Paul vs The Twelve Apostles

PART I

Alan R. Naas April 2021

How many “Christians” today believe that Paul was one of the twelve Apostles? If we were to ask the question, “Is Paul one of the twelve Apostles” what answer do you think would win out? If you ask “Who replaced Judas Iscariot?” How many would give Paul as the answer?

Many books have been written about the great Apostle Paul. How many of those books contain one of many paintings of Paul falling off his horse on the road to Damascus? What this study will focus on is what usually is not written about Paul: the differences between the teachings of Paul and the teachings of the twelve Apostles. This study is grown into at least two parts.

This study is part of a bigger study of how there became a separation of Paul’s doctrine of the Body of Christ and the Apostolic kingdom doctrine that traditional Christianity follows today.

If you are a student of the bible, how often did Paul come in contact with any of the twelve Apostles of Jesus? How much time did Paul spend with any of the twelve Apostles? Were Paul and the twelve Apostles best friends? Were they like “peas in a pod”? In my opinion, from the very beginning Paul was not well connected to the twelve Apostles.

Why did the Lord choose Paul? Didn’t He already have twelve Apostles? We NOW know that those twelve Apostles were reserved for a special calling and a special position pertaining to Israel. If God was going to bless the Gentiles and call out the fulness of Christ’s Body apart from Israel, then He would need a separate Apostle to perform such a separate ministry. The fact that the Lord converted Paul and put him in the ministry should be a clue that something special was in God’s plans. If there wasn’t something different going to take place, then why did God need Paul?

Paul is his Roman or Gentile name. Saul is his Hebrew or Jewish name.

Do you think that Saul was in the crowd of Jews that stood before Pilate and shouted “Crucify Him”? (Mark 15:13, Luke 23:20, John 19:15, Matt 27:22 23)

Do you think that Saul was in the crowd before Peter in Acts Chapter 2? What do the Scriptures say in Acts 2:14?

2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Do you think it is likely that Saul was in that crowd on Pentecost? Is it likely Saul experienced the Apostles speaking in tongues and heard Peter’s speech about Christ?

At first the Jews in Jerusalem tolerated the Apostles and their converts. However, whenever someone spoke up and blamed the Jews for killing Jesus the Christ, they were either imprisoned as Peter and other apostles in Acts Chapter 5 or stoned to death as Stephen in Acts Chapter 7.

Think about what happened after Pentecost in Jerusalem when Saul was a zealot. It appears that Saul stood against everything Peter and the disciples of Jesus preached. The first mention of Saul is in Acts 7:58 at the stoning of Stephen.

7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

Saul apparently had a high rank in the Jewish Council. Go back to Acts 6:8-9

6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

In Acts 21:39 Paul tells us were he is from.

21:39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

Acts 6:15And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church called out assembly that was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church called out assembly, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

If a guy like Saul (say Osama bin Laden) was raiding your neighborhood house-to-house looking for believers to kill, what would you do? Would you take your family and head out of town? Many of those Jewish believers did just that.

9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Have you ever really thought about what kind of man Saul was before his conversion? He was a top–ranking…radical…Jewish…terrorist.

9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

Saul became like Nimrod, a mighty hunter of men. Saul was the ring leader of this persecution of the called-out ones. It was so serious that it caused many to vacate their homes and scatter and relocate far away to avoid torture, imprisonment, or death. We have known such people today which we call “terrorists” who kill and persecute and scatter people. What kind of person was Saul to act this way? He was a bad hombre.

Paul made these confessions about himself:

            Before his captors in the Temple court

Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

            Before King Herod Agrippa II

Acts 26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.     10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

To Timothy

1 Tim 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious…

It seems that nobody hated these followers of Jesus more than Saul.

The Lord even took Saul’s actions as a personal attack on Himself.

9:4 And he (Saul) fell (off his horse) to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul,     why persecutest thou me? (Maybe Saul fell off his high horse!)

9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Notice back  in Acts 8:1 that the Apostles never left Jerusalem. Imagine how they felt about this Jew named Saul. He persecuted their converts, ran their converts out of town, and even had some thrown in prison or put to death. Would these apostles possibly be a little upset?

How would we feel about someone who would do such a thing, as Saul did, to our fellowship? After he was converted, would we run to listen to that person preach? Would we immediately embrace such a person? Could such a person be trusted? What if he was setting a trap?

In my opinion that is what Satan did after Acts. At first he was having believers persecuted by the Romans. Then he used Constantine, a Roman emperor, to set a trap using a religion to draw the believers into his religious system to seek safety and scape persecution.

