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Galatians
BC Weekly Digest Monday, July 26 1999 In this issue: Galatians 3:1-7 Galatians 3:1-5 Galatians 3:8-10 Galatians 3:11-18 Galatians 3:6-14 Galatians 3:1-7 Galatians 3:1-7 (ASV) 1 O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified? 2 This only would I learn from you. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh? 4 Did ye suffer so many things in vain? if it be indeed in vain. 5 He therefore that supplieth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, [doeth he it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. 7 Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham. (Comments by Howard Justice) 1. "O foolish Galatians" The choice of the word "foolish" to describe these Galatian Christians is significant because it means unwise or not understanding the truth. These former Gentile idol-worshipers were unfamiliar with the Law of Moses and its rigid authority. In their keeping of the Law of Moses, they were like a lot of unwise people today; still holding on to rituals or regulations that were abolished by the death of Christ (see Hebrews, chapters 9 & 10). God has never been the author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33) nor has He ever left man without a law by which to live. But these Galatian brethren had seemingly accepted the so-called "authority" of those Judaizing teachers who had erroneously taught that the law of Christ was simply an "extension" of the Law of Moses. Many people today make that same mistake because they think that just because Jesus kept the "old law," then doing the same thing is justified. They fail to understand that because Christ was a Jew, He was obligated to keep the Law of Moses. But His death took away that old law, and some fifty days later the church came into being which changed everything. His law alone became effective effect through the power of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. For God to have left the Law of Moses in effect would have been confusing to all and God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor 14:33). Note: Further in this study, we will learn more about the temporary nature of the Law of Moses. 2 "This only would I learn from you. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" This rhetorical question is posed to them. Certainly they had received the power of God unto salvation through their faith, not through the keeping of an obsolete law which the Jews believed to require works only. Note: The Law of Moses had also been a law of faith (Deut 32:20) but the Jews had corrupted it by believing that all that was necessary was to just "keep the laws" of sacrifice, feasts, etc. This attitude is equivalent with saying today, "All you have to do is just keep the Ten Commandments." But this is incorrect. Christ's Law requires that we first believe in Him and that, because of our faith in Him, we submit to His will in EVERY aspect of our lives. Nothing more, nothing less! 3 "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh?" Again Paul asks the question in a different form. He refers to their original confession of faith in Christ and then asks if they really believed in Him and if so, were they made more mature through the fleshly acts of law- keeping under Judaism or by their faith in Christ. Of course, the answer is that they were made more complete in Christ. Judaism has no promise of eternal life because apart from the sacrifice of Christ, it offered no forgiveness from sin (1 Cor 15:50). Christ alone is the answer. "And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved"(Acts 4:12 ASV). 4 "Did ye suffer so many things in vain? if it be indeed in vain?" Paul asks them if they had given up their idolatrous ways and made many other sacrifices in the name of Christ simply for naught. Of course the answer again has to be NO! The sacrifice of following Christ can be nullified by accepting something else other than the gospel because only in truth shall we gain the full knowledge of perfection in Him.(John 8:32). 5 "He therefore that supplieth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, [doeth he it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" Could it be that God, the giver of all good things, has given you this power to work miracles simply by your works rather than as a result of hearing and believing the gospel? Once again, the answer is NO! God only gave that power to those who demonstrated their FAITH by the lives that they lived in service to Christ. God has always demanded that His word be carried by clean vessels (Isaiah 52:11). See also James 1:16,17. 6 "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness." Just as Abraham had been a faithful servant of God, it was accounted unto him (by God) the same as righteousness. God, looking at the great faith of Abraham, counted him as a faithful child of His and gave him the grading of "righteous" or acceptable in His sight. 7. "Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham." We must understand, as Paul was attempting to show these Galatian Christians, that all who accept the gospel of Christ through faith are indeed God's children and that they are indeed the spiritual descendants of their father Abraham. No, they are no longer Hebrews nor are they Gentiles in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). They are Christians and as such, Abraham's seed. They are no longer under the Law of Moses but are under the Law of Christ. Howard Justice ------------------------------ Galatians 3:1-5 Galatians 3:1-5 (OPV) 1 O foolish Galatians, who has beguiled you not to rely on the truth? You, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified! 2 This alone I want to know from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of law, or by a message of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain? If it really was in vain. 5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and who accomplishes mighty things among you, [does He do it] by works of law or by a message of faith? (Comments by Roy Davison) *3:1 "O foolish Galatians" Paul will now show the churches of Galatia just how foolish they have been to entertain a doctrine in such gross conflict with the gospel. *3:1 "Who has beguiled you?" This false concept was so unreasonable that it could only develop after being introduced deceptively from an outside source. *3:1 "Not to rely on the truth" Although this phrase is found in the majority of manuscripts, because it is absent from the oldest manuscripts, many modern translations omit it. Some view the oldest manuscripts as being very reliable because of their age. Others believe they survived because they contained so many copy errors that they were not used (and therefore were not worn out). This fragment is found in an old Syriac translation from no later than the fifth century. *3:1 "You, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified!" Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians: "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Cor 2:2 ASV). In his preaching, Paul emphasized the crucifixion and the meaning of Christ's death as a sacrifice for sin. The Galatian churches had received ample teaching on this point. There was no excuse for exchanging the glorious gift of salvation by grace, for a fruitless attempt to earn one's own salvation by works of law. In his forceful writing we notice Paul's amazement (see 1:6) that the Galatians could be duped into accepting such a doctrine. *3:2 "This alone I want to know from you" Paul could ask many questions that would expose the false teaching. But this one question alone will more than suffice! *3:2,5 "A message of faith" Literally in Greek this is "hearing of faith" which, although found in some translations, does not communicate the meaning well, and is not correct English. "Hearing" in this case refers to the message heard, a message which is heard and heeded. *3:2 "Did you receive the Spirit by works of law, or by a message of faith?" The false teachers had questioned Paul's authority as an apostle and the accuracy of the message he preached. Paul reminds the Galatians of something that should have been obvious to them. They had received the Spirit as a consequence of Paul's preaching! And he had brought them a message of faith in the sacrifice of the crucified Christ! Meritorious works of law had played absolutely no part in their reception of the Spirit! *3:3 "Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?" Jesus taught: "It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life" (John 6:63 ASV). Paul's rhetorical question indicates that the Galatians had been taught the importance of the spirit as compared to the flesh. This is explained more fully in his letter to the Romans. "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace" (Rom 8:3-6 ASV). "But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you. So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Rom 8:9-13 ASV). The Galatians had BEGUN in the power of the Spirit. But now they are trying to 'complete' their salvation by fleshly means: by circumcision and by law-keeping. A ridiculous thing indeed. *3:4 "Did you suffer so many things in vain? If it really was in vain." The Galatians had been willing to suffer persecution to obtain the blessing of salvation by the blood of Christ. Now they were throwing away what they had been willing to suffer to obtain! But Paul hopes they will repent and that it will not really be in vain. *3:5 "He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and who accomplishes mighty things among you, [does He do it] by works of law or by a message of faith?" As was mentioned in verse 2, they had received the Spirit. God was working mightily among them. And this was a consequence of the message of faith Paul had preached. How could they doubt his apostleship or the validity of the message? Roy Davison ------------------------------ Galatians 3:8-10 Galatians 3: 8-10 (ASV) 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed. 9 So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them. (Comments by Howard Justice) *3:8 "And the scripture, foreseeing..." The Old Testament prophets foretold the coming of Jesus. God revealed to Abraham in Genesis 18:17 that He would make of his seed a great nation. Of course God was promising the immediate coming of the nation Israel but there was a deeper and a more spiritual promise made regarding the Son of God who would be born to the tribe of Judah: Jesus Christ. It was through Jesus Christ that "all nations shall be blessed." *3:9 "So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham." It is through the faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (Acts 8:37) that Christians are blessed by the promise to Abraham. In 2 Corinthians 3:2-5, Paul, having much the same problem with the Corinthian Christians, stated "Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men; being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh. And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God." Here, Paul points out that whereas the Law of Moses was written on tables of stone, the Law of Christ is written in men's hearts through faith. And, like Abraham of old, we also are blessed in our faith in God through Jesus Christ. *3:10 "For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them." This is an eternal principle. Anyone who keeps a certain law or group of laws is duty bound to keep the whole law. For example, those who today keep the Ten Commandments are obligated to keep the entire Law of Moses because the Ten Commandments are nothing more than a synopsis of the entire Law of Moses. This principle also exists in the New Testament. When Christ began His ministry here on earth at the age of thirty, He preached the Sermon on the Mount. In it He gave several personal characteristics that He would require before we could be pleasing unto Him. In Matthew 5:3-12, He gave us what some call the Beatitudes. These are nothing more than a synopsis of the Law of Christ upon which He immediately began to expound. Later, He told His apostles that He would send the Holy Spirit who would guide them unto all truth (John 16:13). Following this, other inspired Christians also prophesied regarding the will of Christ (John Mark, for example, who penned the Gospel of Mark). In much the same manner, Moses after delivering the two tables of stone to the Jews at Mount Sinai, immediately began to reiterate the entire will of God as pertained to those ten basic commandments. Over the next several hundred years, there would arise other inspired prophets who spoke for God regarding His will under the Law of Moses. Howard Justice ------------------------------ Galatians 3:11-18 Galatians 3:11-18 (ASV) 11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith; 12 and the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man's covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto. 16 Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. (Comments by Howard Justice) *3:11 "Now that no man is justified by the law before God" The reason that no man is justified by the law before God is that God has replaced the old covenant with a new covenant in Christ Jesus. In Jeremiah 31:31-34, God