atpollard
Well-Known Member
MB said:Something you Calvinist need to explain;
Act 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
Rather than pull another thread off-topic with a bunny trail, I thought it easier to respond with a new Topic. So first, here is Acts 28:28 in context:
Acts 28:16-31 NASB
16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
17 After three days [fn]Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brethren, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our [fn]fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground [fn]for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews [fn]objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. 20 For this reason, therefore, I [fn]requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.” 21 They said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what [fn]your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”
23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24 Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. 25 And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying,
‘GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY,
“[fn]YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, [fn]BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
AND [fn]YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;
27 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES;
OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.”’
28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.” 29 [[fn]When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.]
30 And he stayed two full years [fn]in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, 31 [fn]preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.
Personally, I don't see it as being that difficult a verse to comprehend when reading the story surrounding it. Paul was under guard in Rome and awaiting his appeal to Caesar. Paul had just arrived and was under "house arrest". Paul invited the Jewish leaders in Rome to hear his message, which resulted in only an argument among the Jews followed by a a parting word from Paul concerning the hardness of their hearts and their spiritual blindness and deafness to the Truth.
Then Paul concludes with the verse you want a "Calvinist" to explain.
"Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen."
So here goes:
- Therefore: indicates what follows is because of what immediately came before ... the hardness of the Jews in this case.
- let it be known to you: Paul is making a public proclamation ... a prophetic warning to the Jews to whom he was speaking.
- that this salvation of God: Paul had just finished explaining to the Jews the "Gospel" (good news) that God had sent Jesus as to save the people just as Isaiah has foretold ... as a Calvinist I would be remiss in not pointing out that once again the Bible emphasizes that salvation is "of God" and not "of our faith".
- has been sent to the Gentiles: Salvation, which came first to the Jews (the 12 and the disciples and the preaching in and around Jerusalem) has been sent to the gentiles. By this point in Acts, that should not come as a surprise to the reader. Jesus gave the Great Commission to carry the good news to the ends of the earth and to make disciples of all nations, Peter had been called by God in a dream to visit gentiles and baptize them, Paul and Barnabas had set out on missionary journeys to spread the Gospel to the gentiles. So the fact that Salvation has been sent to the gentiles is not a head-scratcher.
- they will also listen: The Jewish Leaders came to visit Paul because they had hears about this Jewish sect that everyone spoke against. Paul explained to them what these "rebel" Jews believed, and ended with the claim that the gentiles would also believe this "good news". This is nothing more and nothing less than an affirmation of the parable of the vine and the branches. Jesus is the Vine that some Jews have remained firmly attached to and been pruned to be more fruitful, while other Jews have been chopped off and cast away. Here Paul affirms that there are Gentile branches that God will surely graft into this vine. After all "this salvation" IS "of God" and not of men.
Honestly, my Wesleyan answer would not have been much different.