Search — Theology Explorer

Romans 1:16 Gentile mission Romans 1:16 to the Jew first

Romans 1:16 — "To the Jew first and also to the Greek" reflects a sequential gospel mission, not simultaneous Law-imposition

Connecting the Jewish-first mission to the broader outreach pattern

Matthew 28:20 Hebrew Roots movement Great Commission Gentiles and the Law

Three problems with the Hebrew Roots use of Matthew 28: it misreads Matthew 5, ignores everything Jesus commanded, and contradicts how the Apostles actually applied it

Winger's three-pronged critique of the Matthew 28 argument

Acts 10 Acts 15 Acts 10 Acts 15 Gentile mission

Preview: Book of Acts will be examined next to show how the Apostles actually applied Jesus's commands regarding the Law

Transition to future installments of the series

resurrection apologetics apostolic martyrdom

Apostles were willing to die repeatedly for the resurrection—this demonstrates sincerity without needing proof they were offered a final recantation option

Brief apologetics note on the resurrection and martyrdom argument

John 6:5 John 12:21 Luke 9:10 undesigned coincidences Jonathan McLatchie John 6:5

Undesigned coincidence: why Jesus addressed Philip at the feeding of the 5,000

McLatchie's first example of an undesigned coincidence involving John 6, John 12, and Luke 9.

1 Corinthians 15 Acts 1 Luke Craig Keener 1 Corinthians 15 resurrection of Jesus

Historical case for the resurrection — basis and overview

McLatchie introduces the historical argument for the resurrection of Jesus, which is the seventh main line of argument.

1 Corinthians 15:3-7 Galatians 1:18-19 Paul Peter resurrection creed

1 Corinthians 15 creedal tradition — early apostolic testimony to the resurrection

McLatchie analyzes 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 as a pre-Pauline creed containing the earliest testimony to the resurrection.

John 21 Paul Peter Origen

Martyrdom of Peter and Paul as evidence for the sincerity of resurrection belief

McLatchie cites the willingness of the apostles to die for their testimony as evidence they genuinely believed in the resurrection.

Acts 1 James the brother of Jesus John 7:5 Josephus resurrection of Jesus Acts 1

James the brother of Jesus — conversion from skeptic to martyr

McLatchie presents the conversion and martyrdom of James, Jesus's brother, as particularly strong evidence for the resurrection.

Mary Magdalene empty tomb criterion of embarrassment

Empty tomb evidence — women as primary witnesses

McLatchie presents the role of women as primary witnesses to the empty tomb as evidence for its historicity.

Matthew 28 Paul the Apostle Gentiles Law of Moses

Three expectations if Jesus wanted obedience to Mosaic Law: (1) clear extension to Gentiles in his teaching, (2) Apostles teaching it to Gentiles in Acts, (3) Paul explicitly commanding it

Methodological framework for evaluating Acts

hermeneutics Torah observance Jewish believers

Two analytical questions for surveying Acts: (1) Did Jewish Apostles feel compelled to stop obeying the law? (2) Were Gentile converts taught to obey the law?

Analytical framework for the Acts survey

Acts 2:36 Acts 2:36 Peter (Apostle) Jewish audience

Acts 2:36 confirms Peter is addressing a Jewish audience (house of Israel), reinforcing that Acts 2 has no bearing on Gentile Torah observance

Analysis of Peter's Pentecost sermon audience

Acts 3:1 John (Apostle) Hebrews (book) temple worship Jewish believers Peter (Apostle)

Acts 3:1 -- Peter and John regularly attend the temple at the hour of prayer during a sacrifice, showing Jewish believers continued temple participation after believing in Jesus

Survey of Acts chapter 3

Acts 3:12 Acts 3:17 Acts 3:25-26 Messianic prophecy Abrahamic covenant Peter (Apostle)

Peter's sermon in Acts 3 is directed to 'men of Israel' -- Jewish-to-Jewish evangelism with a distinctly Jewish message connecting Jesus to Messianic expectation

Survey of Acts chapter 3 sermon

Acts 5:12 progressive revelation temple worship early church

Acts 5:12 -- Apostles gather at Solomon's Portico (temple area), reinforcing the entirely Jewish character of the early church. No abandonment of the law is visible.

Survey of Acts chapter 5

Acts 5:34-39 Gamaliel Sanhedrin Acts 5:34-39

Gamaliel's speech in Acts 5:34 -- a Pharisee teacher of the law advises the Sanhedrin to wait and see regarding the Apostles. The entire context remains Jewish.

Survey of Acts chapter 5, Sanhedrin confrontation

Acts 8 John (Apostle) Acts 8 Holy Spirit Peter (Apostle)

The Holy Spirit did not fall on the Samaritan believers until Peter and John came and laid hands on them -- the Apostles were required to officially open the gospel to the Samaritans

Analysis of Holy Spirit delay in Samaria

Acts 9:15 Acts 9:20 Paul the Apostle Acts 9:15 Acts 9:20

Acts 9: Saul is converted and called as the apostle to the Gentiles, but immediately begins preaching in synagogues to Jews -- the Gentile mission has not yet begun

Survey of Acts chapter 9, Paul's conversion

dietary laws Jewish believers Peter (Apostle)

Peter did not violate food laws even years after the resurrection -- an important concession: there was no requirement for Jewish believers to stop Torah observance after coming to Jesus

Analysis of Peter's behavior regarding food laws

Acts 10:28 Gentile inclusion Peter (Apostle) clean/unclean distinction

Acts 10:28 gives the authoritative interpretation of the vision: 'God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean' -- the vision is about Gentile inclusion, not food

Peter's own interpretation of his vision

Acts 11:22-26 discipleship Barnabas Torah observance

Barnabas and Saul spend a full year discipling the Antioch church; disciples are first called Christians there. This extended discipleship with no mention of Torah observance is a key data point.

