Comments on Acts

Unless more dialogue opens up, I'll go ahead with the next study sometime today. In the meantime I want to give you certain considerations with regard to the study of Acts. To begin with the Acts of the Apostles is a divine recording of a transitional period in which the new covenant church begins as a sect in Judaism, and then becomes a multicultural religion. This was God's intention from the beginning. (It is recorded in the prophets.)

So keep in mind that Acts was not designed to be exclusively a doctrinal book. It is a history book that includes doctrine. However, some truths are also being discovered during this period of time. It would be necessary for the Church to discard her Jewish clothing, and become clothed with her true nature. For she was to be a people from all nations, tribes and tongues.

The book covers roughly a 35 years. It completes itself not long before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 a.d. Both Peter and Paul will lose their lives before the destruction. (This is not recorded in the book itself, but is set forth in Church history.)

Then we need to realize that many occurrences in Acts have to do with laying the foundation for the Church by the apostles themselves. This is why you will see certain things taking place in Acts, that will not be found in later periods of the Church. (I'm not talking about healings and miracles. These always belong to God's people.)

As a final thought --- Always keep in view that while the covenant of Moses fulfills itself in the cross, the temple priesthood itself, and the sacrifices are permitted to continue during this transitional time. The purpose is for an out-gathering of Jews who will turn to Jesus. When this period of time is complete, then the temple will be destroyed completely.

When the book of Acts closes, we hear a parting word from Paul. But let's not go there now.

This study was originally part of a series on the book of Acts given to members of Hebraic Foundations from July 10, 2002 through January 19, 2003. They were written by Pastor Buddy Martin, a former United Pentecostal Church minister, who founded Christian Challenge International. Writings are the copyright of Buddy Martin and reprinted on this site by permission. For a list of all the articles in this study, go here.

Page added October 22, 2004

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