Biblical Discernment
Peter’s Ministry in Early Acts
d_jjackson@hotmail.com
A little background: Peter was chosen by the Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry to Israel.
“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. And He saith unto them, Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:18-20
Later, He sent them out to preach the “kingdom of heaven is at hand:”
“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 not. But go, rather, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 10:5,6
Now, to the book of Acts:
The Lord Jesus Christ spent His last 40 days on earth teaching the eleven [Judas is dead] about the “Kingdom of God” from the Old Testament Scriptures. Acts 1:3 cf Luke 24:25-27, 44,45
The eleven made it their first order of business [after our Lord’s ascension] to bring their number back up to twelve. This would be very important in the “kingdom” because the Lord had promised the twelve that they would “sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” in the coming earthly kingdom. Acts 1:15-26 cf Matthew 19:28. Peter will be offering the “kingdom” to Israel in Acts 3.
Now we come to the day of Pentecost and Peter stands to speak. Who is he addressing?
“Ye men of Israel…..” Acts 2:22
He then presents the cross as bad news and tells Israel what they must do to be saved.
“Then Peter said unto them [Israel], Repent and be baptized everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
They must change their mind [that’s what repent means] about this “Jesus of Nazareth” and submit to water baptism “for the remission of sins” before they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This fits quite well with the “kingdom” program as found in the Old Testament prophecies and preached in the gospels and early Acts. See Exodus 19:5,6 cf 1 Peter 2:9; Exodus 29:4 and Mark 1:4.
In Acts 3 Peter and John are going up to the temple [yes, the Jewish temple is still there] to worship and pass a man, lame from birth, who is sitting at the temple gate begging. Peter heals the man [see Matthew 10:7,8] and he becomes a picture of Israel being healed in the “kingdom” [see Isa. 35:6]. Peter then defends the healing of the lame man to the Jews:
“And when Peter saw it, he answered the people, ye men of Israel…….” Acts 3:12ff.
In verses 13-16 he again accuses Israel of murdering their Messiah, but gives them a way out by saying that he knows they did it through ignorance [verse 17]. He then offers the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to establish the kingdom contingent upon Israel’s repentance. Verses 18-21. He then cites Moses and the prophets as having spoken of these days [verses 24-26] and reminds the Jews that they are “sons of the prophets and covenants….” [verse 24,25]. He reminds Israel that to them first are these blessing to accrue [verse 26 cf Acts 13:46].
In Acts chapter 4 Peter addresses the Sanhedrin: “….all the people of Israel…..[verse 10].
Acts, chapter 5 presents another example of Peter using the “keys of the kingdom” [see Matthew 16:19] to bind the judgment on Ananias and Sapphira and the apostles perform mighty miracles in Jerusalem in fulfillment of the “great commission” given to the twelve in Matthew 10:8.
Peter defends his position before the Jewish Sanhedrin and again accuses Israel of murdering her Messiah [5:30] and presents our Lord in resurrection to be a “……Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel and the forgiveness of sins.” [verse 31].
Summary:
Peter, an apostle to the circumcision [Galatians 2:8,9], addresses and ministers to Israel [only] and preaches the gospel of the kingdom, as found in the gospels. He presents the cross as bad news and accuses Israel of murder. He presents water baptism for the remission of their sins. The Body of Christ is not in view here.
Peter’s Ministry in Early Acts
d_jjackson@hotmail.com
A little background: Peter was chosen by the Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry to Israel.
“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. And He saith unto them, Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:18-20
Later, He sent them out to preach the “kingdom of heaven is at hand:”
“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 not. But go, rather, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 10:5,6
Now, to the book of Acts:
The Lord Jesus Christ spent His last 40 days on earth teaching the eleven [Judas is dead] about the “Kingdom of God” from the Old Testament Scriptures. Acts 1:3 cf Luke 24:25-27, 44,45
The eleven made it their first order of business [after our Lord’s ascension] to bring their number back up to twelve. This would be very important in the “kingdom” because the Lord had promised the twelve that they would “sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” in the coming earthly kingdom. Acts 1:15-26 cf Matthew 19:28. Peter will be offering the “kingdom” to Israel in Acts 3.
Now we come to the day of Pentecost and Peter stands to speak. Who is he addressing?
“Ye men of Israel…..” Acts 2:22
He then presents the cross as bad news and tells Israel what they must do to be saved.
“Then Peter said unto them [Israel], Repent and be baptized everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
They must change their mind [that’s what repent means] about this “Jesus of Nazareth” and submit to water baptism “for the remission of sins” before they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This fits quite well with the “kingdom” program as found in the Old Testament prophecies and preached in the gospels and early Acts. See Exodus 19:5,6 cf 1 Peter 2:9; Exodus 29:4 and Mark 1:4.
In Acts 3 Peter and John are going up to the temple [yes, the Jewish temple is still there] to worship and pass a man, lame from birth, who is sitting at the temple gate begging. Peter heals the man [see Matthew 10:7,8] and he becomes a picture of Israel being healed in the “kingdom” [see Isa. 35:6]. Peter then defends the healing of the lame man to the Jews:
“And when Peter saw it, he answered the people, ye men of Israel…….” Acts 3:12ff.
In verses 13-16 he again accuses Israel of murdering their Messiah, but gives them a way out by saying that he knows they did it through ignorance [verse 17]. He then offers the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to establish the kingdom contingent upon Israel’s repentance. Verses 18-21. He then cites Moses and the prophets as having spoken of these days [verses 24-26] and reminds the Jews that they are “sons of the prophets and covenants….” [verse 24,25]. He reminds Israel that to them first are these blessing to accrue [verse 26 cf Acts 13:46].
In Acts chapter 4 Peter addresses the Sanhedrin: “….all the people of Israel…..[verse 10].
Acts, chapter 5 presents another example of Peter using the “keys of the kingdom” [see Matthew 16:19] to bind the judgment on Ananias and Sapphira and the apostles perform mighty miracles in Jerusalem in fulfillment of the “great commission” given to the twelve in Matthew 10:8.
Peter defends his position before the Jewish Sanhedrin and again accuses Israel of murdering her Messiah [5:30] and presents our Lord in resurrection to be a “……Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel and the forgiveness of sins.” [verse 31].
Summary:
Peter, an apostle to the circumcision [Galatians 2:8,9], addresses and ministers to Israel [only] and preaches the gospel of the kingdom, as found in the gospels. He presents the cross as bad news and accuses Israel of murder. He presents water baptism for the remission of their sins. The Body of Christ is not in view here.
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