HERE WE GO AGAIN:
The Twelve Apostles Cannot Be
Found In World Mission!
HERE WE GO AGAIN:
The Twelve Apostles Cannot
Be Found In World Mission!
JAN LILLEBY
I am afraid I have to go repeating much of what I wrote earlier in articles and books: Acts does not show us any ‘World-Wide’ mission regarding the twelve.
Only Paul and his helpers were sent outside of the land.
One of the most obvious Scriptural proofs of this Bible truth is the saying of Luke, as in Acts 5:12, NASB,
“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.”
Now, where was that ‘Solomon’s portico’ found in the days of the apostles? You know the answer to that, - it was right there inside the temple area, in the capital of Jewry, which was Jerusalem.
It was not at Manhattan, New York, or at St. Peter’s Plaza in Rome (God forbid!) – it was at the holiest city at that time, Jerusalem, let there be no doubt about it.
Another piece of Scripture which also give away exactly where Jesus bade His twelve disciples to go preach, and to whom, is found in John 21:15-17, NASB,
“15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My lambs."
16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep. “
Which sheep? Where were they staying?
It was the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel’ – ref. Mat. 15:24 on how Jesus told He was sent ONLY to these lost sheep. Thus He sent His twelve disciples to continue the same ministry as He left for heaven: Preaching the earthly Kingdom of God to Israel, - and Israel only!
Many Christians forget to read John 21 when reflecting on the so-called ‘Great Commission’. Mat. 28 are not enough. We have to let the Bible explain the Bible. Mat. 28 do implicate the wrong idea, that the twelve were told to go ‘into all the world’ – derived from the Greek cosmos – but this is a word which also was used for a place, a land, a district etcetera, and so it must have been telling of the land of Israel. And John 21 confirms this very much. John 21 has to overrule Mat. 28 in this regard!
It is a strong logic behind these facts: The Kingdom of God as found in the speeches of Christ was the kingdom to which Jesus was appointed as Messiah King, to rule the nation according to the prophets. Even, according to God’s Archangel Gabriel, as he greeted Virgin Mary, Luke 1:28-33, NASB,
28 And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."
29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
(My emphasize)
The entire time described in the four historical gospels and in Acts had to do with the preaching of the Kingdom of God on earth, to the Jews in Israel; and a few years later (37 CE) Christ added Paul as the thirteenth apostle, sending him….. “to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel” – Acts 9:15, NASB.
Paul’s Grace Gospel as revealed in Ephesians and Colossians, is nowhere to be found in these historical Bible books.
The twelve never preached the Grace Gospel, like the one we, the church dispensation, has been given. They only preached and taught the Kingdom-gospel of the rule of Christ from Jerusalem and Zion.
So, take a friendly hint – and sift out that error of preaching ‘kingdom’ with its water rite and all. Go entirely in with Paul’s Grace Gospel!
ACTS SHOWS US THE TWELVE GATHERED
IN JERUSALEM DURING THE FEASTS
We need to learn that in the passages found in Acts, of the incidents with persecution of the apostles, it mostly and mainly took place within the Holy Feast days, Passover and Pentecost.
The Roman guards came up from Caesarea when feasts were celebrated, to ensure law and order: thus also the Prefects met up at Jerusalem. Pilate is a main Roman officer as we read of Christ being crucified in 28 CE. But regularly he held house at Caesarea. In 1961 archeologists found a stone inscription made by Pilate.
When Peter went there according to Acts 10, it was probably near the end of Pilate’s rule, 8-9 years after Pentecost 28 CE. Pilate was removed in 36 CE, history shows. The one who followed Pilate was the Prefect Marcellus. He might have been already in office when Peter arrived, for Pilate had gotten himself a very ruffed reputation over the years, culminating in the crucifixion of Jesus. And thus it may be doubtful if Peter would feel comfortable to go there at all. We don’t know. But nevertheless, he was ordered to go by Christ, Who gave him the vision we read of in Acts 10.
Later, in Acts, we find Herod Agrippa I at Jerusalem, killing James and jailing Peter in 44 CE (Acts 12). It was in the Passover feast it happened. 16 years after Pentecost, and still he had not gone abroad in mission! That tells us a lot, doesn’t it?
The stoning of Stephen in Acts 7 was probably also during a feast…for he was found preaching to a multitude. Multitudes were found as the feasts were celebrated. I am convinced that it was around 36-37 CE – in the middle of Passover. Let’s read….
Acts 6:7, 8, NASB, puts it together for us,
“7 The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.”
(My emphasize)
Did you notice? ‘Among the people’ ….and ‘Many of the priests’.
Passover was a feast involving double shifts of priests. That is why many of them came to faith in Christ during Stephen’s speech. Comprende, si?
He preached to a gathered multitude, among which we find many of the priests on their shifts because of the Passover.
Stephen was but one of seven deacons/servants chosen by the apostles to see to it, that the congregation got fairly treated concerning economy and such. See verses 1-6. A very wise move by the twelve.
My end conclusion to it all is that the twelve did exactly as Jesus told them: They went preaching to Israel, and thus they were found right there in Jerusalem at every one of the Holy Feasts happening every year from 28 CE to 62 CE.
Even Paul, as an apostle sent abroad to the Jews in their Synagogues, and their proselytes, sought to meet up in Jerusalem for Pentecost as he left Ephesus in 57-58 CE, Acts 20:15, 16,NASB,
“15 Sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and the next day we crossed over to Samos; and the day following we came to Miletus.
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.”
(My emphasize)
It all proves to us that there was no Grace Gospel preaching within the timelines of the four historical Gospels, and the Acts report of the apostles 28 CE – 62 CE.
Thus we find the revealed Grace Gospel only inside Paul’s two Church epistles, Ephesians and Colossians. Eph. 3:1-9.
Gracepano.com
