PAUL WAS NOT PRESENT AS A BELIEVER
AT PENTECOST ACTS 2!
PAUL WAS NOT PRESENT
AS A BELIEVER
AT PENTECOST ACTS 2
(ARTICLE HAS 14 PAGES)
JAN LILLEBY
The entire Charismatic Pentecostal movements have always been in full confusion regarding the Bible.
According to that heretic movement – Assemblies of God, and the many variables throughout history – God sent a new ‘Pentecost’ in a revival in Los Angeles 1906-1913. It’s called for ‘The Azusa street Revival’ in Christendom.
Their revival-magazine announced on its front page, Pentecost Has Come – and their false doctrine of God sending back the miracles and signs, as well as the tongues told in Acts 2…after a long pause of 1870 years! Because they willingly admit that the apostolic miracle-signs and tongues have been totally absent for all these years. But ‘whoops!!’ – all of a sudden, out of nowhere, here it pops up at a revival meeting in Los Angeles in 1906. It was not even in Jerusalem, but on the other side of the earth, in typical Gentile land – not in God’s land Israel…as it was the first time as seen in Acts 2.
Pentecost all over again is a rather fantastic lie, based upon men’s fiction and dreaming. It is NOT an interpretation of Scripture - it is a fiction, a fantasy, a fairytale. God has nothing to do with it!
But the lie caught on hordes of followers over the years, as we learn from history.
The lie of a ‘new Pentecost’ resulted in a full confusion regarding the Biblical doctrine of faith for the church.
The movement ‘elegantly’ (or clumsily) jumps over a good number of Biblical facts, to be able to promote their false doctrine, as if it should be a move by God.
A major blunder created the Pentecostal movement: They took learning and inspiration of what God once did at Pentecost, Acts 2 – which was a visitation from God and the Holy Spirit…to Israel, His ancient nation on earth. And He had Peter and the eleven as leadership for the fresh new initiative, to preach and to offer Israel the new Kingdom of God on earth, at the Second Advent of Christ! It was all just for Israel, and Gentiles was not in these plans so far! Gentiles had to wait until God so chose to turn to them and offer them the Grace-Gospel (which He did, after the fall of Israel in Acts 28:25-28). This move of God, of turning to us Gentiles, did not come on the scene before around 62-63 CE as Paul was given the revelation of the Mystery, Eph. 3:1-3. At Pentecost in Acts 2, God moved only for His nation, Israel! The Church had not yet been created.
It seems to me that these believers in the Azusa revival, in their confusion, had forgotten that Paul was not present at Pentecost Acts 2. The ‘Apostle to the Gentiles’ did not come on the Biblical scene before 37 CE, 9 years after the Pentecost in Acts 2.
Paul was not there as God sent the Holy Spirit upon the Jewish disciples!
Paul was not there, before Pentecost, when Jesus told His Jewish disciples to preach the Kingdom-Gospel to ‘all the world, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit’, as in Mat. 28.
Paul was not at the ‘Upper Room’ among the 120 believers as tongues of fire came down and sat upon each one of them, neither did he speak in tongues likewise, Acts 2:3; as well as in the same moment there was a loud noise like a violent rushing wind, v. 2.
Pentecostals and Charismatics claims that they needed that ‘New Pentecost’ in Los Angeles 1906, - but Paul, the actual apostle whom Christ sent to us Gentiles, needed it not, that is, even that renowned first ‘Holy Spirit Pentecost’! If Paul – our actual tutor in Scriptures and the apostle God used to tell us Gentiles – had no need of Pentecost to get blessed and sent out by God to spread the Gospel, how come foolish Christians claim that they have to???
Acts 9 and Paul landing in Damascus – shows us clearly that Paul got filled with the Holy Spirit, and he was baptized in water…and he obviously had also gotten the gift of speaking in tongues (he said so himself, in 1 Cor. 14:18), NOT at Pentecost, but as he was together with Ananias and the other disciples at Damascus!
If I had been among these ‘Holy Rollers’ at Azusa revival, I would much rather want to have God send upon me the “Non-Pentecostal Damascus Blessing”, like that of Paul our apostle. Wouldn’t you also?
Acts 9:17, 18, NASB,
“17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; and he took food and was strengthened.”
