least the Apostle Paul was still participating
in, at least portions, of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not a stronger statement than that
because Paul never asks gentile believers to do likewise, nor does Luke make
much of the episode.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">18:19 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left
Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the
Jews.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>20 </sup></b>When
they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>21 </sup></b>But as he left, he promised, “I will come
back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The negative reaction to the abuse he suffered in
Corinth didn’t deter Paul from trying once more in the synagogue at
Ephesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this time he wasn’t
willing to extend his trip to continue the discussions that developed, no
reason is given.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">19:8 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly
there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">On his return to Ephesus (see 18:19) Paul invests
a substantial amount of time in trying to win over to the Gospel those
connected to the synagogue.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">20:22 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to
Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>23 </sup></b>I
only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and
hardships are facing me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">There is no turning-point in Paul’s missionary
work after which he began to gain acceptance among his own people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, the Spirit warned Paul that danger
lay ahead no matter where he went.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">21:12 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When we heard this, we and the people there
pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>13 </sup></b>Then
Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only
to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>14 </sup></b>When he would not be dissuaded, we gave
up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">At this point the opposition to Paul is steadfast
enough that others expect him to be killed in Jerusalem, and he himself is
willing to risk death for the sake of the Gospel.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">21:20b </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how
many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the
law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">This is </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">a statement from the Church at Jerusalem about those
who have recently accepted Jesus as Messiah from among the Jewish population of
Judea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While this is sadly a small
minority of the total population, it is a significant number of people, most,
if not all, of whom were raised under the Law of Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what does their zeal indicate?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They intend to continue living according to
the Law following the traditions of their ancestors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, what we do not know about this
situation is very important: (1) We don’t know if they have reconciled the
implications of their new faith in Jesus, our Great High Priest (A central
premise of <i>Hebrews,</i> which hadn’t been written yet from their
point-of-view), with what it would take for them to fully keep Torah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, what about the sacrifices for
sin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are no longer necessary
because of Jesus, but did these first-generation Jewish Christians work that
out yet? (2) We don’t know how they felt about Paul NOT teaching the Gentiles
to be Torah observant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two issues at
hand are not the same, Paul’s teaching to Jewish Christians about Torah
observance and Paul’s teaching to Gentile Christians about Torah observance
cannot be conflated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have ample
repeated passages of scripture telling us about the Early Church’s conclusion
that Gentiles had no need of the Law, but comparatively sparse discussion about
how that same Law should affect Jewish Christians moving forward.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">21:21 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">They have been informed that you teach all the
Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not
to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">24b </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">…Then
everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you
yourself are living in obedience to the law.<span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The Jewish Christians of Jerusalem considered the
rumors about Paul to be scandalous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again, we have comparatively little in <i>Acts</i> or Paul’s epistles
about his teaching to the Jewish Christians in the Diaspora (The typical
violent rejection of Paul’s message being one of the main reasons why), so we lack
clear statements of Paul saying to Jewish Christians what they should do about various
aspects of the Law moving forward in either direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for Paul himself, we know that “obedience
to the law” cannot mean that he fully kept the rabbinic dictates that were
common in 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism (as he would have when he was a
Pharisee) given the way he joyfully embraced eating with Gentiles and even
staying in their homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Galatians
2:11-13, where Paul opposes Peter, “to his face” for withdrawing from table
fellowship with Gentiles confirms this attitude from Paul was purposeful, not
just expediency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, the urgency
in the text reflects the fear, justified as we will soon see, on the part of
the Jewish Christians of Jerusalem that even peaceful co-existence alongside 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism could easily be shattered once more as it was in Acts 8:1.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">21:22 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What shall we do? They will certainly hear that
you have come,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>23 </sup></b>so do what we tell you. There are four men
with us who have made a vow.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>24 </sup></b>Take
these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so
that they can have their heads shaved.</span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></sup></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">In a bid to prevent violence, the Jewish
Christians of Jerusalem ask Paul to participate as a sponsor in the fulfillment
of the Nazarite vows of four of their members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In Acts 18:18 we already saw that Paul cut his hair in fulfillment of a,
presumably, Nazarite vow of his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
hope here appears to be that if Paul publicly makes a gesture of support for
Jewish customs, i.e. the Law of Moses, it will forestall violence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not a theological argument about the big
issue of the role of the Law for Jewish Christians in the Church Age, rather it
is first and foremost a quest for peace and a desire to keep the door of
evangelism open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those in the HRM (like
First Fruits of Zion) see this incident as a watershed, as stark proof that Paul
fully kept the Law and therefore we must too (which of course wouldn’t follow
logically or theologically even if that thesis about Paul were proven to be
true).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing so, they use this action
in <i>Acts</i> as a lever to overturn Paul’s detailed theological arguments in <i>Romans</i>,
<i>Galatians, Ephesians,</i> etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which
does a massive disservice to God’s Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For vs. 25, see section E.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">21:26 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The next day Paul took the men and purified
himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date
when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each
of them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul follows through with the plan that was
suggested by the Jewish Christians of Jerusalem as he participates in the
fulfillment of the Nazarite vows of 4 men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For vs. 27ff see section B}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">22 </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">1 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">“Brothers
and fathers, listen now to my defense.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">2 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">When
they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Then Paul said:</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>“I am a
Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I
studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our
ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>4 </sup></b>I persecuted the followers of this
Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into
prison,</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>5 </sup></b>as the high
priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters
from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring
these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">To start his defense
before the crowd in Jerusalem who moments before were trying to kill him, the
Apostle Paul emphasizes his previously impeccable credentials as a zealous
follower of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paul’s former beliefs and attitudes were ones that this crowd would
cheer, they will not, however, be happy when he continues by talking about his
Damascus Road experience.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">22:12 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“A man named Ananias came to see me. He was
a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">As Paul recounts his conversion experience, he
mentions Ananias’ devout observance of the Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are not told how Ananias reconciled that previous devotion (and reputation)
with his devotion to Jesus.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">22:16 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be
baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">These are the words of Ananias to Saul
(Paul).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the path of zealous Torah
observance was supposed to continue moving forward (as HRM and FFOZ claim), why
did Saul who was a scrupulous observer of the Law need to be baptized?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a turning point in his life, a stark
change not simply a course correction.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">23:1 </span></b></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and
said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good
conscience to this day.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Whatever Paul’s decisions about what was expected
of him were, as a Jewish Christian, with respect to the Law, or what his
responsibility to the Gentiles is, according to the mandate he was given by the
Spirit to evangelize them, Paul believes that he has keep that trust faithfully
thus far.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">23:3 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Then
Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit
there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by
commanding that I be struck!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">4 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Those
who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">5 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Paul
replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is
written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The possibility that
Paul’s response in vs. 5 is sarcasm adds a note of uncertainty to interpreting
this scene, but either way it highlights that even Paul, who had gone into
synagogues time and time again with the Gospel even after he had been met with
severe violence for doing so, has a limit to his patience with his own
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this case, it seems that the
hypocrisy of ignoring jurisprudence from the Law while accusing Paul of
violating it was too much to keep quiet about.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">23:6 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then Paul, knowing that some of them were
Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My
brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial
because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>7 </sup></b>When
he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and
the assembly was divided.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>8 </sup></b>(The
Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither
angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Learned man that he was, the Apostle Paul seeks
to salvage a no-win situation by turning the deep and bitter divides within 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism (Which is why some refer to 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaisms,
plural) against themselves, thus distracting his critics from their unified
dislike of him, at least for the moment.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">23:9 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There was a great uproar, and some of the
teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We
find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an
angel has spoken to him?”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>10 </sup></b>The dispute became so violent that the
commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the
troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the
barracks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Nothing distracts from a new worry like a bitter
old one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, the Pharisees side
with Paul, at least at this moment, because he is on their “team” with respect
to the question of the resurrection of the dead and the existence of angels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the equivalent of the, “the enemy of
my enemy is my friend” observation.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">24:12 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone
at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere
else in the city.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>13 </sup></b>And they cannot prove to you the charges
they are now making against me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul’s defense before Felix: This seems to
indicate a strategic choice on Paul’s part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was more than willing to argue/debate in the synagogues of the
Diaspora, but seems to have concluded, accurately based on what happened
anyway, that his reputation (deserved or not) was such that such efforts would
be counter-productive here.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">24:14 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">However, I admit that I worship the God of our
ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I
believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in
the Prophets,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>15 </sup></b>and I have the same hope in God as these
men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the
righteous and the wicked.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>16 </sup></b>So
I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul doesn’t explain if he feels the term “sect”
to be appropriate or not, he simply acknowledges that it is the word his
critics chose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does, however, offer 3
examples of the connection between 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism and Jesus’
followers: (1) Both groups worship the same “God of our ancestors.” (2) Paul
affirms everything written in the Hebrew Scriptures (as has the Church
historically), and (3) both groups believe in the resurrection of the dead in
the age to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Connections such as
these would fit both a narrative of continuity within Judaism, and a narrative
of a new beginning built upon that previous effort of God.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">24:17 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“After an absence of several years, I came to
Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>18 </sup></b>I
was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this.
There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">That Paul ensured that he was ceremonially clean
before entering the Temple area would be expected no matter what his
understanding of the relationship between Law and Grace is, as it would stem
from the same willingness to show respect that was asked of the Gentiles at the
Jerusalem Council.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: In this case,
“my people” refers to the Jewish Christians of Judea, not the Jewish community
as a whole, because he is referring to those to whom the gift was given.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">24:19 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But there are some Jews from the province of
Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything
against me.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>20 </sup></b>Or these who are here should state what
crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin—</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>21 </sup></b>unless it was this one thing I shouted as
I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that
I am on trial before you today.’”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">It seems that neither the Jews from the province
of Asia, nor the members of the Sanhedrin, made any specific charges (i.e. with
witnesses and the like) against Paul before Felix, beyond the general claim
that he stirs up trouble.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">26:2 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to
stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of
the Jews,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>and especially so because you are well
acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore,
I beg you to listen to me patiently.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Now before Agrippa, Paul feels more comfortable
explaining his defense to someone who has an understanding of the issues at
hand.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">26:4 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“The Jewish people all know the way I have lived
ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country,
and also in Jerusalem.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>5 </sup></b>They have known me for a long time and
can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest
sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>6 </sup></b>And
now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our
ancestors that I am on trial today.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>7 </sup></b>This
is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they
earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this
hope that these Jews are accusing me.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>8 </sup></b>Why
should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Defending himself before Agrippa, Paul contends
that his belief in Jesus Christ is not contrary to his former belief as a
Pharisee in the hope of the resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The writer of <i>Hebrews</i> will echo this sentiment in chapter 11
where he shows that every saint of old was justified by faith in God’s promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: Paul uses the same term, “sect” to
refer to the Pharisees as his critics did when they referred to Jesus’
followers as a “sect.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, let us
not fall into the Word Study Fallacy and assume the word means the same thing
in both contexts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afterall, the
Sanhedrin was not violently opposing the Pharisees, but they were trying to
wipe out Jesus’ followers.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">26:9 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“I too was convinced that I ought to do all
that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>10 </sup></b>And
that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I
put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to
death, I cast my vote against them.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>11 </sup></b>Many
a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I
tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that
I even hunted them down in foreign cities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">We are given greater detail on this matter than
earlier in <i>Acts</i>, here it confirms that the animosity toward Jesus’
followers from the beginning was purposeful and organized, and that it extended
to the synagogues beyond Jerusalem.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">26:22 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But God has helped me to this very day; so I
stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond
what the prophets and Moses said would happen—</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>23 </sup></b>that
the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the
dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the
Gentiles.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">In his defense before Agrippa Paul explains that
Moses and the prophets predicted both Jesus’ death and his resurrection (A
notion familiar to Luke, see Luke 24:13-35 where Jesus explains this very truth
to his followers).}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">28:17 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Three days later he called together the local
Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My
brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against
the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over
to the Romans.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>18 </sup></b>They examined me and wanted to
release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>19 </sup></b>The Jews objected, so I was compelled to
make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge
against my own people.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>20 </sup></b>For
this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the
hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">In Rome Paul again reiterates that he has done
nothing against his people or their customs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As before, this statement could be viewed in various ways, it doesn’t
bolster either case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is noteworthy
that Paul here states that one of the reasons why he appealed to Caesar is that
he didn’t want to bring any counter-charge against his own people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “hope of Israel” refers back to Paul’s
belief in the resurrection of the dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For the response of the Jewish community in Rome, see section B.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">28:25 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">They
disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final
statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he
said through Isaiah the prophet:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">26 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“‘Go to
this people and say,<br />
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">you will
be ever seeing but never perceiving.”<br />
<b><sup>27 </sup></b>For this people’s heart has become calloused;<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">they hardly
hear with their ears,<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">and they
have closed their eyes.<br />
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">hear
with their ears,<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">understand
with their hearts<br />
and turn, and I would heal them.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">28 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Therefore I want you to
know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they
will listen!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{5,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Luke ends <i>Acts</i>
(with only a short postscript to follow) with a bold statement of Paul quoting
Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9-10) that is a capstone to his experience throughout the
narrative: Paul was willing, even eager to share the Gospel with his own
people, but when they rejected Jesus as their Messiah, he would follow God’s
direction and take that same message to the Gentiles whom he was confident
would receive it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, <i>Acts</i>
ends, not with hope of reconciliation or cooperation between 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism and the now established and mostly Gentile Church, but with a note
of frustration, even of finality, at least in this generation, that the success
of the Gospel will be found along a different path.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">B. Reaction:
What was the response in attitudes and actions from the Jewish people and/or
their leaders to Jesus’ followers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">2:47 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">praising God and enjoying the favor of all the
people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">A very early example of a welcome reception by
the ordinary people of Jerusalem.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">4:1 </span></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The priests and the captain of the temple
guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were
speaking to the people.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>They were greatly disturbed because the
apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the
dead.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>They seized Peter
and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next
day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The “greatly disturbed” reaction of the
leadership of Judaism to the teaching of the Apostles is an expected
consistency, after all it has only been a few weeks since the Sanhedrin declared
Jesus to be worthy of death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vs. 3
begins a pattern of official persecution of the leaders of the movement, that
will crescendo with the persecution of 8:1.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">4:17 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">But to
stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them
to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">18 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Then
they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in
the name of Jesus.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The leadership of 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism demand that Peter and the Apostles cease from spreading the
Gospel among their fellow Jews, they viewed Jesus’ followers not as a rival
movement within their religion as with the Pharisees and Sadducees, but as
dangerous heretics who must be stopped, with force if necessary.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">5:13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">No one else dared join them, even though they
were highly regarded by the people.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>14 </sup></b>Nevertheless, more and more men and women
believed in the Lord and were added to their number.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>15 </sup></b>As a result, people brought the sick into
the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow
might fall on some of them as he passed by.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>16 </sup></b>Crowds
gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those
tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Even with the leadership solidly against the
disciples, the common people were still drawn to them, at least to receiving
healing, but tellingly a significant number of the people are already afraid to
be associated with them, perhaps fearing repercussions from the Sanhedrin
should they do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hesitant or not, the
people could see the power of God at work among Jesus’ followers.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">5:17 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then the high priest and all his associates, who
were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with
jealousy.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>18 </sup></b>They arrested the apostles and put them in
the public jail.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Official persecution continues, this time with a
motivation explained by Luke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This most
likely had a negative impact upon the willingness of the common people to consider
the Gospel message.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">5:25 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you
put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>26 </sup></b>At
that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not
use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Here </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">the contrast is on display between the common
people, who acc. to 5:13 were afraid to join the disciples and yet were
captivated enough by their teaching and miracles that they might act like a mob
if the disciples were harmed, and the leadership who continue in their effort
to silence them.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">5:27 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the
Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>28 </sup></b>“We gave you strict orders not to teach in
this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and
are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The Sanhedrin continues to ban teaching in the
name of Jesus.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">5:33 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">When
they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The Medieval Church viewed Jan Hus as a rebel,
not a reformer, and burned him at the stake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Likewise, the Sanhedrin view the disciples, not as reformers to be
reasoned with, or even argue against, but as <u>heretics</u> worthy of death.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">5:34 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">But a
Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all
the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside
for a little while.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>35 </sup></b>Then he addressed
the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to
these men.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>36 </sup></b>Some time ago
Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied
to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to
nothing.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>37 </sup></b>After him,
Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of
people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>38 </sup></b>Therefore, in the present case I advise
you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of
human origin, it will fail.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>39 </sup></b>But
if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find
yourselves fighting against God.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">40 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">His
speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them
flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let
them go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">The actions of Gamaliel are fascinating in that he appears to be
nearly alone in his humility because he is willing to consider the possibility
that God might be with the disciples and not with himself and his cohort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This might be a sign of potential inclusion
within 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism, however the Sanhedrin still orders the
disciples to be flogged, a brutal punishment, though their murderous rage is
placated for the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: Gamaliel
does not attempt to persuade them to consider the claims about Jesus, the
thrust of the argument is the uselessness of working against God in any
instance, not a referendum on whether or not that is the case here.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">6:7 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">So the word of God
spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a
large number of priests became obedient to the faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt;">{2, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">This growth
will be offset by later persecution, but the mention of priests accepting Jesus
as their Messiah offers a tantalizing, “What if?” type question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least two possibilities should be
considered: (1) If the people had been more willing to repent on a national
scale, a Jesus-devoted movement more connected with both the Jewish people and
Judaism could have been possible, (2) and/or if God’s will had been intended to
work within the existing system, these priestly conversions could have been the
nucleus of that reform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first
hypothetical is moot, national acceptance of Jesus didn’t happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As to the second, orthodox Christianity’s
contention has long been that God’s plan wasn’t focused on reforming Judaism
(i.e. working with/under the Mosaic Law), whereas groups like the First Fruits
of Zion claim that working within 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism was God’s will
for Jesus’ followers, which raises the question, “Why did it fail so
spectacularly?”}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">6:8 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed
great wonders and signs among the people.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>9 </sup></b>Opposition arose, however, from members of
the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and
Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue
with Stephen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">This is the first example in <i>Acts</i> of
opposition to the disciples coming from a source other than the leadership in
Judea such as the Sanhedrin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
case, we see the beginning of opposition by Jews from the Diaspora, the same
group that will consistently later oppose Paul in Asia Minor and Greece.}</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">6:11 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Then
they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak
blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">12 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">So they
stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized
Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>13 </sup></b>They
produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking
against this holy place and against the law.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>14 </sup></b>For
we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this
place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">7:1</span></b></span><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></b></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these
charges true?”</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The trial of Stephen <u>could</u>
be viewed as affirming that he had no intention of advocating for changing the
“customs Moses handed down to us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Afterall, the witnesses are described by Luke as liars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, that turns out to be an argument
without Stephen’s confirmation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t
know what he was saying about the continuity or discontinuity for followers of
Jesus of the Law of Moses because he doesn’t answer the High Priest’s question
directly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus himself, as vs. 14
indicates used the physical Temple as an analogy when describing his own death
and resurrection, something Stephen evidently repeated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what part of their testimony was the
slander, how much truth did it contain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
text itself doesn’t answer that question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Note: We are still dealing with a movement comprised almost entirely of
Jewish Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trial of Stephen
takes place <u>before</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the narrative
takes a hard turn toward the Gentiles after the scattering of the disciples in
8:1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus we are, at best, dealing with
the question of whether or not the Jewish disciples of Jesus still considered
themselves obligated to the Law of Moses, fully with no changes, or if they had
recognized that the death and resurrection of Jesus, not to mention the coming
of the Spirit at Pentecost, had changed the dynamic of God’s redemptive
program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question of how Gentile
followers of Jesus might or might not fit within 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism
has yet to arise.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">7:54 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">When the
members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their
teeth at him.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>55 </sup></b>But Stephen, full
of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and
Jesus standing at the right hand of God.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>56 </sup></b>“Look,”
he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right
hand of God.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">57 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">At this
they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all
rushed at him, </span></span><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">58 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">dragged him out of the
city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their
coats at the feet of a young man named Saul…</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">8:1</span></b><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">And
Saul approved of their killing him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in
Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and
Samaria.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Sanhedrin considered
the teaching of a resurrected Jesus to be blasphemy, an offense worthy of
death, a sentence they rushed to carry out against Stephen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This murder completed, the leadership then
inspired/coordinated violence against the entire community of Jesus’ followers,
causing all but the Apostles to flee for their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the hopes of the Apostles may have
been for the growth of their movement among their own kindred in Jerusalem,
they have taken a sever hit.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">9:1</span></b></span><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats
against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>and asked him
for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there
who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as
prisoners to Jerusalem.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The High Priest, i.e.
leadership in Jerusalem, was working to prevent any new disciples of Jesus even
outside of Judea, as far away as Damascus they were interested in using the
cooperation of local synagogues, and expected to receive it, to have Jewish
disciples of Jesus arrested.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">9:23 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">After many days had gone by, there was a
conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>24 </sup></b>but Saul
learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city
gates in order to kill him.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>25 </sup></b>But
his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening
in the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The first, but not the last, attempt to kill Saul
(Paul) because of his proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah/Son of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note that this was not simply an initial
emotional reaction, but a coordinated plan to murder him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Paul will make clear in <i>Romans,</i> his
desire to see his own people saved, and his love for them, will not be
diminished by the violence directed toward him.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">9:28 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely
in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. <b><sup>29 </sup></b>He
talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill
him. <b><sup>30 </sup></b>When the believers learned of this,
they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">At first this appears to be a point toward co-existence,
but the 2<sup>nd</sup> attempt on Saul’s life follows it, forcing him to leave
the province entirely.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="top-05" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">13:42 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">As Paul
and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak
further about these things on the next Sabbath.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>43 </sup></b>When
the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism
followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in
the grace of God.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">44 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">On the
next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt;">{2, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">The initial response in Pisidian Antioch to the Gospel was very
positive, with the bulk of the Jewish community there wanting to hear more.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">13:45 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled
with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped
abuse on him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The honeymoon in Pisidian Antioch was
short-lived, Luke offers a base motive of jealousy for this action, that
jealousy obscures what their theological response to the news of Jesus may have
been.}<span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">14:2 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">But the
Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their
minds against the brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">A concerted
effort to blunt the success of Paul and Barnabas at Iconium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luke offers no explanation as to why they
refused to believe.}</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">14:4 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The people of the city were divided; some sided
with the Jews, others with the apostles.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>5 </sup></b>There was a
plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to
mistreat them and stone them.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>6 </sup></b>But
they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and
Derbe and to the surrounding country,</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>7 </sup></b>where
they continued to preach the gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Another example of an organized violent reaction
among the Jewish community, this time with the help of some of the Gentiles
too, to the Apostolic evangelistic efforts.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">14:19 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then some Jews came from Antioch and
Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him
outside the city, thinking he was dead.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>20 </sup></b>But after
the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the
city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Two examples of the thesis that the followers of
Jesus were not welcome among the synagogues in the Diaspora: (1) They were
willing to travel to try to stop Paul outside of their hometown, (2) they were
willing to ignore any pretense of justice by trying to murder Paul with no
trial.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">17:5 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up
some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in
the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in
order to bring them out to the crowd. <b><sup>6 </sup></b>But when
they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other
believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused
trouble all over the world have now come here, <b><sup>7 </sup></b>and
Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees,
saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” <b><sup>8 </sup></b>When
they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">In a shocking display of cynicism, those among
the Jewish community of Thessalonica who rejected Jesus as the Messiah copy the
tactic of the Sanhedrin by portraying belief in him as a subversive act against
Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mob even makes reference to,
“trouble all over the world,” indicating that news of the unrest that has
occurred in numerous towns among the Jewish community after Paul’s preaching
has reached their ears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">17:13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that
Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, some of them went there too,
agitating the crowds and stirring them up.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>14 </sup></b>The
believers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and
Timothy stayed at Berea.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">We see again the willingness of those who reject
Jesus to coordinate their effort and chase after Paul to prevent his work
elsewhere from finding success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
case the warm initial reaction enabled Silas and Timothy to stay while only the
public face of the ministry, Paul, had to flee.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">18:8 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his
entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who
heard Paul believed and were baptized.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Normally the acceptance of Christ by a synagogue
leader would be a positive statement toward some level of inclusion within the
Jewish community, however, the context in Corinth has this hopeful statement
immediately after telling us that Paul was forced to leave the synagogue due to
the abusive response he received there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>See section F for vs. 7}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">18:12 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">While Gallio was proconsul of
Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him
to the place of judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">An example of a coordinated attempt to thwart
Paul’s Gospel message, this time by trying to involve the Roman legal
authorities.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">18:13 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“This man,” they charged, “is persuading the
people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The response from Gallio in vs. 14-15 shows that
the “law” in question in vs. 13 is that of Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not told in the narrative in what way
they considered Paul’s teaching to be a violation of the Law of Moses, nor are
we told whether or not those objections were accurate, which makes this
accusation an ambiguous one for the purpose of understanding the relationship
between Judaism and Christianity in this first generation.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">19:9a </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But some of them became obstinate; they
refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">One of the 5 instances in <i>Acts</i> where the
Gospel of Jesus is referred to as, “the Way.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here at Ephesus, the Jewish community pushes back against Paul’s Gospel
presentation, their use of “the Way” illustrates an understanding of it to be
at the very least a recognizable sect, if not an outright new religious
expression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul’s response is to walk
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For 19:9b see section F.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">20:3 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">where he stayed three months. Because some Jews
had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he
decided to go back through Macedonia.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">We don’t know any more details than what Luke
shares here, but it continues the trend of violent opposition toward Paul in
the Diaspora, and foreshadows the violent opposition he will soon face in
Jerusalem.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">20:19 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I served the Lord with great humility and with
tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish
opponents.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul’s love for his own people could not be
shaken, but they were a source of great frustration as they stood against his
Gospel proclamation.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">21:27 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews
from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole
crowd and seized him,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>28 </sup></b>shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us!
