Jew, Greek, or Gentile?

Gentiles usually in plural, goyim), meaning in general all nations except the Jews.

Of course of time, as the Jews began more and more to pride themselves on their peculiar privileges,

it acquired unpleasant associations, and was used as a term of contempt.

The word "Gentile" sometimes translates the Greek word ethnos,

which means a nation or people, specifically someone who is not Jewish

and thus could be used in the sense of a foreigner.

Because Israel is God’s chosen people,

the Jews believe that this is because they (Jews) are better than everyone else in Gods eyes.

However;

The proof of the pudding is in the eating!

(The final results are the only way to judge something's quality or veracity).

People say the proof of the pudding is in the eating to mean that something can only be judged to be good or bad after it has been tried or used.

Truth

God chose Abram (Abraham), to teach humans the correct way to live if we, the humans, ever plan on living forever with our Creator?

Knowing full well that we, the humans, will need a cattle prod now and then to keep us on the correct path.

Also knowing full well that we would need a Sheppard to heal our wounds and relive us, the humans, from our sins!

Hence the need for the ‘Cross’ (New Testament)!

In today's words, 'God' (Creator), is the teacher, 

'Mother Earth' is the school, 'Israel' (the Old Testament), is the "teaching tools' and humans are the students.

Believe on the Lord Jesus

Acts 16:31-40

"And they said,

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

Hearing, believing, and being baptized are the consistent pattern in Acts (see 18:8).

Reading a book is good, with help is sometimes great

A little taste of the reason why one should seek help while reading books from the past, like for instance, the Bible.

Today I learned that back in the days of the Roman Empire/ Apostle Paul (Saul), many women taught the Jews, scripture because it takes 10 men to build a synagogue!

If women can teach on the Sabbath in open areas, why not also in buildings?

https://www.bible-studys.org/index.html

Acts 16:13-15 - KJV

Acts 16:13 "And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted [thither]."

“By a river side”: Evidently, the Jewish community did not have the minimum of 10 Jewish men who were heads of households required to form a synagogue. In such cases, a place of prayer under the open sky and near a river or sea was adopted as a meeting place. Most likely this spot was located where the road leading out of the city crossed the Gangites River.

“Women which resorted thither”: In further evidence of the small number of Jewish men, it was women who met to pray, read from the Old Testament law, and discuss what they read.

Jew often gathered by a riverside on the Sabbath when their community lacked enough Jewish males to establish a synagogue. Since the institution of the synagogue is usually dated with the Exile (as in Ezek. 11:16), this practice may also have arisen from Ezekiel (1:1; 3:15).

There are several things we must notice here. These people were Jewish, because they observed Sabbath. We know that Luke was with Paul here, because he says "we", and Luke is the penman. It is rather interesting that Paul is not speaking in the synagogue, but on a river bank.

It is also interesting, that his first ministry here in Philippi is to the women. This has to be the working of the Holy Spirit. We will find later (in Philippians 4:3), that the church in Philippi has two women ministering in the church and Paul tells the church to be supportive of them.

Philippians 4:3 "And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and [with] other my fellow laborers, whose names [are] in the book of life."

Acts 16:14 "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard [us]: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul."

“Lydia … the city of Thyatira”: Her home city was located in the Roman province of Lydia, thus the name “Lydia” was probably associated with her place of origin.

“Seller of purple”: Because purple dye was extremely expensive, purple garments were usually worn by royalty and the wealthy. As a result, Lydia’s business turned a nice profit, which enabled here to have a house large enough to accommodate the missionary team (verse 15), and the new church at Philippi (verse 40).

“Which worshipped God”: Like Cornelius, she believed in the God of Israel but had not become a full proselyte (10:2).

“Whose heart the Lord opened”: This is another proof of the sovereignty of God in salvation (see note on 13:48).

Paul’s first European convert was from the very province (Asia), where Paul had recently been forbidden to go (16:6).

“Thyatira” was one of the seven cities of the Roman province of Asia addressed (in Revelation chapters 2 and 3). It was situated over 50 miles northeast of Smyrna and about 30 miles southeast of Pergamum on the road from Pergamum to Laodicea. Thyatira was a busy commercial center famous for its purple cloth and “fine brass”: (bronze), works, especially armor.

Lydia was apparently a salesperson traveling hundreds of miles from her hometown. Archaeologists have uncovered many inscriptions at Thyatira revealing a more diversified manufacturing center here than among the more renowned cities like Ephesus or Smyrna.

