Category Archives: Acts

(Act 2:41 ESV) So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. I take “about three thousand souls” to be quite literal. The first congregation of Christ’s church was a megachurch! … Continue reading →

(Act 2:40 ESV) And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” “Bore witness” “Bore witness” can mean to testify as a witness, but can also mean to earnestly … Continue reading →

This passage has been controversial in the Churches of Christ for many years. One hundred years ago, the Churches split into two camps, called the Texas and the Tennessee camps by John Mark Hicks and Bobby Valentine. The Texas camp … Continue reading →

“The promise is for you and your children” (Act 2:39 ESV) 39 “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” “Promise” is … Continue reading →

“In the name of Jesus Christ” Let’s begin by fixing the translation. When we modern Americans read “Christ,” we miss the point. Peter really said, “in the name of Jesus the Messiah” or even “in the name of King Jesus.” … Continue reading →

Wendy asked, Jay, DOES Acts 2:38 “certainly suggest that the simultaneous receipt of water and Spirit would be the normative Christian experience”?  … Where in the Scriptures does it tell us that children of first generation converts or thirty-third generation … Continue reading →

There is additional significance to the baptism Peter insisted on. “Be baptized” “Be baptized” is in the passive voice. We often miss the significance of this fact, but it’s very important. It’s passive because, unlike a cleansing under the Law … Continue reading →

The mikveh and uncleanness The Torah speaks of many kinds of washings that were to be done to remove ceremonial uncleanness from a Jew. We modern Westerners struggle to grasp the idea of cleanness today, and so we tend to … Continue reading →

* A better theory. Consider what the gospels really say. (John 13:8-11 ESV)  8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 … Continue reading →

Jerry asked, What I was taught growing up in the Churches of Christ (1940′s & 50′s) was that the apostles were baptized by John, who taught men to believe on the one who was to come. There is presumptive evidence … Continue reading →