Discuss Acts 8 Page 4

Hi Evangelist enquirer. After reading your comment about your concern, I thought to myself, 'Hey, we have an evangelist here'. What you are doing & with the very real sense of being led to share with people, to listen & help them with their needs, & share the Gospel as & when appropriate, is indeed 'being & doing what the Lord has for you at this time'.

After I was saved back in 1979, I joined with a very evangelistic, mission-minded Fellowship. A group of us used to go out every Saturday evening for open-air preaching & singing (without the use of a megaphone: city ruling), had a major door-to-door outreach around the city, I did personal letter-box tract drop each Friday evening around my neighbourhood, & the Fellowship had sent out some 20 missionaries all over the world. Not all of us were called to go overseas, or even to come out & face the public on a Saturday, but each one had a heart to share Christ in some way at the opportune time to someone. I don't preach in the open-air anymore because I've damaged my voice box through its extended high volume, but as I waited on the Lord, I received the call from Him to overseas service (1988), which I did till arrested & expelled two years later.

I just share the above to assure you that what you're doing in the Name of the Lord, is also being done according to HIS Will for you at this time. Keep on doing your 'ministry', develop it in the ways the Lord puts on your heart, & always be open to Him to lead you on to share the Word & help people in other ways for the future. The Lord has a wonderful mysterious way of sending His willing children into new areas & also equipping them for the task. So, your work IS evangelistic, even as the early Christians 'gossiped the Gospel' in those formative years of the Church ( Acts 8:1-4), as they shared Christ in whatever way they could. Keep these matters before the Lord in prayer & wait for the answer - He won't fail a yearning responsive heart. Every blessing.

Hello John. What your daughter has asked of you, I believe is entirely scriptural. Nowhere in the NT do we read that it must be a minister of religion or a pastor that baptizes a person. In fact, the act of water baptism goes hand-in-hand with being born again (repenting of sins & accepting the Lord Jesus as Saviour).

It is always seen in the NT (e.g. Acts 2:36-41; Acts 8:27-38) as happening together or soon after accepting Christ; not as we often see these days, where some are baptized months or years after being saved. It's the responsibility of the one leading a soul to Christ to see to his/her baptism - if not done by the soul winner, then by another believer. And preferably water baptism should be conducted before others, so that the act itself is both a personal & public testimony of what God has done in the believer's life & that act of baptism can be used against Satan when he puts doubts into the mind questioning one's salvation. Also remembering, that "baptism doth also now save us (NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh, BUT the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" ( 1 Peter 3:21). There is no merit in water baptism for salvation but for the sake of having a good conscience before God & man. The obedience part belongs to the one who baptizes ensuring that the Gospel delivered & believed upon, is also set in concrete with water baptism.

What I share here, I believe is the NT Church pattern - others may feel it's more appropriate for baptism to be done by the clergy, i.e. to make it 'official', with a certificate, etc. But I would not hesitate in doing it the NT way. May the Lord guide you in this matter.

Hello Paul. I would agree with your statement, though I would used the word 'pre-ordained', and one needs to understand certain things. We see in Ephesians 1:4,5, that God "hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." Here we see that God has already chosen who would belong to Him even before the worlds were made, that we should be a holy people & predestined to be His children by adoption, because of the sacrifice of His Son for us. Even though that comes through as a mouthful, we can appreciate that Work of God through Christ because of Who God is & that all knowledge belongs to Him.

Similarly, in 1 Peter 1:1,2, Peter is writing to the "strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia". These 'strangers' were those of the dispersion (many of whom there as a result of Acts 8:1 & other associated persecutions). And these strangers were now residing in those areas of Asia Minor & would have included both converted Jews & Gentiles. To these, Peter addresses them as sojourners or pilgrims, who are "the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ."

