Is Acts 3 to Jews and Proselytes only ?

[throughfaith]

This Thread like my last thread is based on a run through the Book of Acts and asking the questions about what's going on .
Is it a Jews and gentile message ? Are the apostles still anticipating the possibility of Israel accepting nationally their messiah and when is there last opportunity. When do the gentiles come into the picture ect ?

12And when Peter saw it, he
answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17¶And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

18But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

 

[Corban]

This Thread like my last thread is based on a run through the Book of Acts and asking the questions about what's going on .
Is it a Jews and gentile message ? Are the apostles still anticipating the possibility of Israel accepting nationally their messiah and when is there last opportunity. When do the gentiles come into the picture ect ?

12And when Peter saw it, he
answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17¶And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

18But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

The answer is in the verses

1. "Ye men of ISRAEL" decides who Jesus is addressing. It is definitive like Acts 17:22 "ye men of ATHENS", or Acts 19:35 "ye men of Ephesus". Israel ONLY is meant
2. "your fathers" points to men of the flesh. If Peter was addressing DISCIPLES it would be "your FATHER" - meaning God
3. "Repent" is directed at their rejection of Jesus, not their sins. "Repent" means to do an about-turn when headed in a direction. The context is Jesus suffering as a criminal at their hands as per the prophets. The Jew has a different starting point to the Infidel. The Jews had 1,500 years of the Oracles, Covenants and dealing with God. They don't have to be convinced of God and His Messiah. The just have to CHANGE DIRECTION in their REJECTION of Messiah. The Hindu, or Satanist who is converted has to start from scratch. He/ she has never heard of Jehovah, Christ, the Law and the Covenants.
4. The Believer's sins are blotted out when he believes and calls upon the Lord. But here, Israel's sins will be blotted out ONLY when the times of restitution come. This is in harmony with the prophets (e.g. Micah 7:18-20). That this is a future date is shown by Hosea 6:2 and Acts 1:6-8 and 15:14-16. FIRST the Church must be built and THEN ONLY is Israel restored. On the cross, our Lord Jesus cried to the Father to forgive Israel. God will, but it has not happened yet. They are paying for their sins till today (see Lev.26 and Deut.28).
5. "The PRESENCE of the Lord" seals it. All this will happen when Jesus is again PRESENT on earth. Again, this is stated in Acts 15:14-16. "AFTER" God has taken out of the Gentiles a people for His Name's sake, THEN only will Messiah "RETURN" to raise up the House of David.
6. God's use of the "House of David" is very clever. With one phrase He says much. (i) David was the only king that God was fully satisfied with. So David's House speaks of favor with God again. (ii) David's House has a special Covenant attached to it that a King would come from here and rule forever. This points to the Messiah. (iii) David's was the only king to reign over Judah first, and the ALL Israel. No other king had the experience of TWO HOUSES UNDER HIM. So it points to Messiah who must effect the reunification of the TWO HOUSES in Ezekiel 37. (iv) And if, as Ezekiel 37 shows, ALL Israelites who ever lived are resurrected, it shows that Messiah is Emanuel - for only God can raise the dead. (v) And if ALL Israelites be raised and returned to their Land, the God will have fulfilled His Covenant of Promise made with Abraham - thus settling God's honor for all time
7. "The restitution of ALL things" is not the New Heaven and Earth. It is the restoring of Israel as a Nation, in a Land that is a Land of Milk and Honey, free from threats form surrounding enemies, with a Temple in their midst. That is, God will restore Israel to its glory under Joshua, David and Solomon - a Land to be desired (as Joshua saw it), ruled by an equitous King (as David did), in peace, fame and prosperity (as Solomon did).

 

[throughfaith]