Paul had been blinded as he was on the way to Damascus, and Jesus spoke to him….and he was taken care of by Ananias, a leading disciple in town. Paul did not experience any ‘rushing sound of wind’ or tongues of fire coming on him, or speaking immediately in tongues, but in spite of this he was now an apostle of Christ, hand-picked by Him for ministry. Paul needed no ‘Pentecostal experience’ like those in Acts 2.
Obviously, to Paul it seem like he was more than pleased with that, given his written ‘speech’ on how he ministered out here among the Gentiles. You are going to love this AI-generated summing-up on Paul and his hardships…contrasting those who dared question his God-given authority:
“Paul explicitly argued that he suffered more and labored harder than the other apostles, primarily to defend the authenticity of his ministry against "super-apostles" who were challenging his authority. His strongest statements on this are found in 2 Corinthians 11:16–33 and 1 Corinthians 15:10.
Key Arguments and Quotes on Suffering
"I am more" (2 Corinthians 11:23): When challenged by "super-apostles" in Corinth, Paul reluctantly boasted about his hardships, arguing that his life of suffering was the ultimate credential of a true minister of Christ, saying, "I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death".
The List of Hardships (2 Corinthians 11:24–27): Paul detailed his sufferings:
5 times received 39 lashes from the Jews.
3 times beaten with rods.
1 time stoned and left for dead.
3 times shipwrecked.
Frequent danger from rivers, robbers, false believers, Jews, and Gentiles.
Constant hunger, thirst, nakedness, and exposure to cold.
Daily Pressure (2 Corinthians 11:28-29): Beyond physical torture, Paul noted the psychological weight of his "concern for all the churches".
"I die every day" (1 Corinthians 15:31): Paul indicated he was in constant danger, treating his life as a daily sacrifice for the Gospel.
Why Paul Claimed Greater Suffering
To Prove Authenticity: Paul used his suffering to combat false teachers who were charismatic but lacked true sacrifice. He argued that a true servant of Christ follows the path of the "suffering servant" (Jesus).
Laboring More Abundantly (1 Corinthians 15:10): "I labored more abundantly than they all," Paul wrote, while quickly giving credit to "the grace of God which was with me".
His Past as a Persecutor: Paul felt he needed to justify his place as an apostle because he previously persecuted the church, saying, "I am the least of the apostles... because I persecuted the church of God".
Contextual Notes
"Light Affliction": Paradoxically, in 2 Corinthians 4:17, Paul calls these immense, life-threatening sufferings "light affliction" compared to the "eternal weight of glory" that was to come.
Boasting in Weakness: Paul concluded that his suffering was actually his strength because it forced him to rely on God's grace, allowing him to say, "When I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor 12:10)”
So as a believer in Christ, you either have to put up or shut up! …in regard to the immense importance of Paul as our ONLY apostle to us Gentiles!
PENTECOST ACTS 2 WAS FOR JEWS ONLY,
AND NOT FOR US ‘ETHNOS’ - GENTILES
This which took place in Jerusalem Acts 2 – logistically speaking – would demand that …given the idea of a ‘new’ Pentecost in 1906…the audiences present would have been just like the ones seen in Acts 2, at Jerusalem, namely …quote:
“… Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. Acts 2:5.
These nations are listed, according to their languages, verse 9-11,
"Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs -we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God."
They were not Gentiles! They were Jews experiencing some of the prophets’ words being fulfilled among them. Peter referred to Joel, and he referred to David in Acts 3. The event at Pentecost was according to the Law of Moses celebrating Pentecost as the following Holy Feast 50 days after Passover. Gentiles were not at all into this equation. Pentecost in Acts 2 was not part of any effort of God trying to reach out to Gentiles!!
Peter’s known two speeches in Acts 2 and Acts 3, gives us his typical addressing opening words: Using AI-generated info summing-up,
“In Acts 2 and Acts 3, Peter addresses specifically Jewish audiences in Jerusalem, identifying them as fellow Israelites, men of Judea, and residents of Jerusalem. The speeches serve as a public proclamation that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had recently crucified, is the promised Messiah.
Acts 2: Pentecost Sermon
Audience: Peter speaks to a devout, multi-national crowd of Jews visiting Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost, as well as local Judeans.
Key Themes:
Defense: He explains that the speaking in tongues is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32, not drunkenness.