So these scattered believers are considered as the elect of God because of God's foreknowledge, because of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, & because of the virtue of Christ's Blood (application & sealing of the New Covenant) upon them (alluding to the animal blood of the Old Testament that was sprinkled on the altar confirming the Covenant by God to Israel). Therefore, our salvation has been pre-ordained or pre-appointed by God but that is based on Him already knowing about it. We still have to hear the Gospel, be convicted of sin & respond with repentance & faith ( Acts 3:19).

Hey Adam,

I did not say repentance is a false doctrine, I said repenting of your sins to be saved is a false doctrine. Big difference. The reason we are KJV Only is because of the doctrine it teaches. In the whole Bible, God Himself repented even more than anyone else ( Gen 6:6, Gen 6:7, Ex 32:12-14, Deut 32:36, Judg 2:18, 1 Sam 15:11, 1 Sam 15:35, 2 Sam 24:16; 1 Chron 21:15; Psa 90:13, Psa 106:45, Psa 135:14, Jer 18:8, Jer 26:3, 13, 19, Jer 42:10, Joel 2:13-14; Amos 7:3, 6; Jonah 3:9-10; 4:2) Does that mean that God is a sinner for Him to repent? No! But these modern translations have used the word "God relented..." everywhere that God repented, to justify the idea that you only repent of your sins.

Infact there is no verse that says "Repent your sins"!! A verse that atleast comes close to that is "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." in Acts 8:22 and it was about Simon who WAS ALREADY SAVED(in verse 13) and he wanted to offer money to get power to lay hands on others and was rebuked by Peter. Simon was to "turn from what he was doing wrong, to do what is right".

As Christians are we supposed to repent after getting saved? YES! Because we keep sinning even after getting saved. We need to turn back to God and seek His ways rather than our ways. But for Salvation, you only need to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

The only repentance in regard to salvation that is Biblical is when you turn from a false religion, to Christ, because you cant be in Christ and also in another religion. You must repent(turn from the false religion) and then accept Christ, just like the Thessalonians ----> 1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

Acts 8.37

The perfect confession!

The bible plan for speaking with tongues.

God gave visual signs throughout the bible of his presence.

God chose speaking tongues as a visual sign when you recieve the Holy Ghost!

Jesus said out of the abundance of your heart, the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34.

When God gives you his Spirit, he puts it in your heart; Galations 4: 6.

So what is in your heart comes out of your mouth.

Jesus said:

Mark 16:17:

Believers will speak with new tongues.

Isaiah 28: 11, 12,

prophecied it is the rest/power, to cause the weary to rest; refreshing.

John 3: 5 - 7:

Jesus spoke about a new spiritual birth you will recieve when you are born again. Then he added: John 3: 8:

The WIND bloweth where it listeth, and thou HEAREST the SOUND thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is EVERYONE that is born of the Spirit.

Who did he say?

EVERYONE!

This scripture is fullfilled in Jerusalem in the upper room, the Holy Ghost was first poured out: Acts 2: 1 - 4:

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a SOUND from heaven as of a rushing mighty WIND and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven TONGUES like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Here you see that SOUND from heaven as a rushing mighty WIND is Holy Ghost/speaking with other tongues!

Acts 2: 33:

Peter told the jews which were speaking in another tongue/language, this is the promise of the Holy Ghost that they now SEE(VISUAL SIGN), and HEAR(YOU WILL HEAR A SOUND.)

Acts 2: 16 - 19.

Peter told the jews the prophet Joel spoke about it.

Acts 8: 14 - 20:

Simon the sorcerer saw when Peter and John laid hands on jews, he SAW POWER(THE VISUAL SIGN) when they recieved the Holy Ghost, and offered money for it!

Acts 9: 17, 18,

Paul, called Saul then, who wrote a

Greetings in Jesus' name, Richard,

In every instance when a Christian received the gift of the Holy Ghost after the New Testament began in the book of Acts (the first Church), it was always accompanied with speaking in another tongue (Samaritans: Acts 8:16-18 , Gentiles- Acts 10:46, Jews- Acts 19:1-6).

