Dd-59. What Does ACTS 28:17 TRULY MEAN? DOWNLOAD to SAVE as a PDF Doc to read OFFLINE. Dd-59. WHAT DOES ACTS 28:17 TRULY MEAN? Let us begin this study in God’s word by reading Acts 28:17 out of its context first because that is how some Christians “INTERPRET” this verse so that their own personal interpretation agrees with what they believe and teach. I will emphasize the phrase that some Christians focus all their attention on to try and prove what they teach is Biblical, but in truth, their “interpretation” of the verses they use are in error because they CONTRADICT many other verses of Scripture. And I will show you how and why their interpretations contradict the Scriptures so that you can draw your own conclusions having ALL the evidence from God’s word as opposed to only ONE side of the controversy. Acts 28:17. “And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.” Then they argue that this verse proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that Paul never once taught against the keeping of the Law of Moses because he says right here in Acts 28:17. “I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers.” So then, does Acts 28:17 prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that Paul never once taught against any of the Law of Moses as being BINDING on Christians. In other words, their interpretation of this verse of Scripture is that Paul teaches Christians to KEEP the Law of Moses as being mandatory lest a Christian sins or at the very least it displeases God if they do NOT keep all of the Law of Moses as they “INTERPRET” this verse of Scripture to mean to THEM. So let us COMPARE Scripture with Scripture to see if their “interpretation” agrees or disagrees with the rest of God’s word concerning what Paul TEACHES. But first, let me say that in order to arrive at the correct interpretation of any verse of Scripture then we must keep it in its CONTEXT. Let me explain what I mean by using a verse of Scripture taken OUT of its CONTEXT which every Christian will agree that it is not saying what it SEEMS to be saying when it is read out of its context and apart from the rest of God’s word. Please read John 10:20.
“And many of them said, He has a devil, and is mad; why hear you him?”
The context is speaking of Jesus having a devil, so why listen to anything Jesus says? That is what THIS ONE verse of Scripture is saying. So then, is it sound Biblical teaching to say that Jesus has a devil, so do not listen to Jesus? NO! Absolutely NOT! But how can we know for sure that this one verse is NOT what the Bible ITSELF teaches us? We have to COMPARE Scripture with Scripture and read this verse left IN its CONTEXT. As I have said many times, there are some verses of Scripture that when we read them alone and apart from the rest of God’s word being OUT of their CONTEXT, then some of those verses of Scripture may SEEM to be saying something that they are NOT truly saying in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. And Acts 28:17 is one of those verses of Scripture that can be “INTERPRETED” to mean something that it is not TRULY saying in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. So let us TRULY consider the whole verse itself first and then we will closely examine the context before we begin comparing Scripture with Scripture. This time I will emphasize other parts of the verse in question, Acts 28:17.
Acts 28:17.
“And it came to pass, that after three days Paul CALLED the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.”
So what is going on here? The context teaches us that the chief of the Jews had Paul arrested on charges, according to the Jews, warranted the Romans to execute or put Paul to DEATH and Paul is defending himself saying that he has COMMITTED nothing against the people or the customs of the fathers. And Paul goes on to say that the Romans find nothing against him that warrants him to be put to DEATH and that they would have let him go free.
Please read Acts 28:18.
“Who, when they (Speaking of the Romans) had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of DEATH in me.”
So why is Paul still in bounds and not released by the Romans? Let us read some more context and I will add emphasis and give my comments in parentheses.
Please read Acts 28:19-31.