The answer is in the verses

1. "Ye men of ISRAEL" decides who Jesus is addressing. It is definitive like Acts 17:22 "ye men of ATHENS", or Acts 19:35 "ye men of Ephesus". Israel ONLY is meant
2. "your fathers" points to men of the flesh. If Peter was addressing DISCIPLES it would be "your FATHER" - meaning God
3. "Repent" is directed at their rejection of Jesus, not their sins. "Repent" means to do an about-turn when headed in a direction. The context is Jesus suffering as a criminal at their hands as per the prophets. The Jew has a different starting point to the Infidel. The Jews had 1,500 years of the Oracles, Covenants and dealing with God. They don't have to be convinced of God and His Messiah. The just have to CHANGE DIRECTION in their REJECTION of Messiah. The Hindu, or Satanist who is converted has to start from scratch. He/ she has never heard of Jehovah, Christ, the Law and the Covenants.
4. The Believer's sins are blotted out when he believes and calls upon the Lord. But here, Israel's sins will be blotted out ONLY when the times of restitution come. This is in harmony with the prophets (e.g. Micah 7:18-20). That this is a future date is shown by Hosea 6:2 and Acts 1:6-8 and 15:14-16. FIRST the Church must be built and THEN ONLY is Israel restored. On the cross, our Lord Jesus cried to the Father to forgive Israel. God will, but it has not happened yet. They are paying for their sins till today (see Lev.26 and Deut.28).
5. "The PRESENCE of the Lord" seals it. All this will happen when Jesus is again PRESENT on earth. Again, this is stated in Acts 15:14-16. "AFTER" God has taken out of the Gentiles a people for His Name's sake, THEN only will Messiah "RETURN" to raise up the House of David.
6. God's use of the "House of David" is very clever. With one phrase He says much. (i) David was the only king that God was fully satisfied with. So David's House speaks of favor with God again. (ii) David's House has a special Covenant attached to it that a King would come from here and rule forever. This points to the Messiah. (iii) David's was the only king to reign over Judah first, and the ALL Israel. No other king had the experience of TWO HOUSES UNDER HIM. So it points to Messiah who must effect the reunification of the TWO HOUSES in Ezekiel 37. (iv) And if, as Ezekiel 37 shows, ALL Israelites who ever lived are resurrected, it shows that Messiah is Emanuel - for only God can raise the dead. (v) And if ALL Israelites be raised and returned to their Land, the God will have fulfilled His Covenant of Promise made with Abraham - thus settling God's honor for all time
7. "The restitution of ALL things" is not the New Heaven and Earth. It is the restoring of Israel as a Nation, in a Land that is a Land of Milk and Honey, free from threats form surrounding enemies, with a Temple in their midst. That is, God will restore Israel to its glory under Joshua, David and Solomon - a Land to be desired (as Joshua saw it), ruled by an equitous King (as David did), in peace, fame and prosperity (as Solomon did).

Did Peter know of the message as we understand it today at that point ? Did he understand salvation by faith in the death burial and resurrection as we understand as explained in Rom 10.9 and 1cor 15. 1-4 ?

 

[eternally-gratefull]

As Jesus said, THE MESSAGEof salvation would go first to Jerusalem then to s America the. To the ends of the earth.

also remember peter taught the same message to the gentiles!

the gospel message is the same for all people. This 2 gospel theory is false.

 

[throughfaith]

Gospel simply means ' good news ' .
When Paul says if someone comes and preaches another Gospel than the one he delivered ,then we best be certain that it is the Gospel he delivered and not go stri6nging together the 29 conversion accounts in the book of Acts to make doctrines out of .

 

[throughfaith]

As Jesus said, THE MESSAGEof salvation would go first to Jerusalem then to s America the. To the ends of the earth.

also remember peter taught the same message to the gentiles!

the gospel message is the same for all people. This 2 gospel theory is false.

expand...
Acts 2
¶And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place

5¶And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven .

9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Jews , Jews ,Jews and Jews .

Unless you believe the apostles are acting out of disobedience we can conclude they are following Jesus s instructions to NOT go the the gentiles.
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 .

UNTIL THE GENTILES ARE GRANTED REPENTENCE. which is approx 10 years after acts 2 .

Acts11
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.

 

[Corban]

Did Peter know of the message as we understand it today at that point ? Did he understand salvation by faith in the death burial and resurrection as we understand as explained in Rom 10.9 and 1cor 15. 1-4 ?

Yes. His two letters address this. But you have a very valid point. Was Peter clear on what was required. Let us be brutally honest.

