26
votes
Accepted
Which tribe did Paul belong to?
The term "Jew" is an Anglicization of "Judean" which comes from the Greek Ἰουδαῖος (Ioudaios). Technically, it can simply be a regional distinction, that is someone who is from Judea. But it can of ...
- 2,084
12
votes
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Who first described Pentecost as a reversal of Babel?
Two fourth-century fathers clearly make this connection. First, Cyril of Jerusalem:
The multitude of the hearers was confounded;—it was a second confusion, in the room of that first evil one at ...
- 41.6k
11
votes
Which tribe did Paul belong to?
By the time of the New Testament "Jew" and "Israelite" had effectively become synonyms. This is because the large majority of people who returned from the Exile were from the former Kingdom of Judah. ...
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11
votes
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What are the arguments that Acts was written prior to 70 AD?
J. A. T. Robinson, in Redating the New Testament (1976), lays out a thorough case for a pre-70 date for the publication of Acts. His main points are also maintained by other conservative scholars, ...
- 41.6k
11
votes
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What is a Sabbath day's walk?
The exact value of a "Sabbath day's walk" is 2,000 cubits, which works out to about 5/8 of a mile, or one kilometer. Commentator Craig S. Keener explains the logic and biblical basis:
The figures ...
- 41.6k
10
votes
Accepted
Is Asia in the Bible the Asia of today?
You are correct. Asia as referred to in the bible was a province in the Roman Empire. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_(Roman_province)
For further information, refer to the etymology section of the ...
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10
votes
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What is the basis for arguing that Paul should have been selected as the 12th apostle instead of Matthias?
Two prominent advocates of this view are Rudolf Stier (1800–62) and Lloyd John Ogilvie (1930–). They argue both that the apostles erred, and that ultimately the evidence points to Paul being the true ...
- 41.6k
8
votes
A promise in Acts 16:31?
It is clear that the verse cited, Acts 16:31, is a promise. The question is, to whom does the promise apply? Taken in context, it is a promise to a particular individual in a specific instance. This ...
- 5,607
7
votes
Interpreting Acts 2:38 together with John 1:12
Peter does not say "and if you don't get baptized you won't be saved".
Almost all Christian denominations take the view that baptism is the normal thing to do, and that Christians should do it. That ...
- 29.9k
7
votes
Accepted
Do any Christian groups sell all their possessions as it seems the Early Church did?
I don't know if there are any denominational-scale organizations that practice this, but there are certainly churches and other Christian organizations that practice this.
The Bruderhof may be a good ...
- 22k
7
votes
Was the cave of Abraham in Shechem or Hebron?
The account in Genesis seems pretty clear that the cave of Abraham is in Hebron. Modern commentators seem to agree that Stephen was "telescoping" multiple Genesis accounts of patriarchal burials into ...
- 14.9k
7
votes
How is Acts 7:48 reconciled with omnipresence doctrines?
'Dwelling' does not simply mean to 'be present'. It means to reside or inhabit. If you go into a shop, you are not 'dwelling' in the shop, but you are present there. If you say "I do not dwell in the ...
- 29.9k
7
votes
Why did Jesus use a Greek proverb when He spoke Aramaic to Saul in Acts 26:14?
Acts 25:14, "it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks," is a direct quotation from a play by Euripides (d. 406 BCE), the Bacchae, with Jesus speaking instead of the Greek god Dionysus. Euripides ...
- 14.3k
7
votes
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Why did Paul Thank God he didn't baptize some individuals?
The First Epistle to the Corinthians opens with an expanded address (1 Corinthians 1:1-7), identifying its writer as the apostle Paul who, with Sosthenes, was writing to the church community in ...
- 14.3k
7
votes
Were the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts written by the same person?
The fact that both Books were written by the same individual known as Luke is extracted from the first few verses of both Books.
Luke 1:1 through4 KJV Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set ...
- 13.2k
7
votes
Why does St. Peter use the phraseology "killed by hanging on a tree" while referring to the crucifixion of Jesus?
