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Tag: Matthew

  • Unworthy of Eternal Life

    Unworthy of Eternal Life

    Acts unworthy of God–seeking men

    יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Isaiah) 49:6  וַיֹּאמֶר נָקֵל מִֽהְיוֹתְךָ לִי עֶבֶד לְהָקִים אֶת־שִׁבְטֵי יַעֲקֹב ונצירי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהָשִׁיב וּנְתַתִּיךָ לְאוֹר גּוֹיִם לִֽהְיוֹת יְשׁוּעָתִי עַד־קְצֵה הָאָֽרֶץ׃ ס

    Who has believed our message?
    Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you – Acts 13:40 NIV

    Acts 13: in Pisidian Antioch

    This scene unfolds on a second Sabbath when Saul of Tarsus and Joseph of Cypress have been invited back to share their GOOD NEWS of Israel's Messiah at the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch. 

On the the previous Sabbath:

    When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas..

    Acts 13:43a – of Paul and Barnabas – NIV
    NOW (on this next Sabbath in Antioch)
    Antioch Pisidia with Roman theatre in foreground - ruins on L and model on R

    44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 

    Antioch in the direction of Pisidia

    Reminder: Antioch is not a Jewish city but a Roman one. 
Some facts:
    • During the reign of Emperor Augustus, the Romans established eight colonies in Pisidia, but only Antioch was honoured with the title of Caesarea.
    • Roman legions were stationed near the city, and their veterans were given land in the area. Later, the city was awarded the title Socia Romanorum that is Loyal Ally of Rome.
    • the road known as Via Sebaste.. connected Antioch with Perge on the Mediterranean coast.
    • a branch of this road leading to Iconium (now Konya) and Lystra was added. 
    First Century Antioch in the direction of Pisidia (third largest city in the Roman Empire) 
- a place with a small synagogue, several temples of gods of Rome and Greece and a theatre where crowds could hear an orator, a Roman politician or go to town for various entertainment.

    Luke does not tell us where Paul and Barnabas were at this point.

    Perhaps just outside the synagogue (for there would not have been enough room for the crowds inside.) As was his later habit Paul and their disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ may have walked to a large public square or even the city’s large theatre.

    Click for pictures of the archeological site.

    Acts of the unworthy chosen

    45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy.

    Contradicting the Word of God

    They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.

    To the Jew first

    Numbers 16:

    28 And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will..” 31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.. 34 Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!” And a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.

    “Remember these things, O Jacob,

    And Israel, for you are My servant;

    I have formed you, you are My servant;

    O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.

    “I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud
    And your sins like a cloud.

    Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”

    Isaiah 44:21-22 LSB

    He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
    To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to cause the preserved ones of Israel to return;

    I will also give You as a light of the nations
    So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

    Isaiah 49:6

    And a Light to the Gentiles

    Romans and Greeks drawn to Pisidian Antioch by the Lord God to hear the Good News of redemption preached by Paul to a remnant of Israel in the synagogues.

    The light of the Gospel now shines in the Roman world as fulfillment of Scripture well-known to the Jews.

    Psalm 67:
    excerpt

    אֱלֹהִים יְחָנֵּנוּ וִֽיבָרְכֵנו יָאֵר פָּנָיו אִתָּנוּ סֶֽלָה׃

    God be gracious to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.

That Your way may be known on the earth,
Your salvation among all nations.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy;
For You will judge the peoples with uprightness
And lead the nations on the earth. Selah.

Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

God blesses us,
That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.

    I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

    To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

    Prophesy of Isaiah 42:6-7 King James Version
    Isaiah 60:

    “Arise, shine, for your light has come,

    And the glory of Yahweh has risen upon you.

    “For behold, darkness will cover the earth
    And dense gloom the peoples;

    But Yahweh will rise upon you,

    And His glory will appear upon you.

    “Nations will come to your light,

    And kings to the brightness of your rising.

    And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

    Isaiah 60:3 KJV

    The Apostle Paul has just preached:

    For the Lord has commanded us

    Acts of the Apostles 13:

    47 “For so the Lord has commanded us,
    ‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES,

    THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’

    Of course the reaction of the local Romans and Greeks would be joy at this Gospel.