This is the proof or earnest (token) of a Christian's inheritance ( Ephesians 1:14).

This was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah

11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

With all due respect, a Christian does not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and is not sealed thereby the moment they believe as many lying pastors/theologians teach (along with other false doctrines like the "trinity" "once saved always saved" "purgatory" etc). Likewise a feeling of peace is not evidence you have received the Holy Ghost. While I do agree there are many that speak false tongues in emulation (primarily in the "Pentecostal/Apostolic" businesses), that does not invalidate the real thing.

May I ask you Richard (in Christ), have you been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins ( Gal. 3:27)?

Sincerely,

Andrew

Water baptism. Part 1

From the very beginning in the bible, water separates or divides from something: Genesis 1: 6, 7.

When God set apart people for himself, he used water to separate you from something to bring you into something else.

In the old testament, Moses and the priest had to wash with water to be sanctified for service.

Want to show how many scriptures(not all) are showing how important baptism is!

Ezekiel 36: 24 - 27:

God takes the unclean, sprinkles clean water on them, and they shall be clean. Puts his Spirit in them and calls them his people!

New Testament:

John the Baptist baptized with water, also baptized Jesus that the scriptures would be fullfilled:

Matthew 3: 11, 16.

John 1: 26 - 33.

Luke 3: 16, 21.

Matthew 28:19:

Teach all nations to baptize in Jesus name.

Mark 16:16:

He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.

Luke 24: 47 - 49:

Beginning at Jerusalem, repentance and water baptism(remission of sins) preached in Jesus name among all nations.

John 3: 5 - 7:

Jesus taught you must be born again of water(baptism) and Spirit.

John 13:10:

Jesus washed his disciple's feet with water, calling them clean.

John 19:34:

Jesus dead on the cross; soldier pierced his side, out came BLOOD and WATER.

Note:

1 John 5: 6, 8:

Jesus came by WATER and BLOOD.

There are 3 that bear witness in the earth: Spirit, water, and blood. These 3 agree in one.

One what? - One new birth.

Continued next text.

Acts 2:38:

Baptized in water for remission of sins to be saved. Jews first, then gentiles.

Note:

2: 41:

3000 souls were baptized to be obedient.

Acts 8: 36 - 39:

Philip baptized eunuch in water.

Acts 9:18:

Apostle Paul is baptized.

Acts 10: 47, 48:

Peter baptized Cornelius and his family.

Acts 18: 8:

Chief ruler of synagogue believed on the Lord(many with him) got baptized.

Acts 19: 1 - 6:

Paul baptized certain disciples in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Continue to water baptism part 2.

Acts 2:38:

Baptized in water for remission of sins to be saved. Jews first, then gentiles.

Note:

2: 41:

3000 souls were baptized to be obedient.

Acts 8: 36 - 39:

Philip baptized eunuch in water.

Acts 9:18:

Apostle Paul is baptized.

Acts 10: 47, 48:

Peter baptized Cornelius and his family.

Acts 18: 8:

Chief ruler of synagogue believed on the Lord(many with him) got baptized.

Acts 19: 1 - 6:

Paul baptized certain disciples in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 22: 16:

Paul defense/testamony on trial telling the people; that he was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Romans 6: 3, 4:

Paul says those that are saved have been baptized/buried in the name of Jesus.

Ephesians 5:26:

Christ sanctify and cleanse His church with the washing of WATER by the word.

Colossians 2: 11, 12:

The circumcision of Christ takes place in water baptism.

Hebrews 9: 19, 20:

When Moses read the law to all the people, he took blood, water, hyssop, and sprinkled them with it, signifying God have enjoined them.

Hebrews 10: 22:

Our bodies are washed with pure water.

1 Peter 3: 20, 21:

In the days of Noah, 8 souls were saved by water. The like figure even BAPTISM ALSO NOW SAVES US.

