Acts 2022

River Valley Torah Assembly

Paul struggled with those Jews who accused him of profaning the Temple (which is similar to the claim made against Yeshua). He was placed in Roman custody in Ceasarea for two years.

In this section, Paul has charges brought against him that are very serious. They are not unlike the false charges brought up against Yeshua when they accused Him of blasphemy. They say that Paul brought a Gentile into the sanctuary of the Temple. They also accuse Paul of being a "kook."

Acts 20:7 NASB) And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. This is one of the many verses in Scripture that has been classically misinterpreted. Christians use this to justify negligence of the Sabbath in favor of their gatherings on the day of the sun-god. What's the best explanation for this gathering on a Saturday night (NOT on Sunday!)? Join us and see if you don't agree!

(Acts 18:4 NASB) And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. Paul made it a point to honor the gathering on the Sabbath. He would go to the synagogues to persuade both Jews and Greeks every Sabbath. Yeshua did the same thing. This fact is one of the main themes in the historical Book of Acts, but it is seldom mentioned in Christianity. In chapter 19, Paul runs into some men who were disciples of John the Baptist. They were wanting to know what was the meaning of the "Holy Spirit (or "Breath"). Paul knew that this was explained in Ezekiel 36:25-27. Testimony that one received the Breath of the Father is with baptism.

In chapter 16 we start with the interesting event of the circumcision of Timothy. Why did Paul circumcise him? Christianity has some fanciful answers to this question, but remember Occam's Razor. The simplest and most direct answer is likely the answer. "It's still required..." Chapter 17 brings the spreading of the Good News to the world. Where does it start? With the Jews first naturally. Then the Gentiles...

In Chapter 14, Paul continues his missionary journey. He encounters a slew of problems and even gets stoned (and not in a good way). Chapter 15 has another passage that has caused controversy for many years. It has been classically misinterpreted by antinomians to say obedience to the Father by the Gentiles only consists of four things outlined by the Jerusalem Council. This brings up a number of questions: Is Elohim a respecter of persons? Does Elohim apply different standards of righteousness and judgment to people depending on their bloodline? Did Elohim change or change His mind? Why aren't those four "laws for the Gentiles" specifically listed in the Torah? Or could it be that this passage (like so many others) has just been totally misinterpreted by those who promote lawlessness? We think you will agree when you watch and see!

Pardon the issues we had with the broadcasting software. There are some "ghosts" that appear. These chapters lead us into the heart of the matter when it comes to the Jewish people in the day of Paul and their attitude toward the Gentiles. Peter's Dream in chapter 10 told us that Peter did not like Gentiles and he considered them "unclean." This section of Acts expounds upon that fact. Paul teaches the Jews in the synagogue about how Yeshua is the Messiah spoken of in Scripture. The reception he received was "superb!" The Jewish people encouraged him to continue and to teach them more the next Sabbath! But something happened the next week that changed the minds of the Jewish people toward Paul and the message of Yeshua as Messiah. It affected the Jews then and affects their attitude toward Yeshua to this day. What was it? Tune in and find out!

Chapter 9 brings us to the account of Sha-ul's (Paul's) introduction to Yeshua Messiah on the road to Damascus. Keep in mind that this man was filled with rage toward those who followed Yeshua. Sha-ul was a bitter and hate filled man toward those of "The Way," but the Father changed his heart in a direct and physical manner! Chapter 10 tells us of the bitterness Peter had toward the Gentiles and how the Heavenly Father changed his attitude toward them. For Peter, He did it with a vision of unclean creatures. In the vision Peter was told to "kill and eat" apparitions of unclean creatures on a sheet. While Peter knew this vision was some kind of rebuke, he did not realize its meaning until some time later in the chapter. Join us and learn how The Father changed the hearts of these two men in order to help form Israel and the New Covenant!