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Tag: apostles

The Holy Ghost! Fear of GOD also ignites the Gentiles
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Acts of the Apostles 10:47 KJV

The Question of those ‘chosen’

Fact is that many religious men do NOT fear God.

It is true of many ‘christians‘ in this 21st century — it was true of all but a remnant of faithful ‘jews‘ in the first century in which the messiah Jesus lived, died and was risen — and it was true when His Apostles and disciples preached in the Spirit of God. Men and women do not naturally fear what we have been told about the LORD if we have not encountered Him personally.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Gospel of John 14:26 KJV

They certainly did not know what to expect when the Holy Ghost first came to various jewish disciples of Jesus.

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.
Acts of the Apostles 1:4 KJV

Peter, John and the Apostles have proclaimed Christ boldly, first in Jerusalem.

By the power of the Holy Ghost (KJV) many signs have accompanied the receiving of the Spirit among the faithful jewish followers of The Way of Jesus. Even Saul of Tarsus, zealous persecutor of The Way, has encountered the risen Lord Jesus personally and then retreated to Arabia to reconsider what the LORD has in store for him, returning to meet Peter some three years later.

Everything seems to be looking up for these remnant ‘chosen‘ followers of Jesus as they now obediently ‘GO INTO THE WORLD TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS!’

Beyond Jerusalem

The Apostles had encountered some internal ‘church‘ problems with their new disciples in Jerusalem.

And in those days when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Acts of the Apostles 6:1 KJ21

However this ministry problem seemed to resolve quickly in spite of jewish cultural differences between Greeks and Hebrew traditions of those whose fathers had returned to Jerusalem from exile to rebuild the temple. Furthermore, at least two of new disciples became powerful preachers of the truth of the Gospel – Stephen and Philip.

⁷And the Word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Acts of the Apostles 6:7

Like Gentiles (sort of)

Samaria (to some jews) and also Galilee, as part of Israel separated from Judah long ago, had an ‘unjewish‘ stigma to some religious Judeans.
Cities visited by Philip the evangelist

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what was being said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. 7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice.. – Acts 8:5-6a NASB

Note this same sign of expelling UNCLEAN SPIRITS which Jesus had done! (Most 21st centuries don't quite grasp what to make of this, but think 'controlling ghosts' as real evil influences of behavior and you are on the right track. - RH
[KJ21] 9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who earlier in the same city had used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great..
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When Peter and John came to Samaria, Simon asked Peter for this same power the Apostles and some disciples like Philip had demonstrated. 

The Holy Ghost appears with more POWER than any force of darkness dictating the power of evil in mortal flesh.
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But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Acts of the Apostles 8:20 KJV – Peter’s response to Simon the Sorcerer

THEN Philip goes much further than this: He baptizes an Ethiopian (in Gaza) – a gentile!

Luke (our gentile physician) records in ACTS:

But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
Acts 8:40 NASB

Philip (the Hellenist deacon) & Peter (a Galilean Hebrew Apostle)

So WHERE in the WORLD does all of this converge?

Peter had come from Jerusalem to Samaria to meet with Philip when he also met Simon who wanted the power of the Holy Ghost. We have just learned that now Peter’s missionary journeys have brought the Apostle to Joppa, BUT a Roman calls the Apostle to come to the Roman (Herod-built) port of Caesarea.

Peter and John had remained in Jerusalem for two years after Christ’s resurrection. Once Stephen was martyred most disciples of Jesus fled for other towns. But after Saul met the Lord on the road to Damascus the Gospel began to spread in different directions.

And as we have just learned in the journeys of Peter to Lydda and Joppa, the Apostle now heads north to Caesarea where Philip has been proclaiming the Gospel for sometime now.

Peter, the Hebrew-raised rock anointed by Jesus to lead His church goes to Caesarea after wrestling with the Voice of God telling this faithful jew to obey this new vision which led him to follow these Romans back to Caesarea, where these GENTILES would have worshiped PETER!

Now that you have caught up on these long journeys and Peter is on his way back to Jerusalem you might think that all will go smoothly. It doesn’t.