Indictment & Exaltation: He accuses them of killing Jesus, but states God raised Him from the dead.
Call to Action: He tells them that God made this Jesus "both Lord and Messiah".
Result: The crowd is "cut to the heart," and 3,000 are baptized after Peter calls them to repentance.
Acts 3: Sermon at Solomon's Colonnade
Audience: A crowd of "fellow Israelites" gathered in the Temple area after witnessing Peter and John heal a man crippled from birth.
Key Themes:
Deflection of Power: Peter immediately denies that the healing was done by his own power, attributing it to Jesus.
Accusation & Mercy: He boldly tells them they disowned the "Holy and Righteous One" and asked for a murderer to be released instead.
Call to Repentance: Peter argues they acted in ignorance and calls on them to repent so that "times of refreshing" may come.
Covenant Focus: He reminds them that they are heirs of the covenant God made with Abraham.
Key Commonalities
Exclusively Jewish: Both sermons are directed only to a Jewish audience.
The Murder and Resurrection: Peter highlights the contrast between their rejection of Jesus and God’s exaltation of Him.
Call to Repentance: Both end with a plea for the crowd to change their minds about Jesus and turn to God.
Prophetic Fulfillment: Both argue that Jesus’s death and resurrection were the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.”
The twelve apostles were present at Pentecost, and they were sent to Israel only! John 21 tells of the Lord charging Peter and the others…to go tending to the LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. Which is like a continuation His ministry when he first came to Israel (Mat. 15:24). Peter was entirely ‘flabbergasted’ – 9 years after Pentecost, of being told by Christ in a vision that he should go to Gentiles at Caesarea. He objected in disbelief when the Lord gave Peter a vision as he was with Simon the tanner at Joppa; and argued with the Lord, Acts 10:10-16, NASB,
“10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance;
11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,
12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.
13 A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!"
14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean."
15 Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy."
16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.”
There can be no doubt that Peter NEVER was told to go to any Gentile people earlier. The Great Commission, in Mat. 28 are translated in error. The stiff-necked translation committees don’t seem to understand this Biblical truth. Peter and the eleven other apostles knew very well that they all had been appointed by Jesus to go to Israel only! Not into ‘all the world’!
The incident with Cornelius and his friends at Caesarea, wanting to hear the Kingdom-Gospel preached by Peter, was a ‘one off’ – and was not repeated in Acts. Acts 11 tells of them going to Jews ONLY (Acts 11:19).
Peter did not change his ministry, to go to Gentiles on a regular basis. It was Israel only. He thus was the apostle to the CIRCUMSCISION, Gal. 2:7, 8.
Peter addressed his epistle to Jews in the dispersion…those who lived,
“…throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen.” (1 Pet. 1:1). But Peter has no Biblical testimony to have been at those Provinces.
Just as Paul, writing to the Romans, - but himself never having been there in person when he wrote it! That came later on, after he first had visited Jerusalem in 58 CE. He wrote the epistle when he stayed at Ephesus 56-57 CE.
In Acts 12, which was in 44 CE, 16 years since Acts 2, we still find Peter present inside Israel’s land! None of the other apostles is reported as going to Gentiles. Luke would never have missed out on it if this was a fact. In Luke 24:52, 53 - we find him placing the apostles geographically, at Jerusalem and the temple,
“52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53 and were continually in the temple praising God.”
Christianity think that the apostles went all abroad in mission, but the Bible itself says otherwise: They were constantly/continually in the temple. In Acts 5 it says of them likewise: and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico.
THE PECULIAR TIME FACTOR
MUST BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION
It had become 44 CE as we find Peter at Passover in Jerusalem, Acts 12, getting arrested by the evil Herod Agrippa I, and holding this fact up against the error found in Christianity – that of Peter and the twelve being sent out into World-Wide mission, makes us have to revise this entire false narrative. After full 16 years, Peter was still not found outside of Israel in mission – neither were any of the eleven co-apostles. Why???
Compare this to when Paul and Barnabas was told by the Holy Spirit to travel abroad into mission, Acts 13:2-4, NASB,
“2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.”
Hey, what do we see here!!
After a few days perhaps: the two – Paul and Barnabas, together with John Mark, entered a ship and immediately left Israel, setting course for Cyprus! No 16 years of tarrying in Israel…like it was with Peter! This pointing out of the time-factor is a move of detection on my part: it brings to light the very Bible truth of how it really was with Peter and the twelve, compared to Paul and his helpers.
