1 - The apostles and believers throughout Judea soon heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him. [Israel had aLways been commanded by God not to mlx with other nations.] (Of course He had a purpose for this. And now it was different. Moving on to collective stage two of this all important process and program. God doing all things as he has and does, in order to bring about the best of all possible ‘end’ results. ..The greek word translated end is tel, and it more closely means “end-aim”.)
3 "You were a guest in the home of uncircumcised Gentiles, and you even ate with them!" (Circumcision was a big deal. In the New Testament, Paul writes that it represents a spiritual truth - the circumcision of the heart.. And how when the Lord returns and believers “put on immortality” and “put on incorruptibility” - the dead in Christ believers rising, then the carnal (selfish) nature will be 100% removed. This happens for believers at “the Lord’s return”. And then everyone else at the Rev.21:1-5 regenesis when God says “Behold! I make all new!” Greek word “pas” - all. But the translators added “things” to all. Which is still true! But gee.. Now this goes with Mt.13:33 - key word 3, with 1Cor.15:22-28, three harvests.
Mt.13:33 - The kingdom (harvest) is like a woman working leaven into three batches/loaves, until all is leavened.” (Period. That’s how it progresses. No fiery torture involved, except mankind’s own doings, called judgment. Which after all ends up as a lake of fire so ..it’s not like judgment is lacking. Yes “God is a consuming/purifying fire” - would we want it any other way!? So logically, some, initially, on that last great day, will experience fiery inner torment.. after awhile beat oneself up.. Because Jesus “will draw all”. John 12:32.)
1Cor.15:22-26,28 - The 3 Harvests - “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in order. (1)Christ, the firstfruits” (barley) “then, (2)when he comes, those who belong to him” (the wheat). “Then (3)the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, aFter he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.” (After his long second advent.) “For he must reign until he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.. so that God may be all in all.” Rev.21:1 - “I saw a new heavens and a new earth..” Isaiah 11:7 - “The lion will eat straw like the ox, the bear will graze with the cow.” ..“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” The death of death is the second death. The second vivification when “all are made new” (the huge and overflowing grape harvest). The first death being death itself? Called “of Adam”.
4 Then starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story. 5 “I was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and while I was praying, I went into a trance [Γ©kstasis] and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 And I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 ‘No, Lord!’ I replied. ‘I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean.’ 9 But the voice from heaven spoke again, ‘Don’t call something unclean if God has made it clean.’ 10 This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven. 11 Just then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered that the Lord had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus, who was I to stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. But they told the message of God, only to fellow Jews (Hebrews). 20 Some of the followers, however, from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch and started telling Hellenists (Greeks) the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number believed and turned to the Lord. 22 When the church [ekklΔsΓa - from ek - out from and to, and kalΓ©Ε - to call, properly, called out from the world and to God; believers/followers] at Jerusalem heard about this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul (Paul). 26 And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians. 27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. And this happened during the reign of Claudius. 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
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Very Brief Outline of Acts:
Jesus returns to where he was with the Father before his advent/visit (his brief first one).
The Holy Spirit/Presence of God is poured out on the believers who were in Jerusalem on the late Spring holy day of Pentecost. Peter speaks, there are 3000 new believers that day.
The good news message spreads, Peter is invited and goes to a Roman’s house and all believe. The first record of non Hebrew believers (besides likely some on Pentecost).
Persecution breaks out.. jail. stoning. Pharisee Saul leads the persecution, but on his way to Damascus with papers for arrests, Jesus makes himself seen but is so bright Paul falls to the ground and is blinded. After two days he is healed and is a believer, and soon is called Paul. He wrote many (to most) of the New Testament letters, but spent a few years (it seems to me) exclusively listening to the Lord. He established many ‘churches’ in what’s called three missionary journeys, and met and worked with Mark and Luke, and quite a few others. (Luke wrote this Book of Acts.) His fourth journey is to Rome to trial as a prisoner. There’s a shipwreck on the way.. He wrote many of his letters while in prison and under ‘house’ arrest.
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