Survey of Acts 11:22-26, Antioch discipleship

Acts 13:14 Paul the Apostle fulfillment theology Acts 13:14

Paul preaches in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:14) -- his standard method is synagogue first, then the broader city. His message presents Jesus as fulfillment of the law and prophets.

Survey of Acts 13:14, Paul's first missionary journey

Acts 13:38-39 Paul the Apostle justification Law of Moses

Acts 13:38-39 -- Paul: forgiveness is proclaimed through Jesus, and through him everyone who believes is freed from all things from which they could not be freed through the law of Moses

Paul's synagogue sermon in Pisidian Antioch

Acts 13:42-46 Barnabas Paul the Apostle Gentile mission

Acts 13:42-46 -- Paul invited back next Sabbath; nearly the whole city comes; jealous Jews contradict him; Paul and Barnabas declare they are turning to the Gentiles

Survey of Acts 13:42-46, rejection by Jews and turn to Gentiles

Acts 14:8-11 Barnabas Paul the Apostle Acts 14:8-11

Acts 14 -- Paul in Iconium and Lystra heals a lame man; Gentiles try to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Paul corrects their polytheism but never mentions the Law of Moses.

Survey of Acts 14, Paul's ministry in Lystra

Acts 14:21-23 discipleship Barnabas Paul the Apostle

Paul appoints elders from Gentile churches (Acts 14:21-23) with no mention of Torah. These are advanced disciples who had Paul with them multiple times and a full year of discipleship.

Survey of Acts 14:21-23, appointment of elders

Acts 15:1-2 Barnabas false gospel Paul the Apostle

Acts 15:1 -- men from Judea teach that circumcision according to Moses is required for salvation, triggering the Jerusalem Council

Survey of Acts 15:1-2, the Judaizers

Acts 15:6-11 Cornelius Holy Spirit salvation by grace

Acts 15:6-11 -- Peter's speech at the Jerusalem Council: God made no distinction between Jew and Gentile, cleansing their hearts by faith; why put on them a yoke their fathers could not bear? Salvation is by grace alone.

Peter's speech at Jerusalem Council

James (brother of Jesus) Acts 15:22-29 Holy Spirit James (brother of Jesus) salvation vs. sanctification

Acts 15:22-29 -- The Apostolic letter: the Holy Spirit and the Apostles together impose no greater burden than four essentials. These four are explicitly for sanctification ('you will do well'), not salvation.

Survey of the Apostolic letter text

Acts 16:1-3 Timothy Paul the Apostle circumcision

Acts 16:1-3 -- Timothy is circumcised by Paul, despite delivering the decree that Gentiles need not be circumcised. His circumcision is for missionary effectiveness among Jews.

Survey of Acts 16, Timothy's circumcision

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 Timothy Paul the Apostle law of Christ

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 -- Paul becomes as a Jew to win Jews, as under the law to win those under the law, as without law to win those without law. Timothy's circumcision fits this pattern.

Cross-reference to 1 Corinthians 9 to explain Timothy's circumcision

Acts 18:13 Paul the Apostle Law of Moses fulfillment theology

Acts 18:13 -- Paul accused of persuading men to worship God contrary to the law. Again just an accusation, paralleling the pattern with Jesus: fulfillment misread as abolishment.

Survey of Acts 18:13

1 Corinthians 9 Acts 18:18 Nazirite vow Paul the Apostle 1 Corinthians 9

Acts 18:18 -- Paul keeps a Nazirite vow (hair cut) years after the resurrection. Consistent with Jewish believers continuing optional Torah practices.

Survey of Acts 18:18, Paul's Nazirite vow

Acts 20:16 Acts 20:24 Pentecost Paul the Apostle feast days

Acts 20:16 -- Paul hurries to reach Jerusalem for Pentecost. Winger notes he missed Passover and his motivation is gospel preaching to Jews gathered for the feast, not pure feast-day observance.

Survey of Acts 20:16, Paul and Pentecost

Acts 20:17 Ephesian elders Paul the Apostle feast days

Key observation: the Ephesian elders are not going to Jerusalem for Pentecost -- Paul is the exception, not the rule. Gentile believers are not flocking to Jerusalem for feasts.

Analysis of Acts 20:17, Paul's address to Ephesian elders

Acts 20:27 Torah observance Ephesus Paul the Apostle

Acts 20:27 -- Paul declares he gave the Ephesians the whole counsel of God. If Torah observance was required, he would have included it -- but he did not.

Paul's claim to have given the whole counsel of God

James (brother of Jesus) Acts 21:20-21 Paul the Apostle James (brother of Jesus) Law of Moses

Acts 21:20-21 -- thousands of Jewish believers are zealous for the law; there is a rumor that Paul teaches Jews to forsake Moses and stop circumcising their children

Survey of Acts 21:20-21

Acts 21:23-24 Nazirite vow Paul the Apostle Law of Moses

Acts 21:23-24 -- Paul is asked to join four men under a vow and pay their expenses, demonstrating publicly that he walks orderly and keeps the law -- to refute the false rumor

Survey of Acts 21:23-24, Paul and the vow

Acts 25:8 Paul the Apostle Law of Moses fulfillment theology

Acts 25:8 -- Paul says he committed no offense against the law of the Jews. Consistent with fulfillment theology: Paul in Christ has not violated the true spirit of the law.

Survey of Acts 25:8