"How did the Church of Jesus Christ get the astonishment of the Jews recorded in Acts 10:45, when seeing that Gentiles too, were partakers in God's salvation plan, to todays' Church which is surprised to hear of a Jewish person who believes in Yeshua (Jesus) as Lord?"
2006-06-15 00:22:05 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If I am reading your question correctly... you are wondering how it came about that the Church which started mainly as Jews (whom as you noted in Acts 10:45, were astonished when Gentiles also started partaking in God's salvation) became the Church of today... which includes some Christians that become surprised when someone who is Jewish now believes in Yeshua (Jesus) as Lord?
Perhaps looking through history starting in the New Testament and going through Church history until you reach today would reveal some points of change. Just as looking through the history of philosophical thought can show how the current world views came into being.
I suspect a lot of the change came through men's own thoughts and interpretations of God's word... Kind of like what happens when you play "Whispers" (a.k.a. Telephone). Somewhere along the way, Christians lost sight of how important the Old Testament is, and feel that the New Testament is for the now. But God reveals his truth in both... so the Jew who studies the Old Testament can also see the law, the historic man's inability to keep it, God's provision of a plan of Salvation... and further learn more through the Old Testament. Just as the Gentile who has learned of Christ through the New Testament can further start seeing God as he wants to be seen (title of book by Chip Ingram, but also fits this topic) through God's many attributes revealed within the Old Testament. Both can see how helpless they are to save themselves, and turn to God.
However back to your question, I do not think that all Christians of today within the Church are so astonished when Jewish people too believe in God. Not if they take the words spoken by Christ, Peter, and Paul from the New Testament for being True, as well as, what I said above about how God revealed himself and his plan of salvation throughout the Old Testement including prophesies and revelations about Christ the Lord.
Check out Romans 9-10 in the New Testament and well... so much throughout the Psalms are David's words about "The Lord"... but those are just bits and pieces. A reading of the whole Bible would probably reveal more.
2006-06-15 01:21:45 · answer #1 · answered by trythisanswer 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
read the scripture above that one....read the whole chapter... Peter was given a vision of clean and unclean things. The Jews thought that anyone that wasn't a Jew was unclean. Peter reasoned with them that the spirit coming upon Cornelius was of Heavenly direction since he was given the same gift that all that were listening received. {the gift of the holy spirit because the gentiles were speaking in tongues, or other languages that they were never taught.} Earlier in text, Cornelius was visited by an angel. The two obviously came together because while Peter was teaching later on, the spirit of God came down on those that were listening, not everyone there, those that were "hearing". Cornelius was there hearing and he was fearing god. There arose a heated debate over the circumcision, (a requirement of the Jews and Gentiles were not circumcised) and Peter having the knowledge that God had pronounced the Gentiles clean, and had seen fit for them to receive the "gifts" holy spirit, acknowledged that the gentiles were worthy of God's favor whether circumcised not. Remember also that the Jews had not recognized that Jesus was the Messiah, and therefore disowned Jehovah God and gave up their standing as God' chosen people. the ones that recognised that he was the messiah became true christians. Hope this helps!
2006-06-15 07:44:12 · answer #2 · answered by Annebelle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should not be a surprise since the gospel is all about scattering and gathering of the Jews. through the new covenant of Jesus Christ, the Gentiles have been adopted to Abraham's lineage and can enjoy the same blessings. Israel has wondered away for a long time, denying their Messiah. However the time reckoning is coming and as being prophecizied, when the Jews will start believing the Savior, He will come in His glory. When He comes again, some Jews will be waiting for His first coming and ask what those wounds in His hands and feet and the Savior will answer: "These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded• in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son• of God"
There is whole parable about this whole scattering and gathering thing of the Jews. They believing in the Savior, is a sign that His coming is at the door.
you can read this parable to understand it:
http://scriptures.lds.org/jacob/5
2006-06-15 07:31:04 · answer #3 · answered by Sailormoon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well...I think there is some confusion as to what Jewish people are. In the Bible, a Jew was a person from a particular place (Judeah). In today's language, a Jew isn't necessarily FROM there, but it's referred to someone who is Jewish in religion. And in the Jewish religion, they don't believe in Him as the Messiah...only a great prophet.
And to the person who said Yeshua is not in their Bible...that's because it's a translation you have. In the original text it plainly says that Yeshua was His name. (Only the preferred spelling is Yahushua.)
2006-06-15 07:34:25 · answer #4 · answered by GforceQT 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A jew who believes that Christ is the saviour is not a jew anymore but a christian and Christians welcome everyone including gentiles who are willing to accept the Christian faith. The first followers of Jesus were a mixture of Jews and Gentiles because the message was for all and not to a selected people.
2006-06-15 12:24:07 · answer #5 · answered by *** 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Jews were astoinished? Here it says that Peter...was astonished. take it from de context! anyways~
The Bible was clearly talking from a small family cell and evolved to a greater form through time... small family (Adam) to a household (Noah).. to a tribe (Abraham) ....to a nation(Moses).... to a kingdom(David)... to a international kingdom(JESUS)
Jesus was cleary treating to the gentiles, the samaritans and even romans!! is dat not clear enough??
The Apostles saw with his own eyes proof taht the Holy Spirit also having the same charism had the same motive~
2006-06-15 07:45:46 · answer #6 · answered by James 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe in jesus as lord...i read in acts 10:45 .. i think they are talking about the lord giving the gift of the holy spirit to the jews and the gentiles....that he poured his blessing on the gentiles because they believed.. and the sign of the holy spirit is speaking in tongues and etc...a lot of churches and people just take the bible and interpret it to what they want sometimes... i have had homosexuals and gays try to tell me it is ok... and the bible clearly says that they are a abomination unto the lord and surely they will not see the kingdom of god... but they make excuses for their actions....i hope this answers your question cause i could go on and on... i got on a chat site , a religious one and this man was cursing almost every other breath... and i do not believe in such things.. i said we all should strive to be more godlike and i believe we should.. all will fall short of the glory of god.. cause we are human and none of us are perfect..but i believe that it is between god and ourselves... and he will have to answer for his deeds..same as i will have to answer for mine.. god forgive me if i am wrong but i was raised to believe this way and this is what i believe go wants us to do... i have done so much wrong in my life...but i believe and now i am trying to live his way... but still i am making mistakes.. so i will close and god bless you..
2006-06-15 08:08:05 · answer #7 · answered by sanangel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a great deal of difference in the 'spirituality level' in Jesus time and today's time.
Today, God, Christ, Holyspirit, - Christianity in short - has taken a back seat or proably vanished altogether in so many peoples mind and 'system of life' - so much so that they have the gall to say or ask "prove it" the existence of God. It is these persons who have blotted out God from their system that are surprised.
Jesus himself said in Mat. 24 - that the love of the greater number will cool off.
2006-06-15 07:39:40 · answer #8 · answered by PC man 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some jews believe Jesus is Messiah, some don't
2006-06-15 07:26:50 · answer #9 · answered by tapperlorraine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like Gummy bears.
2006-06-15 07:25:50 · answer #10 · answered by tonyintoronto@rogers.com 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