The phrase "hanging him on a tree (wood)" (κρεμάμενος επί ξύλου, suspendentes in ligno) occurs in Acts 5:30 and 10:39 (cf. Galatians 3:13).
Callan, O.P., Acts of the Apostles p. 41 says on ...
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6
votes
Interpreting Acts 2:38 together with John 1:12
The verse in Greek appears as follows:
Acts 2:38 (GNT)
38 Πέτρος δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς μετανοήσατε φησίν καὶ βαπτισθήτω ἕκαστος ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ὑμῶν καὶ ...
- 81
6
votes
Accepted
Who was the Egyptian that led the revolt of the Assassins in Acts 21?
Here is a summary of what I found on this subject :
The Greek word for “dagger men”, used in the the quoted verse, is derived from the Latin sicarii, which means “users of the sica,” or dagger. First-...
- 604
6
votes
Accepted
Why did the Apostles not go with the rest of the believers outside of Jerusalem?
John Calvin starts by reminding us that Jesus commanded them to begin at Jerusalem (Acts 1:4,8), and says that it makes sense that they would stay there until "being brought into some other place by ...
- 14.9k
6
votes
Is Luke's label for Christianity - "the Way" - used in later Christian writings?
I looked into Lampe (ed.)"A Patristic Greek Lexicon", Oxford University Press, 1961.
It makes four mentions for the use of hodos in this sense:
Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History, Book 5, ...
- 89
6
votes
Why were the apostles still going to the temple for prayer and rituals?
There are a few things to consider. First of all, the Jewish Ceremonial and Civil Laws have no bearing on US today. For example, i live in the U.S. and am a gentile christian.
Therefore the laws of ...
- 1,476
6
votes
Accepted
Was Barnabas' land ownership as a Levite against Mosaic Law?
I am not sure you are interpreting the law about Levites owning land correctly.
Joshua 10 describes the division of the land between the tribes, but does not assign it to individuals. Verse 14 gives ...
- 3,548
6
votes
Were the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts written by the same person?
There are a few reasons why people argue both of those books are written by Luke.
The Introductions
Both the book of Luke and the book of Acts reference a reader named "Theophilus" in their opening ...
- 246
6
votes
Didn't Jesus return to Earth after the resurrection when he appeared to Paul?
I think you might be overthinking this. Going by NKJV, Acts 9:1-9, Christ did not necessarily "appear" physically. Verses 3-4 only indicate that Paul heard a voice and saw a light, and that light ...
- 161
6
votes
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Do Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit still speaks specific messages or instructions to Christians today?
This is from an article in Tabletalk magazine, which is produced by Ligonier Ministries. It is written by Robert Rothwell and supposses to be the voice of Reformed Christianity on the topic of ...
- 10k
6
votes
How do Trinitarians interpret Acts 2:22 in terms of St. Peter's beliefs?
And how exactly would you rather have him start ?
(Acts 2:22) Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a GOD certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did ...
5
votes
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Are there any major Protestant denominations that meet every day and are together all the time like the early church was?
The two passages you cite from Acts involve may involve very different models of Christian life. The former describes how some Christians lived, the latter describes what some Christians did.
The ...
- 5,607
5
votes
Interpreting Acts 2:38 together with John 1:12
Baptismal regeneration (BR) has been a "hot topic" among Christian denominations for hundreds of years. The following quotation, taken from gotquestions.org, provides a good summary of what ...
- 8,998
5
votes
Why did Ananias die?
Perhaps the first failure in the churches was that of hypocrisy (Acts 5:1-11). Hypocrisy is a matter of pretending to be somebody in order to get a name that they may have vainglory. It could be ...
- 813
5
votes
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Acts 6:8 - Stephen is described as "full of grace" (πλήρης χάριτος)
In case of Mary, the angel refers to her, as you have said, as one who has been filled with grace, and the church teaches that she received a special grace at her conception which allowed her to be ...
- 458
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