Tongues in Scripture

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UnityThrough Acts 15

Once upon a time there was a crisis of unity in the Nazarene Israel movement.(A lot like we have today.)

The Messiah had come,and the Messiah had gone,and now it was up to the apostlesto spread the Good News,and to bring the people together as one.The story will climax in Acts 15,but to get the right sense of perspective,let us first begin in Acts, 2,Where the apostles firstspoke in tongues.Maasei (Acts) 2:1-31 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come (50 days), they were all with one accord in one place (Jerusalem). 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind (Spirit, Wind, Breath), and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.Maasei (Acts) 2:3-43 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Ruach HaQodesh (Holy Spirit/Wind/Breath) and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Maasei (Acts) 2:5-65 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

Maasei (Acts) 6:16 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Greeks (Hellenists), because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

Maasei (Acts) 6:22 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of Elohim and serve tables.

Maasei (Acts) 6:33 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Set-apart Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;Maasei (Acts) 6:44 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.The apostles worked at ministry full-time.They were a full-time clergy.(We will see this again in Acts 15.)Rules of hermeneutics:Who is speaking to whom?How does he define his words?What does he think he is saying?Pharisees = OrthodoxSadducees = KaraitesGreeks/Hellenized = Reform

(Greeks) 1 Maccabees 1:41-4341 Moreover King Antiochus wrote his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,42 And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.43 Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the Sabbath.Maasei Acts 10:1-21 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared Elohim with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to Elohim always.Maasei (Acts) 10:9-109 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Kepha (Peter) went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance.Maasei (Acts) 10:11-1211 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

Maasei (Acts) 10:13-1413 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Kepha; kill and eat!" 14 But Kepha said, Not so, Adon! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.

Maasei (Acts) 10:15-1615 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What Elohim has cleansed you must not call common." 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

What we call Torah Law is not the same as what Pharisaical Jews like Kepha were taught to call Torah Law.Nazarene Israel defines Torah Law as: Elohims words through Moshe, Yeshua, and/or the prophets The Rabbis (Orthodox and Messianic)define Torah Law as: Talmud (teachings of the rabbis).

We will see the Rabbinical/Talmudic typesreferred to as:The circumcision who believed, andThe Pharisees who believed.(They say salvation is bythe works of our hands,and that is what is atissue here.)

Maasei (Acts) 10:2828 Then he said to them, "You know how it is unlawful (in Talmud) for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But Elohim has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.(Unlawful in Torah?)

Where is it unlawful to keep company with, or to go with one of another nation?A) Laws of Moses?B) Torah Law of the Talmud?Where is it unlawful to keep company with, or to go with one of another nation?A) Laws of MosesB) Torah Law of the TalmudMaasei (Acts) 10:4444 While Kepha (Peter) was still speaking these words, the Set-apart Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. Maasei (Acts) 10:4545 And those of the circumcision who believed (believing Pharisees)were astonished, as many as came with Kepha, because the gift of the Set-apart Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. Maasei (Acts) 10:4646 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify Elohim. Then Kepha answered,

Maasei (Acts) 10:47(Looking to the 6 believing Pharisees)47 Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be immersed who have received the Set-apart Spirit just as we have?

The Renewed Covenant was not written in a vacuum.

The Giur Process,The Gentile Conversion Process.Called the Custom of Moses in Acts 15.The Jews have a process thatconverts to Judaism must go through,much like the US naturalization process.Their reasoning for this can be seen inpassages like Joshua 7:1,where the disobedience of one mancaused many Israelites to die.Yehoshua (Joshua) 7:11 But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the dedicated things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the dedicated things; so the anger of Yahweh burned against the children of Israel.Yehoshua (Joshua) 7:4-54 So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent.Rabbinical Giur () Process:1. First take classes for a year2. Then pass tests3. Then you have official approval tobecome physically circumcised4. Then you are an Israelite (as if the act of physical circumcision makes you an Israelite).(What about the Spirit?)Rabbinic thought:1. Teach the people what they need to know2. Then let them join the nation3. (Naturalization process)4. Then they wont bring sin on the nation.5. That makes great sense in the flesh,but what about in the Spirit?Ruth 1:1616 But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your Elohim, my Elohim.RuthIsraeli customsTurn her back at the border?

