The Acts 28 Thing

Introduction

About 25 years ago there was a teaching presented unto me that deals with the nation of Israel being God’s people all the way to Acts 28. Initially I accepted this teaching and started teaching it myself. During the course of learning and teaching this subject, I ran across some issues that could not be resolved. I found myself breaking scriptures in several places and trying to make the scriptures say things that they did not say.

I prayed to my Father about this situation, and he showed me my error. From the day I was first saved, I was brought up to be a Berean, one that searches the scripture and checks the scripture to see what he is told is true or not. I’m really not sure why, but I failed to be a Berean on this topic, and accepted the teaching as it was taught to me.

This was nobody’s fault but mine, I do not blame anyone but myself. I have to give account of my actions, which includes the things I speak and teach, at the judgment seat of Christ. No one will have to give an account of my actions but myself, so I take full responsibility of my error.

I went back and did research of where this teaching came from, and as far as I can tell, it originated from a brother known as DR. E.W. Bullinger. This man lived from 1837 to 1913. I can’t find where this teaching was taught before him.

I learned this teaching from a preacher who learned it from another preacher who learned it from Bullinger’s teachings. And going as far back as brother Bullinger, I feel that I can safely say that Bullinger is the father of this teaching. If anyone knows differently, please let me know.

Now I am not in the habit of bashing brethren or cutting brethren down that I disagree with. In 1st Thessalonians 3 it says,

“6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.”

We should NEVER defraud our brethren in any matter. Nevertheless we are still instructed to mark them that cause divisions in the body of Christ. In Romans 16 it says,

“17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

There are many brethren out there that mislead people, not intentionally, but it still happens. We are all still in a growing stage and will be that way until the day that the Lord takes us home. No one can say that they understand the whole bible and that there is nothing left for them to learn.

So as we grow and try to serve the Lord, we will all make our mistakes and errors and say the wrong things time after time. I believe the Lord allows us to make mistakes to help us keep our pride low. I know that I have made my fair share of mistakes.

It is a very difficult thing for me to try to warn people of a teaching without sounding like I’m bashing our brethren. The Lord knows that I mean no harm to brother Bullinger, and I have prayed many times for wisdom to present his teachings without causing him harm. The Lord says that we should love our brethren and be willing to lay down our lives for the brethren. But sometimes, as brethren, we need to correct ourselves.

This teaching that I am about to present to you has caused much division in the body of Christ. I, for one, have been treated very badly for not accepting this teaching. I hold nothing against any of my brethren, but rather would like to sit down and discuss this issue with anyone that disagrees with the issues that I am about to present.

I want to please my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He loved me and gave himself for me, so I wish to bow down to his wishes and commandments. He does not like division in the body of Christ, so I am willing to discuss any issues that people might have against me or the things I teach that somehow we may resolve issues that divide us, that we may please the one who paid for our sins with his precious blood.

Once again, I wish no harm to brother Bullinger. In fact, if he were still alive I would love to contact him and discuss the issue in person, but it’s too late for that, what he has written is what is written and it is too late for him to change anything now. His written documents are all set.

This document will probably be fairly long. Please bear with me. There are well over a hundred scriptures we have to cover in order to explain the teaching and the errors associated with it.

Please understand the following teaching IS NOT what I teach today, but I did teach it for a very short time in the past. When the teaching is finished, then afterwards we will be Bereans and put the teaching to the test, and I will present the errors I found in my teaching.

And yes, there are different variations in this teaching. You might hear this teaching presented a little different from another preacher, and he might be different from yet another, but it boils down to the same conclusion, that God was dealing with Israel as a nation all the way till Acts 28, which causes confusion, division, and breaks scriptures.

For those of you that are already familiar with this teaching, this might be a little redundant, but please bear with me.

So let’s get started!

