Acts 2 is one of the most misunderstood and abused chapters in the Bible. For example, the Charismatics try to use this chapter as a basis to teach that believers should seek "the-baptism-of-the-Holy-Ghost" with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues (2:4). Then there is the so-called “Church of Christ” and other groups that try to use this chapter to teach a sinner cannot be saved without water baptism (2:38). Of course, none of them follow vs.44-45! Of all the different groups that claim to follow Acts 2, none of them follow all of it.
The reason for all this confusion is a failure to obey the divine rule of Bible study given in 2 Tim. 2:15. When we rightly divide the word of truth we understand that the present mystery dispensation in which we are living was not even revealed in Acts 2. Even if the Church which is the Body of Christ began in Acts 2 (as many claim), nobody knew about it at that time because it was a mystery revealed through Paul (Eph. 3:1-12) and he was not even saved until Acts 9. The basis upon which God is building the Body of Christ is the cross of Christ (Eph. 2:14-17), but that does not mean it began or was revealed at the time of the cross. What takes place in Acts 2 concerns the nation of Israel and their prophetic kingdom program (2:5, 14, 22, 36).
Most fundamental and dispensational Bible teachers believe that the church which is the Body of Christ began on the day of Pentecost on the basis that the disciples were baptized with the Holy Ghost and were called a church. They teach that when the Holy Ghost was first poured out in Acts 2 that the Body of Christ began to be formed. Most Christians that are taught this never search the scriptures for themselves to see whether it is so. They don't ask themselves questions such as, "Is there only one Spirit baptism in the Bible?" or, "Is there only one church in the Bible?"
The truth is that the Body of Christ did not begin on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. There is both a Spirit baptism and a church in OT prophecy related to the kingdom that God promised Israel. If words mean anything, this cannot be the same Spirit baptism and church that was kept secret from the prophets until it was first revealed through Paul!
There are a number of scriptural objections against the Body of Christ beginning on Pentecost.
I. There was already a church in existence before Pentecost (Acts 1:4, 15; 2:1). A church is simply a called out assembly. There was a "little flock" of believing Jews that were called out of unbelieving Israel (Lk. 12:32). The 3,000 Jews that repented and were baptized were ADDED to a church (Acts 2:41, 47). How could they be added to a church that did not already exist? Therefore, Acts 2 does not record the birthday of any church. It does record how Christ empowered His disciples by pouring out the Holy Ghost upon them and how 3,000 Jews repented from killing their Messiah and were added to that holy nation (Matt. 21:43; 1 Pet. 2:9). The church in the early chapters of Acts was spoken of in OT prophecy (compare Ps. 22:22 with Heb. 2:12). The church that Christ spoke of in His earthly ministry concerned the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16:18-19; 18:17).
II. What happened in Acts 2 was according to PROPHECY (Acts 2:16-17; 3:24). The Body of Christ was a mystery which “was kept SECRET since the world began” (Rom. 16:25). The prophesied “last days” of Israel could not be at the same time the first days of the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ was a mystery hid from the prophets (Eph. 3:6).
There are a number of scriptural objections against the Body of Christ beginning on Pentecost.
I. There was already a church in existence before Pentecost (Acts 1:4, 15; 2:1). A church is simply a called out assembly. There was a "little flock" of believing Jews that were called out of unbelieving Israel (Lk. 12:32). The 3,000 Jews that repented and were baptized were ADDED to a church (Acts 2:41, 47). How could they be added to a church that did not already exist? Therefore, Acts 2 does not record the birthday of any church. It does record how Christ empowered His disciples by pouring out the Holy Ghost upon them and how 3,000 Jews repented from killing their Messiah and were added to that holy nation (Matt. 21:43; 1 Pet. 2:9). The church in the early chapters of Acts was spoken of in OT prophecy (compare Ps. 22:22 with Heb. 2:12). The church that Christ spoke of in His earthly ministry concerned the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16:18-19; 18:17).
II. What happened in Acts 2 was according to PROPHECY (Acts 2:16-17; 3:24). The Body of Christ was a mystery which “was kept SECRET since the world began” (Rom. 16:25). The prophesied “last days” of Israel could not be at the same time the first days of the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ was a mystery hid from the prophets (Eph. 3:6).
III. Pentecost (means fiftieth, fifty days after the feast of firstfruits) was a Jewish feast day. The seven Jewish feasts (Lev. 23) provide a prophetic picture in relation to God's dealings with Israel. Some claim the two loaves mixed with leaven that were waved before the Lord on Pentecost is a picture of Jews and Gentiles in the Body of Christ. Paul said the Body of Christ is "one bread," not two loaves (1 Cor. 10:17). The two loaves represent the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah being united in the kingdom (Ezek. 37).