“But when the Jews spoke against it, (Or when some of the Jews spoke against Paul being set free) I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; (In other words, because the Jews refused to drop their charges against Paul, then he had no choice but to make an appeal to Caesar) not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. (Or my appeal to Caesar was NOT based on making any accusations against my nation of birth, Israel. But rather, Paul was constrained to ask for mercy from Caesar because Paul did NOTHING wrong against his nation of Israel or the customs of the father) 20. For this cause, therefore, have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because it is for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. (So here we see that some of the Jews were the CAUSE of Paul being arrested and handed over to the Roman authority to be put to DEATH. But those Jews would not drop their charges against Paul so Paul called them so he could speak to his accusers face to face. Paul is saying that he is bound in chains for the SAKE OF Israel. In other words, Paul is saying to the Jews that they had him arrested for preaching the truth to Israel. Now, simply ask yourself the question, “Is it AGAINST the people of Israel or their customs to preach the TRUTH to the children of Israel?” NO! Of course not. But rather, it would be against the people and the customs of the fathers IF Paul WITHHELD the TRUTH from them to avoid being persecuted) 21. And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning you, nor any of the brethren that came showed or spoke any harm to you. 22. But we desire to hear from you what you think: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. (The sect that is spoken against is Christianity, and more particularly, the Jewish Christians that were not keeping the Law of Moses by the OLDNESS of the LETTER or the law. But rather, the sect of true Christianity was keeping the TRUE meaning of the SPIRIT of the Law of Moses which is what the Bible ITSELF clearly teaches us in SIMPLICITY in Romans 7:1-6. And that is why the Jews everywhere spoke AGAINST the believers in Jesus as their Messiah. This is yet another little glimpse of the TRUE SOUND Biblical meaning of Acts 28:17. You will see why I say this as you continue reading the whole study) 23. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the Law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24. And some BELIEVED the things which were spoken, (Now think about this closely. Seeing that SOME of the Jews BELIEVED the teaching of Paul teaching them the true gospel of Jesus Christ just as Paul had always done from the time of his conversion to Christianity, then that is WHY Paul said, I have committed nothing AGAINST the people or the customs of the fathers) and some believed NOT. 25. And when they agreed NOT among themselves, (Or when those who believed NOT the TRUTH of the gospel of Jesus Christ debating among themselves, then) they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spoke the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, 26. Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and not perceive: 27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be CONVERTED, and I should heal them. (Here is yet another little glimpse to the true sound Biblical meaning of Acts 28:17. Converted to what? Converted to the SECT that was spoken against by the unbelieving Jews, perhaps some of the same Jews that falsely accused Jesus of having a devil. Jesus spoke the TRUTH to the Jews that he would lay down his life and be resurrected and they accused him of having a devil. Jesus only spoke the words of Almighty God that the Father put into his mouth to speak. So Jesus could have said, I have committed nothing against the children of Israel or the customs of the fathers, YET you accuse me of having a devil) 28. Be it known, therefore, unto you that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. (Now, the very reason that Paul was arrested in the first place is that he was accused by the unbelieving Jews who were against the sect called the WAY, later called Christians at Antioch. So it is blatantly obvious that Paul was NOT teaching what the Jews teach in the Jewish religion, otherwise, they would have ALL believed what Paul teaches) 29. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. 30. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, (In other words, Paul stopped going into the synagogues to preach the gospel to the Jews and he taught the gospel from his own hired house. We would say that Paul rented a building to live in and to preach the gospel to all and whosoever came to him. This may have been the first church “building” so to speak, where the converts go out and bring people into the church building and the pastor does the preaching) 31. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”
So obviously, the Jews dropped the charges against Paul and he preached Jesus having no man forbidding him. So then, WHAT were the CHARGES brought against Paul that the Jews thought would warrant the execution of Paul? We will have to go back and read the CONTEXT in Acts chapter 26. All of Acts chapter 27 and the first part of Acts chapter 28 are about the shipwreck on the way to appeal to Caesar. And in the context in Acts 28:17-31 we only see “glimpses” that I highlighted in blue as to WHY Paul was handed over to the Romans to be executed. Those little glimpses highlighted in blue are the HOPE of ISRAEL that Paul preaches. Now let us read the broader context which will prove to all who have eyes to see and ears to hear that Acts 28:17 does NOT mean that Paul teaches us to keep the Law of Moses under the Old Covenant written in the Old Testament. Paul was simply preaching the TRUTH which is NOT AGAINST the children of Israel or the customs of the fathers, but rather, it is for their GOOD if they believe the TRUTH of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Please read Acts 26:1-32.