The foolish idea found within the ‘Christian Religion’ of Peter and the twelve going abroad in mission, falls apart entirely. There exists no Biblical testimony of such ministry for the twelve. All we are served is a lot of extra-biblical free fictional fantasy…you know, Peter going to Rome, Thomas going to India, and what not; Catholic-related lying fairytales and false legends. The legend that Peter was buried at the St. Peter’s Cathedral, Rome, cracked up – because there is evidence from medieval times of Pilgrims visiting another place at Rome, to pay homage to Peter! I have clipped in from an article by Professor Nicola Denzey Lewis, Brown University, quote:
(https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/wp-content/smush-avif/2017/03/nicola-denzey-lewis.jpg.avif)
“This is another fascinating thing we explore in Finding Jesus. Most people know about Peter’s traditional burial site at St. Peter’s. But it turns out that there’s a second site in Rome where pilgrims went for hundreds of years, which was known as the Memoria Apostolorum (the Memorial to the Apostles). It’s off the Via Appia at the modern site of the Catacombs of San Sebastiano, and you can still go and visit it today, although the memorial itself is largely built over.
What’s amazing is that the site preserves around 600 graffiti scrawled by Christian pilgrims in the early Middle Ages, most of them prayers to Peter and Paul, the joint patron saints of Rome. It certainly looks like people believed that Peter was buried there, but excavators found no evidence of a tomb there, either.”
So, how can this legend ‘hold water’ – Peter was ‘buried’ at two tomb sites?? The Papal official statement on Peter is that …it might be… his bones which were found by archeologists. This is typical of humanly born legends: It might be….
In the Bible Canon no such tomb site is found or reported of by Luke, or anyone at all. I prefer to believe what the Bible says. All other writings have to give way to the Bible when discussions arise.
Luke told of Paul and Barnabas leaving by ship for Cyprus, sent by the Holy Spirit to preach the Kingdom-Gospel in the Jewish Synagogues; it would be just as simple and uncomplicated for Luke to tell – by details – of Peter and the eleven leaving Israel for ministry abroad! But you see, Luke was a smart Christian believer and a learned physician and writer, so he went to follow the real apostle to us Gentiles, Paul, on his journeys. He knew that Peter would NEVER LEAVE THE LAND, which would have been a very dull and repetitive history-telling should he stayed with Peter in ministry! Luke deemed it sufficient to write of Peter this story which we now can read in Acts. The final chapter, where Peter is mentioned, is Ch. 15, regarding him meeting with the others at Jerusalem to decide what to tell the proselytes in relation to observing the Law. This was in 49 CE, full 21 years since Acts 2 and Pentecost! And that’s it. We never find anything more of Peter in Biblical history-writings. To Luke it was ‘Goodbye Peter, hello Paul!’
Some of the so-called Church Fathers mentioned Peter as one who went abroad…but we cannot ever trust these believers, after the passing of the thirteen apostles. They are infamously known as heretical concerning doctrine of faith (they believed in works for salvation!) – so we cannot put trust in any of their writings. (See my separate article on Didache writings, an anonymous writing in Koine Greek language).
There can exist no doubts as to whether Jesus told Peter and the eleven to go preaching IMMEDIATELY, after He asked them to first wait for the ‘power’ (Holy Spirit) Who should be coming upon them in Jerusalem. The ascension of Jesus took place ten days before Pentecost, which in 28 CE was Sunday 20 June. So, if Peter and his co-apostles kept staying in Israel, for 21 years, we must conclude that they were very disobedient to the calling given them by the Lord. To stay in Israel, is not to go out ‘into all the world’ as Jesus said in Mat. 28. Jesus told them to go ‘into ALL the land, Israel’.