This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law
and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled
this holy place.”</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>29 </sup></b>(They
had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and
assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">30 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from
all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and
immediately the gates were shut.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>31 </sup></b>While
they were trying to kill him,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">On one level, the question of what Jesus and the
Apostles wanted to do with respect to 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism and the
founding of the Church is a moot point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As <i>Acts</i> demonstrates over and over, 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism
didn’t want anything to do with Jesus’ followers, they were seen as dangerous
heretics worthy of being killed without even a trial (As required, of course,
by the Law, there is irony in this).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again,
the actual content of Paul’s teaching in the Diaspora could have been examined
on this issue, but the riotous crowd had no interest in nuance or distinctions,
they went straight to accusing Paul of being a full-on apostate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, the charge that Paul had brought a
Greek (i.e Gentile) into the inner precinct of the Temple courts is a powerful
reminder that 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism was not welcoming of full inclusion
of Gentile converts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There would always
be a divide between Jew and Gentile in 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism, it was a
feature not a bug, and would not be changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the New Covenant, however, Paul will insist over and over in his
epistles there can be no such distinction among Jesus’ followers, but only one
unified Body of Christ.}<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">23:2 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">At this the high priest Ananias ordered
those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The High Priest responds to Paul’s proclamation
that he has fulfilled his duty to God by ordering violence to be done to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever they understood Paul’s position to
be with respect to the Law, however accurate that assessment was, they hated
him for it.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">23:12 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The next morning some Jews formed a
conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until
they had killed Paul.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>13 </sup></b>More than forty men were involved in this
plot.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>14 </sup></b>They went to the
chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat
anything until we have killed Paul.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>15 </sup></b>Now
then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you
on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are
ready to kill him before he gets here.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Having failed to reach consensus about asking the
Romans to let them put Paul to death, his most bitter detractors swear an oath,
presumably an oath to God, to murder him, AND they solicit the help of the
Sanhedrin’s leadership to assist in the plot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In addition to shedding light upon the moral corruptions of this
generation of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism, it shows how existential they
thought the threat was of Paul’s Gospel to their own belief and practices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is not a hint of treating Jesus’
followers like a sect within 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism, let alone a reform
movement that might help it, to the Sanhedrin they are a heresy to be stamped
out, by any means necessary.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">24:1 </span></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Five days later the high priest Ananias went
down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they
brought their charges against Paul before the governor.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>When
Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed
a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms
in this nation.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>Everywhere
and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound
gratitude.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>4 </sup></b>But in order
not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us
briefly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The Sanhedrin’s desire to rid themselves of Paul
was strong enough that they were willing to press the case against him before
the Roman governor, hire a seemingly non-Jewish lawyer (if his name is an
indicator) to represent them, and countenance that lawyer’s grossly flattering
words before Felix.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">24:5 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“We have found this man to be a troublemaker,
stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a
ringleader of the Nazarene sect</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>6 </sup></b>and even tried to desecrate the
temple; so we seized him….</span> <b><sup>9 </sup></b>The other
Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Multiple things jump out here: (1) Paul was on
the receiving end of violent riots, not the instigator of them. (2) The use of
the term, “Nazarene sect.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(haireseos in
Greek) This word is transliterated into English in the form of
heresy/heretic/heretical, it comes from the root verb “to choose.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While an interesting way to describe Jesus’
followers, in a legal argument before the Roman governor (keeping in mind this
isn’t what the Sanhedrin necessarily thought about them, but what they thought
it wise to say about them), it is far from a claim of kinship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point is, the Sanhedrin’s legal argument
before Felix is drawing a distinction between themselves and those who have
“chosen” another path. See section A for Paul’s response}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">24:27 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by
Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the
Jews, he left Paul in prison.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Even after two years the animosity toward Paul
was strong enough that a politician saw keeping him in prison as a choice that
would win favor with the leaders of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">25:1 </span></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Three days after arriving in the province,
Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>where
the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges
against Paul.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>They
requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem,
for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul has been detained by the Roman governor for
two years after a riotous crowd tried to kill him, now with the new governor
perhaps unaware of the history of the situation, a new attempt is made to kill
Paul (and presumably the Roman soldiers assigned guard duty).}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">25:7 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down
from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against
him, but they could not prove them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">After Festus decides to hear the charges against
Paul at Caesarea, the leaders of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism are willing to
travel there to bring false charges against him (once again violating the Law
of Moses’ clear statues against false testimony, they did this ostensibly in
defense of the Law).}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">28:21 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">They replied, “We have not received any letters
from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there
has reported or said anything bad about you.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">We don’t know why the Sanhedrin failed to
communicate with the synagogue leaders in Rome to warn them that Paul was
coming, it is an odd oversight, or perhaps a failure of the communication
system of the day which consisted primarily of sending letters with someone
already going that way.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">28:22a </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But we want to hear what your views are<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The Jewish community in Rome is willing to listen
to what Paul has to say, even knowing what they do about his movement (See the
latter half of the verse below).}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">28:22b</span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">…for we know that people everywhere are talking
against this sect.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The Jewish community in Rome hasn’t heard
anything about Paul in particular, but “people everywhere” are speaking against
the Jesus movement (i.e. the Church).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here at the end of <i>Acts</i>, after decades of interaction between 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism and Jesus’ followers, the view in the Diaspora is one of
consistent and widespread opposition to the movement within the Jewish
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This state of affairs is what
breaks Paul’s heart (See Romans 9-11) but is also a status that Luke
communicates repeatedly in <i>Acts</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">28:23 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and
came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to
them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and
from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them
about Jesus.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>24 </sup></b>Some were convinced by what he said, but
others would not believe.</span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">A somewhat hopeful
response from the Jewish community of Rome as some believed Paul’s
testimony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: Paul, as expected, used
the Hebrew Scriptures to argue that Jesus is the Messiah.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">C. Decisions
/ Turning Points: What were the conscious decisions made by Jesus’ followers to
momentous events as they unfolded?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">8:12 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">But when
they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of
God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and
women.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>13 </sup></b>Simon himself believed and was baptized.
And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and
miracles he saw.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">14 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">When the
apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of
God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>15 </sup></b>When
they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive
the Holy Spirit,</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>16 </sup></b>because
the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>17 </sup></b>Then
Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy
Spirit.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">This is strong evidence
of a break with 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism for a reason that doesn’t jump
out immediately to the modern reader:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism wanted nothing to do with Samaritans, they were the equivalent
of apostate outcasts (See: Jesus with the Woman at the Well).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>If</u> the disciples had intended to work
within 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism, the inclusion of Samaritans, readily
baptized and accepted into the community, would have been a disastrous move
from the PR standpoint alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
the Holy Spirit <b><u>confirms</u></b> the inclusion of the Samaritans, and
this with the full cooperation of Peter and John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, whatever Peter, James, John, and the
rest of the original disciples may have hoped might happen, by God’s grace, to
include both their kindred and their customs into the community of Jesus’
followers, those plans/hopes have taken a dramatic turn <u>away from</u>
inclusion within the range of 1<sup>st</sup> Century Judaism, for as wide of a
spectrum as it was, it had no place for Samaritans to be welcomed as equals.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">8:25 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">After they had further proclaimed the word of the
Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem,
preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Peter and John don’t hesitate to act upon the
giving of the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans who accepted Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: It didn’t take a Council in Jerusalem,
nor consultation with James the Just, for them to make this decision, God’s
will in this matter was clear to them.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">10:9 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">About
noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city,
Peter went up on the roof to pray.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>10 </sup></b>He
became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being
prepared, he fell into a trance.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>11 </sup></b>He
saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth
by its four corners.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>12 </sup></b>It
contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>13 </sup></b>Then a voice told him, </span><span class="woj">“Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">14 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">“Surely
not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or
unclean.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">15 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">The
voice spoke to him a second time, </span></span><span class="woj"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">“Do not call anything
impure that God has made clean.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">16 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">This
happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">19 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the
Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. <b><sup>20 </sup></b>So
get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent
them.”</span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;">{5, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">As this direct communication between God and the Apostle Peter
unfolds, it at first appears to be a strong piece of evidence in favor of an
ongoing connection between Judaism and Jesus’ followers in that we hear from
Peter that he continues to follow the dietary laws (kosher), and is horrified
at the prospect of eating something unclean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, that all changes on a dime when <b><u>God</u></b> shows him the
same vision 3 times and tells Peter in no uncertain terms that he alone is the
one who has the right to call a thing clean or unclean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The impact of this encounter on Peter’s
personal understanding of what his obligation to the Law of Moses should be
moving forward is not explored by Luke because a much larger and more pressing
matter connected to this vision is about to be placed before him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Note: God never tempts anyone to
sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it still would have been sinful
for Peter to break kosher, and according to the Law it would have been, God
would never tell Peter to do so.}</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">10:22 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the
centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all
the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so
that he could hear what you have to say.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>23 </sup></b>Then Peter
invited the men into the house to be his guests.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">We are told that Cornelius, although a Gentile
and a Roman soldier, is also “God-fearing” and connected to the Jewish
community in Caesarea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That places
Cornelius somewhere among the significant number of Gentiles who in the first
century found Judaism to be appealing on some level, but who did not choose to convert
and be circumcised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know the
ethnicity of Cornelius’ messengers, if they are Gentiles, it would seem that
Peter is already taking the message of the vision to heart by inviting them
into his home.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">10:24 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">The
following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had
called together his relatives and close friends.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>25 </sup></b>As
Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>26 </sup></b>But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he
said, “I am only a man myself.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">27 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">While
talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>28 </sup></b>He
said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to
associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not
call anyone impure or unclean.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>29 </sup></b>So
when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you
sent for me?”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{5,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">At a minimum, Peter here
tells Cornelius that God has told him to reject the various teachings in Oral
Torah that the rabbis had through the centuries laid forth to forbid Jews to
eat with and associate with Gentiles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>According to the rabbis, to do so would make Peter ceremonially unclean,
but this attitude has been rejected by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thus Peter has embarked on a conscious step away from the accepted
practices of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism in the direction of accepting
Gentiles into the community on an equal footing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the remainder of the episode with
Cornelius, see section E.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">15:6 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">The apostles and elders met to consider this question.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>7a </sup></b>After much discussion,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The inclusion of Gentiles into the community, by
faith alone, seems to have raised important theological questions that may have
not been previously addressed in the thinking of the Apostles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As such, they spent a considerable amount of
time here at the Jerusalem Council discussing the issues before reaching their
decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have the back and
forth of that debate, only the winning argument as it will be presented by
Peter.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">15:7b </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that
some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my
lips the message of the gospel and believe.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>8 </sup></b>God, who knows the heart, showed that
he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>9 </sup></b>He did not discriminate between us and
them, for he purified their hearts by faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Peter begins by acknowledging that the choice to
include the Gentiles came directly from God, and Peter also recognizes <b><u>how</u></b>
they were accepted, by the same faith in Jesus that had saved the Jewish
Christians previously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did Peter and
the Apostles know that this was God’s verdict?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He gave both groups the Holy Spirit, case closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: Peter made a point of emphasizing that
God didn’t view the two groups differently, purifying the hearts of both by
faith.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:10 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Now then, why do you try to test God by
putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors
have been able to bear?</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>11 </sup></b>No! We believe it is through the
grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{5, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">One of the more powerful statements in <i>Acts</i>
with respect to the understanding of the followers of Jesus about the
relationship between Faith and Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
yoke in question is undoubtedly the Law of Moses (years later Paul will make
the case in <i>Romans</i> that nobody, ever, except Jesus has been able to
fully keep the Law), and even here and now AFTER the resurrection, and AFTER
receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter says that he and his fellow Jewish believers
in Jesus are not capable of “bearing” that yoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: If Peter, James, John, and the rest believed
that they were now fully keeping the Law (something groups like First Fruits of
Zion claim the Holy Spirit had come at Pentecost to make possible), why would
he say this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, if the works that the
Holy Spirit came at Pentecost to empower (and God prepared in advance for us to
do, i.e. Ephesians 2:10) were the keeping of Torah (as claimed by HRM, FFOZ),
how is it that Peter proclaims that the Jewish Christian community is unable to
bear that yoke?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With respect to both of
these questions, the HRM/FFOZ is butchering the Word of God to arrive at their
own conclusions.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:12 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The whole assembly became silent as they listened
to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done
among the Gentiles through them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Adding weight to Peter’s bold statement, Barnabas
and Paul share news of how readily available the power of God had been to them
as they shared the Good News with the Gentiles.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">15:13 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When
they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. <b><sup>14 </sup></b>Simon has
described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from
the Gentiles. <b><sup>15 </sup></b>The words of the prophets are in
agreement with this, as it is written:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">16 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“‘After
this I will return<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">and
rebuild David’s fallen tent.<br />
Its ruins I will rebuild,<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">and I
will restore it,<br />
<b><sup>17 </sup></b>that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">even all
the Gentiles who bear my name,<br />
says the Lord, who does these things’—<br />
<b><sup>18 </sup></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">things known from long
ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">If anyone was going to side
with the party of the Pharisees it would be James the Just, the half-brother of
Jesus, a man renowned for his piety in the community of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple
Judaism. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, James instead cites
the prophet Amos (9:11-12) to indicate that God had always intended to bring
the Gentiles into the fold, thus validating the testimony of Barnabas and Paul,
as well as Peter’s preamble.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:19 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not
make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{5, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">What was the original question? Do Gentile
believers in Jesus need to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James’ answer is a convincing “No.” James
describes the alternative path in which that would have been required as making
things more difficult for the Gentile Christians than <u>God intended</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, this decision is framed as a <b><u>response</u></b>
to what God has already been doing because the Gentiles have received the Holy
Spirit.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:20 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Instead we should write to them, telling them to
abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the
meat of strangled animals and from blood.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>21 </sup></b>For the law
of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in
the synagogues on every Sabbath.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{5, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Instead of what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead of yoking them with the Law of Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does James offer as an alternative?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cultural sensitivity that will not contribute
to the violence that has already plagued Gospel witness in the Diaspora.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James did not, in any way, ask the Gentile
Christians to “live like Jews,” rather he wanted them to show respect in known areas
of conflict between Jewish and Gentile cultures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why were these area of conflicts well known,
even to previously pagan Gentiles?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because the Jewish community in the Diaspora had been living by them
since they first arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FFOZ makes an
opposite interpretation of this passage the foundation of nearly their whole
system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They claim that this is actually
James ordering the new Gentile Christians to immerse themselves in the
synagogues (the violent ones that nearly called Paul multiple times) and become
Torah observant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this
interpretation does not at all flow from the narrative structure that Luke has
written, nor from the actual words of James.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is an example of eisegesis at its worst.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:22 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then the apostles and elders, with the whole
church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to
Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and
Silas, men who were leaders among the believers.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The implementation of the decision of the Council
of Jerusalem was important enough to the Apostles that they sent two of their
own trusted representatives to go along with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">15:23 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">With
them they sent the following letter:</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="first-line-none" style="background: white; margin-top: 12pt;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">The
apostles and elders, your brothers,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="first-line-none" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">To the
Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="first-line-none" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Greetings.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="top-05" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">24 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">We have
heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you,
troubling your minds by what they said.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">(4,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Context matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What had disturbed the Gentile believers in
Antioch?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The demand that they be
circumcised and follow the Law of Moses to be saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does James describe these actions: unauthorized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, we didn’t send that message
and we don’t endorse it, in fact we recognize that it did you harm.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:25 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So we all agreed to choose some men and send them
to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul—</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>26 </sup></b>men
who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>27 </sup></b>Therefore we are sending Judas and
Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Lest there be any doubt, the credentials of Judas
and Silas are included to ensure that this letter will put this issue to rest.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="top-05" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">15:28 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">It
seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything
beyond the following requirements:</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>29 </sup></b>You are to
abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals
and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="first-line-none" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Farewell.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{5,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The Law of Moses is
described as a burden (context, remember that Peter has just said this), and
one the Council had no interest in placing upon the necks of the Gentile
Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 4 things listed are in
no way a shorthand for Torah keeping, nor would they make any sense if Torah
keeping was assumed already because they’d already be understood and the
Gentiles would already be doing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thus, if James and the Council had assumed that Gentile Christians would
be Torah observant thanks to instruction from the synagogues, why the four-fold
command?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be entirely redundant,
a waste of time, and a confusing directive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course, the answer is that James had no expectation of Torah
observance by the Gentile Christians, thus the four-fold requirements were a
necessary form of cultural tolerance.}<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:30 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So the men were sent off and went down to
Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>31 </sup></b>The
people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>32 </sup></b>Judas and Silas, who themselves were
prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>33 </sup></b>After spending some time there, they were
sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those
who had sent them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The epilogue of the incident that led to the
Council of Jerusalem sees the Gentile Christians in Antioch receiving the
decision that had been made, to NOT impose the Law of Moses upon the believers
whom God had already justified, with gladness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It encouraged them that their faith was sufficient, that no additional
steps were to be required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: We
again see the church gathered together, as a body, to conduct its own business
entirely apart from the synagogue system.}</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">D. How
did the Jewish people and/or their leaders respond to the welcoming of Gentiles
into the Jesus movement?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">13:49 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The word of the Lord spread through the
whole region.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>50 </sup></b>But the Jewish leaders incited the
God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They
stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their
region.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Following Paul and Barnabas’ declaration that
they would turn their attention to the Gentiles, the response from the local
synagogue leaders was to organize opposition to Paul and Barnabas, eventually
having them thrown out of town.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">22:17 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">“When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the
temple, I fell into a trance</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>18 </sup></b>and
saw the Lord speaking to me. </span><span class="woj">‘Quick!’</span><span class="text"> he said. </span><span class="woj">‘Leave Jerusalem
immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’…</span></span><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">21 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">“Then the Lord said to
me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">22 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The crowd
listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted,
“Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">23 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As they
were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the
air,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The crowd listened to the
entirety of Paul’s recounting of his experience of meeting Jesus and his new
devotion to him, right up until Paul proclaimed that the Lord himself told him
to walk away from his own people and go instead to the Gentiles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They responded with rage when Paul told them
that God would look elsewhere if they weren’t interested in Jesus as the
Messiah.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">26:20 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">First to those in Damascus, then to those in
Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that
they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by
their deeds.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>21 </sup></b>That is why some Jews seized me in
the temple courts and tried to kill me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">In Paul’s defense before Agrippa, he sees a
direct connection between his ministry to the Gentiles and his own people’s
desire to kill him.}</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">E. How
did the followers of Jesus respond to the addition of Gentiles to their
movement?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="top-05" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">8:26 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">Now an
angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert
road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” <b><sup>27 </sup></b>So
he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch…</span><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">35 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Then Philip
began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good
news about Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">36 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As they
traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look,
here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”…<b><sup>38 </sup></b>And
he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down
into the water and Philip baptized him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The Ethiopian eunuch
challenges the idea of an ongoing connection to 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism
in two ways: (1) He is a Gentile, and thus one key step removed from full
inclusion in the nation, (2) He is a eunuch, which acc. to Dt. 23:1 permanently
puts him another step further from inclusion in the people of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Philip is directed by an angel of
the Lord to go to him, and he doesn’t hesitate to share the Gospel with this
man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, immediately after the eunuch
accepts Jesus, Philip answers the hugely important question that he asks, “What
can stand in the way of my being baptized?” by baptizing him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philip’s answer as demonstrated by his
response?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Nothing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This man was accepted by God, as is, by grace
through faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A key piece of evidence
that entrance into the community of Jesus’ followers will be different from
entrance into the covenant people under the Law of Moses.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">10:34 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how
true it is that God does not show favoritism</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>35 </sup></b>but
accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{5, </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This statement of Peter is antithetical to the
very structure of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism where even the physical layout
of the Temple itself kept Gentile men from approaching the presence of God as
closely as Jewish men (and of course, Jewish women were kept at a further
distance than Jewish men, that barrier is also destined to fall among Jesus’
followers).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one level, God’s attitude
hadn’t changed, Melchizedek in <i>Hebrews</i> demonstrates that God’s concern
always extended beyond his chosen people, but the Law of Moses did have
built-in distinctions in how it treated Jews and non-Jews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in <i>Acts</i>, that distinction is
melting away, a topic that the Apostle Paul will devote a significant amount of
time to addressing in his letters.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">10:44 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">While
Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who
heard the message. <b><sup>45 </sup></b>The circumcised believers who
had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had
been poured out even on Gentiles. <b><sup>46 </sup></b>For they
heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Then Peter said, <b><sup>47 </sup></b>“Surely
no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have
received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” <b><sup>48 </sup></b>So he
ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked
Peter to stay with them for a few days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{5,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Peter now rightly
understands the full implication of his prior vision: God is willing to accept
Gentiles who believe in Jesus with no pre-conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire household of Cornelius receives
the Spirit, en masse, and subsequently all are baptized to demonstrate their
acceptance into the community of Jesus’ followers, again with no
pre-conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this Peter takes his
cue from the Holy Spirit, who is he to balk when God has already acted?}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">11:1</span></b></span><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The apostles and the believers throughout
Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>So
when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>and said, “You went into the house of
uncircumcised men and ate with them.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">This could also be categorized as an indicator of
the attitude of Jesus’ followers toward Judaism, although it takes place within
the context of their reaction toward the new Gentile believers, so I’ve placed
it here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luke doesn’t mention who among
the Jewish Christians it was that upbraided Peter for his willingness to
associate with Gentiles, but at this point before the Council of Jerusalem they
were willing to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some of them,
at least, the old rules of isolation from Oral Torah remained important.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">11:15 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“As I
began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the
beginning. <b><sup>16 </sup></b>Then I remembered what the Lord had
said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized
with the Holy Spirit.’ <b><sup>17 </sup></b>So if God gave them
the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who
was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">18 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When
they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So
then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{5,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">After recounting the
story of what happened at Cornelius’ house, Peter concludes with an even
stronger statement than 10:47-48.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter
now understood that Gentile inclusion was “God’s way,” and those Jewish
Christians who had moments before been upset with Peter respond to this news
with complete acceptance of the new direction that has been given to them by
God.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">11:20 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and
Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling
them the good news about the Lord Jesus.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>21 </sup></b>The
Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and
turned to the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">What was it about the Jewish Christian community
of Cyprus and Cyrene that they took their own initiative to share the Gospel
with Gentiles?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know the answer,
but it points in the direction that some among the Jewish Christian community
were seeing that the Gospel message’s impact needed to be felt beyond their own
ethnic people.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">11:22 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and
they sent Barnabas to Antioch.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>23 </sup></b>When he arrived and saw what the grace of
God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the
Lord with all their hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Barnabas was sent to Antioch to assess the
reports that Gentiles there were believing in Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he saw this for himself, Barnabas
embraced what God was doing.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">13:46 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Then
Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you
first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of
eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. <b><sup>47 </sup></b>For
this is what the Lord has commanded us:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“‘I have
made you a light for the Gentiles,<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">that
you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">48 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When the Gentiles heard
this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were
appointed for eternal life believed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Paul and Barnabas make a public proclamation in Pisidian
Antioch that they will turn their attention to the Gentiles because their own
people had rejected the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
met with enthusiasm and acceptance by the soon-to-be Gentile Christians.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">14:27 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">On arriving there, they gathered the church together and
reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a
door of faith to the Gentiles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Returning to
Antioch, Paul and Barnabas report to the church the success that they had among
the Gentiles, attributing this work to the power of God.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">15:1</span></b></span><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Certain
people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the
believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom
taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt;">{2, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">There were
those within the Church at Jerusalem who believed that gentile believers needed
to fully adopt the Law of Moses, that is, they believed it to be, through a
rationale we are not made privy to, still authoritative over all of Jesus’
followers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, and this is a big
caveat, there position will be opposed, strongly by Paul and Barnabas in the
very next verse, how this unfolds reveals that Luke as the author agreed not
with the unnamed proponents of imposing the Law on Gentile Christians but with
Paul and Barnabas.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">15:2 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate
with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other
believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about
this question.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">The nature of
the arguments between the two groups are not revealed here, but the church at
Antioch thought the issue to be important enough that they sent a delegation to
the Apostles seeking resolution of it.}</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:3 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The church sent them on their way, and as they
traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had
been converted. This news made all the believers very glad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Even prior to the coming Jerusalem Council, the
news that Gentiles were joining the movement through faith in Jesus was
received with joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: Some of these
believers were Samaritan Christians, people who were “on the outside looking
in” until the Spirit confirmed to the Early Church that they too are included
in God’s grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is fitting that they
rejoiced to see God’s grace continue to spread beyond them to the Gentiles.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:4 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed
by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God
had done through them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Luke continues to frame the addition of Gentile
believers into the community as the work of God.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">15:5 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then some of the believers who belonged to the
party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be
circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #92d050; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{2, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">That belief in Jesus made inroads among the
Pharisees is a bit shocking given his interactions with them in the Gospels,
and it isn’t surprising to see that they’re convinced that keeping the Law of
Moses is essential to being a disciple of Jesus given their background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with the group who came to Antioch with
this same message, Luke’s narrative makes clear that he is aligned with Paul
and Barnabas (and soon to be Peter and James) in strong opposition to this
idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the remainder of the Jerusalem
Council, see section C}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">16:13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate
to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and
began to speak to the women who had gathered there.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>14 </sup></b>One
of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a
dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her
heart to respond to Paul’s message.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>15 </sup></b>When
she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to
her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay
at my house.” And she persuaded us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Philippi evidently had no synagogue, so Paul
sought out an audience for the Gospel outside the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While Lydia was someone who worshiped the God
of Abraham, she was also (as the text indicates by not simply calling her a
Jewish woman) a gentile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul shows no
hesitation in either baptizing her or staying in her home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point the full inclusion of Gentiles
into the Christian community is a settled issue as far as the narrative of <i>Acts</i>
