Redemption Interpreted

Apostles
from Christian Evidences, Chapter 5

By Leland M. Haines

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Jesus Called Twelve Men

Church Expansion

Facing Problems of Gentiles and the Mosaic Law

Jesus Called Twelve Men

To further God's revelation and to record it, Jesus called twelve men to be His apostles. As was mentioned earlier, the term "apostle" is a Greek one meaning "one who is sent forth as an authorized representative of the sender." Its meaning is close to the English words ambassador and messenger. These twelve were called to represent Jesus in presenting the Good News to mankind. Jesus had said, "you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning" (John 15:27, cf. Luke 24:48). They were not left without proof of their commission. Jesus commissioned them about halfway through His ministry to go to, "the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons" (Matthew 10:6-8, cf. Mark 3:13-19, 6:7-11, Luke 9:1-5). They did as instructed, "and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them" (Mark 6:12-13, cf. Luke 9:6). Thus they were able to give some of the same proofs that Jesus gave.
        After Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension the apostles carried on this commission. They showed their calling from God by doing many miraculous signs. The first of these was the miraculous speaking at Pentecost. "Each one heard them speaking in his own language" (Acts 2:5-13). Soon after this event, Luke wrote that "fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles" (Acts 2:43).
        The apostle's special gifts are clearly shown in the account of Peter and John's healing of the lame man as they went up to the temple to pray. Luke writes "a man lame from birth was being carried" to the temple gate so he could ask for alms. As Peter and John entered, he asked them for alms. Peter responded, "Look at us" and explained, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Peter then, "took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."
        "While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's, astounded. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, 'Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him....And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all" (Acts 3:1-16).
        The two apostles continued to explain to the people about Jesus, until the priests and temple captain broke up their meeting, taking them into custody. When quizzed the next day about the healing, Peter said, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well" (Acts 4:5-12).
        They then proceeded to explain about Jesus. When the Jewish leaders "saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition... For that a notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it....But Peter and John answered them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.'" The apostles were let go after being further threatened, "because of the people; for all men praised God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old" (Acts 4:13-22).
        Soon after this a unique event took place in the young church. At the very start of the church, many of the brethren sold their possessions and gave the funds to the apostles. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, were among these. They sold a piece of land and claimed they had given all the funds from the sale to the apostles, but they actually held some of the money back. Doing so, they lied to the Holy Spirit. Peter confronted Ananias, and "when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died." This brought "great fear....upon all who heard it." Later when his wife came, Peter quizzed her about the matter. She too claimed the full amount had been given. Peter then told her, "'Hark, the feet of those that buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.' Immediately she fell down at his feet and died." This brought great fear upon the whole church. They realized that there was great power present in the church (Acts 5:1-11).
        The apostles continued to do signs. Luke wrote that, "Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles.... so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed" (Acts 5:12-16).
        These good deeds resulted in the apostles being arrested again. The high priest, because of jealousy, arrested the apostles and put them in prison, but their stay there was not to be long. "At night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out." They were told to go to the temple and speak to the people. The priest called together the council and senate to consider the matter and had an officer go to the prison to get them, but he did not find them. They reported, "We found the prison securely locked and the sentries standing at the door, but when we opened it we found no one inside." They were perplexed, and then someone came and told them that the apostles were in the temple. These events gave clear evidence to the Jewish leaders that the apostles were servants of the Lord (Acts 5:17-26).
        The early church met the physical needs of its members, and when this work load became too great for the apostles, "seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" were appointed "to serve tables." One of these was Stephen. Luke reported that, "Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people." This brought opposition against him, which ended in his death (Acts 6:2-8).
        The opposition to the new Way grew into a general persecution resulting in the scattering of the church. One result of this scattering was that Philip went to Samaria to proclaim Christ. "The multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
So there was much joy in that city." One of those impressed was Simon, a former magician. "Seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed" (Acts 8:6-8, 13).
        After this Philip was instructed to go south and there found an Ethiopian government leader reading Isaiah 53:7-8 as he went home after worshiping in Jerusalem. He read, "As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation?" After explaining some of the Christian teachings to him, they stopped for Philip to baptize him. "And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip;...Philip was found at Azotus" (Acts 8:26-40).