The HOLY Ghost
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Before we return to Jerusalem with Peter, I thought it important that we consider the NOW-INCREASING ROLE of THE HOLY SPIRIT.
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The "HOLY SPIRIT" AND the "HOLY GHOST" ARE the SAME, translated in New Testament from the SAME words in Greek: ἅγιος πνεῦμα [hagios pneuma]
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- HOLY – ἅγιος hágios, hag’-ee-os; from ἅγος hágos (an awful thing) (compare G53, G2282); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing), saint.
  - I remind 21st c. christians of the AWESOMENESS of the SPIRIT of Almighty God by referring to the Holy Ghost here) – RH
ἅγιος, -α, -ον, (from τὸ ἄγος religious awe, reverence; ἄζω, ἅζομαι, to venerate, revere, especially the gods, parents [Curtius, § 118]), rare in secular authors; very frequent in the sacred writings; in the Sept. for קָדושׁ;
1. properly reverend, worthy of veneration: τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ, Luke 1:49; God, on account of his incomparable majesty, Revelation 4:8 (Isaiah 6:3, etc.), equivalent to ἔνδοξος.
- Ghost πνεῦμα pneuma From πνέω (G4154)
  - – The KJV translates Strong’s G4151 in the following manner: Spirit (111x), Holy Ghost (89x), Spirit (of God) (13x), Spirit (of the Lord) (5x), (My) Spirit (3x), Spirit (of truth) (3x), Spirit (of Christ) (2x), human (spirit) (49x), (evil) spirit (47x), spirit (general) (26x), spirit (8x), (Jesus’ own) spirit (6x), (Jesus’ own) ghost (2x), miscellaneous (21x).
  - the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
    Click here for MORE
ACTS of the Holy Ghost

ACTS: KJV – πνεῦμα pneuma
- 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost G4151 had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
- 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost G4151 not many days hence.
- 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, G4151 and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit G4151 gave them utterance.
- 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; G4151 and they shall prophesy:
- 4:18 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,^G4151 and they spake the word of God with boldness.
- 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. G4151
- 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit G4151 of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
ACTS 10:

You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things that He did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.
Acts of the Apostles 8:38-39a NASB

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power,
Acts 10:38 KJ21

43 To Him all the prophets bear witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”

44 While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all those who heard the Word.

And the Messianic Jews who had come with Kefa were mishpoyel (standing in awe) that also upon the Goyim the matnat HaRuach Hakodesh has been poured out.
Gevurot 10:45

Orthodox Jewish Bible

46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Peter Baptizes the Roman Gentiles

Then answered Peter,

47 “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we?”

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

Then they entreated him to tarry certain days.

Gevurot 11 – Orthodox Jewish Bible

And the Moshiach’s Shlichim and the Achim b’Moshiach, the ones throughout Yehudah, heard that also the non-Jews received the dvar Hashem. But when Kefa went up to Yerushalayim, those of the faction of the Bris Milah were taking issue with him, 3 Saying, “You entered into a bais of anashim arelim (uncircumcised men) and you sat at tish with them.”
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Acts of Peter welcoming the Gentiles - To be continued...
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May 13, 2022
An Apostolic Model: Ministering to a Growing Church
How did Twelve Apostles minister to multitudes of disciples of a growing Church?
- Who would lead change after hearing their murmurings,
  - (And THAT, knowing that some came to Christ from one TRADITION,
  - while others came to the Lord from diverse ethnic standards of community, family and worship of God.)
- How can WE help relieve so many PERSONAL problems for hundreds of families belonging to our growing church?
- WHEN will we ever have time to minister to our church family?
- What must we do for each and every saint of our Lord Christ Jesus?
ACTS of the Apostles and the Jerusalem CHURCH 6:1-7

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
ACTS of the Apostles 6:1 ESV

Leading through diverse difficulties of a growing Church

‘.. but we have always done it THIS way?’
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(This isn't going to be so easy, is it?)

Luke reveals the cultural challenge of the church familiar to him, however most of us (in this 21st century) will not understand the root of the problem: 

Mixing gentiles with Jews. Even bringing the traditional challenge of some Jews joining in fellowship with other Jews divides political alliances in the Sanhedrin of Jerusalem.

Therefore I will begin by including a background for our scene in first century Jerusalem, as well as outcomes of church ministry which have occurred over two millennia. - RH
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First let’s clarify some ‘church‘ terms we derive from the Greek language of the New Testament.

Who are Apostles? (and who are Disciples?)
HOW MANY APOSTLES?
TWELVE (our standard answer)
WHO ARE THE APOSTLES?
No need here to recite them by name, but remembering:
ALL Apostles at this point in ACTS are leaders of the Church in Jerusalem.
Matthias has now replaced Judas.
Saul of Tarsus will soon encounter the risen Christ Jesus and join in ministry as Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles.

ἀπόστολος – full definition linked here
Disciples (disciples)

μαθητής

Strictly speaking, disciples are the ones taught; that is, anyone who follows the teachings or traditions of any teacher or rabbi.

