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Did Paul Lie to Agrippa in Acts 26:19-23 on the Charges against him at Odds with lie to Sanhedrin?

Jul 9, 2022

Video Description

In Acts 26:19-23 Paul lies (v.19) and says the charge against him was that he did works worthy of repentance: “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen, 23 how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.”

The true charge upon which Paul was "called into question" was stated earlier by Luke in Acts 21:28 (KJV):

28 [Jews of Asia] "Crying out, “Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teaches all men every where against the people, and the Law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the Temple, and has polluted [defiled] this holy place.”

The True Reasons Paul was Seized: Pal allegedly spoke against [1] Jews; [2] Law; [3] Temple; and [4] Defiled Temple with Gentile entry (by Trophimus, his friend from Ephesus) into sacred area.

Paul's seizure by Jews from Asia (at first) had nothing to do with Jews’ displeasure Paul was teaching repentance “by works worthy of repentance.”

What Paul tells Agrippa also makes no sense in light of Paul's Epistles.

Gal. 3:19; 4:89:

If you want to obey Sabbath, Oh foolish Galatians, you are following the Law “which was ordained by the angels through the hands of a mediator [i.e., Moses]” (Gal.3:19) Paul says such “foolish” Gentiles are desiring to submit to be in bondage to those who "are no gods." The Galatians thus wrongly seek to submit to the "weak and beggarly elements [i.e, angels were called elements – Vincent Word Studies]. You observe days…." (Gal. 4:8-9.)

In Vincent's Word Studies we read that "elements" means "angels" in Gal. 4:9

“The elements of the world are the personal, elemental spirits. This seems to be the preferable explanation, both here and in Col 2:8. According to Jewish ideas, all things had their special angels. In the Book of Jubilees, chapter 2, appear, the angel of the presence (comp. Isa 63:9); the angel of adoration; the spirits of the wind, the clouds, darkness, hail, frost, thunder and lightning, winter and spring, cold and heat.”

Martin Luther, reformer, in his sermon How Christians Should Regard Moses, August 27, 1525 discusses Galatians 3:19 held the Law was entirely just given by angels:

Luther 1525 Sermon: “Now the words which are here written [in the Law of Moses] were spoken through an angel. This is not to say that only one angel was there, for there was a great multitude there serving God and preaching to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. The angel, however, who spoke here and did the talking, spoke just as if God himself were speaking and saying, "I am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt," etc. [Exod. 20:1], as if Peter or Paul were speaking in God's stead and saying, "I am your God," etc. In his letter to the Galatians [3:19], Paul says that the law was ordained by angels.”

Hence, like Paul, God never truly gave the Law - it was an angel speaking as if God said it, but Paul tells us this is not truly from God.

We do discuss Stephen, the deacon-martyr, says the law was given to Moses via "angels," but point out: 1. Stephen is not a prophet; 2. Stephen does not insult the angels as "no gods," and as "weak and beggerly elements," and hence not inspired; 3. Paul witnessed this killing, he mentions in Acts 22:20, which means Paul could be the source of Luke 7 quotes of Stephen, which can be Paul's imaginative memory of what Stephen said.

Further, Paul's claims to uphold the "Law" and Prophets. However, Paul speaks differently about having to follow the Law:

Further:

Gal. 5:2-12 NIV. "2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

Circumcision was optional for a Gentile. If done, it does not cause loss of salvation. If a sojourner (Gentile) wishes to participate in Passover -- which is voluntary, then the Gentile must be circumcised. (Exodus 12:48.) Also later, Ezekiel was told by YHWH that any Gentile who enters the Temple had to be circumcised. Ezekiel 44:9.

 

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