Today we began our brief walk through the Book of Acts, written by Luke, the beloved physician — Colossians 4:14. Progressive Revelation is introduced to us through observing how this history of the Acts of the Apostles starts out with the gospel of the kingdom to the Jews – the circumcision, and transitions into the gospel according to Paul delivered to the Gentile world – the uncircumcision (Romans 2:16, 16:25, 2 Timothy 2:8-9). Jesus encourages the assembly that the Holy Spirit will soon come after his ascension.
Acts 1:4-8: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Paul’s gospel explains salvation in the Mystery Dispensation of Grace. It is the circumcision of the heart – spiritual, not the flesh – physical.
Colossians 2:10-15: And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
The board reveals several different kinds of transitions in Acts, as Christianity grows from a Jewish church in Jerusalem to the church of Jews and Gentiles in Antioch. Today, we saw another incidental picture of the transition from Jew to Gentile — Chapters 1-7 are specifically Jewish, and then after Stephen’s death, the gospel is offered to the Samaritans / half Jews in Chapter 8, which were not included in the gospel of the kingdom in Matthew 10:1-8 & 15:22-28. The transition continues at the end of Chapter 8, with salvation offered to a Gentile proselyte, the Ethiopian Eunuch. After that, the Gentile world is offered salvation. We will continue our study of Acts next Sunday walking through the 4 great questions of Acts.
We also chatted about the two disciples of Paul, who became endeared to Peter (Sylvanus – 2 Thess 1:1; 1 Peter 5:12), and Gaius, who John mentions (Acts 19:29, 3 John 1:1). These men probably influenced Peter and John in understanding the gospel of Paul — Acts 15:7-11.