goes, as is the full ability to fellowship with them.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">16:29 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">The
jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>30 </sup></b>He
then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">31 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">They
replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your
household.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>32 </sup></b>Then they spoke
the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>33 </sup></b>At that hour of the night the jailer
took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household
were baptized.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">The Philippian jailer, a gentile, and his household are saved, and
baptized immediately, with no preconditions or rituals necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By grace alone through faith alone being
lived out.}<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">20:19 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Paul
greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the
Gentiles through his ministry.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">20a </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">When
they heard this, they praised God.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">With Paul’s first missionary journey after the Jerusalem Council
now completed, James and the rest of the Apostles praise God for the success
that Paul has had in building up the Church among the Gentiles.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">21:25 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As for the Gentile believers, we have written to
them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from
blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{5, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Having just told the Apostle Paul to sponsor the
fulfillment of 4 Nazarite vows in an effort to keep a fragile peace between the
Jewish Christians and the larger Jewish community, these same members of the
Jerusalem Church immediately reiterate that to Paul that their action should <b>NOT</b>
be construed as a hedge against the decision of the Jerusalem Council.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has already been decided that the only
guidance that Gentile Christians living outside of Judea need are the 4
stipulations designed to not offend the sensibilities of the Jewish community
in the Diaspora, whether they be Christians too or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: If they had wanted to make any kind of
statement about Gentile Torah observance, this incident would have been a
perfect place to do so, but no such thought is even hinted at in the text.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">26:17 </span></sup></b></span><span class="woj"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I will rescue you from your own people and
from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="woj"><b><sup>18 </sup></b>to
open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a
place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><sup>19 </sup></b>“So then,
King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.<span class="woj"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="woj"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="woj"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">From Paul’s defense before Agrippa, it repeats
Paul’s belief that his mission to the Gentiles was divinely ordained.}</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">F. Where
and when did Jesus’ followers choose to pray, worship, and fellowship?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">2:46a </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Every day they continued to meet together in the
temple courts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They broke bread in
their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">While their presence in the temple courts <u>could</u>
demonstrate a desire to remain connected with the Temple system, it just as plausibly
may simply be the best public space available and it was also the prime
location from which to share the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The second sentence shows fellowship in the homes of various believers,
if not an example of the soon-to-be “house church” model, it could be a
precursor to that practice.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">3:1</span></b></span><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">One day Peter and John were going up to the
temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">This could be viewed as evidence that Peter and
John, at least, still participated in regular worship and prayer as ordinary
followers of Judaism within the Temple, although Luke does not specify why they
went to the Temple at the time of prayer, nor does he specify if this was a
common practice for Peter and John, or for other members of the Jesus movement,
nor how long this practice may have lasted.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">5:12 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The apostles performed many signs and
wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet
together in Solomon’s Colonnade.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Another example where the temple precincts are
utilized by the disciples as a gathering place, but Luke doesn’t explain the
reasoning behind the choice of location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The switch to the past tense verb, “used to meet” may indicate Luke’s
awareness that this practice did not continue for long, at least not past 8:1}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">12:12 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When this had dawned on him, he went to the house
of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had
gathered and were praying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">In the midst of an
outbreak of persecution, the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem gathered together,
as a community, in a private home of one of their members, to pray.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">16:40 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they
went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and
sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Fellowship in the home of one of the new
believers, in this case that of the gentile woman Lydia.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">18:7 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door
to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">In a bold move, the Apostle Paul sets up shot
literally next door to the synagogue in Corinth, almost like a Domino’s opening
across the street from a Little Caesars, the implications are noteworthy.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">19:9b</span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> He took the disciples with him and had
discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>10 </sup></b>This
went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the
province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Having received pushback from the synagogue in
Ephesus, Paul sets up shop at a lecture hall, using it as a sort of hub of
operations for his work throughout the province of Asia over the next two
years.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">20:7 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On the first day of the week we came
together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended
to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Luke shares this detail in a matter-of-fact
manner, as if meeting on the first day of the week as a community (that is, a
church) was unremarkable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the absence
of any reference in <i>Acts</i> to Jesus’ followers gathering together for
worship on the Sabbath (that is, Saturday), this text is a high hurdle for
Sabbatarians.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">20:20 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">You know that I have not hesitated to preach
anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and
from house to house.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The door-to-door style evangelism is a mark of
the new Great Commission inspired attitude of Jesus’ followers, this was a
significant break from the isolationist attitude of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple
Judaism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God-fearing Gentiles could come
and join the synagogues if they chose to do so, but evangelistic work among the
nations was not a feature of the system.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">21:4 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We sought out the disciples there and stayed
with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to
Jerusalem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">On the way to Jerusalem, the Apostle Paul relies
upon the hospitality of the local followers of Jesus, people whom Luke tells us
were guided by the Spirit in their effort to warn Paul of what lay ahead.}</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">G. Independence:
In what ways did Jesus’ followers build their own organizational structures
and/or develop their own practices?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">1:20 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">“For,”
said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="line" style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">“‘May his place be
deserted;</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">let
there be no one to dwell in it,’</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="first-line-none" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">and,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="line" style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">“‘May another take his
place of leadership.’</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="first-line-none" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">21 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Therefore
it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time
the Lord Jesus was living among us,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>22 </sup></b>beginning from
John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of
these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">23 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">So they
nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>24 </sup></b>Then
they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of
these two you have chosen</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>25 </sup></b>to
take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>26 </sup></b>Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to
Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">The choosing of a new 12<sup>th</sup> Apostle shows a conscious
effort to continue the structure put in place by Jesus, to carry on his work.}</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">2:41 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Those who accepted his message were baptized, and
about three thousand were added to their number that day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The baptizing of new members demonstrates an
awareness that these new believers were joining something, that it was a
momentous step for them to take.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">2:42 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">They devoted themselves to the apostles’
teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">From the very beginning Jesus’ followers had
their own gatherings that were not a part of the services and programs of the
synagogues in their area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They gathered
together, on their own, from day one.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">2:44 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">All the believers were together and had
everything in common.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>45 </sup></b>They sold property and possessions to give
to anyone who had need.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">While the holding of goods in common did not
spread from the disciples in Jerusalem to other locations, it was certainly a
practice that set them apart from the Jewish community in Jerusalem.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">5:1 </span></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">Now a
man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back
part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the
apostles’ feet…<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">5:10 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">At that moment she fell down at his feet and
died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out
and buried her beside her husband.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>11 </sup></b>Great fear seized the whole church
and all who heard about these events.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The tragedy of Ananias and Sapphire evidences not
only the coordinated collection and distribution of funds, outside of the
Temple system of giving and corresponding charity, it also highlights a
significant exercise of <u>authority</u> in that the Spirit strikes the pair of
them dead for making a mockery of their commitment to the cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To an extent, this mirrors the authority
given by the Law of Moses to exercise capital punishment for those who
purposefully mock the Sabbath and other provisions of the Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There certainly was no official legal
procedure with witnesses before the elders, as would have been required had the
disciples been consciously operating under the justice system set up by the
Mosaic Law.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">6:1</span></b><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In those
days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic
Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their
widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. <b><sup>2 </sup></b>So
the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be
right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait
on tables. <b><sup>3 </sup></b>Brothers and sisters, choose
seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and
wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them <b><sup>4 </sup></b>and
will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">5 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This
proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith
and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon,
Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. <b><sup>6 </sup></b>They
presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on
them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Here the followers of
Jesus evidence both the ability to recognize a problem, and the flexibility to
develop a new leadership role within their movement to address it
successfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: They looked <u>inward</u>
for the answer, not to the already existing structures of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple
Judaism.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">11:25 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for
Saul,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>26 </sup></b>and
when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and
Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The
disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Barnabas takes this action without feeling the
need to return to Jerusalem for further direction from Peter, James, John and
the Apostles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What God was doing was
evident, so rather than debate about it, he sought out Saul to assist him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: Nowhere does Luke tell us of meetings
with synagogue leaders to discuss Gentile inclusion, certainly there is no
mention of bringing this matter, one that directly challenges Oral Torah (at
the least) with respect to fellowship with Gentiles, to the Sanhedrin for
consideration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ followers made
their own decisions, based upon their understanding of God’s will, and then
acted accordingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This demonstration of
independence earned the group a new name, one that would stick.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">13:</span></b></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and
teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of
Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and
Saul.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>While
they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set
apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>So after they had fasted and prayed, they
placed their hands on them and sent them off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The community of Jesus’ followers at Antioch,
outside of Judea, has at this point its own prophets and teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They met together to worship, fast, and
pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it was clear to them that the
Holy Spirit had plans for Barnabus and Saul, they commissioned them for the
journey by laying hands upon them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
of this together paints a powerful picture of a fully functioning community,
complete with its own roles, practices, and awareness of God’s leading.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">14:23 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them
in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the
Lord, in whom they had put their trust.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The synagogues in these towns already had
leadership, Paul and Barnabas not only saw the need to appoint leaders for the
churches, but also believed they had the authority to put them in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: These decisions were accompanied by prayer
and fasting indicating how serious the local churches were about having their
own leaders.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">16:4 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As they traveled from town to town, they
delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in
Jerusalem for the people to obey.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>5 </sup></b>So the
churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The import of the Jerusalem Council’s decision
grows as Paul shares news of it with the predominately gentile churches along
his route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, this is not in
consultation with the local synagogues, these are actions by Jesus’ followers as
if they already believed themselves to be a separate entity (i.e. the Church).}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">18:22 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to
Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Returning from his 2<sup>nd</sup> Missionary
Journey, the Apostle Paul “checks-in” with the church at Jerusalem, likely to
report on the trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This continues the
pattern of the church running its own evangelism operation, distinct from any
outreach effort that may have existed within 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism,
that is, we have no evidence in <i>Acts</i> of any consultation, let alone
cooperation on this front, something we would expect to see hints of if Jesus
and the Apostles had intended his followers to operate under the umbrella of
the synagogue system.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">18:23 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out
from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of
Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">As a postscript to his 2<sup>nd</sup> Missionary
Journey, Paul continues working with the newly founded churches.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">20:17 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the
elders of the church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul conducts the business of administering leadership
over local churches, as his role as an Apostle includes many of the
responsibilities that will soon be found in the developing role of bishop.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">20:28 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Keep watch over yourselves and all the
flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds
of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. <b><sup>29 </sup></b>I
know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not
spare the flock. <b><sup>30 </sup></b>Even from your own number men
will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after
them. <b><sup>31 </sup></b>So be on your guard! Remember that for
three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">A powerful testimony from Paul that contains
several key elements: (1) Paul took steps to ensure that the churches he
founded would have faithful leaders after he was gone, (2) he anticipated that
these leaders would need to guard the Gospel message against false teachers,
(3) and he revealed how deeply committed he was emotionally to this cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(4) Lastly, and perhaps most importantly for
this examination of the text, Paul told the elders/overseers of the church that
the Holy Spirit is the one who put them in their place of leadership and
responsibility.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">21:7 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">We
continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted
the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>8 </sup></b>Leaving
the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of
Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>9 </sup></b>He had four unmarried daughters who
prophesied.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">10 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">After we
had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from
Judea.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Here the roles of the Early Church which Paul will write about in
his epistles are already functioning, in particular those of evangelist and
prophet.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">21:17 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and
sisters received us warmly.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>18 </sup></b>The
next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the
elders were present.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Returning to
Jerusalem, Paul’s first stop is the community of Jesus’ followers, and the next
day he reports on what has happened during his missionary journey to James and
the elders of the Jerusalem Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is continuing evidence of both the fellowship of the various manifestations of
the church with each other, and the authority/oversight exercised by the
Jerusalem Church at this time.}</span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">28:14 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There we found some brothers and sisters who
invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>15 </sup></b>The
brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they
traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the
sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>16 </sup></b>When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to
live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The church at Rome, who knew of Paul’s impending
arrival, went out of its way to encourage and care for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: He is on trial, ultimately, because he
defied the Sanhedrin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the followers
of Jesus in Rome had issue with that, why would they treat Paul with such
compassion and respect?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Answer: They had
no issue with Paul’s conduct and were instead on his side against the
Sanhedrin.}</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">H. Inside
voices: How did Jesus’ followers speak about their own place in God’s will and
purpose?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">2:16 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">No, this
is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="line" style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">17 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">“‘In the
last days, God says,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">I will
pour out my Spirit on all people.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
<span class="text">Your sons and daughters will prophesy,</span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">your
young men will see visions,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">your old
men will dream dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="line" style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">, At Pentecost Peter is aware that
what God is doing in the giving of the Spirit is something new, a sign of the
“last days” as prophesied by Joel.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">4:25 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">You
spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="line" style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">“‘Why do the nations rage</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">and the
peoples plot in vain?</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
<span class="text"><b><sup>26 </sup></b>The kings of the earth rise up</span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">and the
rulers band together</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
<span class="text">against the Lord</span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">and
against his anointed one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="line" style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">27 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with
the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your
holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>28 </sup></b>They did what your power and will had
decided beforehand should happen.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>29 </sup></b>Now,
Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with
great boldness.</span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="line" style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Quoting Psalm 2:1-2, the
entire community of Jesus’ disciples depict the leadership of 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism as people who, “plot in vain” against God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a clear juxtaposition, Jesus’
disciples are on God’s side on this matter, their kindred who have rejected
Jesus are on the other side, against God.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">20:21 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that
they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">To Paul, the role of the Church in God’s
redemptive program is the same whether those hearing the Gospel are Jews or
Gentiles, this foreshadows his later writing in Ephesians 2:11-22 that the two
groups have been made one in Christ.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">25:8 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing
wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul’s defense before Festus: Paul didn’t view
his beliefs or his ministry as an affront to either the Law or the Temple,
although the statement is malleable enough to be a positive statement about
Torah continuation or at the same time a theological statement about Torah
fulfillment {In keeping with Paul’s thesis in <i>Romans</i> that the Law is
holy, righteous, and good, but also wholly incapable of saving anyone).}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">25:10 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s
court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the
Jews, as you yourself know very well.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>11 </sup></b>If, however,
I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if
the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right
to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">In a remarkable turn of events, the Apostle Paul refuses
to be tried before an ecclesiastical court, that is the Sanhedrin, but fearing
that Festus will allow just that to gain favor in his new post as governor,
Paul utilizes his right as a Roman citizen to have his case heard in Rome
itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: A first generation
believer in Jesus, who was raised with deep allegiance to, and zeal for, the
Law of Moses, is so disenchanted by his generation’s leaders of 2<sup>nd</sup>
Temple Judaism, that he refuses to participate in the legal system that the Law
created to hear such matters but instead he would rather put his trust in the
Roman legal system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is powerful
evidence against any hope, from Paul’s and Luke’s point-of-view at least, of
cooperation between Jesus’ followers and 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism moving
forward.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">28:30 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own
rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>31 </sup></b>He
proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with
all boldness and without hindrance!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The final verses of <i>Acts</i> finds Paul
undaunted by the opposition from his own people which has led him to
confinement in Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than
hesitancy about the course ahead, given how difficult the road had been for
Paul that would be understandable, Luke informs us that Paul continued to
boldly proclaim Jesus in Rome while he awaited the resolution of his legal
case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are left with the strong
impression that the current trajectory of events, as we have seen them unfold,
is expected to continue, that is: (1) Opposition to Jesus by his own people,
and especially their leaders, and (2) and a Church that is growing rapidly and
becoming more Gentile with each passing year.}</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">I.
Outside voices: How did non-believing Gentiles view Jesus’ followers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">12:1</span></b></span><span class="chapternum"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It was about this time that King
Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute
them.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>2 </sup></b>He
had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>3 </sup></b>When he saw that this met with approval
among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the
Festival of Unleavened Bread.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Herod was astute enough of a political animal to
ascertain that persecuting followers of Jesus would earn him favor with the
leaders of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whatever his initial motives were in murdering James, he intended to
continue with Peter because he thought it would help him politically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, far from a picture of cooperation, or
even of tolerance, we have by Acts 12 a hatred of Jesus’ followers that is
firmly enough established that outsiders like Herod can see it too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: This persecution happened during one of
the appointed Feasts, just as the hatred and lies before the Sanhedrin that had
led to the crucifixion of Jesus had desecrated Passover.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">14:11 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they
shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human
form!”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>12 </sup></b>Barnabas
they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">After healing a lame man in Lystra, the pagan
Greek crowd doesn’t recognize that Paul and Barnabas represent something
outside of their religious worldview.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">17:18 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began
to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?”
Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this
because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>19 </sup></b>Then
they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they
said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are
presenting?...</span><b><sup> <span class="text">32 </span></sup></b><span class="text">When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of
them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul’s famous speech in Athens fails to gain much
traction when he mentions the resurrection from the dead, an absurd notion
according to most of Greek philosophy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note:
The intellectual leaders of Athens would have been well aware of Judaism, they
didn’t simply chalk Paul up as another rabbi, but found his ideas to be new and
interesting.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">18:14 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to
them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious
crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>15 </sup></b>But
since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the
matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.”</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>16 </sup></b>So he drove them off.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>17 </sup></b>Then the crowd there turned on
Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the
proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">This is consistent with our understanding of the
Roman government’s attitude toward the religion of conquered peoples:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as it doesn’t interfere with good
order and the collection taxes, we don’t care what you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gallio was in no position to parse the Law of
Moses, and he had no interest in trying.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">19:23 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">About that time there arose a great disturbance
about the Way.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>24 </sup></b>A silversmith named Demetrius, who made
silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen
there.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>25 </sup></b>He called them
together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my
friends, that we receive a good income from this business.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>26 </sup></b>And you see and hear how this fellow Paul
has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and
in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human
hands are no gods at all.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>27 </sup></b>There
is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the
temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess
herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will
be robbed of her divine majesty.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">At Ephesus, the followers of Jesus are targeted
by a mob, not because of their connection or disconnection to Judaism, but
solely on the basis that their success in finding converts among the area’s
gentiles had begun to harm the businesses that depended upon visitors to the
pagan temple of Artemis.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">21:37 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">As the
soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the
commander, “May I say something to you?”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">“Do you speak Greek?” he replied.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>38 </sup></b>“Aren’t
you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into
the wilderness some time ago?”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">39 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Paul
answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no
ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The Roman commander has
no idea what is going on, he saved Paul from being beaten to death by the
riotous crowd in Jerusalem, but as is typical of Roman authorities, the religious
arguments of conquered peoples are a mystery to him.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">22:30 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">The
commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the
Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests
and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and
had him stand before them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The Roman commander in Jerusalem wants to know
what it is about Paul that angers his countrymen so much, so he goes straight
to the top and tells the Sanhedrin to assemble.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="first-line-none" style="background: white; margin-top: 12pt;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">23:26 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Claudius
Lysias,</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="first-line-none" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">To His
Excellency, Governor Felix:</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="first-line-none" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Greetings.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="top-05" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">27 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">This man
was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my
troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>28 </sup></b>I
wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>29 </sup></b>I found that the accusation had to do with
questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that
deserved death or imprisonment.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>30 </sup></b>When
I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent
him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their
case against him.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Claudius, the Roman commander, sent Paul to Felix
to avoid the murder plot of the conspirators, having only learned that the
dispute, “has to do with questions about their law.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point in Luke’s narrative, the Romans
still view the issue between Jesus’ followers and Judaism as an internal matter.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the outside looking in there are
indeed great similarities, but the violence toward Paul demonstrates that the
leaders of 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism of this generation strongly disagreed
(as they considered them to be outcast/heretics).}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">24:22 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the
Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he
said, “I will decide your case.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>23 </sup></b>He ordered the centurion to keep Paul
under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to
take care of his needs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">A tantalizing hint at what Felix already knew
about Jesus and his followers, but nothing to indicate how he viewed them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t appear that he actually took the
charges of subversion seriously as Rome was not known for treading lightly when
it came to disturbers of the peace.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">24:24 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Several days later Felix came with his wife
Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke
about faith in Christ Jesus.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>25 </sup></b>As Paul talked about righteousness,
self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and
said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will
send for you.”</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>26 </sup></b>At the
same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him
frequently and talked with him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Felix’s wife may explain why he already knew
about The Way, although he balked at the opportunity to repent and
believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, Felix’s judgment
was clouded by greed.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">25:13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">A few
days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their
respects to Festus.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>14 </sup></b>Since they were
spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said:
“There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>15 </sup></b>When I went to Jerusalem, the chief
priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked
that he be condemned.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">16 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">“I told
them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced
their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the
charges.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>17 </sup></b>When they came
here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and
ordered the man to be brought in.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>18 </sup></b>When
his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I
had expected.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>19 </sup></b>Instead,
they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and
about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>20 </sup></b>I was at a loss how to investigate such
matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial
there on these charges.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>21 </sup></b>But
when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered
him held until I could send him to Caesar.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Festus shares his frustration over Paul’s case with King Agrippa,
in this he admits that their argument about whether or not someone named Jesus
is alive befuddles him.}<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">25:24 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;">Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us,
you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him
in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any
longer.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>25 </sup></b>I found he
had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the
Emperor I decided to send him to Rome.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{4,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">From Festus’ viewpoint,
the entirety of the Jewish community in Jerusalem wants Paul put to death. For
Paul’s defense before Agrippa, see section A}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">26:24 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense.
“You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is
driving you insane.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">After hearing Paul’s explanation to King Agrippa,
Festus interrupts to declare this whole belief in the resurrection of the dead
to be insane.}</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">J. Miscellaneous:
Relevant texts that don’t fit the categories above.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">16:20 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">They
brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are
throwing our city into an uproar</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>21 </sup></b>by advocating
customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">22 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">The
crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered
them to be stripped and beaten with rods.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt;">{3, </span></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">In Philippi Paul and Silas were unlawfully beaten after
unscrupulous men took advantage of the magistrate’s apparent antisemitism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no trail, a point Paul will bring
to their attention after the miracle at the jail, and no mention of what
practices were supposedly unlawful, leaving this episode rather ambiguous with
respect to Judaism and Christianity.}</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">18:24 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Meanwhile
a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was
a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. <b><sup>25 </sup></b>He
had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great
fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism
of John. <b><sup>26 </sup></b>He began to speak boldly in the
synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their
home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">27 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When
Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged
him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a
great help to those who by grace had believed. <b><sup>28 </sup></b>For
he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the
Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The difficulty in
understanding the deficiency of Apollos’ belief, that is, what it means that he
knew the “way of the Lord” but only “the baptism of John,” makes his story
unsuitable to bolster either the case for inclusion or exclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note: It does however, showcase a willingness
on the part of Priscilla and Aquila to embrace those who accepted Jesus at this
stage without a full understanding of what that meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than pushing Apollos away because he
didn’t know the whole Gospel, they help him understand where his knowledge fell
short.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">19 </span></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">While
Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and
arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples <b><sup>2 </sup></b>and
asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">They answered, “No, we have not even
heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">3 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">So Paul
asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“John’s baptism,” they replied.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">4 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Paul
said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to
believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” <b><sup>5 </sup></b>On
hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. <b><sup>6 </sup></b>When
Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they
spoke in tongues and prophesied. <b><sup>7 </sup></b>There were
about twelve men in all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Another instance of
partial entrance into the community of Jesus’ followers that awaited the rest
of the Gospel message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Apollos,
these 12 men had already repented, they simply hadn’t heard about Jesus’ death
and resurrection (presumably).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The text
doesn’t tell us if any/all of them are Jewish or Gentiles.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Some
Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of
the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the
name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>14 </sup></b>Seven
sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>15 </sup></b>One day the evil spirit answered them,
“Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>16 </sup></b>Then the man who had the evil spirit
jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they
ran out of the house naked and bleeding.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">17 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">When
this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all
seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: accent4;">{4, </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">This seems to be a fairly powerful example of the disconnect between the
Jesus movement and 2<sup>nd</sup> Temple Judaism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here the sons of a chief priest, intend on
doing a righteous deed by delivering someone from demon possession, are
severely beaten by that demon because they are not authentically connected to
Jesus despite their willingness to use his name to aid their effort.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">20:16 </span></sup></b><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to
avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to
reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3, </span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Pentecost now being a day of great significance
for the Church, it is unclear what Paul’s full motivation was in seeking to
reach Jerusalem by this date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HRM
proponents will point to this as proof that Paul continued to fully keep the
Law, and while it is possible (based upon this reference in <i>Acts</i> alone)
to read this text to be stating a desire on Paul’s part to celebrate the
traditional Jewish Feast of Pentecost, such a desire alone would not prove that
Paul was as dedicated to Torah observance now as a follower of Jesus as he was
before as a Pharisee, nor of course would it have implications for Gentile
Christians.}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">26:25 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">“I am
not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is
true and reasonable.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>26 </sup></b>The king is
familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced
that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.</span> <span class="text"><b><sup>27 </sup></b>King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?