“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: 2. I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before you touching ALL the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: 3. Especially, because I know you to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech you to hear me patiently. (So listen very closely to ALL that Paul has to say. And then use your brain and THINK for yourself. IF Paul preached that Christians must keep the Law of Moses as the Jews, then WHY did the Jews have Paul arrested to be put to death? If Paul preached that Christians must be circumcised in the FLESH then why was Paul being PERSECUTED by the Jews? Listen to what Paul says) 4. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerusalem, knows all the Jews; (In other words, at the FIRST Paul lived AS a Jew according to the Law of Moses and he persecuted the SECT spoken of in Acts 28:22. But then Paul was CONVERTED to the SECT after seeing Jesus in a vision and hearing the gospel preached to him by Ananias. And ALL of the Jews knew full well that Paul heavily persecuted the Christians which were all JEWS who converted to the SECT of Christianity) 5. Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. (In other words, Paul, at the FIRST, lived his life as a Jew belonging to the strictest and the most exact letter of the law sect of Jews. But Paul changed after he was CONVERTED to Christianity) 6. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: (Here is the TRUE SOUND Biblical meaning of Acts 28:17. Paul was simply teaching the TRUTH of the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ. God promised the fathers of Israel that He would give their children a NEW COVENANT) 7. Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. (So again, Paul teaching the truth is NOT against the people or the nation of Israel or the customs of the fathers) 8. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? (Paul was wrongly being accused of preaching the PROMISES of God to Israel which they HOPED to see the day of their Messiah. Paul taught what the prophets prophesied, which is that Christ would suffer and be raised from the dead. But BEFORE Paul was CONVERTED, Paul heavily PERSECUTED the church) 9. I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. (Paul was being PRICKED by the Holy Spirit to NOT do things contrary to the name of Jesus even before he was CONVERTED to Christianity but he kicked against those pricks and wrongly also HEAVILY persecuted the SECT called the WAY, later called Christians at Antioch) 10. Which things I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11. And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. 12. Whereupon, as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13. At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 14. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me? It is hard for you to kick against the pricks. 15. And I said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. 16. But rise, and stand upon your feet: for I have appeared unto you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things which you have seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto you; (Here we learn that Jesus taught Paul through other VISIONS as well as in this vision) 17. Delivering you from the people, (Speaking of the Jewish people, the children of Israel who would persecute Paul) and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send you, 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified BY FAITH that is IN me. (In other words, teach them that I, Jesus, am the Messiah prophesied to come that God PROMISED to send) 19. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20. But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 21. For these causes (Of simply teaching the Jews the TRUTH of the New Covenant that God PROMISED the fathers) the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 22. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23. That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the FIRST that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. 24. And as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are beside yourself; much learning does make you mad. (Or AS Paul was speaking as to why he was accused by the Jews, Festus interrupted and falsely accused Paul of being mad, which the unbelieving Jews did to Jesus in John 10:22 saying that Jesus had a devil and is mad so why hear him) 25. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of TRUTH and soberness. 26. For the king knows of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was NOT done in a corner. (Referring to Paul preaching the TRUTH was NOT done in secret to draw disciples after himself) 27. King Agrippa, believe you the prophets? I know that you believe. 28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost you persuadest me to be a Christian. 29. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only you, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. (In other words, Paul is saying, I would to God that not only you king but also all who hear me this day would convert to Christianity and become a true born-again Christian as I am) 30. And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: 31. And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds. 32. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.”
Remember that Paul was CONSTRAINED to appeal to Caesar because the Jews protested against the releasing of Paul to go free. So then, the CONTEXT of Acts 28:17 clearly teaches us the true sound Biblical and INTENDED meaning to the words of Paul saying.
“I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers”
And that true SOUND Biblical meaning is that Paul did NOTHING but.