The disciple^G3101 is not above his master [didaskalos],
nor the servant [doulos] above his lord [kyrios].
Instruction of Jesus Christ – Matthew 10:24

לִמּוּד

54:13 וְכָל־בָּנַיִךְ לִמּוּדֵי יְהוָה וְרַב שְׁלוֹם בָּנָֽיִךְ׃

And all thy children shall be taught^H3928 of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
prophesy of the Messiah by Yeshaiya (Isaiah) 54:13

μαθητής mathētḗs, math-ay-tes’; from G3129; a learner, i.e. pupil:—disciple.
- The Twelve were disciples of Jesus who followed their Teacher full-time for three years.
  - You’ve probably noticed that most translations of the Bible capitalize ‘disciple’ to avoid confusion when referring to the Twelve Disciples [Apostles].
- Many others of the multitudes also became disciples and followed Jesus Christ in the early days before his crucifixion and resurrection.
Now, in our scene in Jerusalem after the Lord’s resurrection, the Church in Jerusalem has many disciples – disciples of the Holy Spirit (who of course first receive the Holy Spirit, as we have just read from Luke’s account).

Yet from Jesus’ instruction from the Gospel of the Apostle Matthew, note another distinction of this relationship between rabbi and pupil: that of master (or lord) and servant.

These also apply in Luke’s account describing the model by which the Apostles lead the early Church.

Our NEW Pastors

(Some call them: ‘ministers‘)
- FIRST: Jesus was the Rabbi. And Jesus was the Master.
- THEN: The APOSTLES became the Rabbis. And the Apostles were then masters of their sheep (students; flocks, servants, community, school, fold, gathering, or whatever you may choose to call this multitude of the Church).
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
Jeremiah 23:1, 50,17 KJV

But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; G1249
Gospel of Matthew 20:26 KJV – Teaching of Jesus to His disciples

The Twelve, led by two of Jesus’ inner circle of Apostles, Simon Peter and John, now lead the New Testament Church as rabbis to a multitude of disciples.

Lambs of the Apostles’ fold

The Apostle John, who Luke records as standing at Peter’s side on the day of Pentecost, opens our eyes to the resurrected Jesus, where the Lord calls on Peter to restore the foundation of his calling:

“Tend My lambs.” .. “Shepherd My sheep.” .. “Tend My sheep.
The risen Master’s loving command to Simon Peter to minister to His church – Gospel of John 21:15,16,17

These new disciples of the Twelve include NOT ONLY men from traditional Judaism, but also men, women and children accepted into fellowship, tender young lambs of Jesus who could NEVER before have been full members of their community of faith in the Lord God.

“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back.
Jesus teaching the Jews that He will Shepherd the gentiles, as scripture has said. – Gospel of John 10:16-17 NASB20
- And what happens when ANY two groups of differing cultural traditions choose to follow one leader?
- Dissension and murmuring by some unwilling to abide by rules and traditions imposed by others.
Who is the master ministering to these NEW lambs?

“They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

“Go; behold, I am sending you out like lambs in the midst of wolves.
Instruction of the Master Jesus to seventy-two [72] disciples + Gospel of Luke 10:3 NASB20

Master – διδάσκαλος – didaskalos

The KJV translates Strong’s G1320 in the following manner: Master (Jesus) (40x), teacher (10x), master (7x), doctor (1x).

Doctor:
a teacher (from didasko, “to teach”), cp. didaskalia, “teaching, doctrine, instruction,” is translated “doctors,” with reference to the teachers of the Jewish religion, Luk 2:46. Cp. paideutes, “a teacher.”
See MASTER, TEACHER.
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words 1 Strong’s Number: g1320 Greek: didaskalos – via BlueLetterBible.org

The rabbis of Jerusalem quarreled with each other as they had also challenged the legitimacy that Jesus’ MANY disciples should call the Lord, ‘Master.’ Now that Peter, John and the Apostles have remained in Jerusalem as Jesus commanded, MANY disciples remained faithful to the church gathered under the leadership of the Apostles.

Note from earlier, after Peter preached in the Temple,

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.
Acts records the reactions of other rabbis

These Apostolic Masters of the Church community now face division and opposition just as Jesus had encountered in Jerusalem prior to His execution and resurrection from the dead.