I know you do.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">28 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Then
Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade
me to be a Christian?”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">29 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Paul
replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are
listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">30 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;">The king
rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them.</span></span><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <span class="text"><b><sup>31 </sup></b>After
they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing
anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{3,
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The conclusion of Paul’s
defense before Agrippa, it demonstrates several truths: (1) Paul believed that
one can demonstrate the wisdom of belief in Jesus through an appeal to the Hebrew
Scriptures, (2) Paul had hope that even a man like Agrippa, from a heinously
corrupt family like Herod’s, could be saved by faith, (3) outsiders like
Agrippa and Festus saw nothing criminal in Paul’s actions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-82297882478646268032024-02-25T15:26:00.005-05:002024-02-25T15:26:32.696-05:00Sermon Video: Ending Romans with a loud, "Amen!" - Romans 16:25-27<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_kL5SRAvzRk" width="320" youtube-src-id="_kL5SRAvzRk"></iframe></div><p>In the benediction to his letter to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul reminds his readers of God's marvelous Gospel, of the grace given in this generation through the coming of Jesus Christ who brought salvation to all the people of the world by faith.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-37937148950932554172024-02-22T08:43:00.005-05:002024-02-22T09:05:23.006-05:00Venango County businesses were harassed based on social media rumors; again - We need to be better than this.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffwfneyIIZSkx99NPlFtaV44T898CD8ECn0xfqhelby7TiCc0WDdgj6HdqoTcH7VOlCNkxywUADfU6IeD9VrweZSg8E65d_lGB5GaJHEcO5f1eogeNSx3gwZWuufBlZGHJ_pQEMGK_KLWFj4tAx0Afgi6OQc1ksi4Zrc7UVNKOdhTh43dugpV47yAMJg/s3086/immigrant%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3086" data-original-width="1018" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffwfneyIIZSkx99NPlFtaV44T898CD8ECn0xfqhelby7TiCc0WDdgj6HdqoTcH7VOlCNkxywUADfU6IeD9VrweZSg8E65d_lGB5GaJHEcO5f1eogeNSx3gwZWuufBlZGHJ_pQEMGK_KLWFj4tAx0Afgi6OQc1ksi4Zrc7UVNKOdhTh43dugpV47yAMJg/s320/immigrant%201.jpeg" width="106" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBcEIzMzrQBvlgrBwrxg9HGW9J9aXbCj50T24z2RIk90hQMauFT5dtCNuuLzJwqwtfz6amyg24kjD5-422qBr8FRJAAq_wmxnA9xzLw4Na-8CLQOEBfyxKG5PqY2GcYt1cDyyaEtDqPneaBipwob2StcHxJ6SkCJhQBSc4NA7_oSFee5zVq9pROebW3U/s1962/immigrant%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="1962" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBcEIzMzrQBvlgrBwrxg9HGW9J9aXbCj50T24z2RIk90hQMauFT5dtCNuuLzJwqwtfz6amyg24kjD5-422qBr8FRJAAq_wmxnA9xzLw4Na-8CLQOEBfyxKG5PqY2GcYt1cDyyaEtDqPneaBipwob2StcHxJ6SkCJhQBSc4NA7_oSFee5zVq9pROebW3U/s320/immigrant%202.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It is happening again. For the second time in the last six months {see links at the bottom for my posts on the first incident}, local businesses have been harassed by hundreds of aggressive phone calls because of what people read on social media. Don't misunderstand me, Venango County (and Franklin in particular) is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. I'm blessed that we were called here in 2012 so that I could become the pastor of First Baptist, and blessed that this is where my daughter is growing up. This is the community that helped us create and support Mustard Seed Missions and Emmaus Haven. I'm proud of what we've accomplished here on behalf of those in need. That being said, we have still have issues here because this town and county has plenty of flawed people, I know this because all human beings are flawed, myself included. The thing is, all human beings are also made in the image of God (imago dei in Latin), which means they all have value, inherent value, that doesn't depend at all upon the circumstances of their lives. Everyone who has ever lived was a person for whom Christ was willing to die so that he might redeem them if they'd repent and believe; every single person.</p><p>Which brings us to the harassment of the owners and employees of the Quality Inn in Franklin and the Holiday Inn in Cranberry, both co-owned by George and Sunny Singh. Why were the phones ringing off the hook at these two hotels? Because someone(s) started the <b><u>rumor</u></b> that the hotels were housing illegal immigrants, and then other people shared these posts and fed the flames.</p><p>The world is beset with issues about the flow of both migrants and refugees. It is a global problem, and one that isn't going to ebb anytime soon. Governments around the world have struggled, to put it mildly, to come up with solutions that value the lives of those involved, ours included. Let's be honest, we're not going to solve the questions of immigration, legal or illegal, by what we say and do here in Venango County, but we need to be better than this. We need to treat each other better here and now if we are to have any hope of honoring God with our behavior should the day come when our community has to actually participate in a small slice of this fraught issue. If the response of many of us to a mere rumor is to harass fellow members of our community based on the<b> possibility</b> of the presence of immigrants amongst us, what hope have we that we would respond in a morally acceptable fashion should an actual need exist?</p><p>One of the reasons why this insanity keeps happening is that too many people don't take what happens on social media seriously. They don't feel sufficient moral culpability for what they consume and what they like, comment, and share in cyberspace. And yet, these actions have consequences, as we have just seen in our own community, that can ripple far beyond Facebook, X, Snapchat, and the rest.</p><p>We all know this to be true, and the thing is, God condemned this behavior thousands of years ago...</p><p><i>Proverbs 6:16-19</i></p><p><i>16 There are six things the Lord hates,</i></p><p><i> seven that are detestable to him:</i></p><p><i>17 haughty eyes,</i></p><p><i> a lying tongue,</i></p><p><i> hands that shed innocent blood,</i></p><p><i>18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,</i></p><p><i> feet that are quick to rush into evil,</i></p><p><i>19 a false witness who pours out lies</i></p><p><i> and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.</i></p><p>By my count, today's article in the paper recounts examples of 4 or 5 of the 7.</p><p>We need to be better than this. </p><p>To George, Sunny, and all of your family and employees: Our community failed you.</p><p>For that I am sorry, I hope and pray that moving forward you will be treated with the dignity that you deserve as a person made in the image of God. I hope and pray that <b>everyone</b> who comes to this county will be viewed as a child of God, whoever they may be, and wherever they came from.</p><p>A final thought, why are you an American citizen, a person blessed with rights and one of the highest standards of living in human history? It isn't because you were special, it is all the grace of God that has you living here in this time and place.</p><p>As John Bradford said while watching criminals being led to the gallows in England a few hundred years ago, "There but for the grace of God go I."</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Below are the posts I wrote after the last social media inspired deluge of harassing calls to a local business in October of 2023:</p><p><a href="https://pastorpowellsponderings.blogspot.com/2023/10/what-furor-over-witch-walk-in-franklin.html">What the furor over the Witch Walk in Franklin can teach us about Christian cultural engagement</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://pastorpowellsponderings.blogspot.com/2023/10/an-observation-about-social-media.html">An observation about social media comment sections in light of the Witch Walk furor</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://pastorpowellsponderings.blogspot.com/2023/10/light-vs-darkness-and-reason-why.html">Light vs Darkness and the reason why Christians should be perpetual optimists</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://pastorpowellsponderings.blogspot.com/2023/10/how-franklin-moves-forward-together-law.html">How Franklin moves forward, together: the Law of Love, Romans 13:10</a><br /></p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-20996400666081981382024-02-20T07:28:00.003-05:002024-02-20T07:28:19.719-05:00Sermon Video: Keep away from those who teach a false gospel - Romans 16:17-20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DCXQ0nBOqVc" width="320" youtube-src-id="DCXQ0nBOqVc"></iframe></div><p>The Apostle Paul takes a brief tangent from his closing greetings to warn the church at Rome about the likelihood that divisive false teachers will tempt them with a gospel contrary to that which they had received. Throughout Church History we have seen those who proclaim a gospel that differs from that which is proclaimed in God's Word, Paul's advice to the Roman Church of his day and to the Church today is the same: keep away from them.</p><p>This is not, however, a message of anxiety or fear from Paul, on the contrary his next sentence proclaims both his faith in the church and in God's impending victory. This then gives us context as we guard against false teaching, we must do so with confident hope in the outcome, for God's message of salvation will never fail.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-75687891481486351372024-02-13T08:04:00.004-05:002024-02-13T08:04:19.668-05:00Sermon Video: The team of servants every church needs, Romans 16,1-16,21-23<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FyGIz7PwMSI" width="320" youtube-src-id="FyGIz7PwMSI"></iframe></div><p>The Apostle Paul shares the large team, highlighting the crucial role of numerous women, that helped him accomplish the task that the Lord had assigned to him of founding local churches and building them up in the image of Christ. It is also encouraging to see how much affection that Paul feels toward these co-workers, for him they truly are friends.</p><p>The Church today can learn powerful lessons from Paul's experience, lessons about teamwork, mutual respect and affection, and friendship within the Christian community.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-72752037694350730842024-02-06T08:04:00.007-05:002024-02-06T08:04:46.606-05:00Sermon Video: Sharing spiritual and material blessings, Romans 15:25-33<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gb1GQyXYnjY" width="320" youtube-src-id="gb1GQyXYnjY"></iframe></div><p>To the church at Rome the Apostle Paul explains why he is on his way to Jerusalem with a gift designed to help relieve the poverty of the Jewish Christian in Judea that he had collected from the Gentile Christians of the churches he had founded. Why did this matter so much to him? Paul had hopes that he could keep the Church united around its shared Lord and squelch the divisions of ethnicity and culture. Why were they willing to give? Gratitude. They knew how great the spiritual blessings they have received from God, given through the Jewish Christian community, really was, and these first generation Gentile Christians were glad to be able to give a material blessing in return.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-8137502155042619712024-02-02T15:02:00.000-05:002024-02-02T15:02:06.602-05:00The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory, by Tim Alberta: A book review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rj93ZiNSfsgRIvgbGzZ9rEPQa961t0aOhe6E1S1MTt9__AsCupVjsKZMxttIrIG3-1DqwrucIWMKAK3FE3moZyJdpe1Dbj_NbB8VzQWrAdggw0JtQFvcgtDGFmTuSzofQq6805NS5Cxig9EdHv_OfkomwJXAcWJvCTBp8zi14ty1QPLEt1aaLRaAUM0/s1000/tim%20alberta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rj93ZiNSfsgRIvgbGzZ9rEPQa961t0aOhe6E1S1MTt9__AsCupVjsKZMxttIrIG3-1DqwrucIWMKAK3FE3moZyJdpe1Dbj_NbB8VzQWrAdggw0JtQFvcgtDGFmTuSzofQq6805NS5Cxig9EdHv_OfkomwJXAcWJvCTBp8zi14ty1QPLEt1aaLRaAUM0/s320/tim%20alberta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>1. I found the book to be deeply emotional, in a good way. It connected with my own care and concern for the Church in America on a gut level, I could sense the authenticity of Tim's faith and his heartbreak at what has become of the Evangelical world he grew up in. The personal sections where Tim wrote about his dad's death were at hard to read as expected, but that same heart-on-his-sleave aspect carries throughout the book.</p><p>2. Alberta interviewed, and got honest self-aware responses, from the heaviest hitters in the world of political evangelicalism. This isn't a hatchet job from an outsiders, instead it is a look behind the curtain.</p><p>3. Although I knew about most of the episodes that he builds his narrative around (Jerry Falwell Jr.'s fall from leading Liberty University, for example, or Rachel Denhollander's crusade to help the SBC reckon with the sexual abuse in their midst), there were still gut wrenching new details and head shaking low points that were new to me.</p><p>4. While a cry for help, the book is not without hope. In the midst of the most Christ-dishonoring actions of individuals who claim to be doing God's work are sprinkled the stories of other men and women, mostly less well known, who were/are willing to strive to be like Jesus and to do so with honor and decency.</p><p>5. "Christian" Nationalism as a threat to the Church in America isn't going away anytime soon. It took us generations to reach this point, a point where politics trump theology and ethics, where winning at all cost is met with thunderous cheers instead of the horror that it deserves, and so the path back to a more Christ-like attitude will be a long and difficult one.</p><p><br /></p><p>Overall, this is an excellent book, sobering in its unflinching diagnosis of what ails the Church in America, Evangelicalism in particular, but also ones written from a man who firmly believes that God is in control and that his Church will triumph.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-1980827406664124052024-02-02T14:57:00.002-05:002024-02-02T14:57:47.645-05:00Under Jerusalem by Andrew Lawler: A book review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV9cn-ABZMpIbtY1mE1NB5JT04bZHPLMMiG2Ugfa0LxpwqaxpsJYy8HBn-uPHQlPl9LIN2J65KFwKq8J18rKDYHEOfVdehaQsANAbgtTO1Tx7fyCZLMiNHx11Rp3snvL5dOp7CLy4kh_OGH1WkLXrZIzQ6Lh5Wia8fHLtYlOiyu6wNienW5fPiYCGDUA/s522/under%20jerusalem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="338" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV9cn-ABZMpIbtY1mE1NB5JT04bZHPLMMiG2Ugfa0LxpwqaxpsJYy8HBn-uPHQlPl9LIN2J65KFwKq8J18rKDYHEOfVdehaQsANAbgtTO1Tx7fyCZLMiNHx11Rp3snvL5dOp7CLy4kh_OGH1WkLXrZIzQ6Lh5Wia8fHLtYlOiyu6wNienW5fPiYCGDUA/s320/under%20jerusalem.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Having taken the trip of a lifetime to visit Israel and the Holy Land this previous May, I instantly ordered this book when I came across it this fall. What then are my takeaways about Lawler's book?</p><p>1. He isn't writing from a Christian, Muslim, or Jewish perspective, this book isn't designed to bolster the claims of universal truth from any of them.</p><p>Archaeology being what it is, one part science and one part storytelling, Lawler's approach serves him well on this front. He is able to talk honestly about both the finds that confirmed the narratives of each group, and the ones that confounded them, as well as present the characters who organized, funded, analyzed, or protested the digs under Jerusalem beginning in the 19th century according to the reputation their actions have earned, whether that be of a villain or a hero.</p><p>2. Even if you have visited Jerusalem, as I have, there is bound to be something shocking and/or wonderful in this book for you to still learn.</p><p>Part of me wishes I had read the book before we went, so I could have looked for some of the sites whose digs he describes, another part of me is glad I went there with less pre-conceived notions so I was able to soak in whatever my eyes were telling me.</p><p>3. While the book is written and published, the story of archeology under Jerusalem is, if anything, accelerating.</p><p>It was remarkable how much of the book takes place in the 21st century, and how many of the excavations he describes are still ongoing to this day. More "shocking discoveries" in Jerusalem are inevitable, as are, sadly, more explosions of anger and violence because of them.</p><p>4. Our tour guide in Israel emphasized over and over the layered nature of the area's history, how the new was built on top of the old again and again. In Jerusalem, as emphasized in my recent seminar {<a href="https://pastorpowellsponderings.blogspot.com/p/what-every-christian-should-know-about.html">What Every Christian Should Know About: The Holy Land</a>} the layers run very deep, and each tells a story even if those digging are only interested in a fraction of it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Overall, I'd highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to better understand the city in which much of the Bible's events take place, and the place where many of its pages were written.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-43690455794850159082024-01-30T12:53:00.001-05:002024-02-13T09:55:48.795-05:00Restoration by D. Thomas Lancaster (FFOZ): A review - This is "another gospel" built on a foundation of lies <p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The
only way to accept the case that FFOZ is proposing in this book is to believe that the Church
Fathers were cowardly villains, the Reformers incompetent, and the Gospel a shell of
its intended message as it has been preached and accepted by everyone except the first generation after Jesus, and now this
present one in which FFOZ’s leadership has revived it. Follow this unorthodox heretical path if you will, but understand what
you’re being asked to believe. - Pastor Powell</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU63xy3PQvEO2Xuc2STrdpJnQkZszxqyP9iTDqXX6KtOzqI_ni6SM1J9ijaHhZ3wqIRnmS74v9XgolEw5yqTh4-Vid1VZtHi8r-D36qs44TZwyLRgyZ51bl9NhWsVp6HWbpppm9-zXpeOyl8J7fZR2HlYfM59Ax1NQIaHfIfFWBhax6MItLAJIoWdyIY/s500/Restoration.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="332" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU63xy3PQvEO2Xuc2STrdpJnQkZszxqyP9iTDqXX6KtOzqI_ni6SM1J9ijaHhZ3wqIRnmS74v9XgolEw5yqTh4-Vid1VZtHi8r-D36qs44TZwyLRgyZ51bl9NhWsVp6HWbpppm9-zXpeOyl8J7fZR2HlYfM59Ax1NQIaHfIfFWBhax6MItLAJIoWdyIY/s320/Restoration.jpg" width="212" /></a></span></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Restoration by D.
Thomas Lancaster (2015, 1<sup>st</sup> edition 2005)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Published by First
Fruits of Zion<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Below are quotations from <i>Restoration</i> by D. Thomas
Lancaster in italics and 11 point font, followed by my commentary in {} and 10
point font.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end is a brief
conclusion as to my evaluation of the book as a whole.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Due to the length of the post, I have also made it available as a Word document: <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dM-STl7OXhbh4nZ9qtkiMcQ2M3YXfbFk/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=116286635125543167832&rtpof=true&sd=true">Restoration review/rebuttal in Word form</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>It’s a book about the Torah (also known as “the Law”) and
how the Torah relates to disciples of Jesus.
It’s also a book about an ancient prophecy from 3,400 years ago coming
true in our own lifetimes- a prophecy of restoration. – p. 3<o:p></o:p></i></p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{Here the
hubris of the leadership of FFOZ is on display from the beginning, they are
convinced that God has chosen them to fulfill End Times prophecy, that this is
the very first generation since the Early Church to have the true Gospel, and
they’re the only ones who have it.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>The appearance of modern Messianic Judaism indicates that
the ancient prophecy of Moses is being fulfilled…The coming of the Messiah has
drawn near. It’s right at the door. The signs are here…” – p. 6<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{Matthew
24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven,
nor the Son, but only the Father.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">That they
are ushering in the End Times, at God’s direction no less, is a foundational
belief of the entire FFOZ organization.
If Messianic Judaism’s growth isn’t the fulfillment of ancient prophecy,
everything that FFOZ believes and is advocating for fails. If the End Times are not near, FFOZ’s leaders
are liars, claiming to know that which Jesus promised us nobody would ever
know. They are not the first to fall
into this trap, it was after all, the false prophecy of Pastor William Miller
that Christ was going to return in 1844 that led ultimately to the formation of
the Jehovah’s Witnesses…There can only be one generation in which the
self-proclaimed prophets shouting, “The End is near!” will be right, all the
rest are using fear/anticipation of the End Times as a tool to serve their own
ends.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>When I wanted to allegorize a passage he always pointed
me back to its literal meaning. He
revolutionized my understanding of the Bible.
He gave me an interpretive framework for understanding how the different
books of the Bible work together – he taught me the priority of Scripture; in
other words, which books must be understood first. He showed me how the Torah forms the
foundation upon which all subsequent biblical revelation stands.” – p. 12 (the
“he” in the passage is Daniel’s brother Steven)<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{Those who
emphasize the “literal” meaning of the Bible do not have a solid foundation in
proper hermeneutics, whatever they may claim.
The Bible is full of analogy, metaphors, stories, dreams, parables, and
host of other non-literal ways to convey Truth that God chose to utilize. More ominously, Lancaster is advocating for a
belief that the heart of the Bible is Torah, and it alone can be the
interpretive framework (or viewing lens) of any other portion of
scripture. While it is indeed true that
Torah is the beginning of God’s redemptive story, the<b> heart</b> of the story
is the Gospels where the incarnate Word of God comes as Immanuel. The Gospels allow us to more fully understand
God’s previous purposes in choosing Israel and making his covenant with them,
not the other way around. Scripture
requires a Jesus-centric interpretive lens, not a Torah-centric one. And God’s redemptive plan is progressively
unfolds in scripture, it is not static.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>…we will see that according to the way that many of the
church fathers and reformers would define the term, I am a Judaizer. That doesn’t mean that I want to make
Christians into Jews. It simply means
that I am encouraging Christians to return to what I understand to be the
original form of Christianity. I am
teaching Christians that God’s laws, in one fashion or another, apply to
them. The classic church understands a
Judaizer as one who encourages Christians to adopt Jewish practices, such as
observance of the Sabbath and the biblical festivals. According to that definition of the word, I’m
a Judaizer. – p. 14-15<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{Many times both
publicly and privately in communication with me, our local Torah Club leaders
and participants have <b>denied</b> that this is the goal and purpose of
FFOZ. They have contradicted Lancaster’s
own admission in a book he wrote and FFOZ published. Here it is in black and white. The Church Fathers and Reformers would have
called Lancaster and FFOZ Judaizers, Lancaster admits this. His goal is to convince Christians of the
need to adopt Jewish observances such as the Sabbath and the Festivals, Lancaster
admits this as well…The obvious conclusion from this line-of-thought is that FFOZ’s
leaders consider themselves to be <b>more</b> authoritative than <b>both</b>
the Church Fathers <b>and</b> the Reformers, once more highlighting the hubris
involved.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>CONVENTIONAL DEFINITION OF A JUDAIZER: One who encourages
Christians to adopt Jewish practices, such as observance of the Sabbath and the
biblical festivals.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF A JUDAIZER: One who compels
non-Jews to become Jewish and keep the Torah as Jews in order to merit
salvation. – p. 15<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{This
statement is misleading on multiple fronts.
It is typical of the FFOZ use of Straw Men to make their subsequent
arguments feel compelling. There is
indeed a distinction between becoming Jewish through a formal conversion to
Judaism, and living like a Jew through practices like those advocated by
FFOZ. However, when you look at <u>why</u>
FFOZ is trying to convince Christians to join them in living like Jews, the
answer you will find repeatedly in their teaching is that ONLY those who do so
truly love Jesus and keep God’s commands.
It is not, then, necessary to merit salvation, but it is (in their view)
to prove one’s salvation to be genuine, the difference being between what it
takes to become a Christian and what it takes to remain a Christian. In the end, FFOZ is a Judaizing organization
through and through because they teach that these practices are necessary for
every true genuine follower of Jesus…Note this from the same page, “I do not
believe in keeping the Law in order to be saved. I believe in keeping it because I am saved.”
(Lancaster, p. 15-16). If Lancaster
substituted “living righteously” for “keeping the Law” this would be a
perfectly orthodox statement that conforms with the emphasis in <i>James</i>
that, “faith without works is dead.” (James 2:17) As it is, the statement once
again affirms that Lancaster is, as he knows the Church Fathers and Reformers
would have readily concluded, a Judaizer.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>I will be seen as a heretic. According to many Christian authorities,
teaching Christians to keep the biblical laws of Torah is heresy. Wow! How does a person become a heretic? Probably by reading books like this one. Let me encourage you to keep reading
anyway. In the study of Torah, the
conclusion is sometimes less important than the process of study because the
study of Torah is the study of God’s Word. – p. 17<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{Lancaster
is aware that what he is teaching is heresy as recognized by the Church. It is shocking to see him write that the
process of studying Torah is more important than the results, when the end
results of his study has been heresy! To
declare the process more important than the results is a man-centered
view. It is important to study God’s
Word with proper methodology, even if your own human failings leave you with faulty
conclusions at times because God is invested in each of us for the long-haul,
but the end result has to matter at some point!
And here’s the rub, Lancaster and FFOZ have declared themselves to be <b><u>teachers</u></b>
of God’s Word, the conclusions they have already reached, and are now spreading
to others, are supremely relevant.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Jewish people have lived in exile since the age of
the apostles. So has the gospel. The gospel is in exile because, like the
Jewish people, it has been removed from context and disconnected from its point
of origin. – P. 19<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{Another
example of FFOZ’s self-awareness that what they are spreading is a “different
gospel” as evidenced by their disdain for the Church’s traditional
understanding of the Gospel.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>In the days of the apostles, Christianity was not yet a
separate religion from Judaism. An
honest reading of the New Testament from a Jewish perspective makes it clear
that the first-century church never thought of itself as separate and excluded
from Judaism. Rather, the early
disciples of Yeshua considered themselves to be at the center of the people of
Israel. The Jewish disciples never
imagined that they were introducing a new religion to replace Judaism. – P. 20<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{If the
criteria is an honest reading, and it should be, this entire thesis is
false. The Book of <i>Acts</i> as well
as Paul’s letters present a Church well aware of its own existence, seeking its
own leadership (why else would Paul tell Timothy how to select elders/deacons
when the synagogues already had rabbis?) and path forward, all of this well
before the end of the first generation of believers, at a time when the
Apostles were still alive to object had they felt the need to do so. The Apostles and Jewish Christians of the
first generation may not have viewed their own actions as leaving Judaism per
se, but they didn’t have to leave it, it had left them. They had embraced Jesus as the Messiah, the
majority of their countrymen, and virtually the entire leadership structure of
first-century Judaism had not. They
could not be reconciled with a system that called their Messiah a fraud, they
could not continue to participate in a sacrificial system when Jesus was the
Lamb of God, the full and final sacrifice for sins…None of these discussions of
the attitude of the Apostles with respect to Judaism that Lancaster puts so
much weight in, in any way diminishes their own purposeful role in founding the
Church and in approving of the Spirit’s call to include Gentiles in it with no
preconditions, this too could not be a “branch” or “reform movement” within
Judaism, its leadership would never allow Gentiles to join on an equal footing,
and the Apostles knew this full well.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>He did not institute a new religion, nor did He cancel
the Torah. Instead, He sought to bring
restoration to the ancient faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He diligently sought after the lost sheep of
Israel – those who had turned away from Torah.
He affirmed the words of Moses and brought clarification regarding the
proper observance of God’s Law. His
followers the apostles and the believers, also remained within the parameters
of normative, first-century Jewish expression. – P. 20<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{The Straw
Man in use again: the Church does not claim Jesus “canceled” Torah, rather that
he fulfilled it and brought its era of preeminence in God’s redemptive plan to
a close. While Jesus did indeed focus on
the lost sheep of Israel, first, he fully intended that his Gospel would go
forth to the Gentiles and gave that quest to his disciples after his
resurrection. While it is true that they
were stunned by how powerfully the Gospel was being accepted among the
Gentiles, they acknowledged that this was God’s will and sealed that
understanding at the Council of Jerusalem.
Lastly, to say that the Early Church fit within the parameters of normative
first-century Jewish expression would have been a huge shock to those who led
first-century Judaism given how intent they were on snuffing out belief in
Jesus, how determined they were to expel from the synagogues any who showed
signs of devotion to Jesus. How exactly
did Saul of Tarsus receive approval to “root out” the Jewish followers of Jesus
in Damascus if his followers were “within the parameters” of Judaism?…This
historical fantasy is necessary to justify the “restoration” of Judaism plus
Jesus that FFOZ is proclaiming, but it is not based in the reality of what
transpired in the generation after Jesus’ death and resurrection.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>When non-Jews began to enter the faith through the
ministry of Paul of Tarsus, they too congregated in synagogues and embraced the
standards of Judaism. They understood
themselves to be “grafted in” to the nation of Israel and made citizens of the
larger “commonwealth of Israel.”<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{Lancaster
offers no Biblical support for this thesis, given that it flies in the face of
Paul’s writings, and relies upon an erroneous interpretation of Romans 11, a
view like this that overturns what we know of history cannot simply be accepted
because it fits with what FFOZ wants to believe happened. Where is the evidence that shows what first
century Gentile followers of Jesus “understood themselves to be”? None is offered, this is an argument from
silence that contradicts what we know of the Early Church from scripture.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>They ruled that ritual conversion (i.e., “circumcision”)
was not required of the Gentile disciples.
