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The Acts Creation Question

I read the book of Acts yesterday from start to finish in one sitting. Reading it as a whole unit this way allows the story being told to come together beautifully, and the result is the context coming out naturally (as if you were reading a novel).
In traditional use of the Bible, we have become accustomed to chopping, dicing, cutting and pasting as necessary to fit our interpretations. The letters and books were originally meant to be treated as a whole.

Every time I read the book of Acts (as well as other books, specifically the prophets), I take away new things I hadn't picked up on before (reading a different translation also helps to digest the story and not just words).

In chapter 4 of Acts, Peter and John are doing what their Master and Messiah commissioned them to do; proclaim that

“there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved."


In this particular part of the story, Peter and John are subsequently threatened and released for their proclamations “in this name”(verse 17). In verse 23 it says,

“After they were released, they went to their own fellowship and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.”

This is the context. The very next phrases this passage relates are of particular interest to me.

“When they heard this, they raised their voices to God unanimously and said, "Master, You are the One who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David Your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot futile things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Messiah.”Act 4:24-26  

They begin to pray and they lift their voices to God and pray to Him who they credit with the creation of Heaven, earth etc, etc. They quote Psalm 2 which says, 

“Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together against the LORD [Yahweh] and His Anointed One [messiah]” 

Yahweh is called Father (Is 64:8). Jesus clearly called Yahweh his Father and God (Psalm 45:7, Is 49:4-5, John 20:17, Rev 3:12, Matt27:46, Mark 15:34 from Psalm 22:1). The apostles are praying to God (who is the creator of all), and continue in their prayer, Act 4:27-30 

“For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." 

They are attributing the creation of all to God and then speak of God’s holy servant Jesus (as seen in Isaiah 42, 49, 53, 61 etc.). They make a clear and precise distinction (even quoting prophecy) about God the creator and His servant Jesus. It is Yahweh who is given the attribution of creation (Deut 4:32, Psalm 148:1-6, Is 42:5, 44:24, 45:11-12, Job 38:1-41, Neh 9:6, Matt 19:4, etc). What is to be understood here? Are they confused, or are they basing their theology on the creator as revealed in the Old Testament?

1 comment:

Dawn McLaughlin83 said...

Hi Shaun,
Amazing what the bible says when you read without the glasses of so-called modern religion! Taking those glasses off is a divine matter as you and I well know. Many will have those glasses ripped out of their hands to their dismay. :Those who see will be made blind."

Dawn