Acts of the Apostles

In case anyone's interested... :P This is the paper I wrote this week on Acts. We had to choose a significant doctrinal issue, a historical event, a cultural context (something better understood in a cultural context), and then our personal application of said events. :)

Doctrinal Issue:

Many Christians are confused today regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Some believe that the evidence of this baptism is synonymous with bursting forth into "tongues" (or more sensibly known as jabber). However, the book of Acts clearly shows this is not the case.

First of all, there is a difference in the Spirit's workings in the Old Testament, versus His workings in the New Testament. While Israel was still under the Law of Moses the Holy Spirit could come and go as He willed. The Bible records many instances of Him coming upon a person. It also records Him leaving. Judges records several times where the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson and he did mighty things (14:6, 14:19, 15:14). After King Saul disobeyed the Lord's commands, the Lord rejected him as king of Israel (1 Samuel 15:26). A couple dozen verses later in chapter 16:14 the Bible records that "the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul" as a result of that rejection. David, after his adultery with Bathsheba, pleads with the Lord in Psalms 51:11 saying "Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me". These verses seem to indicate that in those days the Spirit of the Lord came and went. Jesus, speaking to His disciples, in John 14:16 says "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." Several verses later in the same chapter (14:26) that Comforter is identified as the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of this new covenant abides in us and will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). It's a promise.

The book of Acts documents the coming of the Spirit and His transition from the old covenant to the new. The text of chapter two tells how the believers heard a sound like a rushing, mighty wind which filled the house in which they were all gathered. Then there appeared tongues of fire over each one of them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. The speaking in tongues was a physical representation to everyone else of the baptism of the Spirit. The church continues to grow and in chapter eight the half-Jews of Samaria are reached. They believe the Word and are baptized. However, to symbolize that they were a part of the church in Jerusalem and not a seperate body, the Samaritans only recieved the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands of Peter and John. As the church continues to grow, we also see the Gentiles join. Now this is a unique plot twist. The Gentiles (in chapter ten of Acts) recieve the Holy Spirit right away and begin to speak in tongues! How wise is our God to use this as a symbol to the Jews that they were entering the church on an equal basis, having recieved the Spirit in the same way as the first Jewish believers.

Now it is important to point out that the baptism of the Spirit and the filling of the Spirit are two very different things. The baptism of the Holy Spirit equates the acceptance of that new believer into the body of Christ. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free;...” (1 Corinthians 12:13). His sending of His Spirit to live in us is a promise that someday He will return as well. The Spirit is our Comforter (John 14) and our Hope (Romans 15) until that day. The filling of the Holy Spirit signifies the submission of a man to His control. Samson was filled with the Spirit of the Lord and performed mighty deeds. Peter and Paul were “filled with the Holy Ghost” repeatedly and performed miracles and spoke the Truth without fear (Acts 4:8, 9:17-20, 13:9). Mere men were “not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit” (7:10) by which Stephen spake when on trial for his faith. Jesus said, “If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23). Submitting to the control of the Holy Spirit is a daily task. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is a one time occurence, simultaneous with the repentance and belief of a new Christian.

Historical Event:

During the early days of the church, there were many church councils. These were comprised of wise Christians in leadership who ironed out doctrinal differences using the text of Scripture. The first of these well-known councils is the Jerusalem Council. Bible scholars typically place this council during the years 50-51 AD. Its purpose was to decide the question of circumcision among Gentile Christians.

In the year or so following Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey, the Bible records men coming down from Judea who taught the young Gentile church that they must be circumcised in order to be saved (Acts 15:1). Now “Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them” (15:2) over this and eventually resolved to consult with the elders and apostles in Jerusalem.

After much disputing the text says, Peter rose to speak. He repeated the story of how the Gentiles came to Christ and how they were given the Holy Spirit in the same way as the Jews. He argued that God would not put a burden on them of trying to follow all the Law since the Jews themselves could not even keep it! “We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” (15:10) he said. Paraphrased loosely, we are no longer under the yoke of the Law to make us righteous – we are saved by faith and so are they. Paul and Barnabas also spoke, declaring the work

they had done among the Gentiles. Lastly, James (the half-brother of Jesus) stands to speak. He agrees with Peter on not troubling the Gentile Christians but he adds something. He suggests writing a letter to the Gentile church, telling them of their decision. However, he proposed asking them to be sensitive to the large population of Jewish Christians in the same towns and to abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from things strangled, and from blood. Mind that this was not an command but a request for a few personal liberties to be sacrificed in order to preserve unity. This plan was accepted by the whole council.

So they wrote letters and sent Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch carrying these written words. They also sent Judas and Silas, two of their chief brethren in Jerusalem, to carry the same message by word of mouth so that there could be no doubt to anyone what the council had decided.