These crafts included wool, linen, leather, bronze, dyeing, tanning and pottery. Thyatira today is called Akhisar (population 47,000).

It appears that the Holy Spirit sent Paul and the others to minister to Lydia and to start a church here in her home. It appears that Lydia worshipped God before Paul came, but after hearing the gospel message, received it with gladness in her heart.

Acts 16:15 "And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought [us], saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us."

Act 15:1-26

ACTS CHAPTER 15 KJV - King James Version

“Through the grace of the Lord Jesus”: A resounding affirmation of salvation by grace through faith alone (see notes on Rom. 3:24-25).

Peter reminds them that Salvation is the same for Jew and Gentile.

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:" "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

These people (in verse 1), are like many of the people of our day, who add obligations to be done, to be saved. Salvation is simple. (Romans 10:9-10), explains it perfectly. (John 3:15-17), tells it so well in Jesus' own words.

Jesus and the apostles clearly teach that salvation is by God’s grace through faith alone (2:21; 16:31; John 3:3, 36; 5:24; Rom. 3:24; 4:4-5; 21-24; 5:1; 10:9-10, 13; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 5:11-13; Rev. 1:5; 5:9). The book of Galatians extensively deals with this problem.

Bible Gateway passage: Acts 15 - King James Version

Act 15:1-26

https://www.biblestudytools.com/acts/passage/?q=acts+15:1-29

Study Guide

https://www.bible-studys.org/index.html

Acts 26:23 "That Christ should suffer, [and] that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles."

“Christ should suffer … rise from the dead”: Messiah’s suffering (Psalm 22; Isa. 53), and resurrection (Psalms 16:10; 13:30-37), the central themes of Paul’s preaching, are clearly taught in the Old Testament.

The suffering of Christ was to us-ward, that he might save us from our sin. Had Christ not suffered and His body died, then we could not have everlasting life. We will rise to life eternal, because our leader rose first. He is our Savior.

1 Corinthians 15:15- 23: "Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not." "For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:" "And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins." "Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." "But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept." "For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead." "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."

The light that shines is the hope of eternal life. This is to the Gentile, as well as the Jew.

Acts 26:24 "And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad."

Reading any interesting books lately?

Studying helps to learn

Reading any interesting books lately?

When one gets tired of the fast pace 'riffraff' of today’s living

and

just want to chill-out with a book, which book to read?

Ever try to read ‘Shakespeare’ for the first time?

Shakespeare, one of the best play writers in the day,

problem today is,

‘In The Day’!

Once one gets a good teacher and learns that time period,

Shakespeare is great reading.

Myself (now retired), and as a slow reader and once a student/teacher/learner of my ancestors,

I look for other books on other believers (religion), for interesting reading.

However; like Shakespeare,

I am beside myself trying to read, with understanding,

because of the difference in writing then and now.

I and I am sure sometimes you, need a good teacher?

Alas along came this one.

https://www.bible-studys.org/index.html

If one ever just wants to know what all of this fuss is about

with so many beliefs today

that in reality started some years ago with one,

read a little about some of them an then take the time to compare?

Remember (Elymas)

Acts 12:21-23 NIV;KJV

Remember this my Christian/Hebrew followers of trump?

21 -On the appointed day Herod,

 wearing his royal robes,

sat on his throne and delivered

a public address to the people.

22 -They shouted,

“This is the voice of a god, not of a man.”

23- Immediately,

because Herod (trump), did not give praise to God,

an angel of the Lord struck him down,

and

he was eaten by worms and died.

trump is not a Christian 

or 

a Jew 

and 

believer only in himself!

P.S.

He also is not Creator!

Is he your god?

Remember bar-jesus (Elymas)

Acts 13:6-17

How are the Christians of this day teaching you today?

If you have a religious book 

out about your religious beliefs, 

I wish to enjoy learning 

so I want to read?

How are the Christians of this day teaching/preaching to (we) the

(Indigenous people of this hemisphere)?

Are they trying to save 

‘we the heathens’ 

or 

are they, in fact’ 

becoming heathens?

Also

Same question for

‘We,

 the Natives of the land’?

Every time I have gone to a gathering, powwow or school invite and a “leader” gets up and said nothing for 20 or 30 minutes saying nothing while patting him/her self on the back, at the opening prayer to ‘Creator for a blessing’

 I find myself asking Creator for his/her forgiveness!