Peter’s visit to Antioch told in Gal. 2:11-14, does not attest to any ministry of him now going out into ‘all the world’. Peter’s presence there was a ‘One off’. He still had no clear understanding of Gentiles as fellow heirs in Christ…they were still considered as just proselytes! Scholars place Peter at Antioch in 44-48 CE. The same time-schedule fitting in with the persecution told in Acts 12, when he escaped Jerusalem helped by an angel of God (Acts 12:5-17). It only says that Peter ‘went to another place’…so Luke did not name that place. Paul reprimanded Peter for not being straight in his eventual ‘fellowship’ with Gentiles…since he took distance to them when some Jewish brethren came visiting. Even Barnabas (!) was falling in with Peter’s hypocrisy, the very word used by Paul in his reprimand. Peter went to Antioch purely to seek refuge. Not for to minister according to the ‘Great Commission’, Mat.28. Notice: Luke did not mention Peter eventually performing healings and such, at Antioch. He mentioned him only in regard to having fellowship with church members, including Gentiles.
The Bible is correctly proving to us that Peter stayed inside Israel for a full 21 years, …the visit to Antioch was only a small parenthesis; at the same instance that we cannot find anywhere, any Biblical writing proving he went abroad in mission. If this does not make you hear bells ringing…hey, then you better go see a phycologist or some other specialist, to help you get relieved from your denial-neurosis and paranoia attacks. You have to learn to accept Biblical written proof/testimony – as well as the lack of it!
PENTECOST IN ACTS 2 COULD NOT EVER
BE REPEATED, BECAUSE THE LAW OF MOSES
WAS ABOLISHED!
According to Eph. 2:14, 15, the Law of Moses was abolished by Christ at the cross (however, it was kept secret in Acts time, since Jesus tested Israel for faith) – but revealed to Paul Post-Acts as he wrote Ephesians/Colossians in 63-67 CE. Acts ended in 62 CE.
Pentecost was therefore abolished…since the Law was abolished, which had originally ordained Israel for such Holy Feast Day celebration.
It might so be that because of Christendom’s establishing of a quasi-Pentecost, imitating the original one from the Law of Moses, this result in Christians forgetting that the original Pentecost, Passover, Feast of Trumpets, Sabbath – it all was abolished during apostolic times. Col. 2:13-17 tells us so, as well as Eph. 2:14, 15. But even so, this is not an accepted excuse for forgetting this important action taken by God. He actually and really abolished the Law of Moses, and it will never again become operative. See Col. 2 below:
Col. 2:16, 17, NASB,
“16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-
17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.”
It is impossible that God eventually should have sent a ‘New Pentecost’ in Los Angeles, 1906. Pentecost was abolished back in the time of the apostles!!
It is a sheer scandal that the Pentecostal movement just keeps carrying on, as if nothing has happened with God’s system of dispensations (administrations) in history, after the cross. When God opened a new dispensation (Greek, oikonomia) or administration, he used Paul as we learn from Eph. 3:1-3, - and told him by His revelation of the Mystery,
“1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles -
2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you;
3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.”
A repetition or a reprisal of the events seen at Pentecost in Acts 2 is thus proven by the Bible canon to be an entirely impossible thing.
God has by no means repeated what He once had abolished! No parts of the Law of Moses are in operation in our time. Even Sabbath has been taken off the roster! Pentecost is now just an old Mosaic ordinance which made the Jews come together at Jerusalem, 50 days after Passover. And it will never again be made an ordinance for Israel to observe. Not ever! As Paul says in Col. 2, it was part of God’s prophetic foreshadowing of things to come…Christ, the Messiah-King for Israel.
But now, since He has come, these things from the Law are no longer in need. Pentecost, and of course Passover, and all other feast days are no longer in operation. The real thing has come: Messiah had come to Israel…but went to heaven and had His apostles proclaim the Gospel in His absence.
The entire book of Acts is a historic report of Israel as it fell away from God, refusing to nationally receive Jesus as their Messiah. And in 70 CE, Rome crushed the nation and scattered them in the world.
THE CHURCH DISPENSATION CAME ON,
THE SAME INSTANCE PAUL HAD GOTTEN
THE REVELATION – OF THE LAW ABOLISHED.
But we see clearly in Acts time that the Messianic believers, Jews and proselytes, observed the Law. Paul went to the Synagogues and told the Jews of Jesus as the Messiah. He preached the same Kingdom-Gospel as the twelve, only it was outside of the land. This was ended in spring 60 CE, as Paul confronted the Sanhedrin at Rome – and they refused to believe on Jesus (just a few of them did) – so that God’s conclusion was told them by Paul: …from now on this salvation (the Gospel) has been sent to the Gentiles, and they shall also listen (receive it), Acts 28:28.
