Acts 2.38 is to Israel not gentiles

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
I Have already given you the scripture.
Thanks for reminding me of these scriptures. In several places Jesus makes it clear He came first for the Jews, for Jesus was a Jew. It was through the Hebrews that we are blessed.

But we must remember that gentiles are included, it is not Israel only. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
3,190
113
22¶Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:.

We can see here that Peter is addressing Jews ( Israel) .


33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

36¶Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Again we see ' ISRAEL '
37¶Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38¶Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

So we see here the information is to Jews . They need to repent . They need to step back and away from their idea that Jesus was a criminal who deserved to die . Now they are being told he was their deliverer .
They are to repent of this specifically.
They ask ' what must we DO ' , so eternal salvation is not in view here like it is in Acts 16.30 . Rather to Israel ,deliverence from their enemies by their messiah is the focus. Hence " what must we do "
This makes sense given now thier messiah was crucified , buried , rose again and was now seated at the right hand of the Father.

Thoughts?
Would the instructions apply to all who are ignorant of Jesus being Lord and Christ?

Can Jesus be Lord and Christ to those who don't belong to physical Israel??
 

JBTN

Active member
Feb 11, 2020
220
79
28
Its 10 years after Acts 2 before Peter understand s that Repentence has been granted to gentiles. So he's still following the command Jesus gave him and tge the Apostles.
Mat 10.5
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

Acts 11
15And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

17Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

18¶When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

19¶Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Didn’t the Apostles know here.

“Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:44-49‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/luk.24.44-49.esv
 
Jul 23, 2018
12,199
2,775
113
So we ignore the details and context? Just generalise everything ? Can we just randomly apply all verses to mean the same in all situations?
More like "the believers in Rome could not read colossians because it was not addressed to them "

Once that nothingburger is embraced where does it end?

We can not accept Jesus words?
They mean nothing to us ,correct?
They were addressed to the 12.

Paulines operate in that rediculous box.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
No but it sounds like you believe in keep on sinning salvation is it not? OSAS
More like "the believers in Rome could not read colossians because it was not addressed to them "

Once that nothingburger is embraced where does it end?

We can not accept Jesus words?
They mean nothing to us ,correct?
They were addressed to the 12.

Paulines operate in that rediculous box.
Or your taking the point too far ?
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
Didn’t the Apostles know here.

“Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:44-49‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/luk.24.44-49.esv
No , because we see their surprise in Acts 10 / 11 when the gentiles are granted repentance.
Yes they finally believe the death , burial and resurrection at that point though .
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
Didn’t the Apostles know here.

“Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:44-49‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/luk.24.44-49.esv
Two assumptions are made in the Gospels. One that the disciples understood and were preaching the Gospel the same as the one in 1 cor 15 ,1-4 and two , that the apostles were going to the gentiles before Acts 10 .
 

Chester

Senior Member
May 23, 2016
4,314
1,442
113
Yes that is what I said, "If there is repentance, it more to repent of our works to get right with God, and rest in Jesus's finished works."

That is also repentance, which means change of mind.
Change your "if" to "since" and I am in complete agreement! :)
 

JBTN

Active member
Feb 11, 2020
220
79
28
No , because we see their surprise in Acts 10 / 11 when the gentiles are granted repentance.
Yes they finally believe the death , burial and resurrection at that point though .
I went back and reread Acts 10, 11, and 15. I don’t really see Peter as surprised about going to the house of Cornelius. He was surprised that the restrictions on what was considered unclean to eat under the law had been removed. I think in Acts 10:43 he may very well be reflecting back on what Jesus revealed in Luke 24. Luke 24:45 says ”He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” So, I think they clearly understood.
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
5,251
1,106
113
No , because we see their surprise in Acts 10 / 11 when the gentiles are granted repentance.
Yes they finally believe the death , burial and resurrection at that point though .
The Luke 24:47 account makes it clear that the gospel message would be preached beginning in Jerusalem and would spread to all nations. One's lack in understanding how God's plan will unfold, as in the case of Peter concerning the Gentiles, does not change God's stated intention.
 

Tararose

Well-known member
Sep 30, 2020
753
564
93
Uk
www.101christiansocialnetwork.com
Whatever anyone believes God means by the verses that are addressed to Israel in some way, we know this, that we are all saved through by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.

Yet, even after thousands of years, reformations and us all claiming to have the Holy Spirit and insist on strongly and repeatedly trying to convince one another of our understanding of the word, we continue on in the same way the early church did when Paul rebuked them time and time again. We are bickering over law and grace, who has it right and believing all should comply to the way we understand the scriptures or they can’t be saved. It seems by the way threads on these topics seem to go, many of us (myself included at times I am ashamed to say) must believe we are of superior intellect or of greater spiritual maturity than many of our brothers and sisters, some even go so far as to say that they are lesser Christians and must be either lost, blind or arrogant to disagree with our currently preferred interpretation of things believers have battles over since the Church began.

