Acts 15:14

After talking with Emily, going through the lesson for Session One, Day Five, and then reading through the previous blog post, I am just going to throw a few things out and attempt to decipher whether or not I'm on board with Beth Moore on this particular area.  I will mostly be referencing the study notes in my Bible, which is the 2008 Updated NIV Study Bible, but I will also be cross-referencing other commentaries and Bible translations as well.  I really hope this does not come across as anything more than me trying to figure out what the Bible is saying, not just what Beth Moore thinks the Bible is saying, and making it fit into her lesson.

Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself.

Acts 15:14 - NIV

Simon Peter has explained to us how God first showed his concern for those who aren't Jews. He chose some of them to be his very own people. 

Acts 15:14 - NIRV (New International Readers Version)

Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.

Acts 15:14 NKJV (New King James Version)

James broke the silence. "Friends, listen. Simeon has told us the story of how God at the very outset made sure that racial outsiders were included. This is in perfect agreement with the words of the prophets:

   After this, I'm coming back;
      I'll rebuild David's ruined house;
   I'll put all the pieces together again;
      I'll make it look like new
   So outsiders who seek will find,
      so they'll have a place to come to,
   All the pagan peoples
      included in what I'm doing.
"God said it and now he's doing it. It's no afterthought; he's always known he would do this. 

Acts 15:13-18 The Message

It's curious, because some translations seem to line right up with what Beth Moore is saying, but listen to what my commentary said:

NOTE: a people for himself: A new community largely made up of Gentiles, but including Jews as well. (see John 10:16 and note; cf (cross-reference 1 Peter 2:9-10) - NIV Study Bible

So I did.

I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.  I must bring them also.  They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 

John 10:16

NOTE: other sheep: These already belonged to Christ, though they had not yet been brought to him.

not of this sheep pen: Those outside Judaism.  Here is a glimpse of the future worldwide scope of the church.

one flock: All God's people have the same Shepherd - NIV Study Bible

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:9-10

NOTE: chosen people: As Israel was called God's chosen people in the OT, so in the NT believers are designated as chosen, or elect.

people belonging to God: See Ex. 19:5 and note.  Though once not the people of God, they are now the recipients of God's mercy (cf. Hos. 1:6-10 and note on 1:10; Rom. 9:25-26 and note; 10:19).

In Hosea it is Israel who is not God's people; in Romans it is the Gentiles to whom Paul applies Hosea's words; in 1 Peter the words are applied to both. - NIV Study Bible

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.  Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Exodus 19:5-6

NOTE: out of all nations...my treasured possession: The equivalent phrases used of Christians in 1 Pet. 2:9 are "chosen people" and "people belonging to God". (see Dt. 7:6)

the whole earth is mine: The God of Israel is the Creator and Possessor of the earth and everything in it - NIV Study Bible

LISA: Of course God is the Creator and the Possessor!  Every single living thing on this earth belongs to God.

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.  The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 7:6

Yet the Isrealites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted.  In the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people; they will be called 'sons of the living God'.

Hosea 1:10

NOTE: Cited in Romans 9:26; 1 Peter 2:10 and applied to the mission to the Gentiles.  The threatened punishment (vv. 4 - 6, 9) would be for only a limited time, an a period of blessing would follow. - NIV Study Bible

As he says in Hosea:

"I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,"

and,

"It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people; they will be called 'sons of the living God.'"

Romans 9:25-26

NOTE: In the original context these passages from Hosea refer to the spiritual restoration of Israel.  And Paul finds in them the principle that God is a saving, forgiving, restoring God, who delights to take those who are "not my people" and make them "my people."  Paul then applies this principle to Gentiles, whom God makes his people by sovereignly grafting them into covenant relationship with him. - NIV Study Bible

Again I ask: Did Israel not understand?  First, Moses says:

"I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding."

Romans 10:19

NOTE: Did Israel not understand?: The quotation that follows answers this question suggesting that the Gentiles, whom the Jews considered to be spiritually unenlightened, understood.  Surely if they understood the message, the Jews could have. - NIV Study Bible

Okay, enough dancing around the Scriptures.  The Full Life Study Bible, NIV says this about Acts 15:14:

NOTE: God's program for this age is to take from among all the nations a people, separated to him for his name.  This body of Christ, gathered out of the present world system, prepares herself as the bride of Christ.

The final commentary that I will post, before ending this ridiculously long post, that has probably done absolutely nothing comes from Matthew Henry.

NOTE: He {James} refers to what Peter had said concerning the conversion of the Gentiles (v. 14): "Simeon" (that is, Simon Peter) "hath declared, and opened the matter to you—how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, in Cornelius and his friends, who were the first-fruits of the Gentiles-how, when the gospel began first to spread, presently the Gentiles were invited to come and take the benefit of it;" and James observes here, (1.) That the grace of God was the origin of it; it was God that visited the Gentiles; and it was a kind visit. Had they been left to themselves, they would never have visited him, but the acquaintance began on his part; he not only visited and redeemed his people, but visited and redeemed those that were lo ammi—not a people. (2.) that the glory of God was the end of it: it was to take out of them a people for his name, who should glorify him, and in whom he would be glorified. As of old he took the Jews, so now the Gentiles, to be to him for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory, Jer. 13:11. Let all the people of God remember that therefore they are thus dignified in God, that God may be glorified in them.

LISA: I can totally see where Beth was coming from, saying that the Jews came from the Gentiles, and I guess I might agree with her now.  God created the entire earth and all that inhabits it, and I believe that He knew the beginning and the end.  He knew that man would fall and that Jesus would need to be sacrificed in order to save His people.  He knew that He would allow both Jews and Gentiles to kneel before Him and become His People.  So I guess, in a way, it makes sense what Beth is saying, that God called out of the entire world, the Gentiles, a Chosen People (the Jews), and then out of both Jews and Gentiles, calls out the REDEEMED!

Sorry about the long diatribe!  I knew I would get to the point sooner or later....