Acts is not primarily
a book of doctrine but rather a historical record of the transition period in
which God moved from the nation of Israel to the Body of Christ; from the gospel
of the kingdom (Acts 2:38) to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 13:38-39);
from the ministry of Peter (Acts 1-12) to that of Paul (Acts 13-28).
Acts is rightly called a transition book because one dispensation is fading out (Law) and another is fading in (Grace). The early chapters of Acts is a continuation of the prophesied kingdom program of Israel (which concerns a literal kingdom on earth) and not an inauguration of the mystery program of the body of Christ (which concerns a spiritual body seated with Christ in heavenly places) that was revealed to and through the apostle Paul (Eph. 3). Please carefully compare Acts 3:19-24 (spoken since the world began) with Romans 16:25-27 (secret since the world began).
The popular view of Acts is that from beginning to end it is primarily the record of the birth and growth of the church of this present age. But the correct view of Acts is that from beginning to end it is primarily the account of the fall of Israel. It explains step by step why the chosen people had to be set aside and salvation sent to the Gentiles apart from them. It reveals why the commission that Christ gave the 12 had to be suspended and another apostle raised up to go to the Gentiles with the gospel of the grace of God. Paul was NOT one of the 12 (Gal. 1-2) and was NOT sent under the same commission (Matt. 28:19-20 with 1 Cor. 1:17).
Despite what most Bible teachers say, the book of Acts does not provide a solid pattern that we should try to follow today. If we are to follow the pattern set forth in Acts we will run into some real problems:
1. Which message should we preach to those who want to know how to be saved, Acts 2:37-38 or 16:30-31?
2. Where and to whom should we preach? Should we, like the 12, begin at Jerusalem (1:8)? Or should we, like Paul, depart from Jerusalem and go far hence to the Gentiles (22:21)?
3. Should we preach to the Jews only (11:19), to the Jews first and then the Gentiles (13:46), or to everybody alike (28:28)?
4. Do we receive the Holy Ghost several years after repentance and baptism (2:4), immediately after repentance and baptism (2:38), after the apostles from Jerusalem lay hands on us (8:14-17), before baptism (10:44-48), or after we repent, get baptized, then re-baptized, and then have an apostle lay hands on us (19:1-6)?
5. How are we to handle money? Should we sell all our possessions and have all things common with the rest of the church (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35) or should we work to supply for our needs (20:33-34)?
Acts is rightly called a transition book because one dispensation is fading out (Law) and another is fading in (Grace). The early chapters of Acts is a continuation of the prophesied kingdom program of Israel (which concerns a literal kingdom on earth) and not an inauguration of the mystery program of the body of Christ (which concerns a spiritual body seated with Christ in heavenly places) that was revealed to and through the apostle Paul (Eph. 3). Please carefully compare Acts 3:19-24 (spoken since the world began) with Romans 16:25-27 (secret since the world began).
The popular view of Acts is that from beginning to end it is primarily the record of the birth and growth of the church of this present age. But the correct view of Acts is that from beginning to end it is primarily the account of the fall of Israel. It explains step by step why the chosen people had to be set aside and salvation sent to the Gentiles apart from them. It reveals why the commission that Christ gave the 12 had to be suspended and another apostle raised up to go to the Gentiles with the gospel of the grace of God. Paul was NOT one of the 12 (Gal. 1-2) and was NOT sent under the same commission (Matt. 28:19-20 with 1 Cor. 1:17).
Despite what most Bible teachers say, the book of Acts does not provide a solid pattern that we should try to follow today. If we are to follow the pattern set forth in Acts we will run into some real problems:
1. Which message should we preach to those who want to know how to be saved, Acts 2:37-38 or 16:30-31?
2. Where and to whom should we preach? Should we, like the 12, begin at Jerusalem (1:8)? Or should we, like Paul, depart from Jerusalem and go far hence to the Gentiles (22:21)?
3. Should we preach to the Jews only (11:19), to the Jews first and then the Gentiles (13:46), or to everybody alike (28:28)?
4. Do we receive the Holy Ghost several years after repentance and baptism (2:4), immediately after repentance and baptism (2:38), after the apostles from Jerusalem lay hands on us (8:14-17), before baptism (10:44-48), or after we repent, get baptized, then re-baptized, and then have an apostle lay hands on us (19:1-6)?
5. How are we to handle money? Should we sell all our possessions and have all things common with the rest of the church (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35) or should we work to supply for our needs (20:33-34)?
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