What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 7 / No. 26”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. VII - No. 26 May 25, 2025
RELIGIOUS ERRORS REFUTED BY ACTS 2
Numerous religious doctrines are proven to be erroneous by examining Acts 2. Consider a few examples.
Contrary to what most Bible believers think, the “last days” are not some future event marking a sign of the imminent end of the world. Instead, the “last days” began roughly 2,000 years ago (Acts 2:16-21; Heb. 1:1-2).
Pentecostals claim that people today can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Yet, unlike the baptism of the Great Commission which is for all of humanity (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:38), baptism of the Holy Spirit is not for everyone. In fact, baptism of the Holy Spirit wasn’t even promised to the 120 disciples present with the apostles in Acts 1; it was promised strictly to the apostles (Acts 1:4,26; Acts 2:1-4,14,32,37,43).
Most religious people believe the Lord’s Supper should not be administered frequently, but Acts 2:47 proves the Lord’s Supper was administered frequently by first century Christians. It was offered every first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:26).
Pentecostals claim that people today can speak in tongues through some incomprehensible unworldly utterance. Yet, in Acts 2, those who spoke in tongues spoke a human language that people present could understand (Acts 2:4,6,8,11; 1 Cor. 14:22-33).
Contrary to the doctrine of Premillennialism (Christ someday returning to earth to set up an earthly kingdom on David’s throne in Jerusalem to reign 1,000 years), Acts 2:29-36 shows that Christ already fulfilled this David prophecy by establishing the church; Jesus is currently reigning over His kingdom.
Numerous denominations claim that a non-Christian “calls upon the name of the Lord” via prayer. However, the act of prayer is NEVER mentioned in Acts 2 as how one “calls on the name of the Lord”. Instead, to call upon the name of the Lord one must believe on Jesus (Acts 2:36), as well as repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38), then God will save that person (Acts 2:47).
When handled accurately, the word of God defeats all religious error (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17). Please, be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 and examine each scripture presented here so you can verify what we have said is either truth or error. If upon examining the scriptures you find that you must change what you one believed (1 Thess 5:21), love God and the truth enough that you will make all necessary changes so you can satisfy Him and be set free from sin (John 8:31-32). —Dylan Stewart
BIBLE CASES OF CONVERSION
Bible cases of conversion resulted in people becoming Christians. The only way that we can become Christians today is to study those cases revealed in the New Testament and follow those examples. Let it be understood that while Jesus lived on this earth, He could forgive sins anyway He chose. For example, the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43). However, since Christ's death we must do according to the conditions of His will (Hebrews 9:15-17) to obtain forgiveness of sins. This is what the Biblical cases of conversion deal with.
All examples of conversion in the New Testament reveal important things that we must imitate. Though there are many more cases, we have only the room to look at five in this article.
Three Thousand On The Day Of Pentecost
This case of conversion is found in Acts 2. Upon close reading and examination of this chapter, we find these events taking place in the city of Jerusalem where Jesus had told His apostles to wait until they received power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). The early part of the chapter deals with this very event which enabled the apostles to speak in other tongues (languages) and manifest miraculous powers to confirm the words they spoke (v.6; Hebrews 2:3-4). This was all necessary because the New Testament had not been revealed in its entirety as you and I have it in complete form today. As Peter spoke on this occasion, the people heard (v. 37). They were "pricked in their heart" and inquired what they must do to be saved. They were told to "repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,..." (v. 38).
Their conversion was reached through belief, repentance, and baptism. These Jews had heard the message of God's Son which produced faith (Romans 10:17) and it convinced them that He was the Son of God. They inquired, "What shall we do?". This Bible case of conversion reveals the necessity of repentance AND baptism for "they that gladly received his word were baptized" (v. 41).
The Samaritans
Philip is the evangelist in this case of conversion which we find in Acts 8:5-25. He went down to the city of Samaria and "preached Christ unto them" (v. 5). He was preaching Christ to a city deceived by sorcery and witchcraft (vs. 9-11). But the people "believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ" and "they were baptized, both men and women" (v.12). These were responsible men and women - no babies - and this case is no different than those we read about in Acts 2.
The Eunuch Of Ethiopia
Again, Philip is the evangelist who does the preaching in this case that we find in Acts 8:26-39. Upon encountering the eunuch of Ethiopia, he finds the eunuch riding along and reading from the prophet Isaiah (v. 30). Upon inquiring whether he understood what he was reading, Philip "began at the same scripture, and preached unto Jesus" (v. 35). It was the eunuch that responded, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" (v. 36). When baptized by Philip, the eunuch "went on his way rejoicing” (v. 39).
The Jailor At Philippi
This case is found in Acts 16:25-34. After the jailor had imprisoned Paul and Silas, he was about to take his own life after an earthquake loosened all the bands of the prisoners. When Paul urged him not to harm himself, he fell down before them and said, "Sir, what must I do to be saved?" (v. 30). Since faith cannot be had until a person hears the word, "they spake unto him the word of the Lord" (v. 32). Obviously being convinced of what he heard, the jailor repented, washed their strips (repented), and was baptized (v. 33).
The Corinthians In Acts 18
Paul comes to the city of Corinth and "testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ" (v. 5). The Jews rejected his message and Paul turned to the Gentiles. "And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized" (v. 8).
Conversion today, in order to be genuine Bible conversion, must be like the examples we have looked at in this article. There is no conversion where the word of God was not preached or taught. The word of God does not change and, therefore, requires the same things in order to produce the same results. Is your conversion JUST LIKE these five Bible EXAMPLES? —E.R. Hall, Jr.
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--- E.R. Hall, Jr.
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
For The East Albertville Church Of Christ
meeting at
4777 U.S. Highway 431
Albertville, AL 35950
Sunday
Bible Classes …………..….…………… 9:30 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….……… 10:30 AM
Evening Worship …………………........ 5:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:00 PM
Radio Program
Sunday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 8:30 AM
Monday - Saturday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 11:15 AM
Website: www. EastAlbertville.org