The Teaching

In 1st Corinthians 13 it says,

“8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”

Right here the apostle Paul is telling us that their will be some powers that will cease. The Lord had given gifts unto the church, tongues, healings, miracles, etc. Many people refer to these miraculous powers as the “sign gifts.”

When Paul writes this, the powers are still in existence, but he said that they will eventually cease, and when he gets to Rome in Acts 28, these powers stopped. Before Paul gets to Rome they were shipwrecked on the Island of Melita, in Acts 28 it says,

“7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:”

So what we have here is scripture that shows us that the apostle Paul still had the power to heal at this time. Paul eventually made it to Rome and was awaiting trial at Rome and he eventually got released and he had a 4th missionary journey. On this journey he wrote two epistles, 1st Timothy and Titus. 1st Timothy and Titus are not prison epistles. He was recaptured and wrote 2nd Timothy in his final imprisonment.

In 1st Timothy Paul writes in chapter 5,

“23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.”

Timothy had stomach problems.

Question: Why didn’t Paul heal Timothy? Because that power had ceased.

In 2nd Timothy chapter 4 it says,

“20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.”

Trophimus was so sick, Paul had to leave him in Miletum.

Question: Why didn’t Paul lay hands on him and say, “Be ye healed Trophemus, get up, let’s go.” Because he couldn’t anymore that’s why. Before Paul got to Rome he could heal unbelieving barbarians but after he got to Rome he couldn’t heal even a fellow worker in Christ.

So when Paul got to Rome there were some changes that took place. The “sign gifts” that were handed to the church ceased.

Question: What caused these sign gifts to cease? Well in 1st Corinthians 1 it says,

“22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:”

So it looks like these “sign gifts” were meant for the Jews. God was using these sign gifts for Israel until he was done dealing with Israel as a nation.

In Acts 28 it says,

“17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.”

So what we have here is Paul telling the Jews that salvation is now sent unto the Gentiles. Here is when the Jews were set aside and God no longer is dealing with them as a nation, they became Loammi, not my people.

So what we have is God dealing with Israel as a nation all the way to Acts 28. This means that during the Acts period that God’s people and the things associated with them being his people still applies.

In Acts 28:28 Paul said that salvation is now sent unto the Gentiles. We know that there were already Gentiles being saved during the Acts period so here in Acts 28 he must be referring to specific Gentiles.

Since God’s people were still in effect during the Acts period, the promises made to his people were still in effect also. In Genesis 12 it says,

“1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

This promise was made unto Abraham and passed down unto his decendants, the Jews. So what we have here is a promise that God would bless those that blessed the seed of Abraham. For instance in Luke 7 it says,

“1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.”

In verse 4 it says that this centurion was worthy for the Lord to heal his servant. Why was he worthy? Because he loved the Jews and he built them a synagogue, in others words, he blessed Israel. The Lord had no problem healing this man’s servant even though he was a Gentile, because he feared God and blessed Israel.

So during the book of Acts, what we have is salvation is to the Jews and to those that feared God and blessed Israel. For instance when we get to where Peter went to Cornelius Peter said in Acts 10,

“34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Now let’s back up to verses 1 and 2 and see why Cornelius could receive salvation,

“1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.”

So Cornelius was a man that feared God and blessed Israel, he was worthy of receiving the salvation that God had to offer. In Acts 13 Paul said,

“16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.”

And in verse 26 it says,

“26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.”

So what we have here is that during the book of Acts, salvation was sent unto Israel and them that feared God, which would be those that blessed Israel. After Paul got to Rome, since Israel is now set aside, God is now saving those that didn’t bless Israel – the idol worshipping Gentiles that could care less about the nation of Israel.

Also during this time the Jews had the advantage over the Gentiles. In Romans 3 it says,

“1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.”

So when the gospel went out, it went out to the Jews first. In Romans 1 it says,

“16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

After Paul got to Rome and the Jews were set aside, the Jew no longer had advantage over the Gentile.

When Paul gets to Rome he writes Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon and sends them out. In Ephesians 2 he says,

“11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Now in Chapter 3 it says,

“1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”

So what we have here in Ephesians is Paul telling us that these idol worshipping Gentiles that did not fear God and bless Israel that at that time they were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now, after God has set aside the nation of Israel, God is now allowing these idol worshipping Gentiles to be saved.

So before Paul got to Rome the Jews and those that blessed Israel could be saved and after Paul got to Rome and set the nation of Israel aside then the idol worshipping Gentiles that did not bless Israel could now be saved.

So the Gentiles were separated into two groups, those that blessed Israel which had hope, and those that did not bless Israel which had no hope.

Now let’s look at this chart. In this chart you will see how the Jews were diminishing and the Gentiles were growing and in Acts 28 the Jews were set aside and the idol worshipping Gentiles that did not bless Israel could now be saved.

Now this is the overview of the teaching. There are several side studies that pertain to this teaching, but this is the basis of the teaching and as I mentioned before, there are several variations to this teaching also, but they all come to the same conclusion, that God did not set Israel aside, they did not fall, were not made Loammi, were not cast away until Acts 28.

I never did get as far as to say that the dispensation of grace started in Acts 28, but the teaching does lead to that. Some even say that a new body started here.

Now from the surface, this teaching seems to be very solid, but as we test this teaching, being Bereans, we will go deeper into the holy scriptures.

Method of Testing

All teachings must be tested. If you do not test the teachings that you hear then you are not a true Berean.

Now I have a particular method that I use to test teachings. When I hear a teaching, I do not try to prove the teaching correct by the holy scriptures, but rather I try to prove it wrong by the holy scriptures. If I can’t prove it wrong by the holy scriptures then there is a good chance that the teaching may be correct. If I can prove it wrong by the holy scriptures then obviously it is wrong and I do not teach it.

Not only do I use this method when I hear someone else teach, but I also use it on myself. Whenever I am reading and studying and a thought pops into my head, I have to determine whether the Lord is trying to show me something or whether I’m puffing up this thought with my own fleshly mind. So to determine which it is, I try to prove the thought or idea wrong by the holy scriptures. If I can prove it wrong, then it was just something I puffed up, if I can’t prove it wrong, then I must realize that the Lord is trying to show me something.

For instance, let’s say you hear someone teach that water baptism is necessary for salvation and they use a few scriptures to do so. If you try to prove the teaching correct, then you will use the same scriptures that they gave you and you will come to the same conclusion that they did.

But let’s say that you try to prove the teaching wrong. Instead of using the same scriptures that they gave you, you search the scriptures for verses that go against the teaching. If you can’t find any, then maybe the teaching is correct. If you can find some, then it is not correct.

In 1st Corinthians 2 it says,

“10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

So we know that the Holy Spirit reveals the deep things of God, and we also see that the Holy Ghost teaches by comparing spiritual things with spiritual. So what we have to do is compare these spiritual things with other spiritual things.

Now concerning this Acts 28 thing, if I were to teach this to someone and they were to use the same verses I just used then they would come to the same conclusion as I did. If they tried to prove the teaching correct, then they would end up using the same verses.

But what if they tried to prove the teaching wrong by using other spiritual things? What if they used verses that contradicted the teaching?

Now the word of God is true and Holy and without error. It is not going to contradict itself in any way, form or fashion. But the word of God can contradict the teachings of men.

As I had mentioned before, as I was learning and teaching this Acts 28 teaching I ran across some verses that did not match what I was teaching. After I prayed about it the Lord showed me a few things and one of those was to be a Berean and check the teaching out against the holy scriptures.

So what we are about to do is be Bereans and test this Acts 28 teaching and try to prove it wrong by the holy scriptures. If we can prove it wrong by the holy scriptures then it isn’t right.

Once again, let’s get started!