1. Peter was a product of 1,500 years of the Law of Moses and the Tanakh
2. Peter denied our Lord Jesus after it became clear that He would not take up the sword for Israel
3. Peter, having witnessed all that came to pass, had only one question to our Lord Jesus. "Will you now restore Israel"
4. Peter, though he was taught for 3.5 years by Jesus that he must go to the gentiles, refused at first to go to Cornelius
5. Peter, though he had been a Christian a long time, and was taught by Jesus Himself, was in favor that the church in Jerusalem keep the Law
6. Peter, though he had been a Christian a long time, and was taught personally by Jesus, misrepresented the gospel by fleeing from any contact with Gentile believers (Galatians Chapter 2)

I would say that Peter KNEW doctrinally the correct doctrine from Jesus' teaching and his own experience. But the power of his past, the power of the Jewish past, and the power of his surroundings at Jerusalem MOVED HIM TO make mistakes. This happened to Paul as well. He was ever sorrowful for his "brethren according to the flesh - Israel". He would swap his salvation if they could come to the knowlede of Jesus. He caused some to be circumcised to appease the Jews. Although he was sent to the Gentiles, Paul always first went to the synagogues. Why? 1,500 years of Jewry. Mayn disputes on this Forum are not about the Word of God. That is oftentimes clear. It is where we came from that weighs heavily.

 

[throughfaith]

Yes. His two letters address this. But you have a very valid point. Was Peter clear on what was required. Let us be brutally honest.

1. Peter was a product of 1,500 years of the Law of Moses and the Tanakh
2. Peter denied our Lord Jesus after it became clear that He would not take up the sword for Israel
3. Peter, having witnessed all that came to pass, had only one question to our Lord Jesus. "Will you now restore Israel"
4. Peter, though he was taught for 3.5 years by Jesus that he must go to the gentiles, refused at first to go to Cornelius
5. Peter, though he had been a Christian a long time, and was taught by Jesus Himself, was in favor that the church in Jerusalem keep the Law
6. Peter, though he had been a Christian a long time, and was taught personally by Jesus, misrepresented the gospel by fleeing from any contact with Gentile believers (Galatians Chapter 2)

I would say that Peter KNEW doctrinally the correct doctrine from Jesus' teaching and his own experience. But the power of his past, the power of the Jewish past, and the power of his surroundings at Jerusalem MOVED HIM TO make mistakes. This happened to Paul as well. He was ever sorrowful for his "brethren according to the flesh - Israel". He would swap his salvation if they could come to the knowlede of Jesus. He caused some to be circumcised to appease the Jews. Although he was sent to the Gentiles, Paul always first went to the synagogues. Why? 1,500 years of Jewry. Mayn disputes on this Forum are not about the Word of God. That is oftentimes clear. It is where we came from that weighs heavily.

When you say ///

1. Peter, though he was taught for 3.5 years by Jesus that he must go to the gentiles, refused at first to go to Cornelius// Which verses are you referring to ?

 

[Corban]

When you say ///

1. Peter, though he was taught for 3.5 years by Jesus that he must go to the gentiles, refused at first to go to Cornelius// Which verses are you referring to ?

Matthew 4:13-17, 12:17-21, Acts 1:8, 11:16-18, 15:13-17. They record some of what our Lord taught Peter, or that Peter would have known via the Tanakh.

 

[throughfaith]

Matthew 4:13-17, 12:17-21, Acts 1:8, 11:16-18, 15:13-17. They record some of what our Lord taught Peter, or that Peter would have known via the Tanakh.

I was thinking where Jesus tells them specifically not to go to the gentiles .

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:
Would it be more of an assumption?
I know we have an easy time of looking back and seeing things . Then we see Paul is given the mysteries ,including the Jew/ Gentile one body / Church ect

 

[Corban]

Gospel simply means ' good news ' .
When Paul says if someone comes and preaches another Gospel than the one he delivered ,then we best be certain that it is the Gospel he delivered and not go stri6nging together the 29 conversion accounts in the book of Acts to make doctrines out of .

Don't you think that the accomplished student of the Bible will consider all narratives of how the gospel was preached?

 

[throughfaith]

Don't you think that the accomplished student of the Bible will consider all narratives of how the gospel was preached?

Which Gospel? The one they are preaching in luke 9.6 ? or 1 cor 15 , 1-4 or the everlasting Gospel Rev 14 .6,7 or Luke 2.10 ?

 

[Corban]

I was thinking where Jesus tells them specifically not to go to the gentiles .

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:

Correct. Our Lord came preaching the Kingdom. The Kingdom is the fulfillment of God's Promises to Abraham and his seed. So God, ever correct, would have sent the message of the Kingdom to Israel first. He only turned to the Gentiles when Israel's rejection of Him was so far advanced that they plotted to kill Him. And just to be accurate, it was not eh gospel you preach to the unsaved - the gospel of grace (Act.20:24). Matthew 10:7 says it was the gospel of the KINGDOM - a somewhat different matter. A man is saved so that he may function in, or inherit the Kingdom (Jn.3:3-5) - two distinct "good newses".

