The Christian Deliteralization of the Old Testament

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Authorship of Luke-Acts

The first verses of Luke and Acts show that both books were written by the same author.

The organization of the New Testament, grouping Luke with the synoptic gospels, causes Acts to be separated from the Gospel of Luke by the Gospel of John, but the two works by Luke should be read together.

Opening of the Gospel of Luke

"Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received" (Lk 1:1-4).

Observations
  • Luke is neither an "eyewitness" nor a "minister of the word" (1:2). If the eyewitnesses are the same group as ministers of the word, Luke is in the second (or a later) generation of Christianity; if the eyewitnesses are one group and the ministers of the word are another, then Luke is in the third (or later) generation of Christianity.
  • "Many" others have tried to tell the story (1:1). Luke must be in possession of those other narratives.
  • Luke plans an "orderly" account (1:3). This implies that he thought the other accounts were disorderly.
  • "Theophilus" is either a name (Godlover) or a description of the reader (lover of God).

Opening of the Acts of the Apostles

"In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen" (Acts 1:1-2).

Observations
  • Luke talks to "Theophilus" about his "first book"--the Gospel of Luke, which describes "all that Jesus did and taught" (1:1).
  • Acts is therefore Volume 2 of Luke's history of Christianity, the story of what the Apostles did after Jesus' ascension into Heaven.

Acts 2: The Day of Pentecost

Pentecost was a Jewish festival that took place 50 days after Passover and that celebrated the giving of the Law (Torah) to Moses on Mount Sinai. For Luke, this is the day the Spirit replaces the Law; this gift fulfills the prophecy of Ezekiel 36:25-7 that GOD would write the law in people's hearts through the gift of the Holy Spirit; see also Ezekiel 37:1-14, where the Spirit raises the People of Israel to life. Christians see themselves as the resurrected, Spirit-filled Israel promised by Ezekiel.

Note the signs which proved that the Spirit was present:

  • Sound of a mighty wind.
  • Tongues of fire over the heads of the disciples.
  • The disciples began to make strange and joyful noises.

Acts 10: The "Pentecost" of the Gentiles

Simon Peter has a vision on the roof about clean (kosher) and unclean animals (vv. 9-20).

He is then sent to visit Gentiles (i.e., non-Jews; vv. 20-24). The Gentiles were unclean people (not kosher)--Cornelius is a Roman centurion from the Italica cohort (v. 1).

Peter realizes that GOD has declared the unclean people clean (kosher; vv. 27-29).

As he preaches the gospel (vv. 36-43), they receive the Spirit just as the apostles did on Pentecost (vv. 44-46)!

Note the signs which proved the Spirit was present.

Since they had already received the Spirit, Peter decided they could be baptized with water and become full-fledged Christians even though they weren't circumcised and they didn't keep the Jewish Law (Torah = "Law" = the Pentateuch = the first five books of TNK / LXX / OT = GELND).

Acts 15: The first council of the Church

(Not included among the "official count" of 21 councils.)

The Judaizers felt that to be Christian, one had to be a Jew (v. 1). "Christ" symbolizes being "King of the Jews."

Jesus was a Jew. He was circumcised and worshiped in the Temple.

His Mom was a Jew.

His 12 disciples were Jews.

He focused His work on Jews living in the Holy Land.

He said that none of the Law (Torah) would be lost until it was fulfilled.

The literal meaning of the Law was perfectly clear: "God wrote it; I read it; that settles it."

Therefore, the Judaizers argued that men had to be circumcised as well as Baptized and that all Christians had to keep the precepts of Torah. When the rabbis counted up all the commandments in the five books of Moses (the Pentateuch, the first five books of TNK, a.k.a. Torah), they found 613!

Many men objected to the approach that the Judaizers took (v. 2), especially Peter and Paul.

Peter tells the story of how the Spirit was given to unclean, uncircumcised, pig-eating, emperor-worshiping Italian soldiers who worked as members of the Army of Occupation (15:8-11). The decision of the Council: "It seems good to the Holy Spirit and to us" that no law be imposed, other than the Famous Four Commandments (15:28-29; how many of them do you recognize?). In other words, 609 commandments were dropped, just like that. The Ten Commandments were retrieved later.

Old Covenant (Old Testament) New Covenant (New Testament)

First sign of acceptance: circumcision (surgery).First sign of acceptance: Baptism (a bath).

Salvation came through obedience to Torah (Law).Salvation came as a grace (a free gift, unearned).

Messiah (Christ) was a human king who would marry, father an heir, win battles, and die.Messiah is the God-Man who conquered sin and death and now lives and reigns forever (fulfilling Psalm 89).

Life was regulated by 613 commandments in the Torah.Life was regulated by the Holy Spirit.

The official place of worship was the Temple in Jerusalem: one God, one People, one Holy Land, one Holy City, one Temple.The official place of worship is the Body of Christ: "wherever two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I" (Mt 18:20; Acts 9:5, 22:8, 26:15).

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