The Church In Acts?

I have heard some gossip about myself, that I am ‘Acts-2’ .... well, just for the record, I’m NOT. One can search all through the Acts of the Apostles for a VERSE about the beginning of the church, only to find NONE! At best, we can trace the church back to the wilderness (Acts 7:38). We will go through each record of the church in Acts.

In Acts 2, at the opening of the book, all that believed were together (Acts 2:44) and they met every day in the temple (Acts 2:46) .... so the church had to have been there before Acts 2. Some say the church started at Pentecost, but not so! The church was already functioning then .... because it was ‘added to’:

Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

In Acts 5, the church was frightened by Ananias and Sapphira his wife dropping dead for lying to Peter and the Holy Ghost about withholding part of the price of land they sold (Acts 5:1-11):

Acts 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

In Acts 7, we find that the church existed all the way back to the time of Moses. Christ was in the church there:

Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

When there is a verse that dates the church back that far in time .... it is not correct to say that the church began later. Even back in Moses’ day, he wrote about Jesus Christ:

John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me:
for he wrote of me.

In Acts 8, we see Saul persecuting the church that was in Jerusalem. So the church could NOT have begun with him in Acts 9 .... which is where most ‘mid-Acts-ers’ say it began. They drive down a stake in Acts 9, and identify themselves as ‘distinctively mid-Acts’. I didn’t just make up the name. They are the ones that called themselves that, before I ever did. As I understand their history, the ‘mid-Acts’ name came about, many years ago, because the ‘Acts-9-ers’ allowed a few ‘Acts-13-ers’ into their fellowship and the ‘9-ers’ featured a ‘13-er’ in their preaching meetings. Some years ago, the ‘13-er’ decided he was no longer a ‘pre-trib-er’ so he was not invited to preach with the ‘9-ers’ anymore. But they didn’t bother changing their claim to being ‘mid-Acts’. The whole point of calling someone ‘mid-Acts’ is because they believe the church started near the middle of the book of Acts with the salvation of Saul. But it couldn’t have, since he was jailing everyone he could find that was in the church:

Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

In Acts 11, the church was in Jerusalem .... and the church was in Antioch. But ‘mid-Acts-ers’ do not think they have any link to those saints:

Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

In Acts 12, King Herod killed James, who was in the church (Acts 12:2), and he intended to dispose of Peter, too .... but the church prayed for his deliverance:

Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

In Acts 13, the church commissioned Barnabas and Saul:

Acts 13:1-3 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

In Acts 14, each locality of the church appointed leaders to rule its assembly. Barnabas and Paul recommended the Gentiles to God’s grace (Acts 14:26):

Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas were welcomed by the church in different cities, as well as at Jerusalem:

Acts 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Acts 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

In Acts 18, Paul joyfully greeted the church:

Acts 18:22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

In Acts 20, Paul summoned the elders (who were bishops) of the church of Ephesus, that he called the church of God, and instructed them to govern and rule over the church like a flock of sheep:

Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

To try, as the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ do, to make the church start anywhere in the book of Acts is simply NOT supported by ANY verses of scripture.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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