IV. There were NO uncircumcised Gentiles present or welcome. Peter did not address any uncircumcised Gentiles (2:14, 22, 36). If Peter understood the truth of Body of Christ in Acts 2, explain his attitude nearly ten years later toward the Gentile household of Cornelius (Acts 10:28-29). There will be Gentiles in the kingdom (Matt. 25:31-46), but they will not be in one spiritual body with Israel!
V. Peter preached the same gospel to Israel that John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and the twelve preached before the cross. The gospel of the kingdom required repentance and water baptism for the remission of sins (Mk. 1:4; Acts 2:36-40). Israel will receive remission of sins as a nation at the Second Coming of Christ (Acts 3:19-21). We know that Peter was not preaching the same gospel that Paul later preached because Paul received his gospel by revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:11-12; 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Peter preached the cross, but he preached it as BAD news! He preached the cross as a murder indictment on Israel and called on them to repent for killing their Messiah.
IV. There were NO uncircumcised Gentiles present or welcome. Peter did not address any uncircumcised Gentiles (2:14, 22, 36). If Peter understood the truth of Body of Christ in Acts 2, explain his attitude nearly ten years later toward the Gentile household of Cornelius (Acts 10:28-29). There will be Gentiles in the kingdom (Matt. 25:31-46), but they will not be in one spiritual body with Israel!
V. Peter preached the same gospel to Israel that John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and the twelve preached before the cross. The gospel of the kingdom required repentance and water baptism for the remission of sins (Mk. 1:4; Acts 2:36-40). Israel will receive remission of sins as a nation at the Second Coming of Christ (Acts 3:19-21). We know that Peter was not preaching the same gospel that Paul later preached because Paul received his gospel by revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:11-12; 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Peter preached the cross, but he preached it as BAD news! He preached the cross as a murder indictment on Israel and called on them to repent for killing their Messiah.
VI. The baptism "with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 1:4-5) is NOT the same thing as baptism "by the Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13). There are many different baptisms in the Bible. There are two different baptisms that involve the Holy Spirit.
With the Holy Ghost
1) Outward manifestations (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6)
2) For power (Lk. 24:49; Jn. 14:12)
3) According to prophecy (Isa. 32:1, 15-18; 44:3; Ezek. 39:29; Joel 2:28; Zech. 12:10)
4) Christ baptizes with Holy Ghost (Matt. 3:11)
By the Spirit
1) No outward manifestations (Rom. 6:3, only know it by doctrine)
2) For salvation (Gal. 3:26-28)
3) A mystery (the body a mystery, so the baptism into the body a mystery)
4) The Spirit baptizes into Christ (1 Cor. 12:13)
VII. In the early chapters of Acts, the manner in which the disciples were living was a foretaste of the kingdom (Heb. 6:5). Christ required His disciples to sell all that they had and give it to the poor (Lk. 12:32-33). This proved that they believed the kingdom was at hand. Since the kingdom was about to be set up they did not need houses and lands (Acts 2:42-45; 4:32-35). The Body of Christ is instructed by Paul to do our own work that we might not lack and to provide for our own house (1 Thess. 4:11-12; 1 Tim. 5:8), which is certainly different than selling all and having all things common.
With the Holy Ghost
1) Outward manifestations (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6)
2) For power (Lk. 24:49; Jn. 14:12)
3) According to prophecy (Isa. 32:1, 15-18; 44:3; Ezek. 39:29; Joel 2:28; Zech. 12:10)
4) Christ baptizes with Holy Ghost (Matt. 3:11)
By the Spirit
1) No outward manifestations (Rom. 6:3, only know it by doctrine)
2) For salvation (Gal. 3:26-28)
3) A mystery (the body a mystery, so the baptism into the body a mystery)
4) The Spirit baptizes into Christ (1 Cor. 12:13)
VII. In the early chapters of Acts, the manner in which the disciples were living was a foretaste of the kingdom (Heb. 6:5). Christ required His disciples to sell all that they had and give it to the poor (Lk. 12:32-33). This proved that they believed the kingdom was at hand. Since the kingdom was about to be set up they did not need houses and lands (Acts 2:42-45; 4:32-35). The Body of Christ is instructed by Paul to do our own work that we might not lack and to provide for our own house (1 Thess. 4:11-12; 1 Tim. 5:8), which is certainly different than selling all and having all things common.
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