Due to the fact I mentioned, of Christ keeping it secret that the Law was abolished at the cross, the believers in Acts time observed the Law. Jesus tested them to see if the nation would repent and believe on Him. Well, they did not, - but we see that Paul went to Jerusalem hoping to arrive for the Pentecost celebration, Acts 20:16,
“For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.”
You see, there was a Pentecost every year in Israel…not just the one reported in Acts 2!
When Paul arrived at Jerusalem he met with the leaders. And James told Paul of the thousands of believers as such ones who all were zealous for the Law! This was in 58 CE, thirty years after Pentecost in Acts 2. Acts 21:20,
“And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law;”
This is an attestation to the Bible truth: it is NOT the church we see in Acts time; it was the Jewish Messianic assembly expecting Jesus to return from heaven at any moment, provided Israel first repented.
The church dispensation was established by Paul as he had revealed to him that Christ abolished the Law of Moses at the cross, making Jew and Gentile into ‘one new man’ by faith. The wall of partition was thus torn down…since it was the Law which was that ‘partition’.
Before this happened, it was impossible that the church, the ‘one new man’ existed. It was created by Christ as He abolished the Law. But in Acts we see that they observed the Law as if it still was in operation…and it was, since Christ kept it a secret that is was abolished.
Shame on you, Pentecostals, and Charismatics…and what not; when shall you ever come to a full recognition of the actual Biblical truth of things? You have to make right division of the Bible, to get to a correct understanding of these matters.
The Acts period or era, ended at Paul’s visit in Rome 60-62 CE. And the church era started shortly thereafter, as we find Paul writing Ephesians and Colossians 63-67 CE, the two only epistles for the church dispensation. In both of these, he told of the Law abolished, plus the Mystery revealed….that we Gentiles by faith are co-heirs with Christ for the heavenly blessings (up in epiouranios heaven, from Greek).
NOT ONLY THE ABOLISHING OF THE LAW, BUT
ALSO THE FACT THAT MIRACLES, SIGNS, TONGUES,
ALL WERE GIVEN TO THE APOSTLES ONLY
It is displayed straight forward to us all, as we read Acts’ report of the apostles of Christ. The signs, miracles, wonders, baptisms and other things were glued to these apostles. The only two exceptions were Philip and Stephen who had been laid hands upon by the apostles, for ministry.
Acts 5:12 is archetypical of that,
“At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico.”
We cannot find any other than the apostles, plus Philip and Stephen, who performed these MANY signs and wonders…among the people. These things were NOT entrusted to the common church members. There exist NO PRIVATE MIRACLES in the Acts report of Luke! Ananias who helped Paul when he arrived blinded in Damascus, Acts 9, was obviously chosen by the Lord Himself, to care for Paul – just like we read. He laid hands on Paul, and he got his eye-sight back, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. I quoted that passage earlier, above. Ananias may be put in same class as Philip and Stephen, - as a competent Spirit-filled believer chosen by Christ for this special task seen.
The reason is simply because they were the ONLY ones (the apostles) to possess such powers regularly. Plus later on, we find Paul became one who worked as an apostle with signs and wonders.
It ended with these hand-picked servants of Christ, and there were never any other new apostles following down through history doing the same as these 13 apostles.
Additionally to miracles and signs, it was only the apostles who could perform BAPTISM of converts. Jesus never authorized any regular church member to do such ministry practices.
It is a huge scandal and one BIG mess in Christendom that the many denominations worldwide, on their own private ‘authorization’ take the liberty to perform water baptisms! Only the thirteen apostles could lawfully do that, plus Philip the evangelist, as well as the mentioned Ananias who cared for Paul at Damascus. According to Eph. 4:5 there is but ONE baptism: the baptism into the death of Christ, by faith, made without hands – thus a baptism performed by God…without water. See Col. 2:11-13,
“11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,”
Paul likened this baptism into the death of Christ, with being circumcised without hands (done by God).
The lying scandalous and messed up ‘Azusa Street Revival’ in 1906 had none of the signs seen in Acts 2, as the Pentecost was celebrated. The main preacher at that time was Charles Fox Parham – and it is documented that he, observing all the spiritual confusion and lunacy taking place at Azusa Street revival, he quit. He could not bear with all that soulish carnal madness he saw close up. He hired another place outside of down town, and started a series of meetings. He warned his audience of that Azusa-revival. But to no avail.