The Lord chose and converted Saul, His most adverse enemy of the Jewish people.

Imagine how the Apostles felt when they heard that Saul was now also chosen to be a witness of the man he hated?  Do you think there were some reservations on the part of the Apostles to accept Saul? Do you think there was some hesitancy to embrace him? Do you think there may even have been some jealousy or even hatred? Perhaps they feared that Saul was setting a trap.

There is another thing that might be hard for us to understand. The Lord may have used Saul to scatter these Jewish converts for a reason: to get them out of Jerusalem, to be His witnesses in other areas of the world? This may seem to be a cruel way to us; but God’s ways are not our ways. If it wasn’t for Saul, these people may have never left Jerusalem. The Amazing thing is that Saul travelled around to these very same people in his ministry for Christ and established assemblies by them. Think about that!

What was the reaction of the first disciple to encounter Saul after his conversion?

Acts 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 4 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

The Lord had to choose an advocate for Saul who would present him to the disciples at Damascus. This took a lot of faith on the part of Ananias. But it must have worked out.

Acts 9:19 ...Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

Except for Ananias as his advocate, this probably would have never happened for Saul.

What was the reaction to Saul at Damascus?

9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

9:21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

Then the tables were turned on Saul and Saul got a taste of his own medicine:

9:23 And after that many days (3 years) were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

Let’s look at what happened when Saul was escaped from threats at Damascus and came to back Jerusalem.

9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed (tried) to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

The first time Saul returned to Jerusalem, even after three years had passed, they greatly feared him there.

9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he (the Lord) had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Who was this Barnabas? How did he know Saul?

Acts 4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Barnabas was one of the disciples. Isn’t that interesting that Barnabas was introduced to us in that way: the son of consolation? The meaning of his name is explained here to us for a future reason. The Greek 3874 paraklesis means consolation or exhortation. The Greek 3875 parakletos is an advocate or comforter. Barnabas was like an advocate for Paul to the disciples to comfort their fears or exhort them for their fear. Barnabas was Saul’s second advocate.

Side Note: Joses Barnabas is Joseph Barnabas in the original texts. Barnabas could be Barsabbas and could have been Joseph Barsabas (Barsabbas) in Acts 1:23; one of the two chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. In Acts 15:22 there is a Judas Barsabas (Barsabbas) who was sent to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. Judas Barsabas could be the brother of Joseph Barsabas. This Judas could have been Barnabas’ brother. (Companion Bible notes)  John Mark was Barnabas’ cousin.

9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Can we insert here what Paul wrote to the Galatians?

Gal 1:18  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

The only Apostle Saul met in Jerusalem was Peter for fifteen days. This James was not one of two apostles by that name. This James is the brother of Jesus and a disciple. My thought is that Peter handed Saul over to James, who was the leader of the assembly at Jerusalem.

Acts 9:28 And he (Saul) was with them (the disciples) coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

So Saul spent some time ministering with the disciples in and around Jerusalem.

Acts 9:29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians (Greek speaking Jews): but they went about to slay him.

So now Saul is on the receiving side of the hatred from the Jews in Jerusalem as he was in Damascus.

Acts 9:30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him (Saul) down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus (Saul’s home town)

So the fear of persecution eased because Saul had been converted and had left the area as Saul was beginning to stir up the Jews against the called out ones again in Jerusalem; Saul being now on their own side. It seemed as though they were saying “Thanks Saul, but no thanks. Are you trying to get us killed?”

Acts 9:31 Then had the churches called out ones rest (peace) throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied..

Things began to settle down in and around Jerusalem after Saul was sent back home to Tarsus. Saul was not only rejected by the Jews, but was also being protected but at the same time rejected by the disciples.  Saul was being too zealous as far as these disciples were concerned.

At first Saul was a hindrance to the growth of believers because of his reputation. In Jerusalem Paul was well-known as a renegade Jew and the Jews hated him.

Now that Saul has been “activated” by the Lord, a divine change was about to take place. We return to Peter and his encounter with a Roman centurion, a Gentile, named Cornelius.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church called out ones which were in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch.

11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

Now Saul is brought back into the picture again by Barnabas. Where would Saul be without Barnabas, his advocate?

11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church called out ones, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Syria).

Acts 11:29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

This was Saul’s second of five visits to Jerusalem. After the death of Herod Agrippa I, who had James the apostle killed, Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch, Syria.

