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T.O.C. This is a Foundational Teaching Review The birth of the church Stephen The first Christian martyr How to read the Scriptures to fit a pre-conceived framework Paul s gets saved on the road to Damascus Ananias Best choice?!? June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 4
T.O.C. Looking Forward Peter and his new menu choices June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 5
Review During the lifetime of Yeshua, he and his disciples lived the faith that God gave to the Israelites through Moses. We know these instructions as the Torah Perfect Instruction Manual June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 6
You ve heard it said: June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 7
5:18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 Go, stand in the temple courts, he said, and tell the people the full message of this new life. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 8
If the Torah had been done away with, this certainly would be a part of the full message of this new life. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 9
Acts 5:34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 38 Therefore, in the present case, I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 10
Acts 5:39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. 40 And to him they agreed June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 11
Acts 5:39 By this time, the apostles were known in Jerusalem and it is difficult to believe that this argument used by Gamaliel ( but if this be of God; fighting against God ) would have been effective in the Sanhedrin if the apostles had been teaching that the law had been done away with. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 12
Acts 5:42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Yeshua is the long-awaited Messiah of Israel Have you noticed any course-correction? Acts 5:20 full message June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 13
Chapter 6 The apostles called the disciples together to discuss delegating some of the responsibilities of the daily distribution of food to the widows. 6:1 when the number of disciples had increased 2 The 12 summoned all the disciples June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 14
26:2 it is not avresto,n for us to wait on tables and neglect the study of God s Word. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 15
26:2 it is not avresto,n pleasing desirable for us to wait on tables and neglect the study of God s Word. Neglect katalei,yantaj means to set to one side in favor of something else It is not the best course of action for us to wait on tables June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 16
Someone has to wait on tables because there is a need The Almighty has in mind someone(s) who is perfected suited to the task Does that mean that the 12 cannot wait on tables? June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 17
This implies that what He wants me to do is not going to fully happen until each of you steps up to the plate and does what He wants you to do! Am I reading into the text here? What is YOUR passion for the Kingdom and how can I come along side and assist you to be successful? June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 18
Does this text really say The apostles couldn t continue to do what they were specifically called to do until the rest of the community did what the Almighty wanted them to do. Discover YOUR passion for the Kingdom and light her up! June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 19
Chapter 6 The apostles called the disciples together to discuss delegating some of the responsibilities of the daily distribution of food to the widows. 6:1 when the number of disciples had increased 2 The 12 summoned all the disciples 3 The apostles said: Here s the plan June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 20
The Plan (v3): Choose 7 by vote (Requires 4 things) 1. Have a good reputation 2. Full of the Spirit 3. Full of Wisdom 4. Understand that we are now under grace and not under the law June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 21
Acts 6:5 lists the 7 that were selected by vote and the last one is Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch, or, a convert to Judaism, who believed that Yeshua was the promised one that was to be sent. 7a The Word of God increased, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem multiplied exceedingly. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 22
Acts 6:7b and a great number of the priests were obedient to the faith What faith? The Christian Faith? June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 23
Still Priests Still presiding over the sacrificial system Still following the faith given to Moses And believing that Yeshua was the Messiah No conflicts noted. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 24
Acts 6:9 Stephen goes into one of the synagogues and discusses with the other Jews that the law has been done away with. Acts 6:9 Stephen goes into one of the synagogues and discusses with the other Jews there about Yeshua s Messiahship. When were the synagogue meetings? Sunday? June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 25
Acts 6:10 Stephen made his case from the Scriptures about the fact that Yeshua was the Messiah and they couldn t defeat him. What was Plan B? 6:11 They secretly hired some men to do something illegal. What was it? June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 26
Acts 6:11b To say: We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God. 12 This stirred up the people and the elders, and the scribes so they brought him before the council to make a legal determination if theses things were so. This blasphemy means June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 27
They are to lie and say that Stephen has said that the law has been done away with! The NET Bible (https://bible.org/netbible/) June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 28
The NET Bible (https://bible.org/netbible/) NET Bible Footnote #41 in Acts 6:13 The law refers to the law of Moses. It elaborates the nature of the blasphemy in v11. To speak against God s law in Torah was to blaspheme God (Deut. 28:15-19). June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 29
What just happened? The first Christian martyr, Stephen, was so in the zone following the teachings of Moses, that they had to lie saying: Stephen is teaching against the law of Moses, which is blaspheming God! And that s straight out of the NETBible s notes June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 30
Q: If Stephen had been teaching that the law had been done away with, would his enemies have needed to hire men to testify falsely that he had said that? Couldn t they have just told the truth? June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 31
Acts 7:1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? Our parlance: Do you plead guilty or not guilty? What things? That he was teaching that the law of Moses had been done away with Answers with the historical method June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 32
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Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall Yahweh your Elohim raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. Acts 7:38a NASB This is the one who was in the evkklhsi,a in the wilderness 114X NT June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 34