Neither were they required to forsake their ethnic identity and become
Jewish. Yet their faith was the faith of
Israel, placed in the Messiah of Israel, and they henceforth practiced the
religion of Israel. They observed the
laws of the Torah that applied to them as Gentiles among the people of Israel. They congregated with the Jewish people and
participated in the life of Torah as God-fearers and sojourners within the
nation. – P. 21<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{Another
massive rewriting of history given without a single supporting bit of evidence
from scripture itself, or indeed from any historical source. It also contains the canard that the
Jerusalem Council <u>affirmed</u> Gentile observance of Torah, which is the
opposite of its actual conclusion and its purpose in the narrative of <i>Acts</i>. If we accept this premise for a moment as
true, we are left with the shocking realization that the work of the entire first
few generations of believers was undone by later generations, the work
established by the Spirit (supposedly of Gentile Torah observance) was utterly
forsaken. Where is the evidence of this
massive change? Where are the prophetic
voices calling for a return to Torah observance by the Gentile believers? They
don’t exist because such a massive shift didn’t happen.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Jewish war gave rise to the politics of
anti-Semitism. Jews in the Diaspora
became objects of derision, open persecution, and brutality. The war against the Jews further estranged
the Gentile disciples of Yeshua…With the addition of the Fiscus Judaicus tax,
Gentile believers had financial, political, and cultural incentives to distance
themselves from Judaism. – P. 23<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{In a
remarkable twist, FFOZ blames the Early Church’s gentiles for abandoning their
supposed role within Judaism out of self-preservation and greed. According to this theory, the Gentile
believers in Jesus were harmoniously worshiping within Jewish synagogues in the
Diaspora until after the outbreak of war in 66 AD. If we saw evidence of this harmony in <i>Acts</i>
or in Paul’s letters we might consider the Revolt to be a proximate cause of
the estrangement that did indeed exist between Judaism and Christianity,
however that tension is evident long before the Revolt, with Paul’s scars from
his beatings as exhibit A.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Shortly after the Jewish War and the destruction of
Jerusalem, synagogues throughout the world introduced a new benediction in the
daily liturgies. The new prayer
formulated a curse against sectarians – including the believers in Yeshua. The synagogue authorities expelled worshipers
who would not pray the curse…What is worse, the expulsion left believers with
no place to assemble on the Sabbath, or to assemble at all. – P. 23<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{This is all
too surreal. The Apostle Paul founded
churches throughout his journeys before the Revolt. In these churches, which met in the homes of
believers, the primarily gentile congregations worshiped Jesus on Sunday, as
had been their practice from the beginning in honor of the Resurrection. They were not a part of the synagogues at any
point because Paul’s preaching of Jesus as the Messiah was universally rejected
there with only a few converts at each attempt.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>By the time the second century began, anti-Jewish
sentiment was so high in the church that most Gentile disciples of Yeshua no
longer wanted to be identified with Jews at all. The first-century believers were long dead
and gone. A new generation had been
raised to view Jews and even Jewishness as the antithesis of Christianity…. Gentile
Christians decided that the Christian church had replaced the Jews as the true
Israel of God. Christians were now the
true people of God; Jews were accursed and consigned to everlasting damnation.
– P. 24<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{So,
according to FFOZ, the era of Spirit-led God-honoring worship in accordance
with Torah that Jesus<b> intended</b> and his apostles <b>established
everywhere</b> that Jesus was accepted lasted <b><u>ONE</u></b> generation
before being wiped out. In order for
FFOZ to convince people today to abandon the teachings of the Church, they must
portray the second generation of Christians as entirely apostate, as
hate-filled scoundrels… Gentile Christians did not <u>decide</u> what God had
to say about the Jewish people and Israel, they learned how to come to terms
with the Jewish rejection of Jesus as their Messiah through Paul’s own agony in
<i>Romans</i> and his discussion of the New Covenant in <i>Galatians</i>. Jews were not damned because the Church said
so, they were damned because they rejected Jesus, this was the exact same
standard that applied to Gentiles who rejected Jesus.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Rome made no distinction between Jews and Gentile
believers practicing the Jewish faith.
To survive, it became necessary for Gentile believers to further
disassociate from Judaism. Paul’s
compiled letters, when read outside their original context, provided ample
justifications for that disassociation.
The emerging Christian movement read Paul’s arguments for the inclusion
of Gentiles in the kingdom backward to imply the exclusion of Torah. – P. 25<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{The premise
is this: Second century Christians were unaware of the context of Paul’s
letters written one generation earlier.
They were so ignorant of Paul’s actual intent, in fact, that they took
his words to mean the opposite of what Paul intended. We are supposed to believe this ignorance and
folly was possible one generation after the Apostle Paul lived. That’s far too incredible to be actual
history, it is instead merely fantasy…It is true that the Roman Empire at first
didn’t understand the distinction between the monotheists who practiced Judaism
and the monotheists who worshiped the Jewish Messiah, one can hardly blame them
for not understanding the distinction, but that does not mean that they were identical
in the way that they practiced their religion until the second century
believers supposedly abandoned all the Jewish aspects of their faith. Again, the second and third generation of the
Early Church are portrayed as pathetic and weak. That must be a real shock to those martyred
by the Romans at this time, especially since Lancaster (and FFOZ) want you to
believe that they rejected Judaism in order to save their own skins, evidently
that betrayal didn’t work because Roman persecution of Christians was still growing.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>The effort to return to the first-century church is
praiseworthy. It reflects our desire to
conform our lives and religious expression to the authority of the New
Testament. The reformers had good
motives. Their methodology, however, was
flawed. – P. 31<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{Speaking of
the Reformation, FFOZ labels Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, and the rest as failures.
In fact, they published a book in 2021: <i>Rethinking the Five Solae: Why
Messianic Judaism is Incompatible with the Five Foundations of Protestantism</i>,
by Jacob Fronczak that claims that the Five Solae are <b><u>inherently</u></b> antisemitic
and in fact cause antisemitism…Why is Scripture Alone (in particular) an
insufficient basis for faith according to FFOZ?
Simple, by reading the New Testament on its own, one cannot arrive at
the conclusions reached by FFOZ, it requires the teachings of rabbis and Jewish
mystics to “inform” our understanding of Bible to conclude, as they have, that
Christianity and the Church were never meant to exist.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Wherever the Bible was read without theological
manipulation, believers were returning to Torah. Nevertheless, the anti-Jewish faction
prevailed. The return to Torah was
stalled. The gospel would remain in
exile. The time was not yet ripe. Several more centuries would pass before the
momentum returned. – P. 33<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{Once more
we see the impotence of the Spirit in FFOZ’s version of Church History. God evidently wanted the Church to “return to
Torah” during the Reformation but hate-filled men thwarted that purpose and
another five centuries without the true Gospel ensued. Again, the only way to accept the case that
FFOZ is proposing is to make the Church Fathers cowardly villains, the
Reformers incompetent, and the Gospel a shell of its intended message for all
but the first generation after Jesus, and now this present one in which FFOZ’s
leadership has revived it. Follow this
path if you will, but know what you’re being asked to believe.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>That’s the story of how the disciples of Yeshua lost the
Torah of Moses, and how we are finding it again. The long exile of the Jewish people is at its
end. The final redemption is just around
the corner. In the same way, the long
exile of the gospel is at an end. Just
as the Jewish people are returning to their native soil, we are returning the
gospel to its original matrix in Judaism and the Torah of Moses. – P. 36<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{A story
filled with conjecture, fantasy, and devoid of actual evidence. We return to FFOZ’s certainty that they have
correctly predicted the Second Coming of Jesus (Jesus’ own repeated promise
that this is impossible notwithstanding), and so the establishment of the state
of Israel in 1948 becomes the rationale used to give this vast deviation from
orthodox belief the veneer of divine sanction.
Surely God must want Judaism to be the vehicle of the Gospel, after all
Israel exists again as a nation (so goes the thought). Prophetic supposition is a poor rubric for
theological interpretation. Like the
Jehovah’s Witnesses before them, FFOZ has taken a particular view of the End
Times and used it to subvert the true Gospel and replace it with another.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sin, properly defined, is transgression of Torah. – P. 38<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{That’s not
a proper definition of sin, certainly not a biblically sufficient one. Sin is
being at variance with the nature and will of God. Sin existed, and those created by God were
held to account because they committed sins against God, long before God gave
the Torah at Sinai. Additionally, Torah cannot
be an all-sufficient explanation of what sin is because God was not finished
revealing his nature and will when Moses died.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>All Scripture is God-breathed and built upon the
revelation of Torah…In traditional Judaism, even the rabbis extended teachings
came to be termed “Torah.” The oral
traditions, customs, and law, including the Talmud and other later writings,
are regarded as additional members of the extended family of Torah. – P. 39-40<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">{The first
phrase is absolutely true, all scripture is </span><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Cambria",serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria;">θεοπνευστος</span><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(THEOPNEUSTOS),
but the remainder is both too narrow, making Torah the only interpretive lens
available for God’s Word, and too broad, as it makes rabbinical oral tradition
into an authority, even those writings that occurred after the time of Christ
and were written by those who rejected him as Messiah.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yeshua Himself is not above the
Torah of God, for it is His own law.
Yeshua is God’s Word made flesh; how then could He teach against God’s
Word? – P. 53<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This
is one reason why the teaching of FFOZ leads toward Subordinationism. They’re so intent upon elevating Torah that
they feel the need to lower Christ and muzzle divine prerogative. Certainly, Jesus would not teach <b><u>against</u></b>
the revealed Word of God, but Jesus had every right, as the eternal Logos, as
God himself, to amend, supersede, abrogate, and ultimately fulfill that Word,
as well as the right to establish another, a New Covenant.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We don’t know exactly how
first-century Galileans conducted a Sabbath synagogue service. Luke chapter 4 provides the oldest existing
description of any synagogue service, and the details there are sparse. – P. 55<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This
is one of the most self-damning admissions from FFOZ. How then could first-century Jewish synagogue
worship be the ONLY acceptable form of worship for followers of Jesus if we
don’t even know what it was that they did?
How could this be <u>the</u> form of worship Jesus intended all of his
followers to imitate, for all time, and there be no accurate description of it? Once again, the plan of God they’re
portraying it is woefully inept.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Paul did not know that his epistles
would one day be collected as Scripture.
He did not imagine himself writing new books of the Bible. He did not even live long enough to see the
written Gospels produced. As far as Paul
knew, the Hebrew Scriptures were the only Scriptures. – P. 58<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{A
bizarre way of downgrading the authority of the writings of the Apostle Paul
(and thus lending more weight to Torah), and also a <b><u>deeply false</u></b>
narrative. Peter knew that Paul’s
writings were scripture (2 Peter 3:16), are we supposed to believe that the
Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was entirely ignorant
of his role? Also, the dates of the
writings of the four Gospel accounts are debatable, but even if Paul didn’t
influence the Gospel of Mark, and even if he didn’t live to see a written copy,
he was still deeply aware of the oral traditions of the life of Jesus, he would
have absolutely expected these to be codified into scripture.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Near the end of his life Paul
declared himself fully obedient to the Torah of Moses. – P. 58<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This
sentence is followed by one of the few citations in the book, in this case it
simply lists Acts 25:8 and Acts 28:17.
In both verses Paul is making a legal argument that he had not done
anything <u>against</u> the Law of Moses or the Jewish traditions, yet was
being persecuted, that is not the same thing as an affirmation that he lived
fully obedient to Torah, something that would have prevented him from becoming,
“like one not having the law…so as to win those not having the law.” (1
Corinthians 9:21) In the end, the oft repeated argument in FFOZ’s published
materials about how the first generation of Jewish Christians, all of whom had
been raised within Judaism, lived the rest of their lives as followers of
Jesus, does NOT automatically convey to both subsequent generations of Jewish
Christians, let alone to any generation of Gentile Christians. They are tilting at windmills, even the thin “proof”
offered by Lancaster does not lend weight to the central argument regarding
Gentile Torah observance.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They are the standard of
righteousness for which we are to train. – p. 58<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Referring
to the Hebrew Scriptures, and while they certainly contain much wisdom with
respect to the righteousness required of Jesus’ followers, they are not the
full expression of that concept. The
Fruit of the Spirit and the imitation of the life of Jesus are necessarily the
central focus of that pursuit. A common
misunderstanding in all of these arguments from FFOZ in favor of Torah
supremacy is any lack of progressive revelation. In their view, God gave the fullness first,
and everything later is simply an echo, but as the text of <i>Genesis</i>
reveals to us, God began with Adam and Eve and continued to reveal himself more
fully, and explain his will and purpose more clearly, through successive generations,
including those AFTER the Torah was given to Moses, until the final revelation
of grace and truth came in-person through Jesus Christ.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The correct priority of Scripture
is sequential. We should start at the
beginning. Paul teaches that a later
covenant cannot contradict an earlier covenant. – P. 60<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
citation offered here, Galatians 3:16-17, is yet another example of Lancaster
misusing scripture in that the Apostle Paul is actually making the argument in
this portion of <i>Galatians</i> as to the supremacy of Abraham’s promise OVER
the Law of Moses which it proceeded, and yet FFOZ’s entire focus is upon
elevating the Mosaic Law, which is not, as Paul emphasizes in <i>Galatians</i>,
God’s original covenant… Also, what is the proof offered that scripture has a
priority, or that if it does, this priority must be sequential? None and none.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Through the books of Moses, God
made His debut to humanity. – P. 60<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This
is just laziness in service to a pre-determined outcome. God’s revelation to humanity began many years
prior to Moses writing about it. God had
been working with the children of Abraham for hundreds of years prior to the
recording of that prior work in the form of scripture, and as Paul tells us in
Romans 1, Creation was revealing God to humanity from the very beginning.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Any subsequent revelations,
prophecies, or Scriptures need to be checked against the Torah for
authentication. – P. 61<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Torah
is a flexible word, and here it is being used as a substitute for the Law of
Moses, for it is not the promises to Abraham that consume FFOZ’s efforts, but
the attempt to revive the Mosaic Law, and invalidate any interpretation (even
when that is the plain meaning of subsequent scripture) that does not make the
Mosaic Law normative for all peoples for all time…We also see a further
reminder of the subordination of Jesus, it is not the eternal Logos to whom we
look as we seek to understand God’s Word, but only to Torah according to
Lancaster.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">According to God’s own criteria,
any prophet who contradicts His Torah is a false prophet. Therefore, if we encounter a passage in the
Apostolic Scriptures that appears to contradict an earlier revelation of
Scripture, then we are misunderstanding that passage. – P. 62<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Step
1: Create Straw Man, Step 2: Attack Straw Man…The question is not one of
contradiction, but subsequent fulfillment and amendment by Jesus Christ himself,
and the Apostle Paul speaking through the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit…Through this tactic FFOZ gives themselves permission to flip NT passages
on their head and proclaim them to mean the opposite of the author’s intention
because this counter-intuitive interpretation is upholding (in their view at
least) Torah whereas the way in which the Church has understood <i>Romans</i>, <i>Ephesians</i>,
<i>Galatians</i>, <i>Hebrews</i>, etc. for 2,000 does not (in their view).}</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is not to say that one
Scripture is more important than another.
It does not mean that Torah is more important than the Gospels or the
Epistles. But it does mean that Torah
must be regarded first, because it was given first. – P. 62<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{You
can say all scripture is equal, but in reality it isn’t when the interpretation
of it is coming from FFOZ. Torah is
always superior, always what reinterprets even the words of Jesus into
conformity. In practice, Torah is the
only true Scripture, the only full revelation.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If we pull Torah out from under
them, they all collapse, and we are left with a hopeless jumble of confusing
Scripture that seem to contradict one another. – P. 62<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{I
honestly have no idea what seeming contradictions that Lancaster is trying to
scare his readers with. This reminds me
of what the apostate Bart Ehrman claims in his many books: If we don’t have a
perfectly preserved Bible, we don’t have the Word of God. A scare tactic, but nothing that true faith
need worry about. The same holds true
here.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The bedrock on which the Bible
stands is the revelation at Mount Sinai. – P. 63<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Wow. It deserves another, wow. That isn’t even accurate within the Torah
itself. The heart of the Torah is God’s
promise to Abraham in Genesis 12. At
least he’s being honest and telling us where his love of scripture is
centered. Personally, my heart is in the
Gospels, in the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and that is the
true Cornerstone of our faith. “On Christ
the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When one realizes that God
discloses Himself to the world in the Torah, one must also recognize the
enormous gravity of declaring parts of that same Torah null or void. Even the smallest commandment of the Torah
comes to us suffused with godliness. To
declare any commandment as irrelevant or obsolete denies the eternal and
unchanging nature of God. As soon as we
begin to discard commandments, we have begun editing God. We have started reshaping God into an image
we deem more appropriate. – P. 70<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Where
to begin, the uses of “null”, “void”, “irrelevant”, “obsolete”, and “discard” is
both inflammatory and once again a Straw Man.
That is not what the historic and orthodox understanding of the New
Covenant has done with the Law of Moses.
Most importantly, and this is key, this entire rant is <b>man-centric</b>,
it is all about what people choose to do with God’s revelation, but it ignores
the elephant in the room: God is the one who declared that the Law of Moses
need not apply to those who came to Jesus Christ by faith. This was not a human choice but the unfolding
of the will of God, as revealed in the New Testament, which is just as much God’s
Word as Torah.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When we try to change the Torah or
do away with a commandment, it is God we are trying to change or do away with.
– P. 71</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Set
aside for a moment that neither Daniel Lancaster, nor any of his followers or competitors
in the Hebrew Roots Movement are <b>fully keeping</b> the Law of Moses as it is
written. They’re all falling short of
this, and not just because Paul declares nobody can keep the Law in <i>Romans</i>,
but because nobody in the world today is living like a first-century Jew (see
above where Lancaster admits that nobody knows what the first century synagogue
liturgy consisted of), and because it is far more accurate to talk about first
century Judaism as a spectrum rather than a monolith…In the end, what we have
here is a form of <b>idolatry</b> with respect to the Torah. It has been elevated so high by Lancaster
(and FFOZ) that not even God can develop it further, not even God (through the
inspired writings of the NT) can move beyond the model established at Sinai.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Deuteronomy 4:5-8 says that when
Israel lives out the Torah, the world will see God. – P. 71<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{A true
enough statement with respect to Israel, it does not, however, as Lancaster
contends here, mean that God intended Torah to be the final way in which he
would make himself known through his people.
Jesus himself updated this formula when he told his followers, “By this
everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John
13:35)}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Messiah reconciles the human
race to God’s Torah. The ultimate
completion of His work will occur when the Natural Law of human society is
identical to the revealed law of Torah…This is the promise of the new covenant.
– P. 71<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Again,
we see Torah elevated to near idolatry. Jesus
does NOT reconcile the world to Torah, he reconciles it to himself, to
God. How do I know this? The Apostle Paul proclaimed it:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Corinthians
5:18-20 All this is from God, who
reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of
reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not
counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of
reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were
making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled
to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
work of the New Covenant is the creation of brothers and sisters of Jesus
Christ, the enlargement of God’s family by the transformation of hearts and
minds to Christ-likeness, not Torah-likeness.
Jesus is our guide, our direction, our purpose. We will be like him, the Spirit’s power ensures
it. Romans 8:14-30 spells this out in
great detail, it is the purpose to which God is working EVERYTHING, the one
goal (telos) of history, “that he might be the firstborn among many brothers
and sisters.”}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Spirit will never lead us to
break Torah. – P. 73<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
word choice frames the discussion, “break” is a pejorative term, but if God
himself has decreed that portions of his Law as given to Israel no longer will
apply in the New Covenant, nobody is “breaking” anything.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">James calls the Torah the “perfect
Torah” and the “Torah of liberty.” – p. 76<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
common word substitution fallacy employed again and again by FFOZ. It is not acceptable to substitute Torah for
Law in the writings of the NT whenever it is convenient to fit a point you’re
trying to make. In fact, in its context,
there is no reason to believe that James is thinking about the Law of Moses
(rather than the whole counsel of God, including the words of Jesus) when he
writes, “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,
and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will
be blessed in what they do.” James 1:25}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our new creation identity is
premised on the notion that the Messiah now dwells within us, is being formed
within us, and lives through us. This
raises an important implication. There
is a Torah-observant, Jewish person dwelling within you! – P. 79<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This conflation
of the parts of the Trinity is a common problem with Lancaster/FFOZ, in the
previous paragraph he acknowledged that it is the Spirit that dwells within
believers, but chooses here to say that it is Jesus because it will allow him
to not very subtly hint that we must be Torah observant, “Just like Jesus.”}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It seems that the Apostle John
alludes to the Torah, to him, the Word of God is first and foremost the Torah…The
Torah is the Word that God spoke. All
things are made through God’s Word because He spoke His Word as recorded in the
Torah, and all things came into being.
The Torah is the will and wisdom of God; it is His self-disclosure to
the world. As such, it is the extension
of His being. – P. 80<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
reference to John is about the prologue to the Gospel of John. The Logos of John 1 is not Torah, that’s not
even close to a proper exegetical analysis of that passage. Here instead we have a bizarre melding
together of Jesus, the Word, and Torah, that results in having Torah become
almost its own living thing, a personified mystical expression of God’s
being. Lancaster gets this view from
extra-biblical rabbinic literature, here it is used as the lens through which
John 1 is interpreted.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This interpretation is consistent
with how the earliest believers understood Messiah. Clement of Alexandria, one of the early
church fathers, quotes a passage he ascribes to Peter when he says, “And in the
preaching of Peter you may find the Master is called ‘Torah and Word.’” – P. 81<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Ok,
that’s a big claim, normally FFOZ has only extremely derogatory things to say
about the Church Fathers, so what did Clement say in Stromata (1.29.182)? It turns out the term used by Clement is nomos
(law) not Torah, “And in the Preaching of Peter you will find the Lord called
Law and Word.” This is an accurate
translation from Greek to English, but Lancaster /FFOZ have vested interest in
the word substitution fallacy.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yeshua is not the same as the
written Torah of Moses, but He is of the same essence as the Torah. One might speak of the five books of the
Torah of Moses as the ‘Written Torah’ and Yeshua as the ‘Living Torah.’ He is the Living Torah in that He emanates
from the same source as the written Torah; that is, God’s divine Word. – P. 81<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
claim that Jesus “emanates” from the divine Word is bizarre, it only really
makes sense if one abandons the Trinity and embraces the ancient heresy of
Modalism. How can Jesus, God from God,
light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made (to quote the
Nicene Creed) be of the same “essence” as the Torah and how can he “emanate”
from the Word when he is the Word???}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Living Torah writes the
commandments of the written Torah onto our hearts. That is Messiah being formed within us.” - P.
81<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{We
have, in our opposition to the Torah Clubs/FFOZ been told many times that they
don’t teach that Torah observance is necessary for salvation. How else could one interpret this claim? If becoming Christ-like is having the Law of
Moses written on your heart, how could observing it fully not be necessary to
demonstrate salvation? This teaching is
far more radical than the public impression of being, “just a Bible study.”}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If there is no universal standard
of right and wrong, how could God have punished the Gentiles in the story of
Noah? - P. 83<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This
quote is followed by several other examples of people judged by God without
knowledge of Torah. The answer is no
mystery at all, that Lancaster seriously asks it demonstrates a shocking
ignorance of biblical theology on the part of someone claiming to be a
teacher/prophet. Paul makes the case in
Romans 1 that general revelation was more than sufficient for God to judge
humanity before special revelation was given.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Romans
1:18-20 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness
and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since
what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to
them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his
eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from
what has been made, so that people are without excuse.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No one thought the Torah was
canceled, and no one suggested that Jewish believers in Yeshua no longer needed
to observe the Torah’s commandments. The
argument was about something else altogether.
The argument was about whether or not Gentile believers should be
required to become Jewish and keep the whole Torah, just as the Jewish
believers did. – P. 91<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Here
the book of <i>Acts</i> and the writings of Paul are framed in a way that makes
other arguments put forth by FFOZ seem more plausible. The problem, however, is that this isn’t
based in history, let alone the text of the NT itself. Paul may not have used the pejorative
“canceled”, but he certainly wrote about the fulfillment of the Law and the
freedom that was now to be enjoyed by those in Christ. Likewise, the writer of <i>Hebrews</i>
extensively lays out the case that not only was Christ the superior form of all
things related to the Mosaic Law (Priest, Temple, sacrifice), but that everyone
who had ever been justified was justified by faith (as is Paul’s consistent
message as well)…The argument at the Jerusalem Council was NOT about whether or
not Gentile Christians needed to become Jewish, it was about whether or not ANY
preconditions could be placed upon them related to the Mosaic Law’s ceremonial
and purity regulations and the answer from James and the whole council was an
emphatic, “No.”…This whole line of argument is in service of the false reading
of Paul’s writings where Lancaster and FFOZ will claim that Paul’s only concern
is circumcision and full Gentile conversion, that in fact he was in favor of
Gentiles keeping every aspect of the Law except circumcision. This is a false reading of Paul, and one that
has a massive internal fallacy, as if the Law of Moes is eternal, for all
peoples and all times, except circumcision?
How can we possibly justify NOT including circumcision if “living like
Jesus” means full Torah observance for everyone? Lancaster and FFOZ have no answer for why
circumcision is allowed to be “replaced” by baptism when the Law of Moses is supposedly
immutable and eternal.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i>Paul believed that Gentiles needed
to keep the basic ethical standards of the Torah – essentially the equivalent of
the seven Noachide</i> [sic]<i> laws – but they did not need to keep the commandments
specifically given to the Jewish people as identity markers and tokens of the
covenant, such as the sign of circumcision, the Sabbath and holy days, and the
complex dietary laws, various Levitical regulations, and ceremonial regulations.
– P. 92<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This
is a true statement, and an accurate assessment of Paul’s theology. It will be undermined, however, by the rest
of <i>Restoration</i> and the ongoing teaching of FFOZ. Lancaster can see the truth, but won’t hold
onto it.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Simon Peter interpreted this event
as God’s own testimony on behalf of the Gentile believers. It indicated that He received them as they
were, without any contingencies about future circumcision or conversion or Torah.