Lord

We will never understand our role as a servant of the Church until we know the sacrificial love of its servant-Master.
Roger@TalkofJESUS.com
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"lord" occurs 7,790 times in 6,587 verses in the NASB20. Page 1 / 132
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Here too I urge caution and prayerful understanding of terms frequently used and misused by the church. i.e. Lord, Master, servant, slave (even God and ‘love,’ translated from several different Greek and Hebrew words in Scripture).
- LORD – Yᵊhōvâ – יְהֹוָה
  - i.e. So Noah acted in accordance with everything that the LORD^H3068 had commanded him.
- From הָיָה (H1961)
  - i.e. Genesis 27:29 הָוָה
May peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you;
Be master of your brothers,
And may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be those who curse you,
And blessed be those who bless you.”

And God said to Moses, “I AM^H1961 WHO I AM^H1961”; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘I AM^H1961 has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:14 NASB20

אָמַרְתְּ לַֽיהוָה אֲדֹנָי אָתָּה טוֹבָתִי בַּל־עָלֶֽיךָ׃
I said to the LORD [Yᵊhōvâ}, “You are my Lord [;ăḏōnāy];
I have nothing good besides You.” – Tehillim (Psalms) 16:2
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For this is what the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said:
“In repentance and rest you will be saved,
In quietness and trust is your strength.”
But you were not willing,
Isaiah 30:15
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κυρίῳ kyrios – Lord
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"lord" occurs 106 times in 100 verses in the book of 'Act' in the NASB20.
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And increasingly believers in the Lord^G2962, large numbers of men and women, were being added to their number,
Acts of the Apostles 5:14 NASB20

ἐκκλησία – ekklēsia – ‘Church‘

Luke has only used the term ‘church’ once at this point in Acts of the Apostles to describe these ‘large numbers of men and women.’ He opens his second account describing the miraculous growth of the church:

Acts of ALL with one accord

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
- And now HOW has Luke just introduced the Church by name?
A Church Seized by Signs and Wonders

Acts 5:11 KJV And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
- The Church (that is, the early church) lives as a community of love in fear of God, yet joyful of Christ’s anointing Spirit given to His disciples of the Church who will ‘follow Jesus, as their Master.’
- The saints of the Apostolic community serve the Living God and obey the Apostles as their lords and masters.
The disciple^G3101 is not above his master [didaskalos],
nor the servant [doulos] above his lord [kyrios].
Instruction of Jesus Christ – Matthew 10:24

the servant [doulos]

Now that we have defined some of these ‘Christian‘ terms so foundational to understanding Luke’s account of the Acts of the Apostles; NEXT, God-willing, we will examine the role the these servants of the Church.
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ACTS of the Church 6: 
To be continued...
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December 22, 2021
Acts 5 Not so fast to justice – Gamaliel – גַּמְלִיאֵל
Who is this man Gamaliel?

An angel brought the Apostles out of their prison cell, unbeknownst to the ruling council of Jerusalem who are about to try them for speaking the Name of Jesus AGAIN. When they discover that the Apostles somehow once again preach to the people in the Temple, they order the captain of the guard to bring them back to trial. He does so without violence or strong-armed coercion. Gamaliel in ‘a word to the wise’ cautions the Sanhedrin against zeal in their haste to prevail.
Who is this man Gamaliel?
ACTS 5: Advice from Gamaliel
Gamaliel = “my recompenser is God” Γαμαλιήλ
‘Take heed to yourselves’
Gamaliel advises them to cease and desist
Tehillim (Psalms) 37 :
θεομάχος – Fighting against God
Encouraging the persecuted church three decades later
The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem
Arrested AND Released

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. – Acts 5:29 NKJV

And as Simon Peter now enrages some by his boldness of speech, an important leader of the Sanhedrin, Gamaliel, stands and orders the Apostles to be removed from their court before sentencing.

He is not the high priest or even a member of the majority leading party of Sadducees. But the Pharisee Gamaliel obviously holds a high position of accountability as a minority leader who is involved in these proceedings.

ACTS 5: Advice from Gamaliel

Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.
Acts 5:34 NKJV

35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel, [be careful] take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men [referring to the outspoken Apostles Peter and John].

Gamaliel = “my recompenser is God” Γαμαλιήλ

Why do enraged leaders who demand instant justice even listen to reason?

Gamaliel holds a reputation of wise council and teaching respected even by those with other beliefs. In addition to God’s providential intervention (as Luke has just shown us by the angel’s leading of the Apostles back to the temple), Gamaliel is a political VIP. Look at his resume (below).