Church Expansion

        One of the most remarkable events recorded in the Book of Acts is the conversion of Saul on the way to Damascus. Saul was a Pharisee who had persecuted the church with great vigor. As he later stated, "I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women..." (Acts 22:4). But his actions were suddenly changed on his way to Damascus when, "suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' And he said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.' ...he could see nothing." The Lord told a "disciple at Damascus named Ananias" to go to a house where Paul was praying and "lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." When he did this "immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight" (Acts 9:1-19). This complete change in Saul is often cited as proof of the Bible. There had to be something real to bring about such a conversion in a man. Saul is a Hebrew name, and he is mainly known to us today by the Greek name, Paul (Acts 13:9).
        At Lydda the apostle Peter "found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, 'Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.' And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord" (Acts 9:32-35). We see that this miracle produced two results: the physical healing and repentance of the observers.
        Peter was next called to come to Joppa. There a disciple named Dorcas "fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, 'Please come to us without delay.'" Peter then returned with them and was taken to the upper room where she was. At this point, "Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, 'Tabitha, rise.' And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord" (Acts 9:36-43).
        King Herod persecuted the church. "When he saw that it pleased the Jews," he arrested Peter and put him in prison. The king planned to bring him to trial after the Passover, and until then placed him under heavy guard. During this time, "earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, 'Get up quickly.' And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, 'Dress yourself and put on your sandals.' And he did so. And he said to him, 'Wrap your mantle around you and follow me.' And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him....he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John... [where] many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a maid named
Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and told that Peter was standing at the gate....when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison" (Acts 12:1-17).
        We next see in the Book of Acts that the recently converted Paul showed evidence of his calling. Paul visited Iconium on his
first missionary journey, and there spoke "boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands..." (Acts 14:1-7). The people's responses to these acts were mixed. Some accepted them as proofs while others sided with the Jewish leaders.
        After an attempt to stone them, Paul and Barnabas fled to Lystra. Here, "there was a man sitting, who could not use his feet; he was crippled from birth, who had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking; and Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, 'Stand upright on your feet.' And he sprang up and walked. And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, 'The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men'!" Paul and Barnabas had to correct them, saying "we also are men, of like nature with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth..." (Acts 14:8-18).

Facing Problems of Gentiles and the Mosaic Law

        The early church faced the problem of how Gentile converts were to relate to the Mosaic law. To settle the issue, a conference was held at Jerusalem and "they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles" (Acts 15:12). These signs and wonders were taken as proof that God was accepting the Gentiles without their coming under the Law.
        During one of Paul's missionary journeys a slave girl with a mental problem approached Paul as they were going to a place of prayer. Luke wrote that "we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.' And this she did for many days. But Paul was
annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, 'I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.' And it came out that very hour" (Acts 16:16-18).
        The fame of Paul's miracles became widely known. Luke noted that "God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them" (Acts 19:11-12).
        At Troas, the night before Paul was to leave, he spoke until midnight. During this meeting, "a young man named Eutychus was sitting in the window. He sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer; and being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and embracing him said, 'Do not be alarmed for his life is in him.'...And they took the lad away alive, and were not a little comforted" (Acts 20:9-12).
        Paul had a great desire to go to Rome to preach the gospel, but before going on this trip he wanted to take aid to the Jerusalem Christians. While there he was arrested, and during his trial he appealed to Caesar. He was then sent to Rome under guard. During the part of this trip made by sea, the ship was hit by a major storm. God assured Paul there would be, "no loss of life among you, but only of the ship." As predicted the ship was lost when it ran aground, but all life was saved (Acts 27:13-27). This occurred on the island of Malta and since it was rainy and cold a fire was built. "Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, when a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand....He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They waited, expecting him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead; but when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god" (Acts 28:3-6).
        Paul and his travelers were treated very hospitably. The father of Publius, the chief man of the island "lay sick with fever and dysentery; and Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him." Other sick ones were then brought to him and were cured (Acts 28:7-10).
        Paul's ministry was mainly to the Gentiles. He summed up the goals of his ministry in the epistle to the Romans, "For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has wrought through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit..." (Romans 15:18-19). The goal of winning obedience and the performing of signs and wonders were connected; they worked together in the early church period.
        When some in the area of Corinth were about to reject Paul, he gave proof of his call by writing, "The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works" (II Corinthians 12:12). They did not have to accept Paul's claim to apostleship on his word only. He had
given them proof that he was sent by Jesus.
        In summary, we have seen that the many miracles and signs done by Jesus and His apostles are strong proof that they were sent of God. These were done openly and were overwhelmingly accepted by the common people. Jesus' death and resurrection gave very convincing proof to early Christians that He was the Christ sent to redeem man. The resurrection became a central doctrine in the early church, and it is still a central doctrine in today's church. We will now turn our attention to the Bible's record of God's revelation to see if we can have confidence in it.

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February 20, 2001