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NASB | Acts 5:20 "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 5:20 "Go, stand and continue to tell the people in the temple [courtyards] the whole message of this Life [the eternal life revealed by Christ and found through faith in Him]." |
Bible Question: Why would the angel tell the imprisioned Apostles to speak the "whole message?" From the preceding verses, it appears (to me) that perhaps the people were focused on temporal things and not the spiritual healing that takes place in Christ. Are there any other indications from this passage in Acts 5 that the "whole message" was being missed? |
Bible Answer: You have hit upon something very important. The people were coming with the belief they could be healed physically. Belief for salvation, “saving faith” is something else. For that, they needed the message; the full message. It was that way with Jesus, was it not? In John 6 they came for the food, but they went away when they heard the rest of the message. In John 9, the blind was healed in verse 7. In verse 37 he heard the rest of the message, and in verse 38, he believed. When Jesus was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man (John 2:23-25). But there are some of you that believe not. Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him (John 6:64). There is a need to tell the whole story. I note how Jesus said on one occasion that he was doing a miracle in order for them to know that he has the power not only to heal but to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6). It seems then that the miracles were only designed to prepare them for the message. And now, the angel says, “Give them the whole message”. Peter gave the whole message. After pointing out that it was the power of Christ that has healed the man at the gate called Beautiful (Acts 3:16 he went on to preach the Gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and to call for repentance (v.1 19) and faith (v. 22). Paul gave the whole message. In Romans 15:19 he made reference to the signs and wonders done by him, by the power of the Spirit of God; but also “I have fully preached the gospel of Christ”. He describes his gospel in 1 Corinthians 15. In Acts 20 he said that he had held back nothing (v. 20). What was the full message? It seems to be summarized again in Acts 20 and verse 21: “Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”. |