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doctrine, that sanctification by the blood of Christ should lead to
sanctification in life and walk.
The typical import of Pentecost
To countless thousands of believers 'Pentecost' is the birthday of the
Church, and was the moment when Jew and Gentile were 'baptized into one
body', and while to the outside observer 'Pentecostal Gifts' are, today,
conspicuous by their absence, some credulous souls delude themselves that
Mark 16:17,18 is being fulfilled in their assemblies. We do not purpose
departing from our principle, namely that of direct Exposition of the actual
Scriptures rather than Exposure of unreal beliefs and feelings, and so we
'open the book'.
The key to the early Acts hangs at the door 'Wilt Thou at this time
restore the kingdom again to Israel?' (Acts 1:6), and neither the words
'restore', 'kingdom', 'again' or 'Israel' can by any verbal juggling be made
to mean 'Wilt Thou at this time introduce that new creation, the church of
the One Body, the subject of a mystery hid in God in which there is neither
Jew nor Greek?' Those addressed in the early chapters of Acts are 'Men of
Israel', 'All the house of Israel', 'All the people of Israel'. Those
assembled at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost were 'Jews' (Acts 2:5). Those
who went everywhere preaching consequent upon the persecution that arose
after the stoning of Stephen, preached 'to Jews only' (Acts 11:19). Peter,
who is supposed by Pentecostalists to have opened the door of the Church to
the Gentile, told Cornelius long after Pentecost that 'it is unlawful for a
man that is a Jew' to be seen in company with one of another nation -- which
makes it impossible that 'The Church' began at Pentecost.
If we retain the word 'church' in Acts 2:47, which word is omitted by
the Revised Version, we must remember that Stephen speaking to the Jews
reminded them of 'the church in the wilderness' (Acts 7:38). The great care
which is manifest in Acts 1 and 2 that the number Twelve shall be made up is
made the more evident as we ponder the parenthetical note 'one hundred and
twenty' -- 12 x 10 (Acts 1:15), and also the addition of Matthias to make up
the number twelve, and the fact that the countries from which the assembled
Jews had come were twelve in number (Acts 2:9 -11). The structure of Acts
1:15 to 2:13 links the two portions of this section together in such a way
that all objection is silenced.
Acts 1:15 to 2:13
A 1:15,16.
a
In those days.
b The 120.
c Together (epi to auto).
d The Holy Ghost (To pneuma To hagion).
e Spake by mouth of David.
B 1:17 -19.
f Dwellers at Jerusalem(katoikeo).
g In their proper tongue.
(Te idia dialekto auton).
C 1:20 -26. The appointment of Matthias.
The 12 apostles.
A 2:1 -4.
a The day of Pentecost.
b All (i.e., the 12).
c In one place (epi to auto).
d Holy Ghost (pneuma hagion).
e Began to speak.