Finding the Errors

One of the first things I found odd about this teaching was that I found non-God fearing, idol worshipping Gentiles being saved during the Acts period. During the Acts period Paul wrote Galatians, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, 1st and 2nd Corinthians and Romans.

In 1st Thessalonians chapter 1 it says,

“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;”

Obviously there were some idol worshipping Gentiles in the Thessalonian church. In 1st Corinthians 12 it says,

“2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.”

So we had idol worshipping Gentiles that are now members of the body of Christ also in the Corinthian church.

In Acts 17 it says,

“16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.”

Here Paul saw that the whole city was given to idolatry. After he went to the synagogue and disputed with the Jews, he went to Mars’ hill and preached to the idol worshipping Gentiles. Starting in verse 22 it says,

“22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

33 So Paul departed from among them.

34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.”

So what we have here is the apostle Paul going into Athens and preaching the gospel to idol worshipping Gentiles and some of them are getting saved.

In Acts 19 Paul was in Ephesus preaching the gospel. Starting in verse 23 it says,

“23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.”

Question: Why was Demetrius upset with Paul? Because Paul was leading these idol worshipping Gentiles to the Lord, putting a kink in Demetrius’ cash flow.

So here in Ephesus and as Demetrius said, “…but almost throughout all Asia…”, the apostle Paul is preaching to idol worshipping Gentiles and leading them to the Lord.

In Galatians 4 it says,

“8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.”

So we see here that the Galatian church also had members in it that at one time were idol worshipping Gentiles.

So what we can see here from the scripture is that Paul preached the gospel to idol worshipping Gentiles in which many got saved, in Thessalonica, Corinth, Athens, Ephesus and the area of Asia, and the area of Galatia. All this took place before Paul ever went to Rome in Acts 28.

It is very easy to see my error in my teaching. After going through these scriptures, I could no longer teach that salvation was not offered unto the non-God fearing idol worshipping Gentiles that did not bless Israel, during the Acts period.

I now teach that during the Acts period that salvation was offered unto the idol worshipping Gentiles.

Question: So if salvation was offered unto the idol worshipping Gentiles, what about the verses that Peter and Paul said about the Gentiles that feared God? Well let’s go over them. In Acts 13 it says,

“14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.”

26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.”

Question: Where was Paul? He was in the Jewish synagogue at Antioch. There were no idol worshipping Gentiles in the synagogue. Why would an idol worshipping Gentile go into a Jewish synagogue? Well, who was in there? Jews and Gentiles that feared God, and that is who Paul was addressing his message to.

When the Jews rejected the teaching of Paul, Paul then went to the Gentiles. Starting in verse 45 it says,

“45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”

Paul did as he was told, to go to the Jew first and then to the Gentile. Every city that Paul went into he went to the Jews first in their synagogue and then after that he went to the Gentiles. It didn’t matter if these Gentiles feared God and blessed Israel or if they were idol worshipping Gentiles as was in Athens in Acts 17.

In Acts 10 Peter received the vision of the great sheet. This next verse is very, very important why Peter said what he said. In verse 17 it says,

“17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,”

Question: After Peter received the vision of the great sheet, did he fully understand the meaning of it? NO. He doubted in himself what the vision should mean.

Right afterwards the Lord sent him to Cornelius’ house. Now Cornelius did fear God. As Peter goes into Cornelius house please remember that Peter still doesn’t fully understand the vision that God gave him, and once again starting in verse 34 he says,

“34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”

Now because the Lord sent him to someone that feared God, Peter is under the impression at this time that the salvation of God is now sent to those Gentiles that fear him and work righteousness. Peter does not know at this time that God has opened the door to all Gentiles.

As we get into Acts 15 where Peter and the apostles met with Paul, Peter states in verse 7,

“7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.”