In conclusion, water is used to separate you from sin/cut off the flesh to bring you into new covenant with Christ, the NEW BIRTH, BORN AGAIN OF WATER AND SPIRIT!

Are you saying, that as Stephen was being stoned to death (under Paul's supervision);

Jesus who is SEATED at the right hand of God, STOOD up as Steven died. Acts 7:55-56

The Bible says he's seated, but in this event He stood up... ? Anyone wanna bet that Steven did not descend to a place of holding. After this event, Paul was blinded, knocked off his horse, and questioned by Jesus, "why are you persecuting ME?!"

Acts 6:8

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Acts 6:9

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

Acts 7:59

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my SPIRIT.

Acts 8:2

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

Acts 11:19

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

Acts 22:20

And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also (Saul) was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

There's is no doubt that Stephens spirit is in heaven now.

Note: Acts 5:29-33

Mishael

If you don't receive the Holy Ghost when you get saved, you better get another shot.

Do you receive the HOLY GHOST when you get saved?

No.

Ezekiel 27 & 28 describes the King of Tyre as making himself a "god" and was called a "cherub" and referenced "Eden, the garden of God" This Cherub was "perfect" in beauty, faultless in his ways from creation onward until unrighteousness was found in him. Ez 27:3, 28:12,15

Isaiah 42:12 Reference the God of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Joseph, David, Josiah, Ezekiel, John the Baptist, Jesus, the Apostles, etc. This Almighty God of Israel is the creator of all living things. In Psalms 83:18 he is called Jehovah God.

If you look in one of the earliest King James Bible of 1611 you'll see that name. Most modern translations have removed that name and substituted it with Lord claiming since the original pronunciation was lost it makes sense to remove it as if the Almighty doesn't exist. Also the divine name Jehovah or Adhonai or Elohim in some translation appears in the Tetragrammaton close to 7000 times so removing the name removes the knowledge and understanding of the Almighty and creates confusion. He just wasn't a tribal God in Isaiah 54:5 it says "....He will be called the God of the whole earth." Psalm 124:8 Jehovah is called the maker of heaven and earth.

Jesus who was a Jew also recognized the God of Israel as being Jehovah or Yahweh. Remember the Jewish clergy during the time of Jesus wanted to bring charges against Jesus in order to put him to death for blashemy so any of worship or acknowledgement he gave to any other god would have given them this opportunity. Plus Genesis 17:1, Isaiah 45:18, Psalm 83:18 refers to Jehovah God being one God. Deuteronomy 6:4,5 also call Jehovah one Jehovah. This is in harmony with Mark 12:29, Romans 3:29-30, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Timothy 2:5 all these scriptures refer to one God.

For Jesus to believe in multiple gods or a triune god would be paramount to apostasy for a Jew and thus grounds for death. Also Roman Zeus was a triune god and existed during this time.

That is a very telling portion of Scripture, again showing that water baptism is simply one's visible act of identification with the crucified risen Christ & not necessarily an evidence of saving faith. One would always rejoice in another's baptism testimony but only the Lord knows & judges the heart.

Simon appeared as one saved, as the Scriptures indicate, but he had other plans that were not consistent with his salvation experience: he wanted to continue his profession, no more in sorcery, but in using the "power of God" which seemed much greater than he had before, to earn him bigger bucks. So in both ignorance & wickedness he sought to purchase this "power". Peter then withstood him & essentially told him, that if this was his attitude, then his salvation & baptism were not real. And that he was in "the gall of bitterness" suggests that Simon's heart was as gall, which is similar to Hebrews 12:15: "root of bitterness". What was he bitter about? Simon was in the grip of envy, so strong that the envy he should have had for receiving more of Christ, was actually envy for his personal carnal profit. And this proved a heart of bitterness towards those who had what he didn't have.