Acts 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark. (Co 4:10 he was a cousin to Barnabas)

13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Paul and Barnabas departed from Antioch Syria and went to Selucia, to sail to the island of Cyprus into the cities of Salamis and Paphos. So now the Holy Ghost becomes Saul’s third Advocate (Parkletos) and changed his name to Paul, which is his Roman or Gentile name; to fit his foregoing ministry.

13:9 Then Saul (who also is called Paul) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

Paul and Barnabas went on to Perga and Antioch in Pisidia,

13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

From Acts 13:4 to 14:28 Paul and Barnabas completed their first missionary Journey.

14:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, (Syria) from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church assembly together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

Notice that during all these events Saul was with the disciples and not the Twelve Apostles.

Then in Acts 15:6-29 there is the famous council at Jerusalem on what to require of the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas bring Titus from Antioch to Jerusalem. As we read Pauls’ account of this in Galatians 2, we can experience Paul’s encounter with the same Peter and James he first met eleven years prior, with John also now present here. This is where the distinction between Paul’s ministry and the Apostles ministry was established.

Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch for a while, and then they planned to move on.

As Paul launces his second missionary journey from Antioch, Syria, Paul and Barnabas separate. Barnabas takes John Mark (his cousin Co 4:10) to Cyprus (back home?), while Paul takes Silas through Syria and Ciclicia to Derbe and Lystra.

15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

It is apparent that the Lord’s purpose for Barnabas has come to a close. We mustn’t underestimate the role of Barnabas in the Lord’s plan for Paul. What would Paul have done without Barnabas? How would Paul have worked his way into the fellowship of the disciples at Jerusalem? The Jews wanted to kill him. The disciples were afraid of him. Many disciples had a hard time validating that Paul was a true apostle. Some of Paul’s Epistles verify this fact.

So it seems like the role of the apostle Barnabas was to be the Lord’s advocate for the bringing forth of Saul to the disciples in Jerusalem and also bringing in Paul from Tarsus to Antioch, Syria to minster to the Jews first. Then the Holy Spirit separated Barnabas and Saul from the other disciples which took them to Antioch, Pisidia where they turned from the Jews to the Gentiles for the first time. Then Saul and Barnabas worked their way back to Antioch, Syria were a conflict arose.  After the conference in Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas continued their ministry. Barnabas was with Saul on his first three visits of five to Jerusalem. Eventually Paul and Barnabas departed asunder and then Timothy and Luke came on the scene.

At first the Lord called Ananias the disciple to be Saul’s advocate. Then the disciple Barnabas, the son of consolation, became Saul’s advocate. When Saul’s name was changed to Paul at Paphos, he was filled with the Holy Ghost, who became his Advocate thereafter.

The only one of the twelve Apostles that Paul met on his first visit to Jerusalem was Peter. James was not an apostle, but the brother of Jesus who was head of the assembly at Jerusalem.  On Paul’s third visit to Jerusalem he met with the apostles and the elders (Acts 15:6) James, Peter, and John seemed to be pillars as Paul describes in Galatians 2:9. This is the first time Paul meets all the apostles fourteen years after his conversion. The next time is on his fifth and last visit to Jerusalem in Acts 21:17-18. These two meetings were confrontational.

At first Paul worked together with Barnabas and the disciples in line with the conversion of Jews. But after they turned to the Gentiles, things began to change. When Paul the zealot separated from Barnabas the disciple, and with the Holy Spirit as his advocate, Paul conducted his own missionary journeys without any contact with the twelve Apostles. The Bible records only two encounters with “the apostles and the elders” in Jerusalem other than the one with Peter in Antioch, Syria (Gal 2:11).

To lump Paul in with the Twelve Apostles is misleading at the least. Their callings were different. Their ministries were different. And their messages were very different. The ministry of the Twelve Apostles ended at the ending of the Acts, but Paul was given a second ministry after the Acts ended and continues for us today. The ministry of the Twelve and their “Great Commission” will resume in the future.

 Paul versus The Twelve Apostles

PART II

Alan R. Naas June 2021

We engineers seem to have a knack for trying to figure things out. I have been extremely curious about why Christianity seems to oppose or, at least be unaware of, the doctrine of the dispensation of the Body of Christ.

It is good for us to get a full understanding of how this came about in order to know the will of God and His plan and purpose for the ages. The intent is to glorify Christ in His true and rightful position as Head of the fulfilling Body and not a mere religious figurehead.

We have been looking into the beginning of the religion of Christianity and how it departed from the Lord’s revelation of the mystery of the Body of Christ. We are going to continue to beat this drum until we run out of beats.