So what we have here at this time is that Peter is under the impression that he was to go unto the Gentiles. Please remember that he still did not fully understand the vision that the Lord had given him. But when Paul discussed the matter with him and Paul showed him the difference between his gospel and Peter’s gospel and Peter saw it, then they agreed that Peter would not go unto the Gentiles but to the Jews only. In Galatians 2 it says,

“1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”

So what we have here is when Peter first got the vision of the great sheet he doubted in himself what the thing meant. He was under the impression that he was supposed to go unto the Gentiles and that it was the Gentiles that feared God and worked righteousness. But in Acts 15 after Peter discussed the issue with Paul, he realized that God did not send him to the Gentiles and he agreed with Paul not to go to the Gentiles anymore but rather to the Jews only. Peter also realized that it was not just God fearing Gentiles that were getting saved but also those idol worshipping Gentiles that did not fear God also.

In Romans 4 Paul said,

“5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

And in Romans 5 he says,

“6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

So Paul is teaching us here that God is also justifying the ungodly, not just those that fear God and work righteousness. All these things took place before Acts 28.

As I was learning and teaching this Acts 28 thing I also noticed that Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks did not line up with the teaching. God only gave 490 years that he had determined upon the nation of Israel, and in order to have God dealing with Israel as a nation I would have had to include Daniel’s prophecy into the book of Acts all the way until chapter 28 which is a period of approximately 35 years.

I quickly saw that there was no room for that. Christ died in the 483rd year of Daniel’s prophecy which only left 1 week or 7 years for the prophecy. In order for this to work out I would have had to manipulate the 70 weeks somehow to make it fit, but that would end up breaking scripture.

I have seen how others have tried to manipulate the seventy weeks but it clearly goes against scripture.

You just can’t do that.

This is another reason I had to quit teaching the issue. For more details on the seventy weeks and how some people manipulate it to try to make it fit, please read this article.

This article also explains when Israel was set aside, cut off, blinded, cast away, became Loammi or whatever other term you prefer to use.

Also in teaching this Acts 28 issue I found myself trying to make the scriptures say things that it did not say. For instance in Ephesians 2 it says,

“11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”

Now in verse 11 it is talking about circumcision and uncircumcision of the flesh. What I was trying to do was saying that instead of circumcision and uncircumcision it was talking about them that blessed Israel and those that didn’t bless Israel, which is nowhere even close to what the scripture actually says.

When Paul was in Rome awaiting his trial he wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

Ephesians and Colossians are very similar in their teachings. Paul sent these letters out at the same time by the same person, Tychicus. Paul is not going to contradict himself between these two letters. He is not going to tell the Ephesians one thing and tell the Colossians something opposite.

In Colossians 2 it says,

“13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”

Paul is telling the Colossians that there were two things that made them dead, their sins and the uncircumcision of their flesh. I have had people that teach this Acts 28 thing, tell me flat out that the uncircumcision of their flesh did not make them dead, but it was not blessing Israel that made them dead.

OK. So let’s read it again with this in mind,

“13 And you, being dead in your sins and not blessing Israel, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

What we have done is changed the word of God, and thus changed the meaning of the whole verse. It went from the uncircumcision of their flesh making them dead, to not blessing Israel making them dead.

You can’t do this.

If a teaching does not match the scripture, it is not the scripture that is the problem, it is the teaching that is the problem, the scriptures are just fine the way they are.

You do not adjust the scriptures to match the teaching, you adjust the teaching to match the scripture.

Either these people were dead in the uncircumcision of their flesh or they weren’t. If they were not dead in the uncircumcision of their flesh, then Paul should not have said this. If they were dead in the uncircumcision of their flesh, then Paul meant what he said and people that teach this verse need to believe it means what it says.

If the Colossians were dead in the uncircumcision of their flesh this means that the Ephesians were also. Let’s read Ephesians 2 once again,

“11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”

So what we have here is Paul telling the Ephesians that it was the uncircumcision of their flesh that made them dead. The uncircumcision of their flesh made them aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.