For any bitterness that you have, you need to deal with that speedily. A bitter spirit against others, for any reason, is like a canker that will continually eat into you, even to the point that you may wonder whether you're actually saved. Bitterness & hatred are close cousins; both are not acceptable by the Lord. You recognized this in you, which is the first step. Then you have to deal with it: seek forgiveness from God & the other person, pray for yourselves - for healing of the mind & spirit, do good things for him/her - cover it with love.

When you know something is wrong (e.g. the violent movie) & refuse to watch it, then you're obeying the Spirit's Word to your heart. If you however, disobey, you will soon get the Spirit's tug to remind you that "Alec, you should know better".

Hi, Alex. The verse says that he was "in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."

This means that Simon was jealous of the apostles' power to bestow the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands, and wanted that power for himself and he believed that money could purchase power from God.

Furthermore, Peter also said, "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God."

Interestingly, in John 13:8 "Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."

Peter used words similar to Jesus when He sais, concerning Peter, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."

It is not at all clear whether Simon was truly bore again and if he actually did repent and regain fellowship with God.

Your bitterness seems to be about your relationships with family members. Do some self examination. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psa 139:23-24 (KJV)

I'm having difficulty understanding that on one hand you, "want to watch a movie that has violence, cursing and the like" but on the other hand you "make a deliberate choice not to." I have to tell you that I've actually done things like that and I've paid the price of rebellion against God. "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph 4:30 (KJV) When we know what is sin and willfully disobey, we grieve the holy Spirit of God. I don't want to do that any more. How 'bout you? Read the whole chapter. Read Ephesians. Get into God's Word every day. It's food for your soul. Read Psalm 19. It ends like this, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." You can't really do this when you're filling your head with violence and foul language.

In acts 8 vs 13 it says Then Simon believed and was baptized and continued with Philip and was amazed seeing miracles then drop down to verses 20-23 and Peter tells him he has no part in this ministry he tells him to repent and he is bound by bitterness and iniquity, so does that mean simon was not saved ? What does bound by bitterness mean, I have bitterness i am struggling with because of issues with some family members but i know i am saved acts 5 vs 32 says the spirit is given to those that obey him, is it still obeying for instance if I want to watch a movie that has violence, cursing and the like but i make a deliberate choice not to. Confusing sorry

I can heartily agree with your first paragraph that the Triune God is very Truth. But then you say that the Holy Spirit is not a person. And it's at this point that we have to dwell.

Before I give you some Scriptures, let me ask, "what if God chose to embody His "Truth" (the Holy Spirit), with flesh, as He did to His "Word"? Would that alter your belief that the Spirit is more than the Truth (a Word) of God, but very God Himself by His Spirit?

Some Scriptures for you to consider that the Holy Spirit is not only the 'Truth of God' but sent from God as God: 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 (He is Intelligent, He searches, He knows, He has a Will); Ephesians 4:30 (He has feelings - can be grieved & He seals the believer); John 14:26 (He teaches; notice the pronoun); John 16:13, Romans 8:14; Acts 8:29 (He guides, leads, speaks, hears, glorifies God); Acts 13:4 (He commissions or despatches); Romans 8:26,27 (He intercedes); Matthew 12:31 (He can be blasphemed); Acts 5:3 (He can be lied to); Acts 7:51 (He can be resisted); Hebrews 10:29 (He can be outraged). And these are just a few to consider.

Then if we leave off the word 'Spirit' & replace it with 'Truth' in those Scriptures (as you asked me to try out), in some cases, it could work as the Spirit is Truth, as God & the Son are Truth. But in other cases, that just wouldn't work (e.g. how does the Truth (as a spoken Word) grieve, search, has a Will, feelings, hears, glorifies, commissions, intercedes, blasphemed against, etc.?). And then again, why did God not just use the word 'Truth' (as in 'the Truth shall set you free') but rather shows us that His Spirit (of Truth) was sent to accomplish these tasks? I can see if someone has difficulty with the Doctrine of the Trinity, then understanding the Spirit's part in the Godhead would be a problem.

Page 1.