It is not what is coming out of your mouth, 

it is what you show is in your heart.

Also

Today’s Christians need to re-read Acts and/or all of their ‘Manuel from their God’?

Just as we, yours truly, must re-think our Creator.

Acts 11:21

"And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord."

“Hand of the Lord”:

This refers to God’s power expressed in judgment

(Exodus 9:33; Deut. 2:15; Jos. 4:24; 1 Sam. 5-6; 7:13), and in blessing (Ezra 7:9; 8:18; Nehemiah 2:8, 18). Here, it refers to blessing.

“All of the eloquent preaching 

in the world

 will not bring one sinner to salvation, 

if God is not the author of the sermon”!

As in

“All of the eloquent speaking from a ‘puffed up leader’, going to get our Creators attention for a blessing to a gathering”!

Or

Worse yet, 

assumes that he/she 

has the power to bless Creator?

What makes a sermon cause people to be saved is the power of the Holy Spirit in the message.

The Holy Spirit woos the person and prepares his heart to receive before the message even begins.

1 Corinthians 1:21

"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."

You see, what is foolish to man is wise to God.

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/acts/11-21.htm

Circumcised and Uncircumcised

Circumcised and Uncircumcised that is the question.

Acts 11:1-18 - NIV Bible - The apostles and the believers ...

“God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life”: 

One of the most shocking admissions in Jewish history, but an event that the Old Testament had prophesied (Isa. 42:1, 6; 49:6; see note on 2:38).

Isaiah 42:1 1"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.

Isaiah 42:6 6"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,

Isaiah 49:6 6he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."

How can they fight against God? This just shows them again, the greatness of God. This leaves no doubt. God is interested in the Gentiles, as well. Salvation is to whosoever will. One thing they have overlooked in all of this, is those Jesus ministered to.

One of the most vivid examples to me, is where the mother comes to Jesus for help for her demoniac daughter.

Matthew 15:21-28 "Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon." "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." "But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us." "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." "Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me." "But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs." "And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." "Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."

You see, God respects faith wherever it is. Jesus set the example here and in many other places. Peter has done the correct thing. He has been obedient to God and not man.

Acts 11:1-18 Commentary - Sermon Writer

Saul/Paul “Eunuch”

It is normal for your God to speak to you!

Will you, Do you, listen?

However;

If you refuse to listen!

Acts 9:3

 3

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

Acts 9:4

 4

He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

Acts 9:5-12 

5

"Who are you, LORD?" Saul asked. 

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 

6

"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 

7

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 

8

Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 

9

For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 

10

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. 

The LORD called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, LORD," he answered. 

11

The LORD told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 

12

In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."

Acts 9:15-19 

15

But the LORD said to Ananias, 

"Go! 

This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 

16

I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." 

17

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. 

Placing his hands on Saul, he said, 

"Brother Saul, the LORD-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 

18

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. 

He got up and was baptized, 

19

and after taking some food, he regained his strength. 

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

Acts 9:19-27 

19

and after taking some food, he regained his strength. 

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 

20

At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 

21

All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? 

And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" 

22

Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. 

23

After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 

24

but Saul learned of their plan. 

Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 

25

But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. 

26

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 

27

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the LORD and that the LORD had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

https://www.bible-studys.org/Books%20of%20the%20Bible.html

Philip and the Ethiopian

It is normal for your God to speak to you!

Will you, Do you, listen?

Isaiah 53:7-8   

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,

    yet he did not open his mouth;

he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

    so he did not open his mouth.

8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.

    Yet who of his generation protested?

For he was cut off from the land of the living;

    for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]

Romans 10:9-10 

9

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is LORD," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

10

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Acts 8:39

39

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the LORD suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

1 Kings 18:12 

12

I don't know where the Spirit of the LORD may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn't find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the LORD since my youth.

2 Kings 2:16 

16

"Look," they said, "we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley." "No," Elisha replied, "do not send them."

Ezekiel 3:12

12

Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the LORD rose from the place where it was standing.

 Ezekiel 3:14 

14

The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD on me.

Ezekiel 8:3  

3

He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood.

https://www.bible-studys.org/Books%20of%20the%20Bible.html

Approximately 2.4% of American (USA), are Atheists.

Approximately 7.6 Billion people now live on Mother Earth

 The total number of humans currently living today

was estimated to have reached 7.6 billion people as of May 2018.

