Levend Water
The Apostle of the Reconciliation - Charles H. Welch
Index - Page 35 of 159
THE APOSTLE OF THE RECONCILIATION 35
`This is that'. This is his `text'; and his first reference is to Joel, where the whole atmosphere is that of the day of the
Lord. He then in verse 22 appears to drop the thread; but it is not so: all lead up to the words of verse 33, `He hath
shed forth THIS'. THIS is now seen to be connected with sitting on David's throne (30); and during the period while
the risen Lord awaits the moment to arrive for taking the kingdom, He sits on the right hand of the Majesty on high
(34).
Peter, therefore, very definitely links together, as part of one whole, the prophecy of Joel as concerning the
restoration of Israel and the day of the Lord; the prophecy of David as to the Lord Jesus sitting on his throne; the
pouring out of the spirit as the proof that the Lord had been exalted to this end. This is what the day of Pentecost
means. While the nation did not repent, the remnant did. These were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and received the promised spirit, which was given to `as many as the Lord our God shall call'.
This remnant are exhorted to `save themselves from this perverse generation': those who gladly received the word
were `added' (41,47). There is no MSS. authority for the words `the church' in verse 47. They continued steadfastly
in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
THE FELLOWSHIP.-`They had all things common'.
THE BREAKING OF BREAD.-`At home, eating their food with gladness'.
THE PRAYERS.-`Praising God'.
THE APOSTLES' DOCTRINE.- The teaching given by Peter concerning the restoration of the kingdom; the meaning
of the signs and wonders; and the imminent return of the Lord from heaven.
There was nothing in the apostles' doctrine which severed this little company from the Temple (see Mal. 3:1).
Indeed, no word could indicate a more scrupulous attention than that used in Acts 2:46 (proskartereo). It occurs in
1:14; 2:42,46; 6:4; 10:7; and in another form in Ephesians 6:18. It is not out of a desire to avoid conflict with the
religious leaders that they still attended the Temple services. No, they continued steadfastly in the apostles'
doctrine; and equally so attended with a new-born zeal the Temple at Jerusalem. Nothing that constituted the
apostles' doctrine or the dispensational position of Pentecost severed the believers in the risen Saviour from Israel, or
Israel's Temple. They were the remnant, and their name is given in 2:47, `those being saved', or, `the saved ones'-
the Pentecostal first-fruits of that harvest yet to come, when `all Israel shall be saved'.
The divided kingdom, Israel and Judah, shall once more become one, under one Head. `Ye men of Judah, and ye
men of Israel', is Peter's interpretation of the `two loaves' which were offered to the Lord at the Feast of Pentecost.
Let those who maintain that the two loaves indicate Jew and Gentile remember that no Gentile was addressed until
Peter received a definite vision in Acts 10, except the Ethiopian proselyte. `Jews only' (11:19) indicates the state of
things and the direction of the testimony up till the advent of the apostle Paul.
CHAPTER 5
Luke - The Gospel of the Reconciliation
It is generally acknowledged by students of the Word that the great theme of Matthew's Gospel is `The
kingdom'. The genealogy given in the first chapter establishes Christ as the true lineal Son of David.
The message which was given to the apostle Paul for the Gentiles, and the ministry of the reconciliation
committed to him, arose out of the failure of Israel (we speak, of course, after the manner of men) to repent and
believe the good news of the kingdom. The great teaching of the apostle, which included the Gentile within the
sphere of the promise of Abraham (Romans and Galatians), is scarcely suggested in Matthew's Gospel.
Matthew's Gospel is divided into two parts; and each part is connected with the relationship and covenants
indicated in Matthew 1:1. The first part, covering Matthew 4:17 to 16:20, is associated with the kingly title, `Son of
David'; the second portion, commencing with the announcement of suffering, death, and resurrection (Matt. 16:21),
is the fulfilling of the title, `Son of Abraham'. The second phase of the Lord's ministry could not be made a matter
of public proclamation until the great transaction of Calvary had removed the curse, and made it possible for the
blessing of Abraham to flow out to the Gentiles (Gal. 3:13,14).