I think Rob, a dictionary wouldn't be very useful in this matter. So your answer is: "The Holy Spirit is of God". Well, that's correct but to expand on that a little, if I may amplify your thoughts. In great care, I would suggest that you also believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person, i.e. He comes from within the Godhead, sent into the World of sinners to convict & to indwell those who have been born again that they might lead new lives with a new Power within.

That He must be a Person, as shown in many examples: Intelligence ( 1 Corinthians 2:10,11); has feelings ( Ephesians 4:30); has a Will ( 1 Corinthians 12:11); has a Mind ( Romans 8:27); teaches ( John 14:26); guides ( Romans 8:14, John 16:13); commissions ( Acts 13:4); commands ( Acts 8:29); restrains ( Genesis 6:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:7); intercedes ( Romans 8:26); speaks ( John 15:26). Though He may be a spirit as from God, out of God's Being, He is the very Expression & Person of God Himself. I hope you agree to that, or am I putting words in your mind or mouth?

Then we come to God's Word. As seen with the Spirit, the Word of God is unseen, the very Articulation of God in creating, giving commands & direction whether to heavenly hosts, to His people on Earth or through His prophets & in other utterances that we're unaware of. Now there may be other aspects of God's Being that we're not told of, but of the Word & the Spirit, there's no dispute. The difficulty now for some remains with the 'Word'.

If then, God sends out His Spirit to accomplish His Purposes, why is it so hard to comprehend that He sends out His Word to do likewise? Or is that because the Spirit has no flesh, therefore it must hold true that God's Word can only be spirit without flesh? What if God chose to give His Spirit flesh maybe that would make it easier to understand the 'Word' easier.

In the 16th century it appears as "palsy," the form used in the King James Version. This, however, is seldom used at the present day, the Latinized Greek form "paralysis" being more frequently employed, both in modern literature and in colloquial English "Sick of the palsy" is the translation either of the adjective paralutikos or of the participle of the verb paraluomai. The disease is one characterized by extreme loss of the power of motion dependent on some affection either of the motor centers of the brain or of the spinal cord. It is always serious, usually intractable, and generally sudden in onset (1 Macc 9:55 f). Miraculous cures by our Lord are related in general terms, as in Matthew 4:24; Acts 8:7. Aeneas ( Acts 9:33) was probably a paralytic eight years bedridden. Though the Lord addressed the paralytic let down through the roof ( Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:3; Luke 5:18) as "son," it was not necessarily a proof that he was young, and though He prefaces the cure by declaring the forgiveness of sin, we need not infer that the disease was the result of an evil life, although it may have been. Bennett conjectures that the centurion's palsied servant grievously tormented was suffering from progressive paralysis with respiratory spasms (see PAIN). The substantive paralusis is only once used in the Septuagint in Ezekiel 21:10, but here it refers to the loosing of the sword, not to the disease.

Comment by Alexander Macalister

Timothy money is in Matthew 25:18 17:24 Psalms 15:5 Isaiah 52:3 55:1 Acts 8:20 1Timothy 6:10

Re Acts 8:38-40

Philip's 20 mile translation from Gaza to Azotus after his baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch...other translations

1Kings18:12. 11Kings 2:16. 3:14. 8:3. 1Thess 4:16,17.....also, look up how Jesus and his row boat friends " were immediately at the other side of Galilee after they encountered the storm...the Holy Spirit did the translations?

Answers how the kangaroo got from Australia back and forth to and from Noah's Ark

See also at Babel how the people WERE scattered not scattered..." lest we be scattered" in the KJV

If you do a search on "scattered " you'll find more references to " WERE scattered" as opposed to " scattered " in the scriptures..... so the people and animals didn't scatter ( migrate) but " were scattered" just as in these examples on scripture

It's like " beam me up Scotty " from Star Trek..... . and they were translated ( scattered to their destination). They didn't

MIGRATE , BUT WERE SCATTERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT?