Approximately 2.4% of American (USA), are Atheists.

And for some unknown reason to ‘Yours Truly,

(it blows my mind)

to see and hear that atheist are now ruling

the governments of the 'United States of America'?

Approximately 66% believe in a Creator.

39.9%, 24%, 12.5% (66%)

About 12.5% of the world's population are non-religious.

al-ilāh

What percentage of the world is Muslim?

There are 1.6 billion Muslims around the world,

Or

Approximately 24% of the world's current population.

What percentage of the world is Christian?

Approximate 2 billion Christians in the world today,

Of the approximate 2 billion Christians in the world today,

279 million (12.8% of the world's Christian population) identify themselves as Pentecostals,

304 million (14%) are Charismatic’s,

And 285 million (13.1%) are Evangelicals or Bible-believing Christians.

The controversial question of who is considered a Jew

makes measuring Jewish populations difficult,

but it is estimated that there are around 15 million Jews worldwide,

about 0.2 percent of the global population.

How many atheists are in the world?

A 2004 survey by the CIA in the World

estimates about 12.5% of the world's population 

Are non-religious, 

How many Native Americans believe in a Creator?
I can find no reliable information and have not been to many of the hundreds of thousands of tribes of ‘Native People’ in this hemisphere of North and South America to make a guess!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_religion

And about 2.4% are atheists.

Once again Evolutionists are stymied?

Two Strikes, one more and?

 Strike One! 

Knowing people, cannot prove that there is no 'Before Their Thinking'!

Strike Two!

Knowing people cannot seem to get their way of thing right?

For these people (Evolutionists),

it is impossible to believe that long before any (Big Bang),

there is a 

'Supreme Being' 

in control of the universe and beyond'!

The finding of the oldest human skull

changes evolution science,

(in other words), 'scrap the old thinking' and start all over once again!

The recent discovery of a 3.8m-year-old cranium

(skull without the lower jaw)

is the hottest topic of conversation

among paleoanthropologists' right now.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-finding-of-the-oldest-human-skull-changes-evolution-science/ar-AAGXhC0?ocid=spartanntp

Question?

What will they find tomorrow?

It’s a monkey!

What is the Apostles doctrine?

Act 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The New Testament and that is all. 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

God praises the church for the following: Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

Best Answer:  The Apostles "doctrines" were all about just Who Jesus was and did and will do. The first message that the Apostle Peter preached clarified that in Acts...

They preached the FULLNESS of the Gospel which included the Holy Ghost.

. Discipleship : The term disciple is derived from the New Testament

Greek word "μαθητής". http://www.htmlbible.com/sacrednamebible...

, coming to English by way of the Latin discipulus meaning "a learner".

Disciple should not be confused with apostle, meaning ""messenger, he

that is sent"". http://www.htmlbible.com/sacrednamebible...

[3]While a disciple is one who learns from a teacher, a student, an

apostle is sent to deliver those teachings to others.

The importance of training disciples need to be acknowledged in this

church world . Be trained, then, train ! We can better understand this

by reading some of what Paul wrote to one of the disciples in his care

in 11 Timothy 2:15 ... " Study, to shew thyself approved unto God, a

workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of

Truth ."

Too many go forth not knowing the scriptures, and are devoured by

religious minded persons which are still caught up in darkness

(ignorance). They get offended, and lose their drive, because of lack of

knowledge ( Hosea 4:a ..." My people are destroyed for lack of

knowledge " ). And, there are dire consequences of being rebellious to

being discipled , as we see in continued reading of this verse : "

Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee that thou

shalt be no priest to Me ". Saints, that is a sad state to be in. If we

have been chosen of God to go forth, we ought also to go forth in

knowledge and understanding. In Acts Chapter 6, we read about the

disciples of Jesus, and what they were adamantly doing : vs. 2 ... "

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and

said It is not reason that we should leave THE WORD OF GOD, and serve

tables ". Diligently seeking out Gods mind was a primary and fundamental

course of action. Note also, that those twelve were also making

disciples to go forth ( verse 1 ... And in those days, when the number

of the disciples was multiplied, ,,,) .

Do we see stagnant churches, sitting on their duff, and not MULTIPLYING

??? Nope ! They were about their Fathers business, TRAINING TO GO

FORTH...

Now the question is : Should we also learn, then train to go forth ... ?

If we want a mighty move of God we should..

https://www.bible-studys.org/Books%20of%20the%20Bible.html