The Acts of the Emmisaries of Yeshua: A look at the Actions and Examples of our Fathers

I really enjoyed reading this book recently and decided to talk about some of the impressions and insights I received. It is full of encouragement for us as we watch great men of faith speak out for G-d with boldness while facing persecution. It is powerful watching the gospel advance in Jerusalem and seeing them enjoy a time of peace and prosperity, and then to have intense persecution scatter many of them abroad for an unprecedented leap in ministry resulting in many myriads of Jews and Greeks, accepting the message about The Messiah. Starting immediately we see a theme that pervades all scripture: The origin and center of G-d’s blessing and work is Zion: “May Adonai bless you from Zion: Maker of Heaven and Earth.” Psalm 134:3. This book gives us a good account of what the Emissaries did, how they worshiped along with what they believed and taught, and what they did to ensure the strengthening and advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. We know this was written and planned by G-d to be an example, for Rabbi Saul says in Philippians 3:17: Brothers, join in imitating me, and pay attention to those who live according to the pattern we have set for you. So we know that the apostles lived their lives knowing it would be an example to all nations.

After Yeshua resurrected, he told the apostles to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the gift of the spirit (Acts 1:4). The Day that G-d decided to pour out the Holy Spirit for the advancement of the Gospel throughout the world was the Festival of Shavuot, 49 days after his death. This is the day that the Torah was given from Sinai to a representative portion of every nation from under Heaven (we see in exodus that a great mixed multitude went out with the Children of Israel from Egypt and were there at Sinai). In Deuteronomy 4: 5-8 we see that G-d’s Torah is a light to all the nations, they are prophesied to marvel at the wisdom, understanding and excellent judgments and ways of the Most High G-d. In fulfilling this holiday, G-d’s spirit worked mightily in Peter to bring thousands of Jews from all over the world to their Messiah. G-d worked this strategically, choosing once again to use a festival to bring peoples from all nations together in order to unravel his plan. Just as the Passover lamb and story of redemption from Egypt are perfect parallels to Yeshua’s sacrifice liberating us from “Spiritual Egypt”, so the revelation at Sinai shines anew at the beginning of the Messianic Era with many branches being grafted into the Kingdom and a heightened power for evangelism. Just as God spoke in Jeremiah 31:33: For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says Adonai: “I will put my Torah within them and write it on their hearts: I will be their G-d , and they will be my people.” In Israel, all nations are separated as holy, for it says “Here the days are coming,” says Adonai, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah”.

After the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we find a description of this emerging movement: “They continued faithfully in the teaching of the emissaries, in fellowship, in breaking bread and in the prayers.” (Acts 2:42). In almost all bibles the prayers is changed to prayers, but in every Greek manuscript the definite article the is there. The prayers refers to the morning (9), afternoon (3) and evening (6) prayers that we see the emissaries going to daily at the Temple, or when abroad with a group of believers.

Continuing faithfully and with singleness of purpose to meet in the Temple courts daily, and breading bread in their several homes, they shared their food with joy and simplicity of heart, praising G-d and having the respect of all the people. And day after day the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47

So the word of G-d continued to spread. The number of disciples in Yerushalayim increased rapidly, and a large crowd of Priests were becoming obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7).

These times of prayer are openings in the universe when we have an extra special connection with G-d. We can see this evidenced in the scriptures because there are many times (the devout G-d fearer Cornelius for example) when people will fall into a trance and see a vision during this time of prayer. Most of what the Disciples would have prayed is pure scripture (many psalms) and other ancient prayers, some being attributed to Moses, Samuel, Ezra and others, being woven together with many wonderful gems of scripture. Many of the prayers that The Master and his disciples prayed can be found in any Jewish Siddur (prayer book). These prayers are filled with G-d’s Grace and Power, and are designed to cleanse and purge us of evil. Throughout the Siddur we pray for return of the Messiah and Messianic Kingdom, much of it being focused on Him. During the reciting of the Bedtime Shema, we cry out 12 times in a row for Adonai’s Yeshua (salvation). How amazing are these prayers for us who have come to believe in the Messiah with the same name and message.

In at least 5 places in these opening chapters we see that the believers were greatly favored in the eyes of the people, so much so that the Sanhedrin’s hands were tied to harm them. Even their fiercest enemies still called them a sect, and still included them in their religion, as did Paul who submitted to their lashings, and in Acts 26:5 testifies to living as a Parush (Pharisee) his whole life. We can see that Paul and the Apostles are adamant that there is no difference between us. In fact throughout Acts we see Paul entering synagogues across the world, and already there are Greeks worshiping at the synagogues who fear G-d and are walking in his ways. Paul and the Apostles worked to form one body (Ephesians 2) out of the two groups. Peter says in Acts 15:9 That the Holy Spirit made no distinction between “us and them” but cleansed their hearts by trust. If there is no distinction between us and them, let us purpose to live lives like our Brother, Yeshua, following His example of good deeds and worship.