So what made this come about? It was the covenant of circumcision that the Lord gave to Abraham in Genesis 17. There are brethren that do not like the term, “covenant of circumcision” but this is exactly what Stephen calls it in Acts 7,

“8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.”

This covenant of circumcision was very powerful, and not only that, it is an everlasting covenant. For more info the covenant of circumcision please read this article.

Now let’s do a little comparison. In Acts 6 it says,

“1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.”

Now the person we need to pick out of this group is Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch. Do you think Nicolas feared God? Do you think Nicolas gave alms to the people? Do you think Nicolas blessed Israel? Of course he did. Now the thing about Nicolas was that he was a proselyte. Nicolas was circumcised.

Did Peter or any of the apostles have any problem with Nicolas being one of the seven? No, none whatsoever. They laid hands on him just like they did the others.

Now let’s compare him to Cornelius. In Acts 10 it says,

“1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway."

Did Cornelius fear God? Did Cornelius give alms to the people? Did Cornelius bless Israel? Yes, he did.

Question: But was Cornelius circumcised? No. He was an uncircumcised Gentile.

So in Acts 10 when the Lord sent Peter down to Cornelius’ house, Peter said,

"28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”

Peter fully realized that it was an unlawful thing for him to be there, but God showed him that he should not call any man common or unclean.

Question: Why would it have been an unlawful thing for Peter to be there? Didn’t Cornelius bless Israel?

The problem was not that Cornelius didn’t bless Israel, the problem was that Cornelius was an uncircumcised Gentile. This is why Cornelius was unclean. But when God opened the door unto the uncircumcised Gentiles he had to show Peter what he did, and he used Cornelius to do it.

If God would not have showed Peter what he did, Peter and Paul would have been at each others throats their entire ministries. God had to show Peter what he did so Peter would understand what God was doing.

God showed Peter that he opened the door unto the uncircumcised Gentiles and now the uncircumcised Gentiles could receive salvation.

After Peter left Cornelius’ house he went back up to Jerusalem and met with the apostles. In Acts 11 it says,

“1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.”

Now what was the problem here? Why would the apostles be upset about Peter going to a Gentile that blessed Israel?

That’s because that was not the problem, the problem was that Peter went to an uncircumcised Gentile’s house, which the apostles knew that it was an unlawful thing to do. And they hassled Peter about the situation.

But Peter explained the situation unto them and told them about the vision of the great sheet. As we continue in Acts 11 it says,

“16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”

When did the apostles learn that God was now offering salvation unto uncircumcised Gentiles? Right here in Acts Chapter 11.

Question: Did the apostles have any intentions before Acts 11 to go to the uncircumcised Gentiles? No. They knew it was an unlawful thing for them to do. This is why they hassled Peter about it.

If Peter would have never gotten the vision of the great sheet, the apostles never would have gone to the uncircumcised Gentiles. They had no intentions whatsoever to go unto the uncircumcised Gentiles.

The uncircumcised Gentiles were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

They were dead in their sins and the uncircumcision of their flesh, just as Paul told the Colossians.

In Acts 15 it says,

“1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Now why would these believing Jews teach such a thing? Where did they get this doctrine from? They got it from the law, and they got it from Genesis 17.

These Jews knew nothing about the dispensation of grace nor did they know anything about the one new man. They knew nothing of the mystery. All they knew was the old testament scriptures and the old testament scriptures dictated that an uncircumcised Gentile could not be partaker with the circumcision. This is very clear in the old testament scriptures. This is why it was an “unlawful” thing to go to a Gentile’s house and eat with them.

So we can clearly see that salvation was not offered unto the uncircumcised Gentiles in the beginning but God eventually opened the door unto the Gentiles. We see this in Acts 10.

It had nothing to do with them that blessed Israel, but rather whether they were uncircumcised or not, that was the issue.