Acts 7:38a NASB This is the one who was in the evkklhsi,a in the wilderness 114X NT 109X (114X NT) church(es) 3X assembly Acts 19:32,39,40 Gathering of Ephesian idol makers in a theater with 2 Jews June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 35
2X congregation Hebrews 2:12 saying, I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise. Quote of Psalm 22:22 June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 36
Psalm 22:22 I will tell of Thy name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly kahal I will praise Thee. NETBible fn#52 It refers to the psalmist s fellow members of the Israelite covenant community. The Israelite covenant community is not the same entity as the Christian church according to this TRANSLATION June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 37
Acts 7:38a NASB This is the one who was in the evkklhsi,a in the wilderness 114X NT 109X (114X NT) church(es) 3X assembly Acts 19:32,39,40 2X congregation Hebrews 2:12 and Acts 7:38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 38
Acts 7:38a This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness fn# 104 This term, evkklhsi,a, is a secular use of the term that came to mean church in the epistles. Here a reference to an assembly is all that is intended. Really? Daily Bible Study - Congregation http://www.keyway.ca/htm2001/20010808.htm June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 39
Congregation, is [are] most often used to translate the original Hebrew words of the Old Testament, which were used primarily to describe the Israelites in a sense of a gathering of The Lord s holy people. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 40
1 Corinthians 10:1 NASB For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 41
1 Corinthians 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Acts 7:38a This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness fn# 104 Here a reference to an assembly is all that is intended. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 42
Acts 7:38b the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; He (Moses) received living oracles to pass on to you. fn# 108 Or messages. This is an allusion to the law given to Moses. Allusion is a figure of speech, in which one refers covertly or indirectly to an object or circumstance from an external context. WIKI June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 43
fn# 104 Here a reference to an assembly is all that is intended. Yet, they all passed through the sea, June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 44
fn# 104 Here a reference to an assembly is all that is intended. Yet, they all passed through the sea, were baptized into Moses in the sea, June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 45
fn# 104 Here a reference to an assembly is all that is intended. Yet, they all passed through the sea, were baptized into Moses in the sea, were eating the same spiritual food, June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 46
fn# 104 Here a reference to an assembly is all that is intended. Yet, they all passed through the sea, were baptized into Moses in the sea, were eating the same spiritual food, drinking the same spiritual drink, June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 47
fn# 104 Here a reference to an assembly is all that is intended. Yet, they all passed through the sea, were baptized into Moses in the sea, were eating the same spiritual food, drinking the same spiritual drink, drinking from the spiritual rock, which was Christ. But this is only a reference to an assembly of persons Really? June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 48
Acts 7:38b the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; He (Moses) received lo,gia zw/nta living oracles (present tense) to pass on to you. Stephen s assessment of the faith given to Moses is that today they are STILL LIVING ORACLES June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 49
One more point on 7:38 fn# 109 Stephen perhaps does not wish to disassociate himself from those who received God s revelation in the past, but only from those who misinterpreted and disobeyed that revelation. (TCGNT p.307) disassociate himself from those who misinterpreted and disobeyed the Torah June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 50
Acts 7:51 You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 51
Acts 7:52 Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the law by the orders of angels, and yet did not [guard] obey it. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 52
Summary of what Stephen is saying: 1. The Torah leads directly to Yeshua being the promised one 2. Just as the fathers have demonstrated, Israel has now once again disobeyed the Torah by not accepting Yeshua as the one 3. All the words given to Moses are still active and alive today! 4. All y all are guilty! June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 53
The speech was like prophecy when they begin stoning him, which is just what the speech complained of in v52. Acts 7:58 they laid down their robes at a young man s feet, whose name was Saul. Acts 8:1 And Saul agreed completely with murdering him. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 54
Acts 8:3 NIV But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Later, we will discover (and point back to this discussion) that he tried to make them blaspheme (just like the false witnesses that were hired to accuse Stephen). June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 55
Acts 9:1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats to murder the Lord s disciples, went to the high priest v2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 56
Let s define who Paul is after They are called The Way, not Christians They meet in synagogues on the Sabbath, not on Sunday They are followers of the faith given to Moses and in contrast to the other Jews, believed that Yeshua was the promised Messiah to Israel. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 57
What do we know so far? We are approximately 7-10 years out from the resurrection and ascension. Everyone referred to continues to live the faith given to Moses. (The Perfect Instructions) Literal fulfillment of future Prophecies is still alive in the minds of the believers No hint of a change on the horizon June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 58
The time for the arrival of Yeshua had been set by the Father Just as He did with Moses and those who were saved out of the oppression of Egypt, He chose to speak and act within the context of the human culture of the day. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 59
Contained within the instruction manual given to Moses for the people was the prophecy of a coming one. The prophets added additional detail. He was born into a specific prophesied family and line that ordered their lives after the faith given to Moses The Perfect Instruction Manual June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 60
Yeshua ordered his life according to this Perfect instruction manual. Who were these people? They were a people chosen by God Himself to bear His name to the world. These people knew their history and fiercely debated how God wanted them to live out this Perfect instruction manual. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 61
He addressed interpretations of the instruction manual that were not accurate Yeshua knew that he would live as a teacher and disciple the 12 June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 62
