25
May
2021

Acts 7:14—Why does this text say “seventy-five people” when Exodus 1:5 says there were “seventy persons”?

Problem: According to Exodus 1:5 there were only 70 descendants who went down into Egypt with Jacob. But, when Stephen relates this same incident in Acts 7:14, he gives the number as 75. This appears to be a flat contradiction. SOLUTIONS: There are several possible ways to explain the difference between these accounts. First, some scholars suggest that Acts 7:14 is incorrect in stating 75. They note that both the Greek translation of the OT (Septuagint) and a Hebrew manuscript found in the Dead Sea area use the number 75 just as Stephen said.

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching
24
May
2021

Acts 7:2 – Has anyone seen God or not?

In some verses of Scripture, people see God.  But, in other verses, it says they cannot see God?  Is this a contradiction?  It is not if you understand the Trinity and the context of those verses.

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching
23
May
2021

Acts 5:36-37 – Did Luke make a mistake in citing Theudas and Judas?

Problem: Critics of the Bible argue that Luke made a historical error here. In Gamaliel’s speech, he mentions Theudas and Judas of Galilee. However, Josephus places Judas at about AD 6 (Antiquities of the Jews 18.4-10) and Theudas at about AD 44 (Antiquities of the Jews 20.97-98). How could Gamaliel (in ~33 AD) refer to someone who wouldn’t lead an uprising for at least another decade? And, why did he mention these men out of order?

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study
20
May
2021

Acts 5:15-16 How could Peter’s shadow heal people?

Problem: Luke writes, “They even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed” (Acts 5:15-16). How could Peter’s shadow heal these people?

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study
18
May
2021

Acts 4:12 – Is Christ the only way of salvation?

Problem: Peter declares that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” But isn’t this a narrow exclusivism? What about the sincere pagan or Buddhist? Is God going to send them to hell?

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study
17
May
2021

Acts 3:21 – Does this passage imply universalism?

Problem: In his public teaching, Peter spoke about “the time for restoring all the things” (Acts 3:21 ESV). Universalists argue that Peter believed that all people will be saved in the end (“…restoring all the things…”). Does this imply that all people will be saved in the end? If not, what does Peter mean by “restoring all the things”?

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching
15
May
2021

Acts 2:44-45 – Were the early Christians the first communist?

Problem: Luke writes, “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need” (Acts 2:44-45). Likewise, in a later passage, we read, “Not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them” (Acts 4:32). Doesn’t this imply that the first Christians were communists?

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Church
14
May
2021

Acts 2:44–45 – Did early Christians practice communism?

Problem: Some have inferred from the fact that these early Christians “sold their possessions” and had “all things in common” that they were practicing a form of communism. However, even the Ten Commandments imply the right to private property, forbidding one to “steal” or even “covet” what belongs to another (Ex. 20:15, 17).

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Church
13
May
2021

Acts 2:38 – Are we saved by faith or by baptism?

Are we saved from our sins by faith or by faith and baptism?  Though the Bible says that baptism is a very important part of the Christian life, it is not necessary for salvation.  The truth is that we are saved by faith alone in Christ alone.  Let’s take a look at scriptures used for both sides.

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, False Teaching
12
May
2021

Acts 2:38 – Is baptism necessary for salvation?

Problem: Peter states, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). When Peter refers to baptism here, he no doubt is referring to water baptism. Does this imply that we need water baptism in order to be forgiven?

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, False Teaching
10
May
2021

Acts 2:38 – Did Peter declare that baptism was necessary for salvation?

Problem: Peter seems to be saying that those who responded had to repent and be baptized before they could receive the Holy Spirit. But this is contrary to the teaching of Paul that baptism is not part of the Gospel (1 Cor. 1:17) and that we are saved by faith alone (Rom. 4:4; Eph. 2:8–9).

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, False Teaching, History

Spurgeon Devotional: