I. Ordering Paul's Epistles 1 - Hope of the Glory

2. The commission of the twelve began in Jerusalem and was to eventually branch to the
world after Judea and Samaria – Acts 1:8
3. Remember, Paul carried on a ministry during Acts that is quite distinct from the special
commission, message and training that he is discussing here
a) During Acts, he kept kosher in Jerusalem – Rom 14:5-8
(1) He forbad this in Antioch – Gal 2:11-
(2) He totally abandons this in Phil 3
b) During Acts, he went to the Jew first – Acts 13:13-15
c) He even offered a sacrifice – Acts 21:17-
(1) Paul comes to Jerusalem – At 21:17-19
(2) The concern of the Jews – Acts 21:20-25
(3) Offering – animal sacrifice – Acts 21:26
(a) Was the charge of Acts 21:20-21
(i) Probably for he as much as said so to Peter in Gal 2:11-
(ii) Stam seems to ignore that the Jews among the Gentiles
were now in the body of Christ where there is neither Jew nor
Gentile 45
(b) Not a sin since Paul had two commissions from Acts 9-28
(i) The Jerusalem council in Acts 15 clearly had a difference
between the Jewish churches headquartered in Jerusalem and
the Gentile congregations.
(ii) The hint that the nature of the congregation is what
mattered, look at Gal 2:11-14-
(iii) By the way, ‘theirs and ours’ in 1Cor 1:2 (apparently started
from the synagogue next door – Acts 18:7-8)
(iv) Timothy (mother Jewish, father Greek) was circumcised in
preparation for going to Jewish folks – At 16:1-4
(c) Stam argues that it was a sin based on the fact that ultimately we
are saved by the blood of Christ not some ritual given by Moses
(i) But, the saved Jews will again keep kosher in the tribulation
and will even have sacrifices in the Millenium – Ezek 44
(ii) We need to remind ourselves that the law never saved but
illustrated the ‘lamb of God’ who takes away the sin of the world
– John 1:29
(iii) Indeed, the Lord’s Supper, which is for today, is a memorial
of the blood of Christ – 1 Cor 11:23-26
(iv) This is until he comes. But, in the millennium, there are
sacrifices but Christ is ruling!
(4) Paul arrested – Acts 21:27-
C. He did not consult with those who were apostles before – 1:17
1. Paul goes out of his way to establish his independence from the twelve
2. His disconnect from the twelve is obvious.
D. He went to Arabia immediately to learn directly from the Lord – 1:17
1. He had learned from Gameliel – Acts 22:3
2. Paul is talking here of being immediately taught and trained by the Lord in this new
dispensation
3. MacArthur’s Bible 46 says that this was east of Damascus and stretched down to Sinai
a) This no doubt includes his preaching in Acts 9:20-22
4. After three years – approximate time of his first visit to Jerusalem
a) This is the many days of Acts 9:23
(1) This was a period of three years in which he ministered in Nabtean Arabia,
an area around Damascus (see MacArthur’s Bible)
(2) The Bible doesn’t tell so much of his ministering but Paul clearly asserts that
his learning was independent from the twelve – Gal 1:17
45 Stam, Acts Dispensationally Considered, Volume 4, pp 14-
46 John MacArthur, Op. Cit.
Galatians Page 38 November 22, 2008 10:05