There were no ‘tongues of fire’, no rushing noisy wind blowing, no speaking in genuine tongues, no healings, no genuine apostles present, no nothing. The whole Pentecostal dreaming is but just a vile messed up part of the ‘Christian Religion’ – they are void of correct Bible understanding, and they go to their pulpits every week – lying about God and Christ, telling their congregations that Jesus is healing the sick miraculously today, He baptizes them in the Holy Spirit and give them tongues to speak, and so on and so forth. It is all a scam and a hoax. No proofs of genuine miracles are to be seen; and no genuine documentation from physicians attesting to the miracles.
I can only suggest to the reader, to get far away from this hoax, and to allow for a correct rightly division of the Bible.
The church dispensation started after Acts, as we find Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians and shortly followed by Colossians, in 63-67 CE.
EXAMPLE OF PRESENT TIME PENTECOSTAL
CHARISMATIC ‘CELEBRITIES’ AND HOW
THIS FRACTION OF CHRISTENDOM HAS
PRODUCED FAKE TV-HEALERS AND WHAT NOT
Especially in the USA, the title ‘Televangelist’ and ‘Faith Healer’ have become common bywords…close to pure cursing and swearing. And it is easy to understand why: such ministries are without exceptions entirely false. It is ‘miraculous’ only in name, and never in real life. They present their ministries as if they are infallible and on the same ethical and doctrinal level as the apostles of Christ shown in Acts.
In many instances we find that the sons or wives or other near relatives inherit their father, or their husband, and the likes.
This, by itself, does not have to be a bad thing. But the badness pops up if we find that the heirs carry on with the very same falsehood and fake-healings as their predecessors! Joel Osteen inherited his father John Osteen’s ministry, and he carry on with his father’s heretical preaching, in Houston, Texas. Kenneth Hagin Jr. carries on his father’s ministry, Kenneth Hagin Sr., Tulsa, Oklahoma – pastoring the Rhema Bible Church. Same with Richard Roberts, carrying on with his father’s ministry…Oral Roberts. It goes on and on…
This is what I choose to have a look at – and I will use the late W. V. Grant Jr. and his Eagle’s Nest Cathedral, Dallas, Texas, as a general example. I have a substantial article here in my web site, which you may already have read. He was a fake televangelist/healer, and he was even sentenced to time in federal jail for tax evasion, 16 months.
Even if it is a fact that Grant Jr. passed away in July 2020, that article will be found in my site. Just as I let my articles on Azusa-revival and all those heretical movements be found on my site. These are meant to warn you all – and make you avoid this great mistake of believing that miracles, signs, real apostles and the lot are genuine ministries and works of God in our time. Don’t be deceived! It is unfortunately doubtful if any of these ministries will ever change for the better. The leaders are usually so stone-hearted and foolishly stubborn, that one cannot expect anything positive from them. But the church-members often have a more open mind to whether what they hear from pulpits is true. Maybe some of these often gullible ‘followers’ can come to their senses and shun away from false ‘miracle’ promises and the lot. I would hope they do.
Photo above: Advertisement for a campaign at this church, Grant Jr. and Milly, his wife seen. An evangelist, Tracy Cooke, to come preaching. Notice the headlines, saying…Word of Knowledge in Action, Signs, Miracles and Wonders, W.V. and Milly Grant presents…
Tracy Cooke: He has his own web site…in which he portrays himself as a prophet and a miracle-worker….in other words, a typical falsehood like all other fake-healers you may find in the USA and other places in the world today. If you think I am exaggerating, please check his web site!! www.cookerevivals.org - big bragging of miracles, small or zero understanding of the Word of God!
Oh, by the way – as I am writing this article (Monday 25 May, 2026), Mr. Cooke is performing right here in my homeland Norway, and his ‘revival meetings’ are being broadcasted in real-time over the TV-channel “TV Vision Norge” – the programs are sending from a local Farm Ranch near Drammen city, owned by the leader of the TV-channel, Jan Hanvold. I once worked for him five years 1996 – 2001, but that was when I still had not fully gotten into Acts-28 beliefs. I was a Pentecostal at that time, and also much influenced by the Word of Faith movement. I have watched several direct sent ‘Miracle meetings’ on that TV-channel…and the result is the same every time: There are no miracles happening whatsoever! The people prayed for, due to severe sickness, go back – or ‘hump’ back to their respective seats…just as ill as ever. The freak-shows just go on and on….you wouldn’t find a single genuine miracle if you had used the Hubble Space Telescope looking for it!!