Maasei (Acts) 11:1-31 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of Elohim. 2 And when Kepha came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision (rabbinic Jews) contended with him, 3 saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them! (against Talmud.)

Maasei (Acts) 11:4-184 But Kepha (Peter) explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: 5 "I was in the city of Yaffo [Joppa] praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me.

Maasei (Acts) 10:6-76 When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Kepha; kill and eat.

Maasei (Acts) 11:8-98 But I said, 'Not so, Adon! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.' 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, 'What Elohim has cleansed you must not call common..

Maasei (Acts) 11:10-1110 Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.

Maasei (Acts) 11:1212 Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren (believing Pharisees) accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. Maasei (Acts) 11:15-1615 And as I began to speak, the Set-apart Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning (Acts 2). 16 Then I remembered the word of the Master, how He said, 'Yochanan (John) indeed immersed with water, but you shall be immersed with the Set-apart Spirit.' Maasei (Acts) 11:1717 If therefore Elohim gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Adon Yeshua Messiah, who was I, that I could withstand Elohim?

Maasei (Acts) 11:1818 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified Elohim, saying, Then Elohim has also granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life!(He granted the non-Hebrews repentance, and without the Giur Process)Maasei (Acts) 11:1919 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only (devout). Maasei (Acts) 11:20-2120 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists (Reform Jews), preaching the Master Yeshua. 21 And the hand of Yahweh was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Master. Maasei (Acts) 11:22, 2522 Then news of these things came to the ears of the ecclesia in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Shaul (Paul). Maasei (Acts) 13:11 Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, Shaul (Paul). Maasei (Acts) 13:2-32 As they ministered to Yahweh and fasted, the Set-apart Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Shaul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 15 is where it all starts to come together.Maasei (Acts) 15:1-51 And certain men [believing Pharisees] came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moshe, you cannot be saved.(They must follow the Giur Process)

Maasei (Acts) 15:32 Therefore, when Shaul and Bar Nabba had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Shaul and Bar Nabba and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.(They knew they had to confer) Maasei (Acts) 15:44 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the ecclesia and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that Elohim had done with them. (They came to confer.)Maasei (Acts) 15:55 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed (rabbinic Messianics) rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them [first], and [then] to command them to keep the Torah of Moshe.[Order of the rabbinic Giur Process.]According to the rabbis,in the Giur Process,1) First you learn,2) Then you are physically circumcised,3) Then you can keep the Torah(not before).Maasei (Acts) 15:66 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. Modern day equivalent:- Nazarene Israel- Messianic Israel- Talmudic/Rabbinic Organizations: (UCMJ, MJAA, UCMJS)Put us all in a room until we all understand and agree on what Yahweh wants.Maasei (Acts) 15:77 And when there had been much dispute, Kepha rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago Elohim chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Good News and believe. Maasei (Acts) 15:8-98 So Elohim, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Set apart Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.Kepha is pointing out thatElohim makes no distinctionbetween Jew and Gentile.Maasei (Acts) 15:10-1110 Now therefore, why do you test Elohim by putting a yoke [Talmudic Giur Process] on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the favor of the Adon Yeshua Messiah we shall be saved in the same manner as they." Maasei (Acts) 15:13-1413 And after they had become silent, Yaakov [James] answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me:14 Shimon has declared how Elohim at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. Maasei (Acts) 15:1919 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are (re)turning to Elohim,Maasei (Acts) 15:20 20 but that we write to them to abstain from a) things polluted by idols, b) from sexual immorality, c) from things strangled, d) and from blood. Maasei (Acts) 15:2121 For Moshe has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.

Acts 15 principles:1) No idolatry (including deity denial)2) No sexual immorality (wrongful divorce)3) No strangled (or unclean) meats4) Dont eat bloodThen can enter into fellowship.Not a stopping point!

Implied in the Context:A) There has to be leadership (Acts 6)B) The leadership must confer (Acts 15)C) If the leadership does not confer,there will not be unity.All of these principles are ignored today(and that is why we do not have unity).If you have questions, please visit the Nazarene Israel website, or you can email us,servants@nazareneisrael.org UnityThrough Acts 15