"WAS THE APOSTLES OF JESUS; UNLEARNED, AND IGNORANT MEN?"
Copyright © 2008 by J.A.Mcbean. Library of Congress Washington.D.C.20559
A ll Jewish boys were given an education in the Torah, and a secular skill before they reach manhood. They might not choose to follow the ways of the Pharisees or the Sadducee. However, that does not mean that they were unlearned and ignorant men. Nothing in the scriptures indicates that the High priest and his household were referring to religious education or secular education.
Most information on ancient Jewish goals and methods of education comes from the Bible and the Talmud, a book of religious and civil law. Jewish religious leaders, known as rabbis, advised parents to teach their children religious beliefs, law, ethical practices, and vocational skills. Both boys and girls were introduced to religion by studying the Torah, the most sacred document of Judaism. Rabbis taught in schools within synagogues, places of worship and religious study. © 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Let us remember, that what we do in life, goes in eternity. What we teaches people, we are responsible for it. We should get our dogmas right before we convey it to others. What has become of their life, due to out dogmas, we are responsible before God. When you read something in the Bible, always look to see who is speaking, what is he or she saying, and whom are they saying it to. Not because something is written in the Bible, that does not mean it is correct, and God agree with it. It is true that it was said, and it is written, but that do not mean it is true. The saying that the apostles are unlearned and ignorant men is not true. You might say. “It is written in the scriptures.” Yes! But, look who said it. This statement was said by the high priest who was a enemy of the gospel. It is surprising to me that men of the Bible in our age and time cannot see that it was not God that said that, but an enemy of the gospel has said that, to undermined the gospel, and the qualification of the apostles. What can any body learn from an ignorant and unlearned person? Look at the conation of the words. We only said this of people whom we scorned, or disdained.
In this article I will show you who made that statement. And, will also prove that the apostles were not unlearned and ignorant. We want to bury this concept once and for all. Satan use this statement for ages to keep Christians out of Bible schools, and from an education.
Acts 4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
The apostles had just converted five thousand men to Christianity. Women and children were not mention. Ths made the rulers of the people real mad.
Acts 4:1-3 (KJV)And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, [2] Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. [3] And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
A JUSTIFICATION FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE:
Acts 4:13 (KJV) Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
What I intended to do is to prove from this very scripture that the apostles Peter and his comrades were not uneducated and ignorant men. But they were learned men.
Very few preaches in our time have an education. However, it is getting better now, those that had no education, welcome Acts 4:13 and is used to justified their lack of education. We must not underestimate the power of ignorance. Ignorance breeds more ignorance.
WHO ARE THEY? THAT SAYS THE APOSTLES WERE UNLEARNED:
Who are they that say the apostles were unlearned and ignorant men? This is the first thing we want to settle. The people in Acts 4: 5-6 Acts 4:13-19 (NKJV) Now when ((they)) saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name." 18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19
THE HIGH PRIEST AND HIS FAMILY:
Acts 4:5-7 (NKJV) And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as ((many as were of the family of the high priest,)) were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"
It was the high priest and his family who say that the apostles were ignorant and unlearned men. This was said to put them down, or defame them. I will prove later that religious elite also said the same thing about Jesus.
"The Priests." "It is probable that these priests were a part of the sanhedrim, or great council of the nation. It is evident that they claimed some authority for preventing the preaching of the apostles. And the whole transaction seems to show that they did not come upon them in a tumultuous manner, but as keepers of the peace." —Barnes' Notes on the New Testament.
WHO WAS SIMON PETER?
Luke 5:2 (KJV) And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. Luke 5:3 (KJV) And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
This verse prove that Simon Peter had a ship and was a commercial fisherman. Two fishing ships at anchor—that is, two particular ships belonging to Peter and his partners—not the only two ships nearby, for it is stated by some authorities that there were as many as 4,000 ships on Galilee at this time.