Cultural Context:

In some parts of Acts, the text is more easily interpreted in the context of culture. For instance, the Levitical Law laid down rules by which the Israelites could eat meat. God proclaimed certain animals unclean to eat, to sacrifice, or even to touch while others were clean and acceptable in His eyes (Leviticus 7:22-27, 11:1-47). Anyone who ate of the unclean beasts was considered unclean himself and had to be purified before he was socially accepted again. Well, the Gentiles ate whatever tasted good to them. They had no such list. So to the Jews, the Gentiles were unclean. Understanding this aids in understanding the story of Cornelius and Peter's dream.

Chapter ten of Acts tells of a man Cornelius who had a vision (10:1-8). This man was a Roman centurion, basically, a Gentile. The text says he was a God-fearer. (God-fearers were Gentiles that believed in God but were not ready to commit to being under the Law.) Now Cornelius dreamed and

saw an angel coming to him, telling him God had heard his prayers and had seen his seeking heart. He was told to send for a man named Peter as well as where to find him.

Now Peter was, close to the same time, being prepared for this encounter (10:9-16). He went up to the housetop to pray one evening but while there he fell into a trance. He saw heaven open and a sheet descend filled with all manner of unclean beast which he was told to kill and to eat. We know they were unclean because Peter protests, saying “never have I eaten anything that is common or unclean” (10:14). God answered, “What God has cleansed, that call not thou common” (10:15). This was done three times. Whenever God emphasizes something, it means it is extra important.

While Peter debates with himself as to the meaning of the dream, he's told of visitors seeking him at the door. The men sent by Cornelius had found him. They explain why they have come, he invites them in, and they stay the night. Remember Jews don't socialize with Gentiles! This symbolizes Peter's first step toward accepting them as equals. His dream must have been effecting a change in his thinking. The next day he travels with them to the house of Cornelius where a large group of Gentiles are gathered, waiting to hear the words of the Lord through Peter. Entering the house, Peter introduces himself with this statement: “Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or to come unto one of another nation; but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean” (10:28). See, his vision was to prepare him to reach the Gentiles with the gospel understanding that God had said it was alright. Of course, Peter doesn't quite know this yet since he still asks why he was summoned!

Cornelius explains about his dream. Peter responds in amazement, accepting that God sees all men equally who fear Him and seek righteousness (10:34-35). And he expounds to them the gospel. The Bible says that “while Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the

word” (10:44). The Spirit came on them while Peter was still speaking! There was no need to lay hands on them or to pray over them. In the same way as the Jews at Pentecost, when these Gentiles believed, they recieved the Holy Spirit, and spoke in tongues showing to all present their baptism of such. Then they were baptized with water as well to show their obedience to God. A new part of the body of Christ was born.

Personal Application:

What can be learned from the book of Acts? This book is a transition book and a historical book. It documents the transition from the Mosiac Law into the new covenant brought by Jesus Christ while also listing significant events in the early church's birth and subsequent growth.

The doctrines introduced in Acts are not all applicable to the church today though many are. For instance in the early days of the church, the coming of the Spirit onto new believers was different each time a new part of the Body was born. It's almost like watching the birth of a baby (the church) in slow motion. After the baby is completely born (Acts 19:1-7), there are no instances in the entirety of church history of a delay between the moment of belief in a person's life and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon that person. It is always simultaneous. So this is applicable to me in that I know the Holy Spirit dwells in me and that He will never leave me. However, I see in Acts that I must daily submit to His control in order to walk righteously. I no longer have to feel fear when I face opposition for the glory of the gospel because I know that the Holy Spirit will give me the power and the words to reply. I merely have to focus on the Lord.

The Council of Jerusalem is an incredible example of Christians working together to interpret the Scriptures. Granted, the elders and the apostles didn't have the written New Testament at that time.

They did have, though, an incredible understanding of the Hebrew Old Testament and were in close communion with the Holy Spirit. I can see how this principle could be applicable in my life when I'm confused about certain principles in the Bible. Fellowship with other mature believers, together with pray and the reading of His Word is the solution.

Lastly, the fact that I, as a Gentile, am no longer unclean but have been cleansed by the Lord just gives me goosebumps! If God had not taught Peter that lesson and sent him to Cornelius, I may not be a Christian today. God tells us that He is not a respector of persons. He doesn't pick favorites. Therefore, since He deemed me worthy to become a child of His, how can I refuse to go anywhere to tell anyone this wonderful Truth? His gift of life is open to all who will believe.

This book of Acts is crammed with applicable doctrines, historical events with incredible significance, and fun cultural understandings – whether geographical or philosophical. However we cannot forget that there are principles no longer in use today, such as speaking in tongues, performing miracles, and prophesying. Suffice to say that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).