The Holy Ghost Said - Part 1099

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers -- and also those which had been brought up with Herod the te-trarch, and Saul. (Acts 13:1) As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them." And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent [them] away." (Acts 13:2-3) Indeed, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, they departed unto Seleucia,  Cyprus and Salamis where they preached the Word of God. (Acts 13:5)

When they reached Antioch in Pisidia, they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day and sat down. (Acts 13:14) After the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, "Men, brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on." (Acts 13:15)

Standing, Paul said:

"Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought He them out of it. And about the time of forty years suffered He their manners in the wilderness. And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, He divided their land to them by lot. And after that, He gave judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

And afterward, they desired a king, and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when He had removed him, He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also He gave testimony, and said, "I have found David of Jesse -- a man after Mine own heart" which shall fulfill all My will.

Of this man's seed, hath God according to promise raised unto Israel a Saviour - Jesus. When John had first preached before His coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel, and as John fulfilled his course, he said, "Whom think ye that I am? I am not [He]. But behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of feet I am not worthy to loose. Men, brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the Word of this salvation sent.

For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets; which are ready every sabbath day -- they have fulfilled [them] in condemning [Him]. And though they found no cause of death [in Him] yet desired they Pilate that He should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took [Him] down from the tree and laid [him] in a sepulchre. But God raised Him from the dead.

And there, He was seen many days of them which came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem who are His witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers -- God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children -- in that He hath raised up Jesus again." (Acts 13:16-33)

"He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. "Come, see the place where the Lord lay." (Matthew 28:6)
As it is also written in the second psalm, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee." (Acts 13:33; Psalm 2:7; Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 5:5)

And as concerning that He raised Him up from the dead, [now] no more to return to corruption, He said on this wise, "I will give you the sure mercies of David." Wherefore He saith also in another [psalm], "Thou shalt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption." (Psalms 89:28; Isaiah 55:3)

"For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption -- but He, whom God raised again saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men, brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.

Beware therefore, lest that come upon you -- which is spoken of in the prophets. "Behold, ye despisers and wonder and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." (Acts 13:41; Hab 1:5)

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those thins which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 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." (Acts 13:42-46; Romans 1:16; Exodus 32:10; Acts 18:6)

"For so hath the Lord commanded us, [saying], "I have set Thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that Thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth." (Acts 13:47; Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:6)

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord, and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the Word of the lord was published throughout all the region." (Acts 13:47-49)

But the Jews were not happy. Instead they stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. What did Paul and Barnabas do? They shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples? They were filled with joy and the Holy Ghost." (Acts 13:50-52)

A couple of points worth noting here.

First, the new testament confirms the old covenant. This is why scripture from the old covenant is cited, so that we will recognize the prophecy to be true. Note also that the scriptures in Acts are confirmed by other witnesses in the gospels written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Second, the word "Him" is an added word when Paul referred to Jesus being condemned, put to death and laid in a sepulchre. Luke specifically refers to Jesus in this state as an "it" which might be a more accurate observation.

Third, when He was raised from the dead, He was seen many days of them which came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem "who are His witnesses unto the people." (Acts 13:30) Earlier, in Acts 1:2, we are reminded that "until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen."

Fourth, the last to see Jesus was Paul. Quoting from I Corinthians 15:1-8: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received and wherein ye stand, by which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received , how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures ... and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according tot he scriptures. And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve, after that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that. He was seen of James; then of all the apostles, and last of all He was seen of me also, as one born out of due time." (I Corinthians 15:1-8) This confirms from scripture that individuals (including Joseph Smith from the mormon church) could not have possibly seen Jesus because the last to see Him was apostle Paul.

Fifth, the original Word of salvation was sent to the children of the stock of Abraham, "and whosoever among you feareth God -- to you is the Word of this salvation sent." (Acts 13:26) Who is the Word? "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... all things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made ... and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us ..." (John 1:1-18)

Sixth, "Of this man's seed hath God according to promise raised unto Israel a Saviour -- Jesus." (Acts 13:23) Peter had earlier stated: "Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us -- as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified His Son Jesus Christ -- whom ye delivered up and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let [Him] go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just;  and desired a murderer to be granted unto you -- and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses.  And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong ..." (Acts 3:12-16)

Seventh, the apostles were sent forth by the Holy Ghost. (Acts 13:4) "And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 13:52) Not the "Holy Spirit" as modern day religion wants us to believe, but the Holy Ghost. The same Holy Ghost that impregnated Mary.

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost .... but while he [Joseph] thought on these things, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:18-21)

"And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD." (Isaiah 11:2)

The same gift of the Holy Ghost which believers in Jesus by faith receive when they repent, and are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38-42)

Jesus told His disciples,  "But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26)

Jesus said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of sin, because they believe not on Me. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see Me no more. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, [that] shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew [it] unto you." (John 16:7-15)

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

"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." (I Corinthians 2:13)

The first chapter of Ephesians elaborates further on this point.

There is much more to come on this topic. For now, continue searching the scripture for therein you will find our blessed Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. Stand in the offering plate.