It is fascinating to me to try to understand God’s plan for this present age and how He chose to work it out as He has. I probably would have gone about it in a completely different way.

Although a comparison of the religion of Christianity to the religion of Judaism would likely reveal some striking similarities.  That will be another study.

Over forty year ago I began to question the deception of the Roman Catholic Religion. About twenty years I began to question the discrepancies found in the Protestant religions.

Augustine once said “If you distinguish the dispensations, the discrepancies will disappear”.  What did Augustine know?

Once the Lord gave me the grace to know the dispensation of the mystery of the Body of Christ, I began to question some of the things that I was reading in the English translation of the Bible.

To recap: we questioned the use of the word “church” for the translation of the Greek form ekklesia. As we continued to study we found several other words in the English translation that were not inspired words of God. We could take all of the most pronounced terms used in Christianity and reveal the truth about those terms (e.g. gospel,  baptism, communion, cross, heaven, hell, saint, etc.)

These things led us to understand that a Concordance is merely a catalogue of the English words used by the translators and does not always not reflect the correct translation of certain words. This occurs as a result of the influences of doctrine. We study under the principle of right division and the understanding of dispensational truth. Therefore, we sometimes see the need to translate the Greek forms in the New Testament in a different way than those of the English translators.

Then we went outside and beyond the time of the Scriptures to analyze traditional Christianity and where it came from. We did a study on the Didache. We studied the writings of the Apostolic Fathers who were Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, and Clement of Rome. We studied the writings of Eusebius and other ante-Nicaean Fathers. Even the Westminster Confession of Faith should be considered in our studies.

I began to ask myself if I was a “Christian”. Then we studied the name Christian and found it to be an Acts period term used for Jewish believers who followed the teachings the apostles of the Christ, the Messiah. What is meant by the term Judeo-Christian? Is the name “Christian” a dispensational name? Should the name Christian be used after the end of the Acts? Paul never used it even though he was among the first to be called by that name. Are members of the Body of Christ to be called Christians?

We looked at the Apostle Paul’s relationship with the Twelve Apostles (which usually there only eleven) and how Paul remained separate, both physically and doctrinally. Without advocates like Ananias and Barnabas, Paul may have never been accepted by any of the diaspora in Damascus, let alone the disciples in Jerusalem.  (BTW did you know the word “disciple” is only found in the four Gospels and Acts?)

Now we must look at and compare the ministry of the Apostles and the ministry of Paul.

Have you ever noticed how Christian denominational churches use the names of some of the Apostles? This must symbolize some connection and relationship to the teachings of the Apostles. This confirms the fact that their doctrine is based on the doctrine of Jesus Christ and His Apostles. This continues the doctrine of the Judeo-Christians and not the doctrine of the Body of Christ. The two doctrines do not mix. This is obviously the work of the deceiver.

If we look at the Book of Acts as a whole, 17 of the 28 chapters are concerning the acts of Paul as compared to 11 chapters concerning the acts of Peter and the others. If we look at the 26 books of the New Testament, 14 books were written by Paul whereas 12 were written by others; and of those John wrote 5, Peter wrote 2, and Matthew 1. Only 8 of the 26 NT books were written by any of the Twelve Apostles. James and Jude were half-brothers of Jesus.

Was Luke ever called an Apostle? Was Mark ever called an Apostle? Barnabas and Paul were called apostles in Acts 14:14. Paul often declared his apostleship. That word apostolos 652 can mean “one that is sent”, “a delegate”, “an ambassador of a message” or officially “a commissioner of Christ”. Barnabas had a commission to be Saul’s advocate as we studied last time; but he was not an official chosen commissioner of Christ as were the Twelve.

Just what exactly was the teaching of the Apostles during the “Acts of the Apostles” period? Notice it is called the “Acts of the Apostles” and not the “Teachings of the Apostles”. 

During the Acts Period

I believe the ministry of the Twelve (Eleven) Apostles was limited to the Acts period and was then postponed  at the end of Acts, as were all of God’s dealings with Israel, until after the next event: the appearing of Christ in glory with His Called-out Body as stated in Colossians 3:4. Then their ministry continues until the end of the (kingdom) age.

The Apostles were given three commissions by the risen Christ Jesus. They were the “commissioners of Christ”. (See Appendix 167 in the Companion Bible)

The first commission of the Apostles (during Acts)

Luke 24:47 (for context)

This takes place in Jerusalem on the evening of Christ’s resurrection. In 24:33 we are told who received the commission.

