Does Paul Preach Peter�s Gospel in Acts? -- The Crusader's Favorite Bible Studies And Web-Sites

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Subject: Does Paul Preach Peter�s Gospel in Acts?

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Posted By The Crusader

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Date Posted: 15:27:40 09/21/02 Sat

Does Paul Preach Peter�s Gospel in Acts?

Part I

By Pastor Rick Jordan

In the next couple issues, I would like to address this question. My goal is to present the verses and allow you to draw your own conclusions. As Paul says in Romans 14:5 "�let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."

In answering the above question, we first must understand what gospel was committed to Peter.

Notice these passages: (emphasis is mine)

Matthew 4:17, 18, 23:

17: From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

18: And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

23: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Matthew 10: 1-7: (emphasis is mine)

1: And when he (Jesus) had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

2: Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3: Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

4: Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5: These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7: And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Based on these two passages, Peter was commissioned by Jesus to preach a kingdom gospel to a particular group of people, the lost sheep of the house of Israel!

Peter was given a very special position among the Twelve Apostles, he was made their leader (Matthew 16:18-19). In Matthew 19:27-29 we learn that the Apostles will be sitting "�upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." And that those who followed Jesus "�shall inherit everlasting life." This is their future and their focus, the establishment of that earthly kingdom promised to the Nation of Israel with Jesus Christ as their King.

When we come to the Book of Acts, we notice that the book begins with a question asked by the Apostles of Jesus Christ. Acts 1:6 "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"

With this one question at the start of the book of Acts we see that the focus of Peter and the others is still on the restoration of the kingdom. Please remember that the purpose of the Book of Acts is to present the fall of Israel and God�s reason for sending salvation to the Gentiles apart from the kingdom. Acts is a transition from the prophetic program of God to the mystery program of God.

Peter�s first message in the Book of Acts is in Acts 2. Peter begins to indict the nation of Israel as a whole for the killing of Jesus (verses 14, 22-36). (Emphasis is mine.)

14: But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

22: Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

23: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

36: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Notice that Peter is telling them that they (Israel), by wicked hands had killed their Messiah. In verse 37 they ask a very important question. (Emphasis is mine)

37: Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Notice Peter�s whole response in verses 38-40:

38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39: For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40: And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Peter tells them to repent (which means to change your thinking) about who Jesus Christ is and what they did to Him. Then Peter tells them to be baptized (identification issue) in order to save themselves from this "untoward generation." In other words, Peter is telling them to get out of that unbelieving nation and become a part of the believing remnant of Israel. Peter and the Eleven knew the Scripture (they had spent 40 days with Jesus [Acts 1:3]) and they knew that the kingdom was coming. In Acts 3:19, Peter then tells them their sins would be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come. This is when the kingdom was to be established on the earth. (Ez. 36 & 37).

In Galatians 2, Paul tells us about the gospel Peter was teaching from a meeting he had with Peter in Acts 15. Galatians 2:7-9: (Emphasis is mine)

6: But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

7: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me,

as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

8: (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

9: And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Paul indicates that the gospel that was committed to Peter was the gospel of the circumcision. With this term, Paul identifies who and what Peter�s gospel is � A kingdom gospel to the Nation of Israel. So even in the Book of Acts, Peter�s gospel is clearly a kingdom gospel to be preached to the nation of Israel.

From Web-Site: But Now.org
http://www.butnow.org/

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