The world is watching and waiting.
When we love one another as Jesus loved us then the world will
Know the Lord came in the flesh.

The devil loves biblical knowledge when we use it the way many of us seem to in these forums. He knows it can puff us up and keep us from displaying the fruits of the spirit to a lost audience. He knows love edifies and builds up.

He also knows we are meant to strive for unity and what makes for peace between us, to work together for the good of one another and to show we have one mind, we love one another and don’t need to be proven right. It would be natural for a believer to be willing to let things drop rather than cause division unless it regards the simple Gosple Message Or a brother or sister in danger of falling away . He knows the wisdom that is from above is peaceful and easy to entreat. He knows it is given in gentleness and with patience and kindness. He is glad when we forget these things.

There is nothing new under the sun.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
I went back and reread Acts 10, 11, and 15. I don’t really see Peter as surprised about going to the house of Cornelius. He was surprised that the restrictions on what was considered unclean to eat under the law had been removed. I think in Acts 10:43 he may very well be reflecting back on what Jesus revealed in Luke 24. Luke 24:45 says ”He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” So, I think they clearly understood.
Acts 11.
19¶Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the JEWS ONLY .
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
The Luke 24:47 account makes it clear that the gospel message would be preached beginning in Jerusalem and would spread to all nations. One's lack in understanding how God's plan will unfold, as in the case of Peter concerning the Gentiles, does not change God's stated intention.
Yes all nations. Jews in all nations.Not Just Peter but all the diciples . There's no way round the fact that Jesus commanded them NOT to go to the gentiles . This is the same mission up until here
Acts 11
18¶When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
Yeah Jesus said that go into all the world thing to the 12 guys standing there, there is no universal call in that statement.
Timothy was written to Timothy and there is no universal message
Same with Jude.
Being that Jesus told Nicodemus to be born again he wasn't talking to anyone else he only meant Nico.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
Yeah Jesus said that go into all the world thing to the 12 guys standing there, there is no universal call in that statement.
Timothy was written to Timothy and there is no universal message
Same with Jude.
Being that Jesus told Nicodemus to be born again he wasn't talking to anyone else he only meant Nico.
' universal message ' ?
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
5,251
1,106
113
Yes all nations. Jews in all nations.Not Just Peter but all the diciples . There's no way round the fact that Jesus commanded them NOT to go to the gentiles . This is the same mission up until here
Acts 11
18¶When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
It is clear that the Jews were to be addressed first, and they were. What cannot be denied is the fact that others had a personal responsibility to submit in obedience to the same message. All were presented with the particulars of Jesus' sacrifice, repented and obeyed the command to be water baptized. And it was God who poured out the promised gift of the Holy Ghost.
 

Yahshua

Senior Member
Sep 22, 2013
2,915
817
113
Yes all nations. Jews in all nations.Not Just Peter but all the diciples . There's no way round the fact that Jesus commanded them NOT to go to the gentiles . This is the same mission up until here
Acts 11
18¶When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Matthew 10:5-6
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.



And then later in the same book...

Matthew 28:19-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Both commands came from the Messiah, didn't they?
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
5,251
1,106
113
Yes all nations. Jews in all nations.Not Just Peter but all the diciples . There's no way round the fact that Jesus commanded them NOT to go to the gentiles . This is the same mission up until here
Acts 11
18¶When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
It was Jesus who made the following statement: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matthew 24:14
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
It is clear that the Jews were to be addressed first, and they were. What cannot be denied is the fact that others had a personal responsibility to submit in obedience to the same message. All were presented with the particulars of Jesus' sacrifice, repented and obeyed the command to be water baptized. And it was God who poured out the promised gift of the Holy Ghost.
To the same ! message ? which verse says this ? Why that message ?
 

Yahshua

Senior Member
Sep 22, 2013
2,915
817
113
There was also something I read about confessing sins, where I was reminded of the Messiah's blueprint for prayer:

Matthew 6:12-13
12 And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil


The Messiah said, "this is how you pray". If this was the blueprint for prayer then, in keeping with the model, aren't we to confess our new sins as part of those prayers? This view would appear to fit what John says about it. The shadow-picture we're given through the temple service also seems to fit this understanding:

Yes, the High Priest alone did the actual work of slaughtering the sacrifice and sprinkling the blood, but the household still had to confess their sins over the sacrifice first.

And in the fulfilled heavenly realm, no, we dont need to bring a sacrifice/blood but we still must confess our "acts that bring death" (i.e. sins). We're now just free to come boldly to the throne - without requiring the shedding of blood - and request His mercy and grace in our time of need (i.e. when we stumble).