– P. 94<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Another
accurate understanding of Acts 10 as Peter recognizes God’s hand at work in the
household of Cornelius. And yet, this
too will be undermined and discarded by Lancaster and FFOZ.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The decision exempted the Gentiles
from circumcision and the particular commandments that pertain specifically to
Jewish identity. It prohibited the
Jewish believers from forcing those issues on Gentiles. <b><u>Nevertheless</u></b>,
the apostles did not forbid the Gentiles from voluntarily participating in the
Sabbath, the dietary laws, or any aspect of Torah-life. – P. 95<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Emphasis
mine. Also an accurate description of
James’ verdict at the Council of Jerusalem, but it is immediately discarded by
the next sentence, where “nevertheless” wipes out the previously stated views
of Paul, Peter, and now James. All will
be set aside in favor of “voluntary” observance of Torah by Gentiles that is then
elevated beyond “voluntary” by teaching that all true disciples who love Jesus
will want to participate, in fact, that all true disciples will participate (so
much for “divine permission” instead of “divine mandate.”}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Gentile believers were more
than “sons of Noah” or simple God-fearers.
Through his allegiance to King Messiah, a Gentile believer entered into
close fellowship with the Jewish people and became an adjunct member of the
nation. In the language of the Torah, he
became a ger toshav, i.e., “a stranger who sojourns among you.” – P. 96<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Immediately
after stating the teaching of Paul, Peter, and James AGAINST this idea,
Lancaster begins to weave a narrative they would have rejected. For FFOZ, the idea of the “sojourner in the
land” does a lot of heavy lifting to justify Gentile Torah observance. No NT writer makes this claim, or even
mentions the idea, and almost none of the Gentile followers of Jesus were
living IN the Promised Land itself.
Supposition is being used to overrule the stated beliefs of the
Apostles, conjecture to overturn the clear teaching of scripture.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Since Gentile believers have been
“grafted in” to the nation, - P. 100<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
oft cited non-contextual false interpretation of Romans 11, Lancaster and FFOZ must
simply assume this to be what Paul means, without it their whole system will
crash and burn.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i>It’s absolutely wrong to say that
the Torah does not apply to Gentile believers.
When we combine all of the seven Noachide </i>[sic]<i> laws and their various derivatives
with the four laws of the apostolic decree and all of their implications, we
discover that many of the Torah’s 613 commandments, particularly the
prohibitions, do apply directly to Gentile believers and are incumbent upon
them. Therefore, one cannot say that the
Torah is only incumbent upon the Jewish people.
</i><b style="font-style: italic;"><u>Most of the Torah’s</u> </b><i>prohibitions apply equally to both
Jews and Gentile Christians. – P. 101<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Emphasis
mine. Here we have an argument that
works <u>against</u> the belief of Lancaster and FFOZ that the Torah is
unchangeable and universally mandated.
How can Torah be a direct reflection of God’s nature (in all of its parts,
an argument Lancaster made just a few pages ago) and yet only “most of” it
apply to Gentiles? Either it stands for
all time and all peoples, or it can be modified (by Jesus, who certainly had
the authority, as is the orthodox belief).
How you get from the ethical standards given to Noah and the 4
prohibitions in the Jerusalem Council to the 613 commandment of the Mosaic Law
is beyond me. 11 is not “most of” the
way to 613. Ultimately, it is not the
ethical standards of the Mosaic Law that are at issue, those have always been
embraced by orthodoxy, it is the cultural distinctives, the marks of the
Covenant, precisely the types of things NOT covered by Noah or the Jerusalem
Council that Lancaster and FFOZ want to lay upon Gentile Christians as a
yoke. The gap between scripture and
their position on this issue is enormous.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">James maintained that the
God-fearing Gentile believers should be held to the legal standard that the
Torah applies to a stranger in the midst of Israel even if they lived outside
the geographic borders of the nation state. – P. 102<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Thus
in Lancaster’s thinking, Acts 15:21 flips the entire Council of Jerusalem from
a statement that <b>prohibited</b> placing extra burdens (i.e. Torah
observance) on the backs of new Gentile believers, to a statement that <b>requires</b>
just that. Set aside that this topic is
never brought up in the NT writings, never commented upon, let alone affirmed
by Paul. Acts 15:21, contrary to
Lancaster’s view, can readily be interpreted as the rationale for James asking
the new Gentile Christians to respect the well known teachings of Judaism so as
to not cause offense to the Jewish Diaspora, no more than this is request for
kindness is needed to understand his motivation or the plain words of the Greek
text of Acts.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In those days, the Gentile
believers still assembled within those synagogues. They considered the synagogues (both
messianic and non-messianic) as their houses of worship. – P. 102<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{As is
the case throughout the book, Lancaster offers no historical proof of these
thesis, no archaeological finds, no writings of the Church Fathers, no evidence
from the NT. The claim fails the smell
test: Why would Jewish communities who had rejected Jesus as the Messiah
welcome and influx of Gentile believers in Jesus into their midst? When they violently opposed Paul again and
again, how are we to believe that the Gentile Christians worshiped among them
in peace? Did the Gentile Christians
muzzle themselves and say nothing about Jesus while worshiping in the
synagogues year after year? In those
synagogues, they would find no instruction about the life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus, how could this be what Jesus and the Apostles intended
for them (instead of the Church which Paul labors so long and hard to build)?}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">James took Gentile participation in
Sabbath and synagogue Sabbath services as a forgone conclusion. The apostles did not require the Gentile
believers to observe the Sabbath, but they assumed that they would celebrate
the LORD’s holy day to some extent. They
assumed that the Gentile believers would attend the prayer services and
Scripture readings as they participated in Torah life along with the Jewish
people, in accordance with the custom of the Master. As yet, no alternative, competing holy days
existed. The God-fearing Gentile believers
participated in almost every aspect of Torah life – whether or not they were
obligated to do so. – P. 102-103<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
last sentence is a subtle attempt to argue later for that supposed
obligation. As with the rest of the
book, no portion of the NT is quoted in support, nothing from the Church
Fathers, just another bold statement that fails to fit within what we read in
the NT, particularly in <i>Acts</i> where the Church very early worshiped on
Resurrection Day, calling it the Lord’s Day…The fantasy version of Christian
history, we can’t call it Church History when they contend that the Church was
never meant to exist, actually we can’t call it Christian history, as
Christianity wasn’t meant to exist either.
Ok, so the fantasy version of the history of the followers of Jesus
(Yeshua), sees both Jew and Gentile alike worship on the Sabbath in synagogues
until the 2<sup>nd</sup> century, where both those who believed in Jesus and
those who rejected him utterly live in harmony, all together observing Torah,
until evil men destroyed this symbiosis with Judaism and created the Church and
Christianity to take its place. It may
not be calling the Moon Landing fake, but it is a total fantasy, a theory
without proof, but a fiction necessary for the conclusions to come from
Lancaster (and FFOZ) that the Gospel proclaimed by the Church has always been illegitimate.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, for the first time in
centuries, we are beginning to understand the real intention behind Paul’s
epistles and the decision in Acts 15.
The apostles agreed that Gentile believers did not need to undergo
circumcision and full obligation to the Torah as Jews. <b>The obvious corollary requires that Jewish
believers are obligated to observe the Torah</b>. The thought that a Jewish believer might also
be exempt from the whole yoke of Torah did not enter the minds of the apostles.
– P. 106<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Emphasis
original. If you think the statement,
“the real intention behind Paul’s epistles,” is ominous and radical, you’d be
correct. In the end, Lancaster and FFOZ
will twist <i>Romans</i>, <i>Galatians</i>, <i>Ephesians</i>, etc. into pretzels
to claim they mean the opposite of what the Church has taught for two thousand
years. In addition, we see again the
misrepresentation of the Council of Jerusalem, which did far more than simply eliminate
full conversion to Judaism as an option, it <b><u>forbade</u></b> ANY
preconditions for Gentile believers…The twisted version of the Jerusalem
Council is used, without evidence from any other NT text or any Christian
theologian, to claim that the Apostles never even thought about the yoke of
Torah being taken from Jewish Christians.
This too is false, and while any Jewish Christian may participate in any
aspect of Torah observance as a cultural/ethnic practice, it is not an ethical
question of obedience or sin if they do or do not do so. Ephesians 2:14-18 is one of the relevant
passages from the hand of Paul that speaks of Jesus creating, “one new humanity
out of the two.”}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The things that define Christian
life are Torah-based. For the most part,
the Christian life is one of Torah lived out. – P. 110<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{One
can indeed find the foundations of what Jesus taught in the Torah, as the
eternal Word of God we entirely expect this from him, but Jesus repeatedly gave
to his followers a “new commandment” that went beyond the requirements of Torah,
that strove with matters of the heart and not just the letter of the Law. Christian life <b>surpasses</b> the Torah, by
design, because we have been given the Holy Spirit. The irony here is that our obligation before
God is HIGHER than Torah observance, but FFOZ wants to impose these exterior
observances under the mistaken premise that they are the true full form of
devotion to Jesus.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The apostles never intended to see
the Gentile believers divorced from Judaism.
Acts 15 was meant to keep Jews and Gentiles together, not to separate
Gentiles into a new religion. – P. 112<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{One
part of this statement is true: The Apostles wanted Jewish and Gentile
Christians to be one body. The other is
false, false because the Jewish Christians were already aware that they had no
home in Judaism. First Century Judaism had already rejected their Messiah, and
while the Temple was still sacred ground for them as a place to gather for
prayer, they no longer answered to the Sanhedrin, nor required the services of
the Levitical or Aaronic priesthood, no sacrifice for sin remained, none was
needed by a single follower of Jesus, Jew or Gentile. The curtain in the Temple had been torn
(Matthe 27:51) at the death of Jesus, the way to God no longer ran through the
priesthood.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The church lost all of that
surprisingly early in the development of Christianity…Christianity lost her
connection to Torah and the Jewish people.
This happened in fulfillment of the Master’s words. (followed by a
quotation of Matthew 24:9-12) – P. 112-113<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Thus,
Lancaster and FFOZ make their case for the impotency of the Holy Spirit. It only took a couple of generations for the
entirety of the purpose of Jesus and the Apostles to be subverted and
destroyed. Did the Church move away from
Judaism? Absolutely, but this began
while the Apostles were living, it was not an act of defiance of their
work. From this second century failure,
in the minds of FFOZ, the Gospel will go into captivity until they were personally
chosen by God to bring it back into the light and usher in the End Times. The hubris on their part is astounding, the
lack of faith in the Early Church, in our ancestors in the faith who remained
true to the Gospel in the face of Roman oppression, is telling. They have all the faith in the world in
themselves, none in those who claimed Christ as Lord in generations past.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They are things we all lost a long
time ago, and I am obligated to restore them to you. – P. 113<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{While
I have been criticized for having certainty with respect to orthodoxy,
something I did not create nor does it rest upon my wisdom or authority, the
leaders of FFOZ, including Daniel Lancaster, have a towering sense of their own
self-importance, in their own rightness in opposition to the entirety of Church
History. It is just this sort of
self-aggrandizement that pushes FFOZ from being a heretical sect (which it also
is) to being a dangerous cult.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Paul says that the Sabbath is a
shadow of things to come and the substance of Messiah. The Sabbath is about the Messiah. Therefore, the Sabbath has something for all
the followers of Messiah – both Jews and Gentiles. – P. 116<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
note in the text offers Colossians 2:16-17 as justification for this statement,
“16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with
regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17
These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is
found in Christ.” This is once again
twisting Paul around to the opposite of his meaning. Paul calls Sabbath keeping a shadow of what
was to come, but reality, Jesus, has now come.
He is here. He is our rest and we
rest in him. The idea of taking a
Sabbath rest, as outlined in the creation account in <i>Genesis</i> has value
to Christians, as a principle, but the literal observance of it according to
the Law of Moses is not at all what Paul is trying to say in Colossians where
he warns AGAINST those who would judge others based upon religious observances…Also,
Paul does not say that Sabbath “is the substance of Messiah.” How he gets that from Colossians 2:16-17 is a
mystery to me.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Gentile believers…keep the Sabbath
along with the Jewish people as a sign of solidarity with the people of God and
as servants of our Master Yeshua, as it says, “So that your male servant and
your female servant may rest as well as you.” (Deuteronomy 5:14) – P. 116<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Having
been accused, many times, wrongly, of teaching Replacement Theology, it is
ironic to see Lancaster applying commands given to the theocratic kingdom of
Israel as if they apply now equally to Gentile believers. In contrast, orthodoxy sees the distinction
between what the Mosaic Law commanded of Israel, a specific people in a
specific time and place, and what God requires of the disciples of Jesus, a new
people called from the ends of the earth, an act of God’s grace that goes
beyond his previous work through Israel.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Sabbath is not burdensome, as
some suppose. The Master of the Sabbath
declares, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you
rest.” (Matthew 11:28) – P. 116<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
problem here is that Jesus in Matthew 11 is not talking about Sabbath keeping,
but rather about the far more profound rest that our souls can find in
him. It is not our weary bodies that he
offers rest to, but our lost souls and our striving toward
self-righteousness…In that respect, this use of Matthew 11:28 also twists
Jesus’ words around to the opposite meaning, making them about human obedience
to an external code rather than Christ’s sufficiency.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The apostles teach that the Sabbath
foreshadows things that come. The book
of Revelation tells us that the coming of Messiah will institute a one
thousand-year era of peace – the kingdom on earth, also called the Messianic
Era. This one thousand-year era can be
compared to the Sabbath. The six days of
the week correspond to the six thousand years of redemptive history. “With the Lord one day is like a thousand
years, and a thousand years like one day,” Peter reminds us (2 Peter 3:8). The seventh-day Sabbath foreshadows the
coming kingdom of heaven on earth – the Messianic Era. – P. 117<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Here
we see the numerology that has led Lancaster and FFOZ to conclude that the End
Times are nigh (despite Jesus’ warning that such knowledge is impossible). Because he evidently believes in Young Earth
Creationism, he concludes that God’s work with humanity has lasted for six
thousand years, and thus we stand on the precipice of the Sabbath thousand
years. Creative, I suppose, IF we knew
the exact age of the earth (we don’t) and IF God wanted mankind to know when
Christ was going to return (he doesn’t).}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nowhere in the Bible does it say,
or even imply, that Yeshua or His followers met and worshiped on Sunday. – P.
121<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This
combines a Red Herring and simple ignorance of the history of the Early Church. Of course, Jesus didn’t meet on Sunday with
his disciples to worship, Sunday worship came about in honor of his
resurrection, prior to this it would not have had any relevance. However, evidence of Sunday worship can be
found in Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, and Revelation 1:10…It is a canard
utilized by FFOZ to contend that the followers of Jesus didn’t worship on
Sunday until Constantine made it so, but by then this common practice of the
Church was a dozen generations in the rear-view mirror.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When we realize that the substance
of the appointed times is Messiah, we are more inclined to keep them. It becomes a matter of discipleship. – P. 137<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{One of
a host of examples where the supposed FFOZ teaching of Divine Permission (i.e.
that Gentiles are allowed to keep Torah, that is, live like Jews) gives way to
the previous FFOZ support for Divine Mandate (i.e. that Gentiles must/should
keep Torah if they truly love Jesus).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Torah’s reminders of Jewish
identity are not commandments that apply directly to Gentiles. There’s nothing at all wrong with observing
these things, and many Gentiles in the Messianic movement do so. When I first learned about the Torah, I was
eager to wear a tallit, put up a mezuzah, and wrap tefillin just like everyone
else. For many years I did, but I found
that when Gentile disciples of Yeshua adopt Jewish identity markers, it
confuses everyone, including the Gentile disciple. It makes others think that he is Jewish, and
it makes the Gentile think of himself as the same as a Jew. For that reason, I now choose not to observe
these particular identity-marking commandments. – P. 146<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{While it
is refreshing to hear that Lancaster is aware of the confusion caused by
Gentiles living like Jews, and that he is willing to listen to Paul in Romans
14 and limit himself accordingly so as not to cause others to stumble, this
conclusion does NOT at all fit within the theological framework of FFOZ. Afterall, according to FFOZ these identity
markers are<b><u> commandments</u></b>, part of the immutable and eternal Law
of Moses, necessary if we are to imitate Christ, that would thus be required of
every believer, Jew or Gentile. To obey
them should not be a matter of conscience, IF they are a reflection of God’s
nature and not subject to any deviation for any reason. I’m glad he made the choice, for the sake of
others, but in his own book he offers reasons why he shouldn’t have done so
according to his worldview.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Many Gentile believers choose to
take on more than just that minimum standard.
The Didache (a first-century Apostolic-era catechism for new Gentile
disciples) recommends that Gentile believers, while not technically obligated
to do so, should consider voluntarily adopting Jewish dietary standards:
Concerning food, bear what you can, but scrupulously guard yourself from what
has been offered to idols, because it is the worship of dead gods (Didache
6:2-3) – P. 149<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
minimum standard he’s talking about are the restrictions put in place by the
Jerusalem Council. This singular
reference to the <i>Didache</i>, that doesn’t actually mention Jewish dietary
laws at all, is typical of the house of cards erected by FFOZ to reach
conclusions not at all envisioned by the original authors. From this they contend that the Early Church
urged all Gentile believers to keep the dietary laws, this of course without a
single reference in the NT to any such practice.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On the other hand, the thought of
all that might feel overwhelming. Don’t
be discouraged. You don’t have to try to
take on everything all at once. Just
take one step at a time. Every step
toward God and His Word is a step in the right direction. – P. 151<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This
is a mind-blowing statement. (1)
Lancaster admits that his end goal is for Gentile believers to fully keep Torah,
“take on everything,” and live like Jews.
I have pointed this out again and again, but local Torah club leaders
and participants continue to insist that I’m making it up. (2) Lancaster believes that failure to keep
the whole Torah is sin, and yet he is encouraging people to take “baby steps”
toward not sinning?? Is this his idea of
discipleship, “just sin a bit less for now, don’t worry about it”? (3)
Lancaster also reveals that his idea of Christ-likeness, i.e. moving toward
God, is bound up primarily in Torah keeping.
Whereas the Apostle Paul is fixated on the Fruit of the Spirit,
Lancaster’s obsession is the Law of Moses.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some expositors try to make these
words say something other than what they say: But the Midrash Rabbah… - P. 153<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{In
reference to Matthew 5:17-19. It is part
of a long section where Lancaster interprets Jesus’ words in the Gospel of
Matthew based upon the assumption that Jesus was referencing a midrash
(commentary on the text) about Solomon from Deuteronomy 17. While an interesting theory, Lancaster treats
this Midrash as authoritative, letting it restrict what the Gospel of Matthew
could mean.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He pointed out that Solomon and men
like him are temporal and passing, but the Law of God is eternal. – P. 157<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
Word of God stands forever, God and his nature do not change, but that’s not
the same as saying that the Mosaic Covenant is eternal, which is where FFOZ and
Lancaster veer off into making an idol of Torah (which for them is almost
exclusively the Mosaic Law) by depicting it nearly with as much finality as
Muslims speak of the Quran.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">His reinterpretation of the Torah
gave him permission to ignore the Rule of Law.
He considered himself above the literal meaning of the commandment
because he understood the text at a “deeper” level. – P. 159<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Here
the Midrash about Solomon is taken as fact, and is used to both judge the
thoughts and motives of Solomon AND take a shot at any Christian who looks at
the principles upon with the Law of Moses were built rather than the specific
manifestations of them. Also, anytime
someone talks about the “literal meaning” of the Bible the hair on the back of
my neck stands up, very few good ideas come after a rant about the “literal
meaning” largely because that’s not an exegetical rubric that fits with true
scholarship. We could talk about the
historical context, about the grammatical context, and perhaps about the
plain/evident meaning of a text, but the term “literal” has scant meaning with
respect to a text full of idioms, analogies, allegories, parables, poetic language,
and the like.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Unlike most of us, Bonhoeffer
refused to trivialize and explain away the words of the Master. He took Yeshua literally. Bonhoeffer did not feel the need to be wiser
than Yeshua. He did not try to be
smarter than the gospel. He did not
substitute rationalization for obedience.
Because of that, Bonhoeffer met martyrdom in the death camps of Nazi
Germany while most of his seminary colleagues were goose-stepping around with
swastikas on their uniforms. Bonhoeffer
believed in the Rule of Law, and to him, a theology that did not confess the
Rule of Law was a theology of “cheap grace.” – P. 160<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{If you
don’t embrace Gentile Torah observance, you’re no better than the German
Christians who embraced the Nazis. Not
very subtle this time. Wow, in addition
to twisting Bonhoeffer’s words (this follows a quote from <i>The Cost of Discipleship</i>),
it totally misappropriates what he was trying to teach about “cheap grace,” to
make a point that Bonhoeffer would never have tolerated, he would have been
horrified to have his words used to promote legalistic Torah observance. Yes, Lancaster is using “literally”, again. He also is literally comparing those who
don’t see Matthew 5:17-19 as a call by Jesus for everyone to live like Jew,
with those who went along with the Nazis…And yes, the use of Bonhoeffer’s
martyrdom to bolster Lancaster’s cause is disturbing as well. Bonhoeffer died for his own reasons, for his
own convictions and faith, not to enable Lancaster, or anyone else, to use his
blood to make their own unrelated point.
We see this same troubling trend every MLK Jr. day when politicians and
pundits latch on to him to promote ideas that MLK Jr. opposed during his life.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Typically we reconcile the problem
by dividing the Torah into three domains of legislation. The Torah contains laws pertaining to
morality, laws pertaining to civil government, and laws pertaining to
ceremony…The three-fold explanation has one serious flaw. There are not three Torahs. There is only one Torah. The Torah makes no distinction between
different categories of laws. – P. 167<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Here
Lancaster addresses the question of why Christians are willing to affirm that
Homosexuality is an abomination (Lev 18:22) but not the failure to keep kosher
(Dt. 14:3): Christians distinguish between different categories in the Law of
Moses. Lancaster, and FFOZ, reject this effort. While these distinctions are ones that every
Reformation era credal statement embraces, Lancaster see only a timeless Torah
that would be instantly back in full-force should the people of Israel create a
new Temple, priesthood, and Sanhedrin.
However, we do not live in a theocracy, nor do any of the NT authors
suggest that Jesus’ followers should seek to establish one. We are not a specific ethnic people living in
a specific place, we are called out of every nation around the globe. To say that the Law of Moses must be
all-or-nothing, that God’s only program is one he crafted for a kingdom in the
Ancient Near East, is not only contrary to the vision of Jesus and the NT
authors, reinstituting that program would end any hope of a pluralistic society
where Freedom of Religion is valued.
While this idea may appeal to “Christian” Nationalist, it certainly does
not to this Baptist pastor.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God has not distinguished between
ritual laws and ethical laws, but we have.
And because we have, it is possible for some theologians and seminarians
to condone homosexuality even in the clergy of the church. Any Scriptures condemning such behavior can
be readily dismissed as antiquated ceremonial laws, not part of the essential
morality of the Bible. Following this
line of reasoning, nothing can be said to be absolutely wrong or right. Rather, everything is subject to possible
interpretation and dismissal as part of the obsolete body of ceremonial
legislation. By dividing the Word of God
into arbitrary categories, some of which we have declared no longer valid, we
have dug our own theological grave and handed the shovel to the opponents of
the gospel. – P 168<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Lancaster
goes full-on Culture War “sky is falling!!” fearmonger. IF we don’t embrace Torah observance,
Lancaster is in essence saying, the “Libs” will win. Any argument for a theological position that
is in actuality a political or cultural argument, is inherently suspect and
weak. This one happens to also be a poor
discussion of the theology of homosexuality as well. The NT authors did not base their views on
this topic on the Law of Moses. They
could have, but they didn’t. Instead, when
Jesus in the Gospel, and Paul in his epistles, want to talk about sexuality and
marriage, they turn to God’s created order and the Genesis account. In the end, Lancaster’s whole point is a Red
Herring, an attempt to elicit fear on the part of the reader that is no
different than the political tripe we hear from those bemoaning a loss of
cultural hegemony in the West who claim that Christianity needs a strong-man
dictator like Viktor Orban or Vladimir Putin to “save” it. We don’t need Torah observance to defend the
authority of God’s Word, the Church has managed to stand up for what God’s Word
teaches on a host of issues for two thousand years, fear of changing cultural
norms about sexuality is not a reason to embrace the theological heresy that
Lancaster is promoting.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If, however, we maintain that the
Torah is unchanging and immutable, as our Master did, we find ourselves on
firmer ground. – P. 169<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
thesis from Lancaster: The Culture War justifies taking up the yoke of the Law
of Moses. At least he’s made his
argument out in the open so we can evaluate it.
The answer is, “No, no it doesn’t.”
In addition, we have here repeated the false claim that Jesus believed
that Torah was unchanging and immutable.
And yet, he himself is the Word of God, the author and finisher of our
faith. He himself instituted a new
commandment, a new institution (the Church) and a New Covenant. The argument Lancaster is making would appeal
to Christian Fundamentalists, whose answer to modernity was greater legalism
(for example, the retreat into a King James Only attitude), but it is not one
that fits with who Jesus was or what he said and did.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The New
Testament <b><i><u>metaphorically</u></i></b><i> refers to Yeshua’s suffering
and death as a sacrifice for sin, but that’s not the same as cancelling the
sacrifices. – P. 169 </i>(emphasis mine)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This
was a jaw dropping moment for me. I had
said multiple times that FFOZ was diminishing the sacrifice of Jesus only to
have their supporters here locally and online claim this to be a lie, but here
Lancaster lays it out and signals his skepticism (at least) of substitutionary
atonement. Jesus wasn’t <b>metaphorically</b>
a sacrifice for sin, he was actually a sacrifice for sin. There is disagreement among the various
Christians traditions as to how to explain this process, but the testimony of <i>Hebrews</i>
is definitive on this subject. Jesus was
the last, perfect, and final sacrifice.
No additional sacrifice could ever be needed, he paid it all, all to him
I owe (to borrow a line from the hymn). Every
follower of Jesus is forever freed from the need of animal sacrifices. The curtain is torn, the way to the Father is
open. Here is a link to a longer essay
on this topic that quotes this passage: </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zO3t4rabKmgwGQ-nZE5HMughCHTj2C8v/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=116286635125543167832&rtpof=true&sd=true"><span style="background: white; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Did the Apostles fully keep
the Torah after the death and resurrection of Jesus?</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The book of Acts shows us that the
believers remained engaged in the Jerusalem Temple system long after the death
and resurrection of the Master.
