The Birth of the New Testament Church

[Robert Pate]

It was the day of Pentecost. All of the apostles were together in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, like the rush of a mighty wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues of fire that sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (languages) as the Spirit gave them utterance, Acts 2:1-4.

What were they speaking about? They were speaking about, "The wonderful works of God" Acts 2:11. Which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Up until then the apostles were not really sure what Jesus had accomplished by his life, death and resurrection, but now it had been revealed to then by the Holy Spirit. There were Jews there from all over that part of the region that heard the Gospel as it was spoken by the apostles, Acts 2:8-13.

Some there thought that the apostles were drunk, "Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine" Acts 2:13. After the Gospel had been revealed to them by the Holy Spirit, Peter stood up and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the very first time, Acts 2:14. What was the results of Peter's preaching?

"Then they gladly received his words and were baptized (by the Holy Spirit) and the same day there was added unto them about 3000 souls" Acts 2:41.

Later on as the Gospel was preached in Jerusalem 5000 more heard the Gospel and believed, Acts 4:4. The Gospel of Jesus Christ literally turned Jerusalem upside down. There had never been an event like this since the history of the world. God was giving birth to the New Testament church through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The lowly disciples became bold apostles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They went everywhere preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Pharisees tried to stop them, but it was no use, they said, "We cannot but speak of the things which we have seen and heard" Acts 4:20.

The book of Acts is one of the most interesting books in the Bible. It tells us how God is getting the Gospel of his Son Jesus Christ out into the world. A movement that was started by just 12 men, but grew into thousands and then into millions. Things have not changed, people are still brought to Christ through the preaching of the Gospel, just like Paul said, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (the Gospel) Romans 10:17. On the day of Pentecost they heard the Gospel, they believed the Gospel and they were baptized by the Holy Spirit and were born again by the word of God.

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed (Adam) but of incorruptible seed (Christ) by the word of God (the Gospel) which lives and abides forever" 1 Peter 1:23.

 

[Jerry Shugart]

It was the day of Pentecost.

I do not believe that the Body of Christ began on the day of Pentecost. Let us look at this verse which speaks of the "church" at Acts 2:

"Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church (ekklesia) daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47).​

The Greek word translated "church" is ekklesia and that word can be found in the Greek version of the Old Testament (the LXX). Alfred Edersheim, a Jewish convert to Christianity and a respected Bible scholar, wrote the following:

"Nor would the term 'Church' sound strange in Jewish ears. The same Greek word (ekklesia), as the equivalent of the Hebrew 'Qahal,' 'convocation,' 'the called,' occurs in the LXX. rendering of the Old Testament, and in 'the Wisdom of the Son of Sirach' and was apparently in familiar use at that time. In Hebrew use it referred to Israel, not in their national but in their religious unity" [emphasis added] (Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah [Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. M. Eerdmans Publishing 1971] Book 3, Chapter 37, p.84).​

According to Edersheim the Greek word translated "church" was in familiar use and "it referred to Israel...in their religious unity."

Next, let us look at the events here which were in regard to the ekklesia of Acts 2:

"For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams" (Acts 2:16-17).​

The following prophecy was totally in regard to the religious unity of Israel and Israel alone:

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation (ekklesia) , assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts...And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" (Joel 2:16,27-28).​

So the ekklesia mentioned at Acts 2:47 is referring to Israel in her religious unity and it is not referring to the Body of Christ.

 

[clefty]

I do not believe that the Body of Christ began on the day of Pentecost. Let us look at this verse which speaks of the "church" at Acts 2:

"Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church (ekklesia) daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47).​

The Greek word translated "church" is ekklesia and that word can be found in the Greek version of the Old Testament (the LXX). Alfred Edersheim, a Jewish convert to Christianity and a respected Bible scholar, wrote the following:

"Nor would the term 'Church' sound strange in Jewish ears. The same Greek word (ekklesia), as the equivalent of the Hebrew 'Qahal,' 'convocation,' 'the called,' occurs in the LXX. rendering of the Old Testament, and in 'the Wisdom of the Son of Sirach' and was apparently in familiar use at that time. In Hebrew use it referred to Israel, not in their national but in their religious unity" [emphasis added] (Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah [Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. M. Eerdmans Publishing 1971] Book 3, Chapter 37, p.84).​

According to Edersheim the Greek word translated "church" was in familiar use and "it referred to Israel...in their religious unity."

