Church was never divorced from Israel, its hope, its promises or its covenants, until Israel itself became `lo-ammi' at

Acts 28:25.

It is because of the extreme importance of this chapter dispensationally, that it has figured so prominently in our

ministry throughout the thirty years in which we have sought to fulfil the sacred trust committed to us.

To return to the momentous meeting at Rome, the chief of the Jews concluded the first interview by saying: `We

desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest', and accordingly a day was appointed.

What the apostle `thought', the way he presented his argument, the crisis that was reached in that `lodging' in

Rome, must be the subject of our next chapter.

CHAPTER 18

It is common knowledge that the Acts and the Gospel according to Luke come from the same writer, and that the

last chapter of Luke's Gospel is briefly summarized in the opening verses of Acts 1, before the new story

commences. Consequently, we must remember that the words of Acts 1:3, `Speaking of the things pertaining to the

kingdom of God', are Luke's own summary of several verses found in Luke 24, where, with fuller detail, he had

given the character and subject-matter of that wonderful teaching. As we draw near to the closing testimony of the

Acts, it will help us if we refresh our memory as to the nature of this teaching of the Lord. Where Acts 1:3

summarizes without detail, Luke 24:27 and 44 are more explicit:

`And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things

concerning Himself'.

`All things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms,

concerning Me'.

We now see that Acts 1:1-15 and Acts 28:23-31 present this comparison. In both there is given a careful

exposition of the Old Testament Scriptures, and the leaders of Israel in Rome are given the same testimony as the

disciples received in the land of Palestine. Alas! the results of the testimony were not comparable but, in many

points, there is correspondence between Luke 24 and Acts 28. Let us acquaint ourselves with this important fact.

THE THEME in both passages is `concerning Jesus'.

The Greek word peri occurs in Luke 24:4,14,19,27 and 44; and in Acts 28:21,23 and 31.

`As they were much perplexed thereabout'.

`And they talked together of all these things which had happened'.

`And He said ... What things? And they said ... Concerning Jesus of Nazareth'.

`He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself'.

`All things must be fulfilled, which were written ... concerning Me'.

`We neither received letters out of Judæa concerning thee (Paul)'.

`Persuading them concerning Jesus'.

`Teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ'.

(We shall have to deal later with the titles of the Lord here used, but for the moment we will continue the

comparison of Luke 24 with Acts 28).

THIS THEME relates to `Hope'.