Regarding the Eagle’s Nest Cathedral and Grant Jr. – an infamous TV-healer and gospel singer – this organization is now headed by his widow, Dr. Milly Grant. Below I have clipped in an AI-generated concentrated info on the ‘ministry’ of the Grant family, quote,
“Televangelist and faith healer W.V. Grant Jr. passed away in July 2020, leaving the ministry in the hands of his wife, Dr. Milly Grant.
Eagle's Nest Cathedral remains active in the Dallas, Texas area, hosting weekly worship and miracle revival services.
Overview: The Ministry
Current Leadership: Led by his wife, Dr. Milly Grant, and often features guest pastors.
Location: Eagle's Nest Cathedral is located at 1440 Regal Row (Suite 200), Dallas, TX 75247.
Services: The ministry continues to host weekly and weekend services, often referred to as miracle revivals or deliverance ministries.
Historical Background
In the 1980s and 1990s, W.V. Grant Jr. was a prominent televangelist, drawing massive crowds with his healing and prosperity teachings.
In 1996, he was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to 16 months in federal prison.
After his release in 1997, he restarted his ministry, relocating his church to downtown Dallas.”
As it says in the quote above, Milly Grant, the widow of W.V. Grant Jr. continues to host weekly services…referred to as miracle revivals or deliverance ministries, (as seen in the photo above).
The kind of ministry displayed here with the example of Eagle’s Nest Cathedral, is strewn around by the hundreds in the entire USA…often represented by many ‘Mega Churches’ – of which Joel Osteen in Houston may be the biggest….??
There are two central ‘holy grail’ entities with fake miracle ministries, the first: It’s all about THE MONEY. It has been said, ‘When the Gospel came to Europe, it was turned into a religion. But when it came to the USA, it became a BUSINESS!’ Secondly, their personal delusional beliefs in themselves as ‘apostles’ of Christ – thus they cannot be touched or questioned. You see, they are elevated above ALL THE OTHER CHRISTIANS and thus infallible! They are usually immune to any forms of corrections or reprimands. They have their own minds as their ‘god’. I am sure that my exhortations here in my web, makes them angry…but I have to live with that. Nobody likes to get corrected. Corrections are of the devil you see, for they are elevated above all such ‘attacks’. They have allowed themselves to become entirely swallowed up by he who Jesus named…the father of lies…namely Satan.
Paul met those kind of falsehoods when he was preaching to Jews and proselytes in Acts time, 2 Cor. 11:13-15, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light" – From NASB,
“13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”
We must be aware of the fact that Paul’s warnings were not empty words..blowing-in-the-wind…No, he was saying that people promoting themselves as ‘apostles’ were automatically false liars and messengers of Satan! There were NO OTHER APOSTLES found, since Paul was hand-picked by Jesus Christ, Acts 9. He knew that if other than the twelve, plus himself, called themselves for an apostle, they were liars.
Paul did not warn against one or several of the twelve apostles…someone eventually going rough. He warned against self-appointed lying false apostles, who had not been chosen by God for such ministry.
Nevertheless, I shall still give my personal advice to – in this case – Dr. Milly Grant: you would gain greatly from quitting your entire ‘miracle-preaching’ or miracle meetings…for this was entirely ended as the apostles died in the first century. No apostles have been chosen and sent by God since that time. Paul was the only apostle sent to the Gentiles. Don’t quit your faith in Jesus for salvation; it is by faith alone that we are saved; it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8, 9).
The same advice I give to ALL who think they are ‘God’s finest’ and personally hand-picked by Him for ministry. Have faith in Jesus Christ, but let go of all false ‘miracle’ preaching. God quit that when Israel fell from Him in Acts 28:28. We have to cling to Paul’s church epistles, Ephesians and Colossians regarding Doctrine of Faith.
My web site is full of Pauline Gospel teaching, and how to rightly divide the Word of God. My articles can help you getting a better understanding of the Gospel of Grace according to Paul’s revelation of the Mystery (Eph. 3:1-3).
Gracepano.com