Obviously they did not regard Temple worship as obsolete. – P. 169<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This
is a bait and switch attempt. Yes, the
Apostles and early Jewish Christians continued to pray, preach, and worship in
the Temple courts, and why wouldn’t they?
They lived in/around Jerusalem, the Temple was the natural place to
gather and the best place to evangelize their kinsmen. However, this is not the same thing as saying
that they were full participants in the Temple’s sacrificial system after
Jesus’ death/resurrection. There is zero
NT evidence of that happening. The only
potential one would be Paul’s Nazarite vow, but the sacrifice to fulfill a vow
is NOT a sin offering. FFOZ makes much
of that instance, but it isn’t the smoking gun they claim it to be, not
remotely. In the end, the NT never tells
us that the Jewish Christians participated fully in the Temple (i.e. Judaism)
as if Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection hadn’t changed anything, and it
certainly never even hints that Gentiles Christians should start living as
Jews, if that had been Paul’s intention, at all, he would have had dozens of
questions to answer in his letters, but instead there is only silence.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ever since the destruction of the
Temple in 70 CE, the sacrifices detailed in the Torah have not been possible
and will not be possible until God’s Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt…If the
Temple were rebuilt in Jerusalem tomorrow, every worshiper going to that Temple
would be bound to observe the laws of clean and unclean. – P. 170<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Lancaster’s
vision includes a rebuilt Temple with animal sacrifices resuming exactly as the
Law of Moses prescribed (remember, in his mind the Law is eternal). Sin offerings would abound, and followers of
Jesus would be right in line to offer them.
Ceremonial laws would be in force, with Gentile Christians (and all
women) unable to approach the inner courts, with a priesthood having the only
full access. This flies in the face of
the NT’s vision of a singular Body of Christ, of an equal right to approach the
throne of grace because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This diminishes Jesus and everything he
accomplished.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If such a court existed today and
had civil jurisdiction in Israel, and if the accused Sabbath-breaker was not a
Gentile, but was demonstrably obligated by Torah to keep the Sabbath as a
Jew…an execution under the auspices of the court could commence. – P. 172<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Music
to the ear of the Christian dominionist movement which hopes to create an
American theocracy. Lancaster sees zero
distinction between the theocratic kingdom of Israel and the modern-nation
state. He can’t allow such a
distinction, the Law of Moses must be supreme and applicable in every way
because he believes it to be immutable and eternal.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We don’t make sacrifices today, but
<b><u>only</u></b> because the Torah forbids us from doing so. Without a Temple and priesthood, sacrificing
is a sin. – P. 173</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (emphasis
mine)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
life, death, and resurrection of Jesus changes nothing in his view. Not a single thing. The entire system should be operating right
now, and it would be if only a new Temple were built and the priesthood
reconsecrated. The further I dig into
the teaching of FFOZ, the more the most radical assessment of them, that
they’re a heretical cult, is confirmed by their own words.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sometimes disciples of Yeshua –
both Jewish and Gentile disciples – are eager to take hold of the Torah, but
they are reluctant to acknowledge the role of Jewish tradition and authority in
interpreting the Torah. We would prefer
to interpret the Torah’s meaning ourselves and not bother with consulting
Judaism, but that’s not how the Torah works. – P. 175<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Note
that the section on Oral Torah that contains this quote is all about how
Gentile Christians can figure out how to live like a Jew. Once again, we see that this is the end goal
of Lancaster and FFOZ, the path they urge others to follow. It also helps explain the pattern in FFOZ
published materials of having little, if any, quotations from Christians
scholars and theologians, instead when outside sources are quoted there are
almost always from rabbis. While it
makes sense to consult the history of Jewish interpretation with respect to the
Hebrew Scriptures, it cannot be the final understanding of even these because
that viewpoint does not reflect those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior (either because they wrote before he lived, or wrote after but reject
him). The traditions of the rabbis may
be a useful tool in Christian interpretation, but it cannot be the last word,
although that’s the premise Lancaster is setting forth in this chapter.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When God entrusted the Jewish
people with the Torah, He also entrusted them with the responsibility of
interpreting its commandments and applying them. – P. 175<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This
is true, as far as it goes. They had
that responsibility for the people of Israel during the time of the Mosaic
Covenant. They do not, however, retain
that authority over the Church, we are not beholden to rabbinic traditions when
we seek to apply the principles of the Law in the age of the Spirit. This is also a subtle way of rejecting any
viewpoint on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) that is put forth by Christian
theologians because they were not “entrusted” with that text.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yeshua firmly endorsed traditional
Jewish authority when He told His disciples “The scribes and the Pharisees have
seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do
and observe” (Matthew 23:2-3) – P. 180<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{This
would be hilarious if it wasn’t so dangerous.
Lancaster’s ability to interpret scripture is woefully inadequate
here. It is either a failure of basic
skills or a deliberate misuse of the text, both are dangerous in a published
work intended to teach others. What’s so
funny? Jesus is being sarcastic in these
lines. He’s mocking the scribes and
Pharisees who claim such authority, not endorsing them. How do we know this? Lancaster didn’t quote all of verse 3, and for
good reason. The sentence continues
with, “But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they
preach.” Lancaster quotes this verse to
prove that Jesus “firmly endorsed traditional Jewish authority”? Misquoting and misusing scripture is a
dangerous game, sadly FFOZ does this blatantly with out-of-context quotations.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yeshua was a part of that context,
arguing with the sages just like the famous Hillel argued with Shamai. – P. 181<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{No,
no, a thousand times no. Jesus did not <b>argue</b>
with his contemporaries just like other rabbis did. Jesus spoke with <b>authority</b>, his own
authority. Mathew 7:28-29 “When Jesus
had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29
because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the
law.” This is a subtle diminution of
Jesus’ person, but it follows the pattern in FFOZ’s writings of hinting at
Subordinationism and Modalism.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You don’t need to be a Torah scholar
to observe the Torah. If you do have
questions about specifics, consult your local Messianic Jewish rabbi, or if that’s not an option, you might want to consult a few basic books about
Judaism. Just make sure they come from
reliable sources such as First Fruits of Zion or other Jewish publishers with a
traditional perspective. – P. 186<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Aside
from the shameless self-promotion asking people to buy books from the company
he works for, calling FFOZ a reliable publisher with respect to Judaism is a slap
in the face of actual Jewish publishing houses.
Given the near uniform disdain among both Jews who follow Judaism and
Messianic Jews for the work of FFOZ (and those like them) in trying to convince
Gentiles to live like Jews, this is a very tone-deaf statement from Lancaster.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In addition, Gentile disciples felt
enormous social pressure to become Jewish.
Paul’s letter must be understood within this larger Jewish context. Remember that when we read Paul’s letter, we
hear only one side of an argument. – P. 193<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{I’ve
been asked many times by incredulous fellow pastors and lay Christians, “How
can they ignore Paul?” This quote
illustrate the process: (1) They change the context by postulating a fantasy first
century where Gentile Christians worship on the Sabbath in Synagogues with
non-Messianic Jews where they were Torah observant, (2) they then dismiss
anything Paul has to say about the Law as ONLY a reaction against full-on
Judaizers, and (3) smother this with relentless word-substitution fallacies by
replacing the Greek term for law (nomos) with Torah whenever it helps change
the meaning of the text in their favor.
Lancaster goes so far on the previous page as to add “[of Torah]” to the
end of a quote of 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and “[i.e Torah} to the middle of 1 Timoth
6:14}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Paul taught a life of imitation of
Yeshua. Disciples are more than just
converts. Disciples must meet
expectations of discipleship…To be like Yeshua, Paul needed to observe the
Torah, and his disciples needed to observe it as it applied to them. – P. 195<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Another
example where “Divine Permission” is replaced in FFOZ’s actual teaching with
“Divine Mandate”, they are a One Law organization in truth if not in their public
façade. How else does one interpret a
call to be like Jesus when Lancaster defines that solely (or at least
primarily) as observing Torah? Note that
there is no distinction made between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians
with respect to Jesus’ expectations of their relationship to Torah. This follows after quotations of 1
Corinthians 11:1-2 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-7 where Lancaster claims the
“traditions” that Paul is speaking to the Gentile Christians about are Oral
Torah. In fact, he was referring to the
oral traditions about Jesus, his life and teaching, knowledge of which Paul
imparted to them directly because they did not yet have access to the four-fold
Gospel account. Because “traditions”
means Oral Torah to Lancaster (and FFOZ), he has no problem with reading that
idea into the writings of Paul.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Paul warns us against the Man of
Torahlessness: the Antichrist. Paul
indicates that we will be able to recognize this imposter because he will be
opposed to the Torah of God. – P. 195<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Good
to know he wasn’t willing to stop at painting his opponents as Nazi
sympathizers, here we see that Christians who don’t embrace Torah observance
are antichrists in Lancaster’s view.
This is once more word substitution, Paul didn’t use the word Torah in 2
Thessalonians 2:3-10, no effort is made to show that this is contextually
valid, Lancaster just inserts it as a matter of course.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">According to God’s own criteria for
determining a false prophet, Judaism’s rejection of the traditional Christian
presentation of Jesus is a matter of obedience to Torah and loyalty to
God. The traditional presentation of the
Christian Jesus offers a prophet…who canceled the Torah. Such a person fits the Torah’s description of
a false prophet perfectly. – P. 198<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{The
Straw Man returns. Jesus did not
“cancel” the Torah, he fulfilled it. He
became the ultimate High Priest, sacrifice, and Temple and instituted a New
Covenant in his own blood. No doubt some
Christians have wrongly portrayed Jesus as anti-Torah in their efforts to
evangelize Jews, but that error does not prove Lancaster’s opposing contention
that Jesus changed nothing in the Torah.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The real Yeshua of the Gospels is
no such. He has little affinity with the
traditional depiction of the Christian Jesus in regard to the Torah and the
Jewish people…He taught the enduring, unchanging Torah and called Israel to
submit to the highest standards of Torah. – P. 199<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{What
more can be said? The thing that strikes
me most in this quote is the portrayal of Jesus as merely a new prophet who
came to say, “Obey Torah, just like always.”
The Jesus of the Gospels, contrary to Lancaster’s assertion, is the Son
of God, the Word made flesh, who draws all men to himself, and thus to the
Father. He teaches with authority, his
own, and offers both new commandments and a new covenant. To make the heart of his message, “Return to
Torah!” does a great disservice to the Gospel account of Jesus.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If the Word of God is true, it must
be consistent. If Messiah is true, He
must be consistent with the Torah of Moses. – P. 200<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{I hear
echoes of the arguments made by the most radical King James Only
advocates. They see the only choice being
between a “perfect” Bible (with no textual variants, no errors in copying) and
one that cannot be trusted. Lancaster’s
eternal and unchanging Torah allows for no shred of progressive revelation of
the redemptive plan of God. Sinai is the
last stop, nothing new, nothing amended, nothing fulfilled, after this
point. Much as the KJV Only zealot says
God’s revelation ended in 1611 when the English language was perfected, here
Lancaster cannot countenance Jesus having the power to fulfill Torah and
establish God’s new program by his own authority.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For nearly two thousand years, the
Jewish people have languished in exile, without a king, without a Temple, and
without a home. How did this
happen? According to the Bible, it
happened because the Torah was neglected…The Temple was destroyed because the
people transgressed the Torah...If turning away from the Torah inflicted the
wound, then returning to Torah is the balm. – P. 200-01<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{Stop
for a minute and absorb the antisemitism: The Roman destruction of the Temple
in 70 AD was the Jews’ own fault according to Lancaster. It happened because this people failed to
keep the Torah. How, when, where? He doesn’t say. The zeal of those like Saul of Tarsus to keep
the Torah was evidently not enough. In
this way, Lancaster has made himself a prophet, declaring that he knows the
mind of God and can proclaim that what happened in 70 AD was for the same
reason as the destruction of Solomon’s Temple in 586 BC…He then uses this “prophetic”
assessment as the reason to proclaim that Torah observance by Christians is now
necessary. FFOZ goes to great lengths to
blame the Church for its antisemitism in charging the Jewish people with
deicide (I agree thus far, it was foolish, even sinful, from the beginning to
do so), but here he has simply changed the charge, it wasn’t the rejection of
Jesus that brought about 2,000 years of woe to the Jewish people, but rejection
of Torah. He blames them for their own
tragedy, just with a different crime as the cause. And yes, this is yet another example of Torah
idolatry, Torah not Jesus is the focus, Torah is what caused the misery of the
Jews, and Torah is the solution.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In a sense, the gospel has been in
exile since the days of the apostles.
Like the Jewish people sent into exile to wander among the nations, the
gospel has been dispersed among the nations and subject to the Gentiles. – P.
201<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">{So,
the Gospel among the Gentiles is a Gospel in exile? Paul proclaims multiple times that in Christ
the old distinctions and categories of people have fallen away, that we are all
members of One Body. Yet, here we see
Lancaster’s two-tier understanding of humanity peak through the surface, as a
Gentile himself, he can’t accept the Gospel being “subject to the Gentiles” as
anything other than unnatural.}<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Conclusions from Pastor Powell: D. Thomas Lancaster’s <i>Restoration</i>,
published by FFOZ, is exceedingly thin on evidence and outside authority, and long
on bold claims and unproven assertions.
It is cavalier with its scriptural citations, a significant number of
which are taken out-of-context and used in a manner that works against the
author’s original intent. In addition, Lancaster
continues the FFOZ practice of freely substituting the term Torah into any NT
quotation in place of the Greek nomos (Law) whenever it serves his
purpose. As a work of scholarship, due
to these deficiencies, it offers very little.
I saw one review of this book that called it “scholarly,” I couldn’t
disagree more as it is far from a scholarly analysis of anything.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With respect to the book’s evident and repeated disdain for
the traditional Gospel and the Church, Lancaster is at least honest in
admitting how these fit with his true goal of convincing Gentile Christians to
live like Jews in order to bring about the End Times. FFOZ publicly maintains that it has abandoned
One Law (“Divine Mandate”) and instead embraces a “Divine Permission”
attitude. This book shows that public
stance, one that our local Torah Club’s participants have accused me of not
believing (to the extent of calling me a liar), to be just that, a public
relations effort and no more. In <i>Restoration</i>,
Lancaster doesn’t hide his own personal embrace of full Gentile Torah
observance, nor his belief that this is what Jesus and the Apostles intended. At least he doesn’t run away from how radical
his teaching is or try to hide it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the end, <i>Restoration</i> is consistent with the other
published works of FFOZ in that it too is full of unorthodox and heretical
teachings, disdain for Christianity and the Church, radical reinterpretations
of scripture, and an End Times inspired self-appointed prophetic missionary
zeal. Far from easing my desire to warn others
about the teachings of FFOZ, this book only further confirms how necessary it
is to protect the Church from the new “gospel” that FFOZ is selling.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-53781688871534711192024-01-30T12:10:00.001-05:002024-01-30T12:10:10.443-05:00Sermon Video: Paul prefers to boldly go where no one has gone before - Romans 15:17-24<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T3MEIDWyOzA" width="320" youtube-src-id="T3MEIDWyOzA"></iframe></div><p>After giving glory to God for the success of his ministry thus far, the Apostle Paul explains to the church in Rome that his previous hesitancy to visit them came from his own conviction that God wanted him to take the Gospel to places where Jesus was unknown. After decades of doing this, now Paul is planning to visit the church at Rome on his way to another new frontier for the Gospel: Spain.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-86211414814380969002024-01-25T08:04:00.002-05:002024-01-25T08:04:56.460-05:00Did the Apostles fully keep the Torah after Jesus’ death and resurrection? A response to the claim of FFOZ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUKa9fw49LbIWODuzhSuKQ87mn_VLaGjE_6SoQNj8YAssxxcIIh08vbtewgiRfkxWkf6zNlBkuYkE1sFyYI3ob7Zzq5G_kRDrgY8EcXgrrUksZOsY-3or4aN6UQztvoXpvwOsdokWjHvFHftwS0kXavPYCrJnJVIjXji-iiL7TdMyl1_u9JeqyfHY624/s1024/Peace-offering-1024x585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1024" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUKa9fw49LbIWODuzhSuKQ87mn_VLaGjE_6SoQNj8YAssxxcIIh08vbtewgiRfkxWkf6zNlBkuYkE1sFyYI3ob7Zzq5G_kRDrgY8EcXgrrUksZOsY-3or4aN6UQztvoXpvwOsdokWjHvFHftwS0kXavPYCrJnJVIjXji-iiL7TdMyl1_u9JeqyfHY624/s320/Peace-offering-1024x585.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In the past year and a half, I’ve read a lot of things
written by the leadership of First Fruits of Zion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While individual misinterpretations of the
biblical text and Early Church history abound in their published materials,
correcting these errors does not seem to move the needle with those who have
fallen under the sway of Boaz Michael, Daniel Lancaster, and the rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would it take?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much of a rejection of God’s Word is
necessary to demonstrate the danger of this path?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FFOZ’s
claim:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span>The
Apostles (and the entirety of the first generation of followers of Jesus, both
Jew and Gentile) <u>fully kept Torah</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In their view this was as Jesus intended, his life, death, and
resurrection changed NOTHING with respect to full participation in the
first-century expression of Judaism, full obedience to the Law of Moses
continued to be expected in every aspect of everyone.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This reflects the central historical claim of FFOZ, that
until later generations dropped the affiliation with Judaism, Jesus’ followers
(both Jew and Gentile alike) were <u>full participants</u> in synagogue life, <u>full
participants</u> in Temple worship, <u>fully obedient</u> to every aspect of
Torah.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is an example of this thesis from FFOZ in action:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The New Testament metaphorically refers to Yeshua’s
suffering and death as a sacrifice for sin, but that’s not the same as
cancelling the sacrifices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boof of
Acts shows us that the believers remained engaged in the Jerusalem Temple
system long after the death and resurrection of the Master.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously they did not regard the Temple
worship as obsolete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever since the
destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, the sacrifices detailed in the Torah have
not been possible and will not be possible until God’s Temple in Jerusalem is
rebuilt. – </i>Restoration by Daniel Lancaster, p. 169-170<i><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>We don’t make sacrifices today, but <b><u>only</u></b>
because the Torah forbids us from doing so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Without a Temple and priesthood, sacrificing is a sin. </i>– Restoration
by Daniel Lancaster, p. 173 (emphasis mine)<i><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Caveat: After the destruction of the Temple, the ending of
the Levitical/Aaronic priesthood, and the disbanding of the Sanhedrin, many of
the requirements of the Torah no longer applied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This FFOZ freely admits, it would be absurd
to contend otherwise as these requirements were literally impossible to keep
without the priesthood and sacrificial system being in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FFOZ does, however, expect animal sacrifices
to resume if/when the Temple is rebuilt, to them Jesus’ “metaphorical” death
hasn’t changed anything in this regard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As Lancaster writes, “the Law of God is eternal.” (Restoration, p. 157)
{Note: He isn’t saying the Word of God, context makes it clear that he means
the Mosaic Law in its entirety is intended to be an eternally operating system.}<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This leaves nearly a 40-year period after the resurrection
of Jesus Christ when Jesus’ followers could have participated fully in Torah,
as he and they had before his death and resurrection, if it had been Jesus’
goal and purpose for them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, to do so would have been to trivialize the
sacrifice of Christ to the point of sacrilege.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here’s why: Leviticus 4:1-2 says this,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘When
anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s
commands…<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The rest of the chapter outlines the required animal
sacrifice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the case of an
unintentional sin by any of the covenant people, the animal was to be a goat or
lamb, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>29 They are to lay their hand on the head of the sin
offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering. 30 Then the
priest is to take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of
the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of
the altar.</i> (Lev. 4:29-30)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This was God’s command to the Israelites given at Mt. Sinai;
it would have been absolutely necessary for the Apostles (and the growing
number of Christians) <b><u>if</u></b> they were fully Torah observant to take
part in this particular sacrifice <b>many times</b> during those decades, for
each of them would have had numerous unintentional sins on their ledger, so to
speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">{Remember, however that the Gentiles Christians would have
been barred from in-person participation in the Temple system, the physical
reminder of their inferiority that kept them from the inner courts of the
Temple would have been enforced on pain of death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See Acts 21:28}<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But neither the Jewish Christians nor the Gentile Christian
could have made these sacrifices, not if they understood even in rudimentary
terms what the sacrifice of Jesus had already accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book of <i>Hebrews</i> would not yet have
been available to them, but does FFOZ really want us to believe that Jesus’
disciples were this ignorant of what he had accomplished on the Cross up until
they read <i>Hebrews</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or does the
testimony of <i>Hebrews</i> that confirms the abrogation of the sacrificial
system not count when you’ve already concluded that, “the Law of God is
eternal”?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The writer of <i>Hebrews</i> spells this purposeful God-authored
change out in detail:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has
ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we
profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with
our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we
are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time
of need.</i> (Hebrews 4:14-16)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The resurrected and ascended Jesus was already the Great
High Priest, there was no longer a need for the services of one descended from
Aaron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would a follower of the
post-resurrection Jesus go to a mere man with a sacrifice?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things
that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect
tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of
this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;
but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus
obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of
a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that
they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our
consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!</i>
(Hebrews 9:11-14)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his
religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can
never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one
sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that
time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice
he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.</i> (Hebrews
11:11-14)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jesus’ blood had fully and forever paid for the sins of the
Apostles, how could they continue to offer that of an animal knowing that they
had been washed clean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The choice was
between obeying Torah by repeating sacrifices Jesus <b>had already paid for</b>,
or recognizing that his death and resurrection had fundamentally changed the
very nature of the sacrificial system by forever eliminating any need for it,
and thus changed the Law of Moses itself.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have
confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and
living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since
we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a
sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts
sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed
with pure water.</i> (Hebrews 10:19-22)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even the Temple itself, while it still stood until the
Romans destroyed it, no longer contained the true Most Holy Place, for the very
body of Jesus Christ was the true living Temple, the one that he promised would
be raised three days after it was destroyed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin
is no longer necessary.</i> (Hebrews 10:18)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was <b><u>no longer necessary</u></b>, the sins of the
Apostles, even those they had yet to commit, had already been forgiven.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How then could they be fully Torah observant by offering
animal sacrifices without hypocrisy, even sacrilege?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could Jesus have expected them to remain fully
participating in first-century Judaism without continuing in the sacrificial
system?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The answer is: They weren’t, nor did Jesus expect them to
be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Jesus is our Great High Priest,
the Holy Temple, the Blood of the Covenant, and the final sacrifice that God