    And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

    And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.

    Certainly this is also Good News to the faithful worshipers of the Lord who have waited for the Messiah, the Christ who saves and fulfills the promises of God.

    Lift up thine eyes round about, and see:

    all they gather themselves together, they come to thee:

    thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

    .. the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

    Isaiah 60:4,5b KJV

    But the Jews..

    Ἰουδαῖος

    Remember: Saul of Tarsus and Joseph of Cypress are also Jews who have greeted their brothers in the synagogue as ‘brothers.’

    MANY disciples of The Way of Jesus the Messiah are Jews who have turned from the darkness of their former disobedience to follow the Lord our God.

    BUT, the GOSPEL is only Good News to those who will accept it –– to those who will turn from their sin —

    Jew, Roman, Greek — European, African, American —

    the Gospel is Good News ONLY to those willing to follow Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer as Lord.

    And like today MANY will oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ — Jew, Gentile or so-called ‘christian.’

    But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas,

    and expelled them from their region.

    Acts of the Apostles 13:30 NKJV

    ὅριον

    13:50 οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι παρώτρυναν τὰς σεβομένας γυναῖκας τὰς εὐσχήμονας καὶ τοὺς πρώτους τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἐπήγειραν διωγμὸν ἐπὶ τὸν Παῦλον καὶ Βαρναβᾶν καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων αὐτῶν

    Galatia map with its capitol Pisidian Antioch

    Unworthy of Grace

    Does this sound at all familiar?

    Just as Saul of Tarsus had persecuted disciples of The Way and pursued them beyond the district of Judea, so too some Jews of Pisidian Antioch continue to refuse the grace of their Redeemer.

    Yet even the Lord Jesus had encountered such opposition.

    And when He came to the other side, into the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. And behold, they cried out, saying,

    “What do we have to do with You, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” ..

    And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region.

    Gospel of Matthew 8:34 LSB [Mat 8:28-34]
    topical map of Israel from sea of Galilee, valley of the Jordan
    Topical map Galilee to Judea

    “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

    Gospel of Matthew 11:21 LSB – The rebuke of Christ Jesus to the Jews unworthy of grace

    “And any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.”

    Gospel of Mark 6:11 – Instruction of Jesus to the Twelve

    Acts of Paul and Barnabas leaving Pisidian Antioch

    13:51

    But having shaken off the dust of their feet against them, they went to Iconium.

    Acts of the Apostles and disciples: To be continued in Iconium…

  • Who has believed our message?

    Who has believed our message?

    יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Isaiah) 53 ::  מִי הֶאֱמִין לִשְׁמֻעָתֵנוּ וּזְרוֹעַ יְהוָה עַל־מִי נִגְלָֽתָה׃

    and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

    Paul and Barnabas SENT with the Gospel

    Now in the church that was at Antioch [Syria]..

    .. the Holy Spirit said,

    “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

    ACTS of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas 13:1a,2b NKJV

    Saulos of Tarsus has just completed an exhortation in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch.

    Who is asking to hear more of the Gospel?

    The response of the brothers gathered for worship on the Sabbath will determine who has believed the Gospel of Jesus, the Christ (Χριστός Greek) of the Jews.

    Many proselytes also sought the message of God in this Hellenist-Roman city near Pisidia Antioch.

    Who has heard these messengers of Good News?

    Acts of the Apostles on Mission

    Acts of the Apostles 13:

    “Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:

    ‘Behold, you despisers,
    Marvel and perish!
    For I work a work in your days,
    A work which you will by no means believe,
    Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”

    Acts 13:40-41 NKJV
    Born: Saul of Tarsus, c. 5 AD, Tarsus, Cilicia, Roman Empire (in 21st-century Turkey) Died: c. 64/65 AD, Rome, Italia, Roman Empire

    ACTS 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

    Although some Bibles translate from the Greek, ‘the people,’ Luke clearly points to the Goyim or gentiles [ethnos] included in the Sabbath, many who are proselytes seeking the true God.

    Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas,

    who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

    Acts of the Apostles 13:43 New King James Version

    The physician and gospel-writer Luke has included some details in his account of their response:

    • πολύς Ἰουδαῖος
      • MANY of the Jews
    • AND of the
    • σέβω προσήλυτος
      • God-fearing proselytes

    Mission accomplished?

    So it would seem..

    One week later:

    On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.

    We might speculate from Luke’s account that too many gentiles in this capitol city of Galatia, Antioch (with most of the citizens either Roman or Greek) may have shown up to hear Paul at this little local Jewish synagogue.

    So it may have been surrounded by much bigger crowds than a small synagogue could hold.

    • “MANY JEWS,” but also many “God-fearing” Greek and Roman citizens of Antioch
    • PLUS crowds from nearby towns.

    What should the Jews expect?

    Judean or Hellenist, the Jews knew their Scriptures.

    Each Sabbath the Law and the Prophets were read not only in the Temple of Roman-occupied Jerusalem, but read in every synagogue throughout the Roman Empire.

    Context of this time of Paul's first mission;
A.D. 47-49, the years of this mission trip:
Claudius is Emperor of Rome.
Claudius had intended to bestow Judea to his family friend Herod Agrippa but instead appointed a Prefect or Governor.
Tiberius Julius Alexander, a Roman general born of a Jewish father became Judea's Governor

(And closer to Cypress, Asia and Pisidian Antioch)

Sergius Paulus may have been the first of several successive senators named Lucius Sergius Paullus, of Antioch, Pisidia - 
source
Could the Roman Governor of Galatia have been one in the same as we just convinced of the Gospel in Paphos?

    The renowned Saul of Tarsus has just proclaimed that those in Jerusalem

    .. had fulfilled all that was written concerning a savior iēsous..

    “But God raised Him from the dead.

    Last Sabbath the Jews of Antioch heard Saul proclaim the gospel of Christ crucified and risen! We are now more than a decade after this fulfillment of Scripture. Furthermore, by now many more must have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

    Those who seek God MUST know more!

    So they go to Antioch to hear Paul’s Gospel.

    What did the Gentiles expect?

    What rumors and witness had circulated among these Romans of Galatia and Greeks seeking Good News of the One God?

    (For these Gentiles had formerly worshiped many gods.)

    • .. the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
      • – Acts 10:45
    • Some Jews in Jerusalem had said, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
      • – Acts 11:18
    • Several years ago a Roman Centurion in Capernaum had met Jesus, who healed his paralyzed servant by only His word.
      • – Matthew 8
    • Other Roman Centurions had followed The Way once they had witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion personally.
    • Many Romans knew the witness of Cornelius of the Italian Regiment from not so long ago:

    .. I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing [and Jesus’ Apostle Simon Peter proclaimed to me and my family in Caesarea] “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.“

    Witness of the Roman Centurion Cornelius, excerpts from ACTS 10

    So the Crowds converged in Antioch to hear the Gospel

    Acts in Pisidian Antioch continued:

    The next Shabbat almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.

    But when the Yehudim saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Sha’ul, and blasphemed.

    Acts of the Apostles 13:[44,]45 Hebrew Names Version

    No Second Sermon in the Synagogue

    Now what?

    ACTS of the Apostles 13 of Saul of Tarsus and Joseph of Cypress in Pisidian Antioch: To be continued…

  • An Apostolic Model: Ministering to a Growing Church

    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?’

    (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

    First let’s clarify some ‘church‘ terms we derive from the Greek language of the New Testament.

    Who are Apostles? (and who are Disciples?)

    Acts Apostolos - Acts of the Apostles - the chronicles of Christ's Apostles - a history of Christ's Church
    • 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?

    sheep by a manger

    “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
    "lord" occurs 7,790 times in 6,587 verses in the NASB20. Page 1 / 132

    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
    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

    κυρίῳ kyrios – Lord

    "lord" occurs 106 times in 100 verses in the book of 'Act' in the NASB20.

    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. 

    ACTS of the Church 6: 
To be continued...