Next, let us look at the events here which were in regard to the ekklesia of Acts 2:

"For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams" (Acts 2:16-17).​

The following prophecy was totally in regard to the religious unity of Israel and Israel alone:

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation (ekklesia) , assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts...And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" (Joel 2:16,27-28).​

So the ekklesia mentioned at Acts 2:47 is referring to Israel in her religious unity and it is not referring to the Body of Christ.

New church? I like how the KJV retains the meaning and theological accuracy...


Acts 7:37 "This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. 38This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us"

They killed pastor Stephan for this sermon as he reminded them they killed the true Head and Founder of His true ancient church...

Why did they kill these two? Church infighting over authority and power...

 

[jamie]

The Holy Spirit being poured out on the Father's firstborn was not a new thing.

Isaiah 63:11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: "Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His flock? Then he remembered the days of old, where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them..."?​

 

[clefty]

The Holy Spirit being poured out on the Father's firstborn was not a new thing.

Isaiah 63:11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: "Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His flock? Then he remembered the days of old, where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them..."?​

Oh don't stop there...


Who led them by the right hand of Moses,
qWith His glorious arm,
rDividing the water before them
To make for Himself an everlasting name,
13 sWho led them through the deep,
As a horse in the wilderness,
That they might not stumble?”
14 As a beast goes down into the valley,
And the Spirit of the Lord causes him to rest,
So You lead Your people,
tTo make Yourself a glorious name.

This is the root and trunk we were but grafted on to...

This is the church of the wilderness in which a place was prepared for us by branches cut off...


To worship (as He prescribed) His Holy Name...halleluYah

 

[Robert Pate]

The Holy Spirit being poured out on the Father's firstborn was not a new thing.

Isaiah 63:11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: "Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His flock? Then he remembered the days of old, where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them..."?​

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was a new manifestation of the Spirit, John 14:16, 17.

The work of the Holy Spirit is to magnify Christ and his Gospel, John 15:26.

The Holy Spirit does not speak of himself, nor will one that is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, John 16:13-15.

 

[Robert Pate]

Acts chapter 2 is a first hand description of the birth of the New Testament church.

The Gospel came into the world for the very first time in the power of the Holy Spirit. Nothing like this had ever happened before in Jerusalem and nothing like that has ever happened since.

Acts 2 proves that, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (which is the Gospel) Romans 10:17.

To be saved you must hear and believe the Gospel, just like in Acts 2.

 

[clefty]

Acts chapter 2 is a first hand description of the birth of the New Testament church.

The Gospel came into the world for the very first time in the power of the Holy Spirit. Nothing like this had ever happened before in Jerusalem and nothing like that has ever happened since.

Acts 2 proves that, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (which is the Gospel) Romans 10:17.

To be saved you must hear and believe the Gospel, just like in Acts 2.

On an Old Testament festival day...even the festival days were continued...

Which makes sense as well its grafted into the trunk and root of the OT...

 

[Ben Masada]

Acts chapter 2 is a first hand description of the birth of the New Testament chur
ch. The Gospel came into the world for the very first time in the power of the Holy Spirit. Nothing like this had ever happened before in Jerusalem and nothing like that has ever happened since. Acts 2 proves that, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (which is the Gospel) Romans 10:17. To be saved you must hear and believe the Gospel, just like in Acts 2.

I don't think so. The first hand description of the birth of Christianity was during that whole year that Paul spent in the Synagogue of the Nazarenes in Antioch at the invitation of Barnabas. At the end of that year, the members of the Synagogue started being called Christians, because of Paul's gospel about Jesus as "Christ, the Messiah" according to his claim. (Acts 11:26)

Yes, to be saved, you must hear and believe in the gospel of Jesus which was the Tanach. The NT with the gospel of Paul, Jesus never even dreamed it would ever rise. Luke claimed that Jesus would teach to listen to "Moses" aka the Law. (Luke 16:29-31) If this is not true, the whole NT is spoiled.

 

[Robert Pate]

I don't think so. The first hand description of the birth of Christianity was during that whole year that Paul spent in the Synagogue of the Nazarenes in Antioch at the invitation of Barnabas. At the end of that year, the members of the Synagogue started being called Christians, because of Paul's gospel about Jesus as "Christ, the Messiah" according to his claim. (Acts 11:26)

Yes, to be saved, you must hear and believe in the gospel of Jesus which was the Tanach. The NT with the gospel of Paul, Jesus never even dreamed it would ever rise. Luke claimed that Jesus would teach to listen to "Moses" aka the Law. (Luke 16:29-31) If this is not true, the whole NT is spoiled.

You have not heard Moses and the prophets. If you had heard Moses and the prophets you would know that you are a sinner in desperate need of a savior.