SIMON PETER’S EDUCATION:
What can Simon Peter's trade told us about him? Every thing. He was not following Jesus for "fish and bread," because he was not a man of no means. It was easy for a former to be uneducated and get by, but not a commercial fisher man. Remember, he own the business. He was not a fisher man that ride a bicycle, or one that go sit-down by the sea side with an hook and line, he has ships.
To be a commercial fisherman in those days. You have to understand the principle of celestial navigation, astronomy, mathematic and oceanography. This is the exploration and scientific study of the ocean. Also, you have to understand wind dynamic. This is the science; relating to forces producing motion. Also, you have to be able to convert nautical miles to land mile. All these principles have to come into play, and one have to have the concepts of these things to be a commercial fisher man, especially in those days. Therefore, we can conclude that Peter was not stupid. The fisher men in our time with all their sophisticated equipment, might not need all that knowledge, but the ancient who have no satellite positioning system on board, had to have this knowledge, or they can forget about returning home.
Peter, one of the 12 apostles (1 Peter 1:1; Matthew 10:2); called Simon and Cephas (John 1:42); a native fisherman of Bethsaida (Matthew 4:18; John 1:44); history of (Matthew 4:18; Matthew 8:14; Matthew 10:2; Matthew 14:28; Matthew 15:15; Matthew 16:16-23; Matthew 17:1,24; Matthew 18:21; Matthew 19:27; Matthew 26:33-75; John 13:6-37; John 18:10-27; John 20:2-6; John 21:2-21; Acts 1:13-15; Acts 2:14-38; Acts 3:1-12; Acts 4:8-19; Acts 5:3-29; Acts 8:14-20; Acts 9:32-40; Acts 10:5-46; Acts 11:2-13; Acts 12:3-18; Acts 15:7; Galatians 1:18-2:14). Peter was a married man (Matthew 8:14; 1 Cor. 9:5). He ministered primarily to Jews (Galatians 2:7) (Acts 15; 2 Cor. 11:28; Galatians 2:6-21). Peter was an elder among many others (1 Peter 5). Peter written an epistle from Babylon. He wrote 2 books, 1 Peter and 2 Peter.
THEY CLASSIFIED JESUS AMONG THE UNLEARNED ALSO:
John 7:14-15 (KJV) Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. [15] And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
WHO IS ANNAS, AND WHY DOES HE HATE JESUS ?
[Annas the high priest] An associate high priest with Caiphas (Luke 3:2; John 18:13,19,24). He had been high priest for 11 years, bore the title all his life, and had the honor of seeing 5 sons fill the office after him.
Matthew 26:3 (KJV) Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
Caiphas was the high priest, and Annas was associate with Caiphas the high priest selected by the Roman government. He was not from the priestly order of either Aaron or Levi. John Baptist suppose to be the divinely ordained priest, since his father Zachariah was the priest before the Roman government take over Judea. That s why Jesus went to John baptize. Before Jesus took his ministry he have to be usher in by the ruling high priest before him. As for as the high priest office is concern, John Baptist was the true priest of that year.
Annas and his crew suspected that Jesus might be the Messiah, because all the work that Jesus was doing, was the work that only the Messiah can do when he come. If Jesus is the Messiah, then Annas office is null.
WHEN DID THE APOSTLES FIRST MEET JESUS!
Our Lord spent some thirty years in that region. Who in Judea do not know the carpenter from Nazareth of Galilee? “Matthew 21:11 (KJV) And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” John Baptist was a cousin of Jesus, they know each other, but John did not know that Jesus is the chosen Messiah until he saw the dove descended upon him at the baptism.
Jesus did not just jump up and start to teach three years before his death. He been doing it all along. I cannot see somebody like Jesus just sitting down making furniture and building houses for people for thirty years. I see Jesus traveling all over teaching and helping people. The last three years of his ministry is when God revealed him to the world. What the gospel gave us is the ending of his ministry.
At twelve years old he puzzled the doctors and lawyers in the temple. The miracle part of his ministry was revealed when he took on his public ministry, the final three years before his death.
At John's Baptism. John Baptist point out Jesus as the Messiah, and that was when some of the disciples acknowledge him as the Messiah.