These Passages pertaining to the future Messianic kingdom do a lot to show G-d’s relationship with the nations, and the type of Law in the future.

1Observe justice, do what is right,

For my salvation is close to coming,

My righteousness to being revealed.

2 Happy is the person who does this,

Anyone who grasps it firmly,

Who keeps Shabbat and does not profane it,

And keeps himself from doing any evil.

3 A foreigner joining Ad-nai should not say,

“Ad-nai will separate me from his people”

likewise the eunuch should not say,

I am only a dried-up tree.

6 And the foreigners who join themselves to Ad-nai,

To serve him, to love the name of Ad-nai and to be his workers,

All who keep Shabbat and do not profane it,

And hold fast to my covenant,

7 I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar;

For my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

G-d’s heart is towards all of his people, and he would love for all of his children to desire to be close to him in Israel (at least in thought and prayer), as we will be during the millennium (the temple and sacrificial service being described in detail in the last several chapters of Ezekiel). G-d doesn’t want to make us accept any gift, but receive it with Joy. Whether it’s repentance, the blessing of The L-rd’s appointed times (moadim), the means of grace and house of protection which are G-d’s commandments, or the voice of wisdom coming from a brother, he doesn’t want us to do any of these things against our will, but they are tools he gives us to become uplifted and have a better working, intimate knowledge and relationship with G-d.

I have had some people show concern that by purposing to live in accordance with the Torah would be somehow opposed to G-d’s Grace, and put me at odds with the L-rd, but It didn’t seem to hamper Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, John the Immerser, Peter, Paul and Yeshua, in fact Yeshua’s perfect obedience to the Torah is what qualifies him to be Eternal Priest and King. Let’s see what the scriptures say about Grace, remembering that something that G-d says is always true, since he does not lie.

5 You are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, AD-NAI your G-d, am a jealous G-d, punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot. (Exodus 20)

Here we see that G-d’s Grace is given to us when we obey his commandments. Our G-d helps us when we obey him, and is quick to correct and forgive when we fall short.

5 Ad-nai descended in the cloud, stood with him there and pronounced the name of Ad-nai. 6 Ad-nai passed before him and proclaimed: "YUD-HEH-VAV-HEH!!! Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [Ad-nai] is G-d, merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in grace and truth; 7 showing grace to the thousandth generation, forgiving offenses, crimes and sins; yet not exonerating the guilty, but causing the negative effects of the parents' offenses to be experienced by their children and grandchildren, and even by the third and fourth generations." 8 At once Moshe bowed his head to the ground, prostrated himself 9 and said, "If I have now found favor in your view, Ad-nai, then please let Ad-nai go with us, even though they are a stiffnecked people; and pardon our offenses and our sin; and take us as your possession. (Exodus 34)

Here we see the merciful, longsuffering nature of G-d, who gives this description of himself as he is on the mountain, having just inscribed the second tablet of the Ten Words (or commandments) of the Torah. G-d gives help to all who call upon him with a sincere heart, and we see that he did so for those who lived before the coming of Messiah.

1 "When the time arrives that all these things have come upon you, both the blessing and the curse which I have presented to you; and you are there among the nations to which Ad-nai your God has driven you; then, at last, you will start thinking about what has happened to you; 2 and you will return to A d-nai your G-d and pay attention to what he has said, which will be exactly what I am ordering you to do today - you and your children, with all your heart and all your being. 3 At that point, A d-nai your G-d will reverse your exile and show you mercy; he will return and gather you from all the peoples to which Ad-nai your G-d scattered you. 4 If one of yours was scattered to the far end of the sky, Ad-nai your G-d will gather you even from there; he will go there and get you. 5 A d-nai your G-d will bring you back into the land your ancestors possessed, and you will possess it; he will make you prosper there, and you will become even more numerous than your ancestors. 6 Then Ad-nai your G-d will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your children, so that you will love Ad-nai your God with all your heart and all your being, and thus you will live. (Deuteronomy 30)

Here we see that in the Torah itself is a promise of grace and forgiveness when the people have gone astray, to return The L-rd and he will remember and bless us. In verse 5 we see that this grace found in the Torah is so powerful that it even elevates us to a higher status after we have fallen. We even see that New Covenant is mentioned in The Torah (verse 6)! Those living then, had the opportunity to turn their hearts to G-d and have a pure circumcised heart, just as Moses and other men of faith did. Basically, G-d doesn’t change. His grace, love, ways and being will always be the same, so let us seek the L-rd now and today while we are living. Let us take hold of the Grace and Mercy that are ours by faith and trust in the work of Messiah on our behalf.

More on Acts another time…

Part 1 of ?

Done for now! Like to hear any thoughts =)