The Mystery

The lesson on May 2, 2021 was part 13 of the "Acts - When and Why?" study.  Wayne opened up with a review of the previous lessons and what we have learned in studying the Acts and determining what epistles that were written by the Apostle Paul in performing his Acts ministry of going to the Jew first and then to the Gentiles.  This lesson eventually gets into looking at when Corinthians was written.  Prior to that, Wayne took time to show how he mentioned his trip to Ephesus in Acts 19 (second missionary journey) and there were many examples of powers that were manifested to confirm the message that Paul was carrying to Israel as Jesus Christ was the Messiah.  He then showed how when you cross the great divide of Acts 28, PAul reveals the Mystery in Ephesians and Colossians.  This was a fresh revelation not in the scriptures but hidden in God!  PAul had the challenge to speak to the group of believers that were in Acts and then explain that they now have a new hope, but it was not found in the Old Testament scriptures.  To help with this, God gave gifts after Acts 28 in the form of Apostles and Prophets to help "adjust" the believers into this new hope.  Even PAul said in his prayer in Ephesians 1:18 that "the eyes of their understanding being enlightened..." realizing that it would require a spiritual unveiling of this new truth so they would be able see the final body of truth that was revealed by Paul.  This Mystery completed the word of God (Colossians 1:25-26 KJV).  This lesson was a good review of the transition of hope found in Acts to the new hope revealed in Ephesians and Colossians. The scripture reading was Acts 18:1-11 KJV

The lesson on March 21, 2021 was part 9 of the "Acts - When and Why? study.  Today we started in Romans 15 to look at when it was written during the Acts.  In verse 19 Paul talks of mighty signs and wonders.  Either the signs and wonders we read about in Acts exist today or they don't.  There were some resurrections performed during the Acts!  When was the last time you witnessed a resurrection?  They do not exist today.  The only way for one to happen is for God to say "come forth".  God's Spirit worked wonders during that time.  Paul's mission to the Gentiles during the Acts was after his appeal to the Jew first and then also to the Greek for the purpose of provoking Israel to jealousy.  Paul talks of his journey to Spain after his trip to Jerusalem.  Romans was written by Paul before he made it to Rome. The context of what Paul wrote in Romans fits perfectly into Acts 19 and at the conclusion of Paul's third missionary journey. The Hope of Israel is manifest at this time and the grafting in of the Gentiles into the wild olive tree of Israel was to provoke them to fruitfulness.  We further looked at Galatians to see how it was written during Acts as well.  Wayne encoraged us to read the article he wrote on RightDivision entitled "Why does Acts 28(29) matter?"  The scripture reading was from Romans 15:18-28 KJV