What's wrong with this interpretation of how the kangaroo got to and fro the ark?

Yes. In Acts 8:6-40.

The Bible teaches on: The Day of the Lord; also named, Caught Up in the Clouds. Just enter any of those in the top Search Box.

Also, Thief in the Night, in the Clouds.

Rapture is a state or experience of being carried away. The English word comes from a Latin word, rapio, which means to seize or snatch in relation to an ecstasy of spirit or the actual removal from one place to another. In other words, it means to be carried away in spirit or in body. The Rapture of the church means the carrying away of the church from earth to heaven.

The Greek word from this term "rapture" is derived appears in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, translated "caught up." The Latin translation of this verse used the word rapturo. The Greek word it translates is harpazo, which means to snatch or take away. Elsewhere it is used to describe how the Spirit caught up Philip near Gaza and brought him to Caesarea ( Acts 8:39) and to describe Paul's experience of being caught up into the third heaven ( 2 Cor. 12:2-4). Thus there can be no doubt that the word is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to indicate the actual removal of people from earth to heaven.

It is commonly asserted that the word rapture doesn't appear in the Bible, and this absence is held forth as evidence that the teaching of the rapture is a falsehood. But this claim is untrue. The word rapture does appear in the Bible. It appears in the exact same way that words like angel and apostle appear in the Bible. he word rapture is simply the anglicized form of the Greek word (harpaz) that appears in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 in the original text.

To begin with, the English word rapture is derived from the Latin participle raptus from the verb rapio. And Latin rapio and Greek (harpaz) are cognates - they are the same word.Don't be fooled by the superficial differences between Latin rapio and Greek harpaz. The - (-az) on the end of (harpaz) is not part of the shared stem but a common Koine Greek verb ending.

There is a distinct difference between those that practice magic and those that treat people medically. Many cultures have both, even to this day.

If we are sick we go to a medical doctor of medicine. Not a witch doctor; not those who practice voodoo, etc. To do so, will invite demonic manifestation or death.

"The Jews seem early to have consulted the teraphim (q.v.) for "oracular answers ( Judg. 18:5, 6; Zech. 10:2). There is a" remarkable illustration of this divining by teraphim in Ezek. 21:19-22. We read also of the divining cup of Joseph ( Gen. 44:5). The magicians of Egypt are frequently referred to in the history of the Exodus. Magic was an inherent part of the ancient "Egyptian religion, and entered largely into their daily life." "All magical arts were distinctly prohibited under penalty of death in the Mosaic law. The Jews were commanded not to learn "the "abomination" of the people of the Promised Land (Lev." 19:31; Deut. 18:9-14). The history of Saul's consulting the witch of Endor ( 1 Sam. 28:3-20) gives no warrant for attributing supernatural power to magicians. From the first the witch is here only a bystander. The practice of magic lingered among the "people till after the Captivity, when they gradually abandoned" it. "It is not much referred to in the New Testament. The Magi mentioned in Matt. 2:1-12 were not magicians in the ordinary "sense of the word. They belonged to a religious caste, the" "followers of Zoroaster, the astrologers of the East. Simon, a" "magician, was found by Philip at Samaria ( Acts 8:9-24); and Paul" "and Barnabas encountered Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer, at Paphos" (13:6-12). At Ephesus there was a great destruction of magical "books ( Acts 19:18, 19)."

"Heb. hartumim, ( dan. 1:20) were sacred scribes who acted as" "interpreters of omens, or "revealers of secret things."

The Bible teaches Healing; not magic.

Mishael

Acts 8:40....re the distance from the place of baptism of the Ethiopean eunoch to Azotus?

Translated that distance very quickly( instantaneously?) by God?

Similar to the story of Jesus in the boat and storm being translated " immediately" to their destination? John 6:21

Does this answer the Q " How did the animals get to and from Noah's ark during the flood story?

They were translated there by God? Vs they migrated there......how would the kangaroo from Australia

get to and from the ark of Noah if HE didn't do it " immediately" ?