His Name:

Γαμαλιήλ, ὁ, (גַּמְלִיאֵל recompense of God [God, the Avenger, Fürst]; Numbers 1:10; Numbers 2:20), indeclinable (source: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1059: Γαμαλιήλ)

Gamaliel (distinguished by the Jews from his grandson of the same name by the title הַזָּקֵן, the elder),
- a Pharisee and doctor of the law,
- son of R. Simeon, grandson of Hillel, and
- teacher of the apostle Paul.
- He is said to have had very great influence in the Sanhedrin, and to have died [~A.D. 52} eighteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem.
- A man of permanent renown among the Jews: Acts 5:34; Acts 22:3.
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Recall now in hearing this caution of Gamaliel to Jerusalem's leaders in about A.D. 33 that Luke records these ACTS for readers some thirty years later after A.D. 61.
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‘Take heed to yourselves’

And he said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you are about to do with these men.
ACTS 5:35 NASB – Caution to the leaders of Jerusalem by Rabbi Gamaliel

The renowned rabbi Gamaliel gives them solid examples WHY the other leaders ought to be careful before they make a rash judgment against the Apostles.
- 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him.
  - [YET] He was killed,
  - all his followers were dispersed,
  - and it all came to nothing.
- 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led [drew away] a band of people in revolt.
  - He too was killed,
  - and all his followers were scattered.
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These revolts from various Jewish wars against their Roman masters likely remained familiar to the Jews at the time Luke wrote ACTS of the Apostles just a few years before the fall of Jerusalem.
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Gamaliel advises them to cease and desist

38 And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away [ἀφίστημι] from these men and leave them alone..

[As the rabbi likely paused here.. and as Gamaliel would have done frequently with his disciples to let his teaching sink in.. those hearing this respected Pharisee awaited his reason for such advice..]

..for if the source of this plan or movement is men, it will be overthrown..

[Of course, every man must have thought..]

but if the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
Acts of the Apostles 5:39 – the caution of Gamaliel to religious rulers of Jerusalem
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[Oh.. (and perhaps some would have thought of the Psalm of David)]
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Tehillim (Psalms) 37 :

כִּי יְהוָה אֹהֵב מִשְׁפָּט וְלֹא־יַעֲזֹב אֶת־חֲסִידָיו לְעוֹלָם נִשְׁמָרוּ וְזֶרַע רְשָׁעִים נִכְרָֽת׃
Psalm 37:28 WLC
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A Psalm of David.
Do not get upset because of evildoers,
Do not be envious of wrongdoers.
For they will wither quickly like the grass,
And decay like the green plants.
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For the LORD loves justice
And does not abandon His godly ones;
They are protected forever,
But the descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.
Psalm 37:28 NASB20

θεομάχος – Fighting against God

Therefore Gamaliel concludes:

But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”
Acts of the Apostles 5:39 NLT

40 His speech persuaded them.

They called the apostles in and had them flogged.

Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Encouraging the persecuted church three decades later

PUBLISHED ~A.D. 61 + Acts of the Apostles + a History of Christ’s Church

Luke tells us in these early stories of the ACTS of the CHURCH and of the APOSTLES in JERUSALEM why the Gospel JESUS CHRIST will cause believers much suffering.

Gamaliel, now known as the Apostle Paul’s mentor, has also died by now. History will continue to prove him right as the Church grows in Jerusalem, BUT NOT without much suffering.

Therefore, the early readers of ACTS will be personally encouraged by the example of the Apostles Luke records at the end of this section about the Church in Jerusalem.

The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem

There is scarcely another period in history so full of vice, corruption, and disaster as the six years between the Neronian persecution and the destruction of Jerusalem. The prophetic description of the last days by our Lord began to be fulfilled before the generation to which he spoke had passed away, and the day of judgment seemed to be close at hand. So the Christians believed and had good reason to believe.

Under the last governors, Felix, Festus, Albinus, and Florus, moral corruption and the dissolution of all social ties, but at the same time the oppressiveness of the Roman yoke, increased every year.

At last, in the month of May, A.D. 66, under the last procurator, Gessius Florus (from 65 onward), a wicked and cruel tyrant who, as Josephus says, was placed as a hangman over evil-doers, an organized rebellion broke out against the Romans, but at the same time a terrible civil war also between different parties of the revolters themselves, especially between the Zealots, and the Moderates, or the Radicals and Conservatives.
Source: BibleHub.org – History of the Christian Church, Volume I — Philip Schaff

ACTS of the Apostles continued..

5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and preaching the good news of Jesus as the Christ.
Acts of the Apostles 5:42 NASB20
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And .. To Be Continued...
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December 4, 2021