“saying NONE other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come”
But the seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians TWIST the words of the Apostle Paul to their OWN destruction, according to 2 Peter 3:15-18. And THEY interpret Acts 28:17 to mean that Paul TAUGHT NOTHING against the Law of Moses. So THEY go to all the verses of Scriptures that CLEARLY teach that Paul taught AGAINST the KEEPING of the Law of Moses and they TWIST those verses of Scripture to their OWN destruction as Peter WARNS them.
2 Peter 3:15-18.
“And account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you; 16. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which are those who are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. (In other words, if one is a natural born Jew and they were taught all their life to obey the Old Covenant to the LETTER of the law, then it would be HARD to understand that some CHANGES were made in the New Covenant. And the same would be true if one was raised in a Sabbath-keeping church and they were taught all their life that they must keep all of the Law of Moses lest they sin. It would be HARD for some of them to understand that the Sabbath resting on the seventh day of the week is no longer BINDING under the New Covenant. It would be HARD from them to understand the ALL manner of meats has been cleansed and NOTHING is to be refused as Paul clearly teaches in 1 Timothy 4:1-4) 17. You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18. But grow in GRACE, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Sabbath-keeping Christians have erred in their “interpretation” of the Scriptures. So rather than them accepting the clear teachings of the Apostle Paul they try to EXPLAIN away his clear teachings by using verses like Acts 28:17 which I pray that you have now seen does NOT prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that Paul teaches that Christians MUST be circumcised in the flesh and keep the Law of Moses lest you sin. One of the reasons that I wrote this study on this specific verse is because a brother in the Lord ask how I interpreted this verse. He knows that Christians do not have to be circumcised but I am not sure if he knows the truth that Jesus IS our circumcision under the New Covenant. Anyway, Sabbath-keeping Christians write to him and tell him that he is wrong about circumcision. So again, he wrote to me and asked me how I would explain the true meaning of Acts 28:17 to Sabbath-keeping Christians. So to summarize, I would first say that Paul's teachings of the TRUTH for the HOPE of Israel is NOT committing anything against the people or the customs of the fathers. Then I would COMPARE Scripture with Scripture. And since those particular Sabbath-keepers that wrote to him insist that Paul did NOT teach against circumcision, then I would quote all of the teachings of Paul on the subject of circumcision. So let us see directly from the Scriptures that Paul did, indeed, teach against being circumcised in the FLESH which was one of the customs of the fathers of the children Israel.
Galatians 5:1-14.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be NOT entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2. Behold, I, Paul, say unto you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3. For I testify AGAIN to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (This means that if an adult Gentile male who is not circumcised and he gets circumcised because he believes that he MUST keep the Law of Moses lest he sins, then that man would be DESIRING to be under the LAW. And therefore, he must keep ALL of the Law of Moses because he desired to be under the law. Now, if you have been circumcised and NOW you see that you do NOT have to keep the Law of Moses under the New Covenant, then simply repent and thank God for opening your eyes to the truth that Jesus Christ has made you FREE from the yoke of bondage. BUT if you REMAIN under the Law of Moses as being mandatory lest you sin, then) 4. Christ has become of NO effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace. 5. For we, through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which works by love. 7. You did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the TRUTH? 8. This persuasion comes NOT of him that calls you. (Speaking of the Sabbath-keeping persuasion to keep all of the Law of Moses does NOT come from Almighty God who calls you) 9. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that you will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubles you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, WHY do I yet suffer persecution? Then will the offense of the cross have ceased? (In other words, Paul was being persecuted because he was preaching AGAINST being circumcised in the FLESH as being part of a believers FAITH to be justified before Almighty God because Jesus both fulfilled and abolished the ORDINANCE contained in the Old Testament commandment of circumcision in the FLESH by his death on the cross. But preaching against what God has CHANGED is NOT committing anything against the people or the customs of the Father. But rather, it is what God has called us to do. We are all called to preach and teach the NEW COVENANT and not the Old Covenant. Paul clearly taught AGAINST the keeping of the Law of Moses and AGAINST being circumcised in the flesh which is the custom of the Jewish fathers under the Old Covenant. So it is impossible for Acts 28:17 to mean what Sabbath-keeping Christians CLAIM it means. So again, teaching the TRUTH prophesied in Scripture is NOT against the people or the customs of the fathers) 12. I would they were even cut off which trouble you. 13. For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14. For ALL the law is FULFILLED (Or every jot and tittle of the law is KEPT in a NEW WAY. For you see,) in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
It is made perfectly clear in the word of God that Almighty God did, in fact, CHANGE the LAW. But just because the law of God changed does NOT mean that Almighty God Himself CHANGED or that God changed His MIND? For you see, God PROPHESIED this CHANGE in Deuteronomy 30:6 which was FULFILLED in Jesus at the cross. God intended there to be a change in the law all along. The Law of Moses was added UNTIL Christ came, according to Galatians 3:17 which you can look up on your own. But for now, please read the PROPHECY that shows the TRUE spiritual meaning of why circumcision in the FLESH was commanded by God in the first place. It was a SHADOW pointing to our TRUE circumcision of our heart not made with human hands but by the hands of Almighty God the Father.