If we are to receive the Holt Spirit when we are born again why did the people in Samaria not receive Him when Philip baptize them in verse 15 16 and 17 in chapter 8. Not sure why Peter and John had to lay hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit.

Hi Chris, I'll try to add into the ongoing discussion. Let's consider Paul in Romans 7. It appears that Paul starts giving his account of his own past starting in verse 7, as here he starts mentioning "I" as in I had not known sin. He then goes on to tell us his past experiences with sin and the warring within. I do not see a change of historical present until a change seen in Ch. 8 where Paul then begins declaring no condemnation and freedom as a current status.

Judas may or may not be a great example, so let's stick with Paul instead. He was present when Stephen was stoned, mentioned in Acts 7:58. Acts 8:1 Saul or Paul is mentioned again as consenting to Stephen's death, and having authority to apprehend Christians, sending them to jail, persecuting the Church. Ac. 9, Saul/Paul was converted from sinful to saved. He acknowledged the Lord, and though it's not fully described, Paul repented there. Ac. 9:17 Ananias prayed with Brother Saul who had to be saved to be a spiritual brother, received sight and was filled with the Holy Ghost, sanctification only does this. Paul then begins to preach in vs 20. From now on, Paul no longer took Christians prisoner but taught apn preached about Jesus and salvation from sin. Also note that the Jews that once held Saul in admiration for capturing Christians, now fought against him, and sought to kill him. Salvation and sanctification change people so much that friends of the past look and act differently towards the saved. Paul was feared by the apostles, but later they recognized the changes God had made in Paul's heart and actions. There is a need that others can see the change in a person that is saved.

Similar to Adam due to my saved and sanctified experience? Yes, excepting Adam and Eve were created sinless and I had to gain sinless life via repentance to be saved and then later to be sanctified to be rid of the inherited sin passed on from Adam's fallen state.

I'll add more later. Hope this helps some. Good day to all.

To Adam, on your reply to Chris:

I very much agree with your statement. As their is much out there to deceive but God knows everything. As I know the Word of God is in the Bible I believe the Lord want's us to search it out instead of just believing every single word in the book. With my own eyes I have seen things that just don't feel right, things changed through versions, and things removed through versions of the Bible also. This proves the Word of God is not preserved in a book printed by man. The 1611 KJV is the best we have to my knowledge. Love one another my brothers an sisters, repent from sin and bear good fruit to make the Lord happy. Life may not be easy but keep your faith and pray. Our Eternal Father loves you and will not fail you. God bless you all in Jesus Christ!

The hedge that surrounded Job is the True Church, the Bride of Christ. This is a lamb's protection, outside of this Church, the hedge is far more dangerous and leaves for far more influences that can steal and kill the Truth once delivered. Job did not at first understand the quality of that hedge but he learned later the Truth of it. Our righteousness is within the hedge and not of ourselves, if we try to work around this hedge we are poor, blind and naked.

Hi Chris,

I don't believe God deceives people, but he allows satan to, and for you to deceive yourselves. In the past God used special circumstances to interact someone more than normal too, like hardening Pharaohs heart, like allowing satan to tempt Job, allowing people to not see or understand things unless they genuinely sought the truth. If you look at 2 Thessalonians 2:11 it said God sent them a 'delusion'. It says in verse 9 satan is behind it. How do you know for certain that God didn't just allow satan to do the tempting? He could have easily been the delusion. It doesn't say God 'made' them believe the lie either, it was likely still their own choice. People can often blind themselves by having a hard heart. Jesus said that's why he spoke in parables that way: Matthew 13:13.

So, I provided evidence that is consistent with the rest of scripture that I do not believe God tempts James 1:13 or deceives people, but that for everyone He allows satan to roam and tempt, and in certain circumstances in the Bible he interacted more intimately with people to truly challenge them so that through it God's glory would be revealed.

God bless...