Universalism in the New Testament
BooK of Acts of the First Believers
(Paraphrased)
Brief review/background from chapter one - In the first book (the gospel bearing Luke’s name) ..I (Luke) have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up, having given instructions through the Holy Spirit(/Presence of God) to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 Jesus, by many proofs, presented himself alive after his suffering, having appeared to them for forty days after it (his death) and speaking about the kingdom of God to them. 4 And while he was still there, he told them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father. “The promise you heard from me” he said, 5 “for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit (with God’s veRy Presence!) a few days from now.”
2:1 And so later, when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly! A sound like a mighty rushing wind from above! And it filled the entire house where they were. 3 Flames of fire like tongues appeared and above each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit(/Presence of God) and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were in Jerusalem Hebrews/Jews, devout men from many nations. 6 And at the sound of the mighty wind, a crowd came together, and they were bewildered, because everyone was hearing them speak in their own language. 7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear them, each in our own language? 9 Parthians and Medes, Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, from Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome! 11 Jews and proselytes both, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongue the mighty works of God!” 12 And they were amazed and puzzled, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They’re filled with wine!” 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, spoke loudly and said to them, “Men of Judea, and all who are here in Jerusalem, understand this, and listen to what I say. 15 These are not drunk. It’s only the third hour of the day! 16 But this is what was prophesied by the prophet Joel when he said, ‘In the last days - God says - I will pour out my Spirit upon all the living. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 On my male servants and on my female servants, in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy. 19 I’ll show signs in the heavens above, and signs upon the earth below. And there will be fire, and blood, and vapor of smoke 20 the sun will turn to darkness (from the smoke?) and the moon to blood (reflecting red of fires?) before it is the day of the Lord - the great and magnificent ‘day’! 21 And all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved [sozo - saved, healed, preserved, rescued].’”
{Saved from what? From the dangers at hand? And ultimately from death (& its cause).. “the wage/result of sin - greek hamartia - missing the mark - is death” (beginning with entropy “which does not quit”) Romans 6:23. Unavoidably because God iS life and “is perfect” Mt.5:48, Jn.12:32. So the remedy was built in from the beginning/foundation, Rev.13:8.} {And part of the “good news of the kingdom” is, life, creation, has to be perfect. And God has each person’s highest blueprint.. “beneath us are the everlasting arms” Deuteronomy 33:27, a word to every human being there is and ever has been and will be. Like footprints in the sand.. And sand through the hourglass..}
🗝️ [ ] - word/language insights, facts, cross references, etc.
{ } - thots