[John] Some suppose this to be Johanan Ben Laccai, a famous rabbi of that time.
[Alexander] Probably Alexander Lysimachus, one of the richest Jews of his time. He made
great presents to the temple and was highly esteemed by King Agrippa. [kindred of the high priest] The family from which high priests were taken.
Acts 4:6 (KJV) And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. Luke 6:16). A publican and one of the 12 apostles (Matthew 9:9; Matthew 10:3; Mark 2:14-15; Mark 3:18; Luke 5:27-29; Luke 6:12-16; Acts 1:13). He is thought to have preached in Judea for 15 years, going to Ethiopia and other lands afterward (Acts 2:43). He did not suffer martyrdom.
TO HELP THE GOSPEL YOU MUST ADD TO YOUR FAITH:
1 Peter 2:2 (KJV) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2 Peter 1:5-10 (NKJV) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.
TO CONTINUE GROWING IN GOD:
1 Peter 2:2 (KJV) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2 Peter 1:5-10 (NKJV) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.
FINDING OUT YOUR CALLING:
When I was newly save, the believers always, ask me if I know the will of God for my life! I never really know what they were talking about. Every person that was saved had a mission and a gift. However, because you are just a babe in Christ you do not know any of these. As you go on with the lord his will for you will unfolds day bay day. Do not run off and make any big commitment. Your mate has to be tailor made for you by God. You are now a citizen of heaven. Heaven does not rule by democracy. You cannot serve God with democratic mind set.
WHAT YOU MUST DROP OFF:
Hebrews 12:1 (Living Bible) Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.
Ephes. 4:31 (Living Bible) Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives.
Col. 3:8 (Living Bible) but now is the time to cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language.
GET A GOOD BIBLE, AND FIND A GOOD CHURCH:
One of the best Bibles out there is the New King James Version. Dake’s annotated Bible is very good. Next, you need a living bible to make some thing simple.
Hebrews 10:25 (Living Bible) Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.
PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM BEING SPOILED BY MAN:
Col. 2:8 (KJV)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.
Hebrews 13:9 (KJV) Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Seven Ways that People Can Spoil Christians:
1. Through philosophy (Col. 2:8)
2. Through vain deceit (Col. 2:4,8,18-19)
3. Through human traditions (Col. 2:8)
4. Through human religion and world principles contrary to the gospel (Col. 2:8,14-23; note, §Galatians 4:3)
5. Through circumcision (Col. 2:11-13; Acts 15:1; Romans 4:9-16; Galatians 5:1-11)
6. Through the law of Moses, demanding observance of the laws on meats, drinks, holy days, new moons, feasts, and sabbaths (Col. 2:14-17)
7. Through cults that puff up and imitate the gospel (Col. 2:18-23)
By all these means, unsuspecting souls are being carried off as plunder and booty by false teachers. The founders of false religions and human philosophies which pamper the flesh and give their victims elated feelings of importance make an appeal to them.
Christianity is loaded down with some false concept. Some little believe system, which are spread by false believers. One of such teaching is that you must “Look like Christians” How does Christians look? Genuine Christianity is not an external thing but of the heart and spirit.
Micah 6:8 (KJV)He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
When cults capture a newly converted Christians, the cult first job on that new believer is to close their mind. Preventing the new believer from reading any material from other churches. So that new believer will never get out of their trap.
YOUR HORMONE DOES NOT STOP WORKING WITH CHRISTIANITY:
Philip. 3:20-21 (KJV)For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: [21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Romans 8:23 (KJV) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Our bodies were not save at conversion. The work of redemption took place in your spirit man. Our body will be redeemed at the return of our lord. We are still waiting for the redemption of our body.
According to Philip 3:20-21 and Romans 8:23. You are still going to have urges. You have to present your body to the lord as a living sacrifice. Not dead one. Living sacrifice give trouble, you will have trouble keeping that body tied to the altar. However, as you and I grow in the lord what seem impossible will be quite possible.
Come back for update soon.
"Sword Bearer"
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