33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (see 18:31-34) 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

Acts 2: 36-41

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Matthew 22:1-10

22 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

The second (Acts) commission of the Apostles                                                                           

Mark 16:15-18

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they  drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.           

Matthew 22:4-7 (foretold)

4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Mark 16:20 (fulfilled)

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

We are given only a few examples of this commission in Acts.

Acts 3:1-26 Peter (and John) healing of the lame man confirmed this commission.

Acts 4:8-12 Peter’s response to the High Priest, Annas and Caiaphas and others question as to in whose name have ye done this healing?

Acts 5:1-10 Ananias and Sapphira died at the words of Peter.

Acts 5:12 And by the hands of the Apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. …14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Acts 9:32-43 Peter healed Aeneas and raised Tabitha from death

Peter was working these miracles among Jews and not Gentiles.

Hebrews 2:3-4 confirmed (notice this written by Paul to the Hebrews)

1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

The Acts of the Apostles is the inspired history of the fulfilment of this commission, so far as it is necessary for our instruction. It was given for the personal ministry of the Apostles to be fulfilled by them before the destruction of the Temple and of Jerusalem.           

The third (and postponed) commission of the Apostles

Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach3100 all the nations, baptizing having baptized them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching1321 them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always all the days, even unto the end of the world aion = age. Amen.

This third commission is yet future.

“Unto the end of the world” is the completion or consummation of the age or dispensation of the Acts period, which would have been A.D. 85. But as Israel did not repent (Acts 3:19-26, 28:25-28) Hence all of this is postponed until Matthew 24:14 shall be taken up and fulfilled.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end teleos of the sunteleia  come. 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

This particular commission was then postponed and has not been performed yet: it is still in the future sometime after Colossians 3:4 takes place.

Matt 22:8-10

8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

Paul’s commission during the Acts

Acts 9:15-16

15 But the Lord said unto him Ananias, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Acts 22:12-15

12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

Acts 26:15-18

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.  

Acts 20:21

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:24

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I  my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Looking back by Paul’s post Act messages

Ephesians 3:2-7

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Colossians 1:23

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Peter’s account of Paul’s Acts commission (2 Peter 3)

3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Since Peter is writing to the elect of the dispersion, I believe that Peter is referring to Paul’s letter to the Hebrews. After Acts 15 and Galatians, Paul had much to write to the Hebrews, including the Twelve Apostles, explaining many important doctrinal truths that apparently the Twelve Apostles were not able to teach them. This should be additional evidence that Paul’s understanding was on a different level than that of the Twelve Apostles.

The Twelve Apostles were given no post-Acts ministry during the present dispensation.

Paul’s post-Acts Commission

Ephesians 3:8-12

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Colossians 1:24-29

24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

2 Timothy 1:8-11

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,  10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Only Paul was given any commission during this present dispensation. The Apostles were given two commissions during the Acts period. The third commission, (which is commonly called “the Great Commission of the Church) was postponed at the end of the Acts. It is still to be completed in the yet future.

I believe that those Judeo-Christians who were not chosen to see the mystery of the dispensation of the Body of Christ were the foundation of the religion of Christianity that followed the teachings of the Apostles. The name Christian does not apply to the called out Body of Christ because we have been called out of the religion of Christianity. The teachings of the Apostles was interrupted and postponed at the end of Acts because they were directed to the circumcision of Israel and had no knowledge of the mystery of the Body of Christ and its dispensation by God.

In His manifold wisdom, our heavenly Father saw fit to allow things to happen this way.

I have noticed that Ronnie McCurry has picked up on this as he presented 2 Timothy last Sunday and those in Asia who were turned away from Paul and all those who eventually abandoned Paul.

So what did the Apostles teach that is so important to this presentation? Why do so many preachers and priests in the Christian religion use the Gospels and the Old Testament for their teaching lessons? The Apostles Matthew, Peter, and John were the only contributors to Scriptural writings. Many of the Apostles are in name only without any record of their acts or teaching.

Christianity has completely reversed the status of Paul and the status of the Twelve Apostles.  It is amazing to me how the Lord uses Satan’s religion of Christianity to glorify Himself and the truth of God’s word in spite of all the deception and lies.

As he called out an elect remnant from the religion of Judaism, he can call and is calling out an elect body from the religion of Christianity.

Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of His (Father) grace

Eph 1:12 To the praise of His (Christ the Son) glory

Eph 1:14 To the praise of His (Holy Ghost) glory