The New Testament

I’ve started reading Acts. I’ve always wanted to know more about the New Testament, especially after the gospels. I hear a lot about the 4 gospels but I never hear much about Acts through Revelation. One reason why I have not studied Acts through Revelation much is because often times I don’t understand what I read. I’ve made a commitment to myself to make it through. Along with my reading, I’ve started a class at BYU that deals with these writings. I’ve very excited and here is my first blog post.

Acts Chapter 2.

First I find the parallels between Moses and the apostles cool. After the children of Israel had been released from Egypt, they wandered through the wilderness. Fifty days later, Moses went to the top of Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments. Much like the foreshadowing of Moses, Christ died releasing us from spiritual prison or Egypt. Exactly 50 days later, Pentecost occurred; it was an amazing spiritual outpouring much like what happened when Moses received the Ten Commandments.

I always wondered where Pentecost took place. In Acts chapter 1, all the Apostles are gathered into the upper room. I always thought that the scene carried through to chapter two. However, my professor said that Pentecost would have happened on the Temple Mount, or Al-Haram al-Sharif. In verse 1 it says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” I always took that to be the upper room with all the followers of Christ and then I was confused when so many people from all over the Mediterranean Basin were included. But now, If it were on the temple mount, all those people would have come to Jerusalem for the festival and it makes so much more sense.

What makes chapter 2 so good is Peter’s speech to all the people. I love verse 38 which says, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ of the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” We have been talking in class that most of the apostles do not fully understand the mission of Jesus Christ. Not until after the resurrection do they understand that Jesus is the Messiah. Then, when they understood, the Apostles, who were well versed Jews in the Tanahk and Jewish scriptures, were able to see the fulfillment of prophecy. And verse 38 is the climax of Peters understanding. He is saying that only through the name of Jesus Christ, meaning only through belief and faith in him, can men be saved. During this one testimony of Peter, 3000 people were baptized. What power must Peter have had in testifying of Jesus Christ.

Revelation of God

The story of the Children of Israel is filled with symbolism. Moses delivered the Children of Israel from Egypt and brought them to the Promised Land, literally showing that Jesus liberates those who believe in him from the captivity of sin allowing those who believe in him, his children, to reach the Promised Land or heaven. Along the way, Moses received the law of God in Mount Sinai, they traveled in the wilderness for 40 days, and then Joshua, which means Jehovah saves and the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek name Jesus, brought them across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land, just as Jesus helps us cross into heaven.

This theme is also present in the New Testament, except, prophets aren’t symbolizing Jesus, but rather He was on the Earth. But it is important to note, that fifty days after the resurrection of Christ, the Pentecost occurred just as it was represented by Moses, after he lead the Children of Israel from Egypt for fifty days.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has much of the same symbolism. After the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ, a temple was built, the modern equivalent of a mountain, and there the Lord gave his law. After this, the early saints were driven from Kirkland, Ohio then to Nauvoo and finally on to Salt Lake City. They were lead by Brigham Young who some call the American Moses.

I bring up this symbolism because section 42 of the Doctrine and Covenants is sometimes called the Law. Just as Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai, just as the Pentecost in the New Testament, section 42 of the Doctrine and Covenants was given to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This revelation is significant because it establishes rules and commandments that Latter-Day Saints are to live by. Such as verse 22 which says, “Thou shalt love thy wife with all they heart, and cleave unto her and none else” or verse 30 that says, “thou wilt remember the poor.”

The Lord had promised this revelation earlier in section 39 of the Doctrine and Covenants. In verse 32 He says, “Wherefore, for this cause I gave unto the commandment that ye should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high.” We declare that God reveals commandments and counsel concerning man through a living prophet. Section 42is the supreme example.