ever required.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p><p>For convenience this post is also available as a Word document: <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zO3t4rabKmgwGQ-nZE5HMughCHTj2C8v/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=116286635125543167832&rtpof=true&sd=true">Did the Apostles fully keep the Torah after Jesus' death and resurrection?</a></p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-88443199340745908812024-01-23T11:58:00.001-05:002024-01-23T11:58:08.065-05:00Sermon Video: The Competency of God's People - Romans 15:14-16<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F6oVoolfzRo" width="320" youtube-src-id="F6oVoolfzRo"></iframe></div><p><br /></p>Are you an optimist or a pessimist about the Church's future? No matter what generation or geographic location that question is asked in, scripture itself gives ample reasons for more than optimism, it offers certainty. Romans 15:14-16 is one such example, in it the Apostle Paul tells the church(es) at Rome that he has full confidence in their goodness, knowledge, and competency to teach each other. This confidence flows from: (1) the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that is common to all believers in Jesus, (2) the sufficiency of scripture for our faith and practice, and (3) the priesthood of all believers which enable each of us to approach the throne of grace on an equal footing, all equally heard by God and all equally capable of serving the Kingdom of God. As Baptists, we take these truths and find two connected implications: (1) Freedom of Conscience (aka Soul Liberty) and (2) the autonomy of the local church. Both ideas flow directly from the competency that we have because of the work that God has begun in our lives and our faith in God's promise to complete that process of transformation.<p></p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-77296188624255039162024-01-16T10:13:00.002-05:002024-01-16T10:17:13.272-05:00The difference between self-sorting and self-preservation: Why people choose to leave a church is important<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_g2LqjQob0pg5f6hROCPcSDNSrQ9somCvJZrB95mjGG-6Rk29zQXkuhvDX0iS8mba9fYAzCh1sU_0KAfn-JWj1tQ4TAe60zqM7i2JyV0IcCtnvJU_j8DFL2lxq3SE6lZaInQuCzEzeIwKwAOqcQEugGIvjNt0xSqRs1OJH69K5H6AaWQMpUdJTpT7TQ/s447/church_split.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_g2LqjQob0pg5f6hROCPcSDNSrQ9somCvJZrB95mjGG-6Rk29zQXkuhvDX0iS8mba9fYAzCh1sU_0KAfn-JWj1tQ4TAe60zqM7i2JyV0IcCtnvJU_j8DFL2lxq3SE6lZaInQuCzEzeIwKwAOqcQEugGIvjNt0xSqRs1OJH69K5H6AaWQMpUdJTpT7TQ/s320/church_split.jpeg" width="258" /></a></div><p></p><p>An interesting thing happened to me two Sundays ago that has been gnawing at my mind since. As I always try to do when we have visitors join us for worship, I spoke with a new family in the brief moments before church was to begin. They were, like so many individuals and families that had joined us for a week, or two, in recent years, looking for a new church home. Other than visitors from out-of-town, and those who join us of their own accord without a previous church background (an answer to prayer!), most of those who seek a new church are doing so because of something that was amiss where they had previously attended.</p><p>Given that this happens fairly regularly, and that some of these new folk will stick around while others will keep looking, my brief conversation with this family wouldn't have stuck in my mind if I didn't have a pertinent section in my sermon on Romans 15:1-6 that I had actually written in as an addition that very morning when I was reviewing my message:</p><p>"A quick note, the current habit of Christians self-sorting into homogenous local churches which only contain people who look, act, and think like they already do is in part an attempt to avoid this hard work of self-transformation and discipleship, and thus inherently an unhealthy development in the Church as a whole. Given modern mobility and technology it will not be easy to overcome the tendency of most people to seek out a church primarily on the criteria of being 'comfortable' there."</p><p>At that point in the sermon I added an ad-lib to the effect that the people here in this congregation don't need to agree with me on everything, especially the cultural and political issues of the day (about which most wouldn't know if they agree with me or not given my reluctance to speak publicly on them, as I've noted over the years).</p><p>Without sharing the particulars of why that one family had joined us a few weeks ago, I knew it wasn't because they were avoiding the challenges of discipleship by seeking out a homogenous church community.</p><p>But, as pastors often do when they realize that a portion of their sermon touches directly on the life of someone sitting in the pew, I hope I wasn't misunderstood, I hope it didn't feel like I was aiming those words in their direction. </p><p>{FYI, 95% of the time the whole, "He's talking about me in the sermon!" phenomenon is the thought of the person in the pew not the intention of the person behind the pulpit. After writing and delivering more than 750 sermons, I can honestly say that it has never occurred to me to aim what I'm writing at one individual or family, that's just not how the sausage is made.}</p><p>Here's why I hope I wasn't misunderstood: <b>There is indeed a big difference between those who seek out a "comfortable" church where they won't be challenged in their beliefs and attitudes, and those who seek out a healthy church where they will be discipled and asked to serve. </b> </p><p>It isn't an easy decision to leave a church, at least it shouldn't be, even if that church has become an unhealthy, even a toxic place. To leave feels like giving up, like conceding that you don't see much hope of things changing anytime soon. Honestly, this topic ought to feel different to single people than to parents. I may feel confident that I can protect myself from negativity in a church that has grown unhealthy and still be a positive influence on those around me, but taking that risk on behalf of your kids is no small thing. Honestly, I wouldn't let my kid be a part of a church overflowing with the hatreds of "Christian" Nationalism or the materialism of the Prosperity Gospel, to give two common examples, even if I felt called to stay there myself and try to make a difference. </p><p>In the end, I'm not in the business of "sheep stealing." If people come to our doors because there is a problem (real or imagined) with the place they previously worshiped, we will welcome them with kindness no questions asked, that goes without saying. Maybe God is leading them here, maybe he isn't, I'm certainly not in a position to judge that matter for them. If where they were previously wasn't a healthy church, for whatever reason, they will be welcome among us, and hopefully they will find God's presence and the challenge of discipleship in our midst. But I'm not trying to grow this church on the back of disgruntled Methodists (sadly a numerous bunch in our county given recent events), disillusioned Presbyterians, or angry Catholics. What I hope for, and what all of the clergy I've known and worked with in this community for more than a decade likewise hope for, is a collective Church in our community that allows those who don't know Jesus to see glimpses of him in us. What I hope for, and so do my fellow pastors, is that we together may add new members to the family of God, new sinners saved by grace, new lives redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. There will always be a rearranging of chairs within our various congregations, some growing some shrinking, and a flow of people between us, what matters in the end is whether or not that migration is making the Church healthier or unhealthier, whether or not it is supporting or harming our universal collective mission of being salt and light in this world.</p><p><br /></p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-7269686134393177882024-01-16T07:29:00.001-05:002024-01-16T07:29:02.368-05:00Sermon Video: Jesus: Fulfilling God's promises to the Jews, showing mercy to the Gentiles - Romans 15:7-13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qxPVor9U7mo" width="320" youtube-src-id="qxPVor9U7mo"></iframe></div><p>In his conclusion to the section that began in chapter 14 about the need for Christians to accept each other, Paul offers us a telling analogy: "just as Christ accepted you." This prompts Paul to a brief explanation as to how Jesus both fulfilled the promises to Abraham, and brought God's mercy to the Gentiles. Thus our task becomes clear, to be bearers of hope, by overflowing with hope and peace, to both Jew and Gentile alike.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-9147746124917649032024-01-09T08:31:00.004-05:002024-01-09T08:31:29.536-05:00Sermon Video: The same attitude toward each other as Jesus had -Romans 15:1-6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nEp4-c-IuHo" width="320" youtube-src-id="nEp4-c-IuHo"></iframe></div><p>Why should Christians of "strong" faith bear with those whose faith is "weak"? The answer certainly isn't to bolster our own ego (as if the faith we have were our own doing rather than a gift of grace), instead the Apostle Paul tells us that we are obligated to act toward our fellow Christians with the same attitude that Jesus Christ had. Now, let's be honest, that's far beyond our capability. Thankfully, God has also committed to empowering his people to imitate Jesus (through the Holy Spirit that indwells God's people).</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-88969813482428741882024-01-03T08:21:00.001-05:002024-01-03T08:21:48.426-05:00Local Torah Club leader contends that Paul's Damascus Road experience was an "adjustment", hear how Paul actually describes his encounter with Jesus Christ.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu8hB2r8tlQohgnAvbHP6XKBUUnszUKgifhdxZQDPfmdwEqJcJgBsS_XoxjP0tk6uJ7m_kz1xp8mJumyGb08fIFYZHoxx7gG41eTxHgKoehO1lcdyWlW9vXd59XEO4kbVJK406rw4ScG321VuH65ZTSh6DsgaOn-W2dcZXoi_GcBGlei2mPw8KkPjMj8/s1430/saul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1430" data-original-width="1156" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu8hB2r8tlQohgnAvbHP6XKBUUnszUKgifhdxZQDPfmdwEqJcJgBsS_XoxjP0tk6uJ7m_kz1xp8mJumyGb08fIFYZHoxx7gG41eTxHgKoehO1lcdyWlW9vXd59XEO4kbVJK406rw4ScG321VuH65ZTSh6DsgaOn-W2dcZXoi_GcBGlei2mPw8KkPjMj8/s320/saul.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p>The following was part of a series of comments on my YouTube channel, specifically the video introducing our objections as a ministerium to the Torah Clubs back in February of 2023. Heather Mohnkern is the leading local Torah Club leader and their primary spokesperson in Venango County, she and her husband Keith were given an award by the First Fruits of Zion organization for outstanding service at the 2022 Malchut Conference.</p><p><i>To also add to the conversation…a recurring theme of the Gospels is Jesus pointing out the ‘religious hierarchies need to be theologically right’ took a secondary role to ‘being in relationship and trusting the one walking with them’ and correcting established theology that had been misapplied. Even Saul of Tarsus needed to have an ‘adjustment’ via his Damascus Road experience. He did not have to throw out his theology he just had to have an encounter with His G-d that bound the two together into something that would change the nations….relationship then theology. And Paul never taught contradictory to Torah if you can remove supersessionism from hundreds of years of interpretations of his writings. There is a whole academic explosion happening in the world right now to correct that which has negatively impacted the greater Christian orthodoxy.</i> - Heather Mohnkern, Franklin area Torah Club leader, 1/3/23</p><p>This then is the heart of the matter, did Saul of Tarsus only need an "adjustment" by encountering God, one that left his theology intact (or at least mostly intact)? Was Saul of Tarsus on the right track in life, only missing that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, or did the roots of his murderous hatred toward the followers of Jesus run much deeper? To be honest, I've never heard anyone downplay the Damascus Road experience before, but thinking about it, this is a necessary contention for First Fruits of Zion to make given that they believe (and teach) that Jesus was <u>only</u> a reformer of Judaism and that neither he nor Paul, nor any of Jesus early followers, intended to found the Church or Christianity. From that viewpoint, Saul of Tarsus must have been one of the most excellent men of his day, for he was a follower of the Law of Moses with which few could compare. Let's let Paul explain what really happened in his own words...</p><p><i>Galatians 1:13 New International Version</i></p><p><i>For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.</i></p><p>Before meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, Saul of Tarsus was entirely opposed to the teaching and message of Jesus Christ, he wanted to destroy everything that Jesus had created.</p><p><i>Galatians 1:14 New International Version</i></p><p><i>I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.</i></p><p>Saul was both full of zeal and following the dictates of the Law of Moses as understood by his rabbinic teachers to the fullest, few if any could compare with his accomplishments within that system. And yet, looking back on this life, how did the now Apostle Paul think of it, how close to God was he in that previous life?</p><p><i>Philippians 3:4b-11 </i><i>New International Version</i></p><p><i>If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.7 <b>But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.</b> 8 What is more, <b>I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus</b> my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. <b>I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ</b> 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.</i></p><p>When Saul got up off the ground on the way to Damascus, having seen the risen Lord Jesus Christ, his entire understanding of what it meant to be in a relationship with God had changed. His entire understanding of what God required of his people had shifted radically. Faith, not works was the key. Love, not precision in obedience to the minutia of the Law was its engine. The man who wandered blind into Damascus to find Ananias was seeing things clearly for the first time in his life. Prior to this he had known all <b><u>about</u></b> the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but he had not <u><b>known</b></u> him at all. Saul of Tarsus could not have been in relationship with God because he had not faith, only self-righteousness.</p><p>"He did not have to throw out his theology" is a claim that fits well with the teachings of TC/FFOZ, for they would love to hold up Saul the Pharisee and just add faith in Jesus to that foundation, but that's not what happened, that's not how Paul himself felt about it. In fact, what Saul thought he knew about God needed to change dramatically before he emerged as the Apostle Paul, the champion of grace and faith.</p><p>An adjustment?? When God knocks you off a horse because you're on your way to murder his people, he's got more than an adjustment in mind.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-58951525910353991762024-01-02T08:02:00.002-05:002024-01-02T08:02:24.002-05:00Christmas Eve joint worship service: Sermons from Pastor Eric Phillips and Pastor Randy Powell - Luke 2:8-14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/spO4V8DBk-U" width="320" youtube-src-id="spO4V8DBk-U"></iframe></div><p>In our second combined service with Redeemer Anglican Church, Pastor Eric Phillips and Pastor Randy Powell share the honor of bringing the Christmas Eve message of hope and joy through the experience of the shepherds, first with one angel's message of a savior, followed by the promise of peace from a whole company of angels.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-32003941723426171772024-01-02T07:59:00.006-05:002024-01-02T07:59:49.000-05:00Sermon Video - Joseph, Mary, and the birth of the Christ - Luke 2:4-7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/477syrmCVZ0" width="320" youtube-src-id="477syrmCVZ0"></iframe></div><p>As the birth narrative of the Gospel of Luke unfolds, we find Joseph on his way to Bethlehem, his ancestral hometown, with his new wife Mary. Mary travels carrying a child conceived of the Holy Spirit, a child the angelic visitor made bold declarations of greatness about. The humble birth of this Messiah, in the town of David, is only the beginning.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-70294612638563876152023-12-20T14:08:00.000-05:002023-12-20T14:08:13.377-05:00The Apostle Paul: A Jewish Christian free to live like a Gentile for the sake of the Gospel - 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 and Galatians 2:11-14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvkLclmAnere91GGS5c2bIPU7nXkgbPsNJVOYS6Sg24ORFwu3xLFgiVwNwdVFl9Ls0xWKxMhLU1o6iguUqUgdsreOg-v7FHV22uMR9yhskw_kPgdcEqcpzfutv3vdsctgTWgbX1ZUVXugbMRnjh7GfBMUei785lFGAcQTzFnpq21zGD08tuqpFCzYlvg/s1200/Apostle-Paul-1-1200x675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvkLclmAnere91GGS5c2bIPU7nXkgbPsNJVOYS6Sg24ORFwu3xLFgiVwNwdVFl9Ls0xWKxMhLU1o6iguUqUgdsreOg-v7FHV22uMR9yhskw_kPgdcEqcpzfutv3vdsctgTWgbX1ZUVXugbMRnjh7GfBMUei785lFGAcQTzFnpq21zGD08tuqpFCzYlvg/s320/Apostle-Paul-1-1200x675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The antidote to lies is the truth, the antidote to heresy is orthodoxy. In that vein, let me offer up an illustration from the life of the Apostle Paul, a man who formerly lived in the utmost strict observance of the Law of Moses as a Pharisee with a spotless reputation, but who after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus had a very different understanding about the relationship between Law and Grace and how he now needed to live as a follower of Jesus Christ.</p><p><i>1 Corinthians 9:19-23 New International Version</i></p><p><i>19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.</i></p><p>Given that the First Fruits of Zion (Torah Clubs) assert that EVERY member of the Early Church during its first few generations fully kept the Law of Moses as Jesus intended them to do, both Jews and Gentiles, it behooves us to actually read God's Word and see the truth of the matter. {For a detailed examination of the various unorthodox beliefs of this organization see: <a href="https://pastorpowellsponderings.blogspot.com/p/the-dangers-of-first-fruits-of-zion-and.html">The Dangers of the First Fruits of Zion and their Torah Clubs</a>} Ultimately, this bold claim of widespread Torah observance among early Christians (that supposedly justifies returning to this "pure" version of our faith) fails as a thesis historically, biblically, and theologically, the demonstration of which is a task worthy of a thick book, but can also be easily illustrated with these straightforward words of the Apostle Paul written to the church at Corinth and the churches in Galatia.</p><p>In this section (above) illustrating the freedom he has in Jesus Christ, Paul explains that he is willing and able to live both like a Jew (himself being a Jew) and live like a Gentile, if in doing so it would enable him to share the Gospel more effectively with either group. This is not Paul compromising himself morally or going against his conscience in the name of evangelism, rather it is Paul living out his conviction that in Christ there is no Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free. To Paul, then, how he lived with respect to Torah observance was NOT a moral question, at all, but instead a practical one that related to how others perceived him. To keep kosher, for example, was not a matter of conscience or morality for Paul, but a question of not offending those Jews with whom he hoped to share the Gospel. When he was among his Jewish brethren, Paul kept the kosher rules along with all the other Jewish distinctives, but when he was among Gentiles he ate and acted according to their customs. It was not Law that dictated Paul's actions, but love for those with whom he shared Jesus.</p><p>We should not be surprised to see Paul write with this expression of freedom in Christ to the church in Corinth given that years earlier he had confronted the Apostle Peter about the hypocrisy of pretending that he lived only like a Jew (i.e. according to the ceremonial aspects of the Law of Moses) when in the company of some misguided Jewish Christians who lived as if they were still under the Law, when in fact both he and Peter knew better. How do we know that Peter knew better? He, "used to eat with the Gentiles." Had Peter lived a fully Torah observant life AFTER the Resurrection and Pentecost, this would not have been possible. The Apostle Peter had been living by grace until those embracing legalism led him astray, they even led Barnabas astray, but not Paul.</p><p><i>Galatians 2:11-14 New International Version</i></p><p><i>11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.</i></p><p><i>14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?</i></p><p>In the end, it was not a corruption of the original Gospel proclamation of Jesus when the Church fully embraced the truth that neither its Jews nor its Gentiles were under the Law of Moses, rather it was the result of the profound freedom offered by the renewal of our hearts and minds by the Blood of Christ, as well as the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, that quickly won the day in debates like that of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). </p><p>If it helps your Gospel witness to live like a Jew so that you can share the Good News that Jesus Christ is Lord among observant Jews, then go right ahead. Paul did that when it helped the Gospel. Likewise, if it helps your Gospel witness to live like the Chinese so that you can share the Good News within a Chinese cultural setting, then go right ahead. Hudson Taylor did that in the 19th century and enjoyed massive success, much as had Francis Xavier and the Jesuits in the 16th century who employed the same openness to meet those with whom they shared the Gospel on ground that was familiar to them. If your ministry is among motorcycle clubs, then embrace that culture's dress and tattoos if it helps you share the love of God with those who need to see and hear it.</p><p>In Christ we are free, free to serve the Kingdom of God and share the Gospel. What we are not, however, is bound to any one cultural expression in doing so, for in the New Covenant all may approach God by the same route, the only route, by faith in Jesus Christ. This truth has been known from the beginning, we see it in Paul's own words. As always, the antidote to heretical lies is orthodox truth.</p><p><br /></p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-86606542600576883262023-12-19T08:02:00.001-05:002023-12-19T08:02:11.401-05:00Sermon Video: The Threefold Office of the Messiah: King - Jeremiah 23:5-6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AbQS02TM3j8" width="320" youtube-src-id="AbQS02TM3j8"></iframe></div><p>In addition to the unexpected roles of prophet and priest, the long-awaited Messiah would also be what the people hoped for: An heir to David's throne. At the time this prophecy was given, however, the people of Israel were facing the greatest crisis of their nation's history with the impending doom of God's judgment in the form of Babylon's invading armies close to hand. Yet even while the prophet Jeremiah was sent to warn them of this coming destruction, God also shared with Jeremiah this promise of hope in the coming of the Messiah.</p><p>But, what about the promised kingdom, how can Jesus be the Messiah without ruling on David's throne? Indeed, Jesus was not concerned during his sojourn among us about establishing a physical kingdom in defiance of Rome, rather he wholly invested his time (and ultimately his very life) in establishing a spiritual kingdom. However, when Jesus returns it will be to rule, to establish the righteous and just kingdom that Jeremiah promised, those promises stand and will be fulfilled.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-76850773150460449692023-12-15T13:06:00.001-05:002023-12-15T13:06:04.067-05:00Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #31 John 17:20-23<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWXvfgFRWAl5bMVJeEzxlx6qZ-7cjc13bu0c9wK-ZF-bNtIs8_2_iHkV4dPYV5Bse6cAziqW-g-DDE5JgnxxYtapWiLYXgvWgrZyEb83iWrHsbzO2OdrNV_46kstru_ApogjphVl2pflQRJP8d2a3FLWYZX76Vn7Bie6fbqNYoqkR93w2nTf-ZirJAFA/s768/LOAP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWXvfgFRWAl5bMVJeEzxlx6qZ-7cjc13bu0c9wK-ZF-bNtIs8_2_iHkV4dPYV5Bse6cAziqW-g-DDE5JgnxxYtapWiLYXgvWgrZyEb83iWrHsbzO2OdrNV_46kstru_ApogjphVl2pflQRJP8d2a3FLWYZX76Vn7Bie6fbqNYoqkR93w2nTf-ZirJAFA/s320/LOAP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i>John 17:20-23 (NIV)</i></p><p><i>20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."</i></p><p>"Oh, we're halfway there, O-oh, living on a prayer..." That is of the chorus of "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, one of my favorite songs and one I invariably try to sing at Karaoke (that key change is brutal). I started this series of 62 posts about "Christian" Nationalism, each with a specific verse of Scripture that speak against that corrupt idea, on August 9th of 2022. I'll admit, after a steady stream of posts my focus wavered and for much of 2023 has been replaced with the need to combat the spread of Torah Clubs [<a href="https://pastorpowellsponderings.blogspot.com/p/the-dangers-of-first-fruits-of-zion-and.html">The Dangers of the First Fruits of Zion and their Torah Clubs</a>} in our area. But, once you've taken up a task, it is hard to let it go. This post, then, marks the halfway point, the rest will continue to be created as time and my need to focus on other things permits...</p><p>The passage from John's Gospel is Jesus' prayer for unity among his followers offered up to the Father on the eve of his Passion. One of the remarkable things about this particular prayer at this particular time is how laser focused it is upon the need for <b><u>unity</u></b> among the body of believers who would soon be called Christians, drawn together as part of the Church that Jesus founded to continue his work after his return to Heaven.</p><p>OK, so Jesus wanted his followers to "be one," what does that have to do with "Christian" Nationalism? A whole lot if you take a few minutes to think about it. One example will illustrate why Nationalism, especially "Christian" Nationalism is antithetical to Jesus' prayer: During WWI, tens of millions of British, French, German, Italian, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and American young men tried to kill each other. That the vast majority of these young men claimed to be followers of Jesus Christ, who were being order to try to kill other followers of Jesus Christ, didn't matter at all to those in power because the enemy belonged to a different nation. One's national allegiances superseded, nay even extinguished in this case since it condoned killing other followers of Jesus, one's faith. This wasn't the first time, similar wars had raged since the break-up of the Roman Empire, pitting Christians against each other in order to further the claims of their feudal lords, kings, and eventually nation-states. </p><p>There isn't an objective way to look at Church History without concluding that God would consider this bloodshed to be sinful. One may be able to defend those who fought in defense of their family and community, but that rationale evaporates in every other scenario, not to mention the wanton rape and pillaging that walked hand-in-hand with these wars. It is impossible to say that participation in this militant violent behavior made those who did so more Christ-like. Perhaps the horrors of violence brought some few to repentance afterwards, but God is not in the business of using evil on the chance that some will be repelled enough by it that they turn and seek the light.</p><p>If, then, one accepts the premise of "Christian" Nationalism, that our allegiance to Jesus Christ must be in some fashion melded with, even subsumed to, our allegiance to our country, there is NO hope of unity within the Global Church. What we will end up with is a host of church bodies split along political lines, and a never-ending sorry tale of rivalries and violence between them that mirror those of the nations to which they belong.</p><p>A current example: Why do you think that the Russian Orthodox Patriarch has dubbed Putin's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine as a Holy Crusade? [<a href="https://pastorpowellsponderings.blogspot.com/2022/03/moral-clarity-god-help-us-if-we-cant.html">Moral Clarity: God help us if we can't see that Vladimir Putin and his war are Evil.</a>] The sad truth is, the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church has chosen the kingdom of this world, and in so doing, has made a mockery of its claims that it is a defender of Christianity.</p><p><a href="https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/after-supporting-ukraine-invasion-russias-patriarch-kirill-criticized-worldwide-0">After supporting Ukraine invasion, Russia's Patriarch Kirill criticized worldwide - by JONATHAN LUXMOORE for National Catholic Reporter, March 15, 2022.</a><br /></p><p>The Church cannot fulfill its mission if it allows lines drawn on a map to divide those whose first allegiance must be to Jesus Christ, yet another reason why "Christian" Nationalism is biblically untenable. </p><p><br /></p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-7308703357560789072023-12-12T07:33:00.001-05:002023-12-12T07:33:24.064-05:00Sermon Video: The threefold office of the Messiah: Priest - Psalm 110:4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zGCcZBqeG74" width="320" youtube-src-id="zGCcZBqeG74"></iframe></div><p>The second of the threefold offices of the Messiah (Prophet, Priest, and King), prophet, is expounded by King David himself in Psalm 110 where he writes that God's Messiah will combine his kingly duties with that of the priesthood. At first this makes no sense, the Law of Moses requires that only those descended from Aaron and the tribe of Levi can be priest and serve at the Temple, so what gives? David answers the question by explaining that this future priest will be, "in the order of Melchizedek." The name Melchizedek harkens back to a priest of the LORD who served in what would become Jerusalem during Abraham's lifetime. He is brought into Abraham's story in Genesis only briefly, but the precedent is understood by David as an exception to the rule of the Law (since it preceded it). The book of Hebrews expounds upon this topic (chapters 5-7), but we ought to be able to reason out that the God who wrote the Law is capable of setting it aside (abrogating, expanding, modifying, take your pick) to fulfill his purpose. His purpose in this case? That Jesus Christ might not only be the priest who makes the once-for-all offering to bring salvation, but the Lamb of God being sacrificed as well.</p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850010344604422526.post-30542936064962564842023-12-05T12:45:00.001-05:002023-12-05T12:45:04.369-05:00Hebrews 7:11-12 puts an end to the lie that God cannot change the Law of Moses, for Jesus is the final High Priest<p><i> </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZULqJR_uAEgUHX-PpR2ik0byjS-v7REZdoW07Ltmm7RlvgC4_MoFjecZ2VPLxN4UYTNih3IcSR3SgLQTUG6QqbEENAsoqbWv8juUE4DLHAPZ0ioJvmDUXOxwCVE5SCvf8N9WU9hyUvBmb_lIBGPPTAdAYyDZRoKZIjLDegAKEcxBUNXZq565cY4gIpM/s256/Mel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="256" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZULqJR_uAEgUHX-PpR2ik0byjS-v7REZdoW07Ltmm7RlvgC4_MoFjecZ2VPLxN4UYTNih3IcSR3SgLQTUG6QqbEENAsoqbWv8juUE4DLHAPZ0ioJvmDUXOxwCVE5SCvf8N9WU9hyUvBmb_lIBGPPTAdAYyDZRoKZIjLDegAKEcxBUNXZq565cY4gIpM/s1600/Mel.jpg" width="256" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i>Hebrews 7:11-12 New International Version</i></p><p><i>11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.</i></p><p>At the heart of the Hebrew Roots Movement, and First Fruits of Zion in particular, is a particularly pernicious and dangerous lie: The Torah (Law of Moses) was intended to be for all-time, and even God (in particular Jesus) can't change/update/modify it.</p><p>One example from my research this past year into FFOZ's teachings will illustrate that they teach this: "The commands of the Master cannot be different from the commands of the Torah any more than the Word of the Master is different from the Word of the Father." - <i>Jesus, My Rabbi</i>, Lesson 36, Volume 2, page 11.</p><p>According to FFOZ, Jesus <u style="font-weight: bold;">cannot</u> have taught anything different that what was already revealed in the Torah. That's their position, and they build their entire false version of the Gospel on this premise.</p><p>But what did the author of <i>Hebrews</i> say? This is holy scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and authoritative for all who claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ. The author of <i>Hebrews</i> points out, purposefully and in great detail, that the Aaronic and Levitical priesthoods, <u>mandated by Torah</u> because they were necessary for that time, place, and people, were superseded permanently by Jesus who came as a priest after the fashion of Melchizedek. Jesus was born of the tribe of Judah and the line of King David, ensuring his right to sit upon the throne of David. But Jesus was NOT capable of fulfilling the role of priest according to the Law of Moses, that is unless Jesus had the authority to change/update/modify the Law. Which he did. Of course he did. Jesus is the Word of God, the eternal Logos. As a member of the Trinity, fully God along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, Jesus was equally the author of the Mosaic Law, its originator. God, that is Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, is the ONLY one with the authority to abrogate the Law of Moses, but to deny this prerogative to God is to place the Law over God, a form of idolatry.</p><p>In the end, traditional and orthodox Christianity can demonstrate (as we have done this past year in exhaustive fashion) how and why the teachings of the First Fruits of Zion are heretical and dangerous, but you don't need to understand the full length and breadth of these defenses of the Gospel (although in my humble opinion it is good for Christians to understand the defenses of their faith, i.e. apologetics, so I encourage you to put in the effort) to see that the HRM in general, and the FFOZ in particular, have rejected the clear teaching and plain meaning of God's Word.</p><p>Jesus is our High Priest, after the order of Melchizedek.</p><p><br /></p>Pastor Randy Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03008238312933472871noreply@blogger.com0