 

[Corban]

Which Gospel? The one they are preaching in luke 9.6 ? or 1 cor 15 , 1-4 or the everlasting Gospel Rev 14 .6,7 or Luke 2.10 ?

I'll wait till you've answered my question. Thanks for understanding.

 

[Guojing]

19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

This passage provides the key distinction between Peter and Paul, their messages of Israel, and Gentiles respectively.

If you are reading it literally, without inserting what Paul taught us inside, Peter is urging Israel to repent so that their sins may be, not surely, be blotted out.

And when will their sins be blotted out? In the future, when Jesus Christ returns for them, in his 2nd coming, the so called "times of refreshing".

This view by Peter is reaffirmed by what he wrote to the Jews in 1 Peter 4:17-18

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Paul does not teach the Body of Christ that. We are forgiven the moment we believe in his death burial and resurrection for our sins.

It is not a may be, nor will it only come in the future.

 

[Guojing]

Y
I would say that Peter KNEW doctrinally the correct doctrine from Jesus' teaching and his own experience. But the power of his past, the power of the Jewish past, and the power of his surroundings at Jerusalem MOVED HIM TO make mistakes. This happened to Paul as well. He was ever sorrowful for his "brethren according to the flesh - Israel". He would swap his salvation if they could come to the knowlede of Jesus. He caused some to be circumcised to appease the Jews. Although he was sent to the Gentiles, Paul always first went to the synagogues. Why? 1,500 years of Jewry. Mayn disputes on this Forum are not about the Word of God. That is oftentimes clear. It is where we came from that weighs heavily.

Peter was not taught the revelations of the Body of Christ, some of which includes

1. The rapture before the 2nd coming. (1 Thess)
2. Jews and gentiles being equal (Ephesians 2 and 3)
3. Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians)

So no, Peter could not have preached the same gospel as Peter, nor did he need to.

He preached Christ according to prophecy. Peter finds a rich Christology in the biblical passages he cites in early Acts. “All the prophets” predicted the events of the last days, which Peter says have arrived (3:18, 21, 24; cf. 2:17-21).

The prophets predicted the events of Christ’s life, including his suffering and death (3:18), his resurrection (2:24-31 [=Ps. 16:8-11]), his ascension to heaven to be enthroned at God’s right hand (2:34-35 [=Ps. 110:1]; 3:21), his Second Coming for the “restoration of all things” (3:21 [cf. e.g. Is. 35:1–10; 65:17–25]), and his rejection by most of Israel (3:18; 4:11 [=Ps. 118:22]).

Jesus’ identity as Lord and Christ is confirmed since he fulfilled these scriptural expectations of the Messiah (2:36)

On the other hand, Paul preached Christ according to the mystery, which includes the 3 numbered points above.

 

[throughfaith]

I'll wait till you've answered my question. Thanks for understanding.

I would concour with #16

 

[Blik]

We need to understand the details of the Jew/gentile problem when we understand the background and overall goal of God for creating a Jew.

When God created this special race, the world consisted of nearly 100% idol worshippers. Abraham's father's work was manufacturing idols. Abraham was promised to be a blessing to ALL people, including gentiles. Israel was not created to be the only people God loved and cared for. They were shown the eternal ways of the Lord, but gentiles were not excluded and told not to learn of those ways.

In fact I discovered 124 verses that mostly tells gentiles to listen to what God spoke to Israel about. God called the gentiles the strangers or the sojourners.

 

[JaumeJ]

Two very important points.
1. Abraham was the very most faithful man remaining amongst humanity when he was called out of Padan Aram. There were very few on the earth who even truly recalled God not to mention believed Him as did AAbraham.

2. The Children of Israel while in the wwilderness were disobedient, and by their disobedience salvation was gained by the nations.
The seonc point here is indicative of our Father's will from the beginning of creation. I believe so.

The Children of Israel were far from perfect from the beginning. Had Israel been perfect gentiles would never have gained salvation.

The true Israel, that is those who will rule with God, are all who believe Him.

 

[throughfaith]

Don't you think that the accomplished student of the Bible will consider all narratives of how the gospel was preached?

Not all ,as the book of Acts is regularly used as doctrines for the church today still .