He declared that there would be no divisions in this Perfect instruction manual and that all the instructions would be in effect until heaven and earth ceased and all things prophesied had come to pass (not just some). See teaching on Matthew 5:17-20 June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 63
After his resurrection but before his ascension, he instructed his disciples to go out and disciple others, following the same ordered life he demonstrated, after the Perfect instruction manual June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 64
This is exactly what they did Now, we are 7-10 years in and they all are still ordering their life after the Perfect instruction manual originally given to Moses. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 65
What was our plan? Let s examine how these disciples lived their lives after he was gone. And from that Let s let that teach us what they learned from his teaching and training of them. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 66
So far, we see them continue as followers of the perfect instruction manual We see them continue to study this manual every Sabbath, worship at the temple, perform the sacrifices required of them, and many more. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 67
QUESTION: If we are looking for those that are in covenant with the Creator, why wouldn t we look for those who order their lives after the Perfect instruction manual, the faith given to Moses, the living testimony of Yeshua, and the living testimony of his disciples? That question remains on the table June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 68
Continuing now back at Acts 9:2 Letters were requested by Paul to the synagogues in Damascus that if he found any of The Way, he could arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem. Only difference between them and himself was that they believed that Yeshua was the promised Messiah June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 69
Paul adds some details to this story later on so we should look at them so as to be complete June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 70
Acts 22:1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear my defense which I make now unto you. 22:3 Brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as you all are this day. What does that mean? June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 71
22:4 And I persecuted The Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. Remember, for only one difference 22:5 The high priest and elders can testify that I received letters unto the brethren in Damascus to bring those of The Way bound unto Jerusalem to be punished. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 72
22:6-11 During my trip to Damascus, I encountered Yeshua, and being left blind, I was brought into the city. 22:12 And a certain Ananias, 1. a man who was devout by the standard of the law, 2. and highly respected by all the Jews living there. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 73
22:13 Paul, receive your sight. 22:14-15 Ananias says, The God of our fathers hath chosen you, that you should know His will, and see that Just One, and should hear him speak. Will of God 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 74
Review The God of our fathers hath chosen you That thou shouldest know His will What do we know about God s will? Amos 3:7 Surely the Sovereign Yahweh does nothing without revealing His plans to his servants the prophets. What does that mean for us? June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 75
Whatever we think Paul will teach, we can be sure we can find it in the prophets. Example: If we interpret that Paul is teaching x, then if we can find it in the prophets, then we re good. BUT... If we can t find it in the prophets, then our interpretation of what we think Paul is teaching is in error (not on point). June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 76
Very Awesome 22:16 Now, what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on his name. 22:17 New Paul When I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying at the Temple and fell into a trance. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 77
22:18 Paul, time to leave. 19 Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed that you were the Messiah. 20 And when the blood of Stephen was shed, I voted guilty and stood by as it took place. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 78
Acts 26:1 Paul begins another defense for his behavior. We are interested in his past as it relates to Acts 9 26:9 I, too, was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Yeshua of Nazareth June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 79
26:10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests, I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 80
26:11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them. Once again demonstrates that the believers in Yeshua were still in the synagogue as if this was normal and expected behavior. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 81
Concerning forcing them to blaspheme, it wouldn t have been necessary if they were already NOT following the Torah. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 82
26:18 The call: To open their eyes (FOS) and to turn them from darkness (means what?) to light (means what?) In parallel Darkness: From the power of Satan unto God s Torah (is a light) So that they may receive forgiveness of sins What is a sin? June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 83
Paul addresses what sin is in Romans among other places and we will speak to that when we get there. Continuing v18 And an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in me. What is sanctification? Now, back to Acts 9 June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 84
Remember, the only difference between them and himself was that they believed that Yeshua was the promised Messiah. 9:3-6 Then it happened Paul meets Yeshua, they have a short discussion, and then Paul becomes saved from being a Pharisee to being a Christian. Was taught - Not what happened June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 85
In reality, it couldn t be further from the truth. He became just like those whom he wanted to arrest. He continued to follow the faith given to Moses (he makes that clear many times down the road) and now his eyes have been opened to the fact that Yeshua is the Messiah June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 86
Acts 9:10 Of all the disciples that could have been chosen by God to minister to Paul, Ananias was chosen. A devout observer of the faith given to Moses The Perfect instruction manual Highly respected by all the Jews means he was all the way in June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 87
At this time (7-10 years), the believers in Yeshua had not even begun to disavow the faith given to Moses. If we are to take Yeshua as a great teacher, then the out-living of his disciples demonstrates that Yeshua never taught them to set aside the faith given to Moses (the Perfect Instruction manual). June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 88
Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. He immediately joined the others of The Way in the synagogues After this, Paul eventually ended up in Jerusalem with the apostles. Then he was sent back to his home, Tarsus. June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 89
Where Are We? What do we know so far? June 21, 2014 http://hodf.org 90
June September 21, 2014 28, 2010 http://hodsbs.org http://hodf.org 91