Deuteronomy 30:6.
“And the LORD your God WILL circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love the LORD your God with all thine heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.”
God PROPHESIED to give us a NEW HEART. So rather than literally being a change, it was God performing his word of prophecy to be FULFILLED by His Son Jesus. Please read the following verses of Scripture.
Ezekiel 11:19.
“And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:”
Ezekiel 18:31.
“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, O house of Israel?”
Ezekiel 36:26.
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”
So then, under the New Covenant we who believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior have been given a new heart and circumcision in the FLESH is no longer required by Almighty God. Circumcision in the FLESH is NOTHING and uncircumcision in the FLESH is also NOTHING according to the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament under the New Covenant. Remember that it was Jesus himself who taught the Apostle Paul through visions and the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 7:19.
“Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.”
And the word commandments here is speaking of the TWO commandments of Jesus and all of the commandments written in the New Testament under the NEW COVENANT.
Colossians 2:8-17.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9. For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. 10. And you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11. In whom also you ARE circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (In other words, Jesus FULFILLED the law to become our CIRCUMCISION just like Jesus fulfilled the feast of Passover and now Jesus IS our true Passover LAMB. And thus, the keeping of the feast days are no longer required under the New Covenant as they were under the Old Covenant. We ARE keeping the true MEANING of the feast days BY our FAITH in Jesus. The circumcision in the FLESH was a SIGN that one is in COVENANT with God. And our FAITH IN Jesus is the SIGN to God that we are trusting in His NEW COVENANT and in His Son Jesus who shed his own blood to establish the New Covenant) 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead. 13. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (Contained in the law of commandments in the Law of Moses, according to Ephesians 2:15) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16. Let no man, therefore, judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17. Which are a SHADOW of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
So just like the feast days are a SHADOW so also is the circumcision in the FLESH a SHADOW pointing to our true circumcision of our heart being IN Jesus. The CUTTING of the flesh was a SHADOW pointing to the cutting away of the SINS of the flesh, which we just read about in Galatians 5:1-14. To study the Scriptures further as to WHY Sabbath-keeping Christians are wrong in what they believe and teach, please read all the studies under the heading >>>WHAT IS THE TRUE SABBATH?<<< Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to read ALL the studies that I gave links to throughout this study concerning this subject on Sabbath TRUTH. My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
To learn more TRUTH, then please return to
If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me. My contact email is MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail .com. Some Sabbath-keeping Christians CLAIM that the early church kept the Sabbath as the Jews, but I assure you that the early first-century church was accustomed to gathering together BEFORE the light of daybreak on the FIRST day of the week that THEY called the Lord's day. Please read all the studies linked within this study and all the studies linked below. This study was just the TIP of the iceberg of exposing the ERRORS of interpretation made by the Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping churches, and the Sunday first day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians. All of the studies listed under the subject heading >>>Dd-0. What is the TRUE Sabbath?<<< And also read Dd-20. Did The Early Church KEEP the Sabbath day to learn the truth of what the early church believed. Thanks again for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.
Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
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