In Romans 3 we read a while back,

“1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

So what we see here is that Paul is saying that the Jews had advantage, but let’s see when Paul is referring to when they had the advantage. In Romans 2 Paul said,

“6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”

So what we have here is Paul talking about time past. He is telling the Romans how God did things in time past under the law and how that their works were involved in their salvation.

But starting in Romans 3:21 he starts to talk about a different time period, it says,

“21 BUT NOW the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

So what we have here is Paul is talking about time past starting in Romans 2 and he continues this thought until he gets to Romans 3:21 and he says, “BUT NOW” referring to the dispensation of grace.

So when Paul says in Romans 3:1&2

“1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.”

…he is still telling us about how God did it in time past when the law was in effect, for he doesn’t change time periods until he gets to 3:21. Under the law the Jews had the advantage, but under grace they do not. In fact Paul said in Romans 3,

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

So Paul is not talking here about the Jews having advantage during the Acts epistles but rather they had the advantage when they were under the law. During Acts they had no advantage. See this chart for details.

But why did God send the message to the Jew first?

Somebody had to go first. The covenants, promises, the law, the adoption, and all these things were given to the nation of Israel. The Gentiles became partakers of the Jews spiritual things. It was right for God to tell them first, the Jews did not become partakers of the Gentiles things but vice versa.

Just because I hold the door open for my wife and allow her to go inside first when we go into a building does not mean that she has the advantage over me. It is just common courtesy.

Just because when I’m driving in traffic and I allow someone to pull out in the traffic in front of me does not mean they have the advantage over me, once again it is just common courtesy.

Just because God told Paul to go to the Jew first does not mean that the Jew has an advantage over the Gentile. God still has a remnant that are being saved that were not broken off of the good olive tree. It is right and just for God to give the message to them first rather than the Gentiles that were grafted from the wild olive tree unto the good olive tree.

Once again Paul said,

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Under the law the Jew had advantage, but now they do not because there is no difference.

As you can clearly see, there are many reasons why I had to stop teaching this Acts 28 position thing.

1. Israel was cast away when Jesus Christ stood up in Acts 7 and judged Israel in unbelief and saved Paul. It did not continue to Acts 28.

2. Daniel’s prophecy did not continue through the book of Acts, but rather ended with the cutting off of Israel at the end of the 69th week and will not resume until the 70th week at the end of the dispensation of grace.

3. Salvation was offered unto the idol worshipping Gentiles at the same time the door was opened to all the uncircumcised Gentiles.

4. The advantage the Jews had ended when the one new man (the body of Christ) was given to join Jew and Gentile into one body.

5. The thing that separated the Jews and Gentiles was the covenant of circumcision, not the promise of Genesis 12:3.

These are the main things why I had to stop teaching this teaching, but there are several others.

So what I have done here is test my own teaching and I have found it breaking scriptures in many places, found myself saying things the scriptures did not say, and disregarding the scriptures in many places to try to make the teaching work.

My conclusion? I was teaching something wrong, so I had to stop.

Now what I am asking you to do is go back over all these scriptures and test the teaching for yourself and see if it matches the holy scriptures. I have shown you both sides of the coin from my perspective, but you need to make your own decision of whether this Acts 28 teaching is true or not.

Once again, I mean no harm to brother Bullinger. I just disagree with his teaching. And I mean no harm to those that agree with his teaching. I do not hold any hard feelings for those brethren that adhere to his teaching and hopefully those that adhere to his teaching have no hard feelings against me. We just disagree. I do not break fellowship over scriptural disagreements, never have, and Lord willing, never will.

I made a decision many years ago that I just cannot teach this any longer.

This is just one of the many issues that divide the body of Christ and keeps us from having the same mind and the same judgment. Lord willing, as we go into the future, more and more issues that divide us will be put on the table for all to see from different viewpoints and different perspectives, and hopefully we will become a little closer to our goal of having the same mind and the same judgment.

I would like to close with the following scripture out of Acts 17,

“11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”