In another place, Paul's accusers found him "to be a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: who also hath gone about to profane the temple, who we took and would have judged according to our Law, but the chief captain Lysias came up us and with great violence took him away out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself may take knowledge of all these things whereof we accuse him ... " (Acts 25:5-21)
"And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and came upon [him] and caught him and brought [him] to the council, and set up false witnesses, which said, "This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us ..." (Acts 6:9-14)
Note the Law [customs] referred to in these passages is the Mosaic Law, given to the children of Israel from the Lord. In the first scripture, Paul's accusers are saying that he is teaching against the Law. (Acts 21:27-28) In the second verse, Paul's accusers, having found him to be a pestilent fellow and mover of sedition among the Jews throughout the world desired to judge Paul according to their Law -- the 613 commandments (including the ten commandments) written on tablets of stone that the Lord gave to Moses.
In the third scriptural example, the concern of those in the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen accused him of changing the customs which Moses delivered us.
However, do you remember what Moses said?
Moses said, "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken ..." (Deuteronomy 18:15; Matthew 21:11; Luke 1:76; Luke 2:25-34; Luke 7:16; Luke 24:19; John 1:45; Acts 3:22)
This statement by Moses is further clarified by Stephen in his testimony just prior to being stoned to death -- that Moses said unto the children of Israel -- "A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me -- HIM SHALL YE HEAR." (Acts 7:37)
Who is this prophet? The same prophet (let those with ears to hear, hear!) that John the baptizer pointed to always in his message to the people -- that is, the ONE who would come after him. John continually said, "Hear ye Him!"
Hear ye JESUS -- for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)
But John the baptizer and Moses were not the only ones pointing to Jesus as the promised Lamb of God. We see this same message all the way through scripture -- "Lo, behold, the volume of the book is written of Me!"
Therefore, the multitude, upon seeing and hearing and marveling at Jesus' doctrine, when all the city was moved saying, "who is this?" the multitude told them, "This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." (Matthew 21:11)
"And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him, and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ." (Luke 2:25) And when he did see Jesus, Simeon declared, "Lord, now let Thou thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of Thy people Israel." (Luke 2:25-32)
Similarly, "And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, "That a great prophet is risen among us, and that God hath visited His people!" (Luke 7:16)
Also, after Jesus death and resurrection, when Jesus drew near to Cleopas, and another as they communed together and reasoned in their journey, He asked them, "What things?" And these said unto Him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people ... we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel ..." (Luke 24:19-21)
When asked, John the baptizer confirmed to those who asked that he was not that prophet which was to come -- of which John admitted not being even worthy to latch His shoes. (John 1:21-25) The woman at the well too, after meeting Jesus perceived Jesus to be a prophet. (John 4:19) And when the Pharisees who claimed that this man Jesus is not of God, and asked the blind man "What sayest thou of Him, that He opened thine eyes?" the man indeed replied, "He is a prophet." (John 9:17)
But as we now know because that which is perfect has come and dwells within, Jesus was much more than a prophet! He was the great I AM, the Lord of hosts manifest in the flesh. "After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7; I Timothy 3:16; Colossians 2:9; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8, 11) But I digress.
Toward the end of Acts, apostle Paul calls the elders of the church and his message to us likewise. And when these elders were come to him, said to them, "Ye know, from the first day that I come into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews, and how I kept back nothing that was profitable [unto you], but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesses in every city, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God shall see my face no more. wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all [men]. for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God -- which He hath purchased with His own blood ..." (Acts 20:17-28)
Yes, indeed, "which He hath purchased with His own blood!" He paid the ultimate price for our salvation, becoming the perfect sacrifice on the cross -- the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15-18)
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 10:28)
Why not the law too?
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect, for then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is NOT POSSIBLE that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins .... Then said He, "Lo, I come to do Thy will O God. He takes away the first that He may establish the second, by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:1-10)
JESUS -- the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. And now He THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST (as He gave commandments to the apostles) is now writing His laws in our hearts. Praise His precious holy Name for evermore! Stand in the offering plate.
"And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him, and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ." (Luke 2:25) And when he did see Jesus, Simeon declared, "Lord, now let Thou thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of Thy people Israel." (Luke 2:25-32)
Similarly, "And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, "That a great prophet is risen among us, and that God hath visited His people!" (Luke 7:16)
Also, after Jesus death and resurrection, when Jesus drew near to Cleopas, and another as they communed together and reasoned in their journey, He asked them, "What things?" And these said unto Him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people ... we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel ..." (Luke 24:19-21)
When asked, John the baptizer confirmed to those who asked that he was not that prophet which was to come -- of which John admitted not being even worthy to latch His shoes. (John 1:21-25) The woman at the well too, after meeting Jesus perceived Jesus to be a prophet. (John 4:19) And when the Pharisees who claimed that this man Jesus is not of God, and asked the blind man "What sayest thou of Him, that He opened thine eyes?" the man indeed replied, "He is a prophet." (John 9:17)
But as we now know because that which is perfect has come and dwells within, Jesus was much more than a prophet! He was the great I AM, the Lord of hosts manifest in the flesh. "After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7; I Timothy 3:16; Colossians 2:9; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8, 11) But I digress.
Toward the end of Acts, apostle Paul calls the elders of the church and his message to us likewise. And when these elders were come to him, said to them, "Ye know, from the first day that I come into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews, and how I kept back nothing that was profitable [unto you], but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesses in every city, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God shall see my face no more. wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all [men]. for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God -- which He hath purchased with His own blood ..." (Acts 20:17-28)
Yes, indeed, "which He hath purchased with His own blood!" He paid the ultimate price for our salvation, becoming the perfect sacrifice on the cross -- the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15-18)
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 10:28)
Why not the law too?
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect, for then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is NOT POSSIBLE that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins .... Then said He, "Lo, I come to do Thy will O God. He takes away the first that He may establish the second, by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:1-10)
JESUS -- the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. And now He THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST (as He gave commandments to the apostles) is now writing His laws in our hearts. Praise His precious holy Name for evermore! Stand in the offering plate.
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