explains through Jeremiah why it will be necessary for Him to make a totally new covenant with His people: "Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: NOT according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith Jehovah. But THIS is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Jehovah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people: and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more." *3:11 "The righteous shall live by faith" This is the purpose for which God gave man an entirely new covenant; so that man could live by faith. This means that a man's life will demonstrate his faith in God (Matthew 7:20). *3:12 "And the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them" The Law of Moses was a law of "works" by which a man was justified by keeping the statutory requirements of that law. For many it became a law of superficial practice and not of faith. The Jews rebelled time and time again against God, for example, by taking foreign wives and bowing down to idols. Even sincere believers, however, were not able to keep the law perfectly. *3:13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" Christ has saved mankind from the curse of the Law of Moses as well as the Law of the Patriarchs (the law of the Gentiles). Neither of the former systems of law offered mankind total forgiveness from sin, except as they looked forward to the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. The actual means of man's salvation was not provided not until the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, by which men of all nations are given the opportunity of obtaining forgiveness and becoming "sons of God" (John 1:12). The quotation regarding "hanging on a tree" is taken from Deuteronomy 21:22 and relates to anyone who has been found worthy of death by hanging. Of course the hanging here refers to being hanged by a rope whereas the Roman crucifixion was a hanging upon a cross to which one was impaled by spikes driven through the hands and feet. Regardless of the methodology, it is a curse for any man to be hanged. That He became a curse for us refers to the fact that we deserve to die because of our sins, but He paid the penalty for us. *3:14 "That upon the Gentiles might become the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." God had planned to give the world a method for the forgiveness of sin through His promise to Abraham from whose seed Christ would be born. It is through this eternal promise that we now have the hope of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus rather than through obedience to a law on the basis of merit. *3:15 "Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man's covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto." Paul clarifies his meaning by stating that man could not make the Law of Moses void nor could he replace it. It required an act of God the giver of the law to do so. First of all, it had to be fulfilled or kept perfectly. No man had ever been able to do such until Jesus Christ. In His Sermon on the Mount, Christ stated: "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfill"(Matthew 5:17). This was in reference to the Law of Moses being replaced in accordance with its own provisions for replacement. Christ did not destroy the law, He kept it perfectly. He fulfilled it. This was part of His mission here on earth. In His last moments upon the cross, John states : "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished': and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit"(John 19:30). This was simply His way of saying, "Father, I have done what you sent me to do." *3:16 "Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Paul points out that the original promise was made to Abraham and that the "seed" promise was not "Seeds" but rather "seed" which signifies Jesus Christ. It was not referring to Abraham's innumerable offspring, but rather to that one descendant through whom these blessings would come, Jesus Christ. *3:17 "Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect." It is interesting that Paul refers to the Law of Moses as a covenant. A covenant is a contractual agreement between two or more parties regarding the fulfillment of some performance or some goods delivered. In this regard, it was a performance contract wherein God had promised to fulfill His obligations ONLY if the Jews would remain faithful and keep His law (the Law of Moses). But this covenant with Israel did not abolish the promise relating to all nations that God had given to Abraham. Some Jews who had become Christians were concerned so much with "law-keeping" that they taught that Christ didn't take away the Law of Moses but that the law of Christ was just an extension to it. Paul shows that God's promise of great blessing for all nations predated the law of Moses and was therefore superior to it. How foolish were these Judaizing teachers to doubt the promise of God! The real problem was that the Judaizing teachers were thinking of a physical or material promise, like the old land promise, and weren't attuned to the spiritual nature of the promise of God through Christ. *3:18 "For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise." The promise of God was not a part of the Law of Moses but was a promise to be fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ. Unlike the "land promise," it was a totally separate promise made to Abraham regarding the great fulfillment in His lineage, namely Jesus. Had it been limited to the Law of Moses, then it could never have been available to the Gentiles. But God foresaw the need for this promise to ALL mankind. He gave it to us through Christ's death upon the cross where He paid the debt that we are unable to pay because of our sinful state and became the ultimate sin- offering for us. Howard Justice ------------------------------ Galatians 3:6-14 Galatians 3:6-14 (OPV) 6 Just like Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, 7 likewise you know that people of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, pre-announced the gospel to Abraham: In you all nations will be blessed. 9 So then the people of faith are blessed with Abraham the faithful. 10 For all who depend on works of law are under a curse. For it is written that everyone is cursed who does not remain within all things that are written in the book of the law by doing them. 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by law, because the righteous shall live by faith. 12 The law, however, does not depend on faith, but: he who does them will live by them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, becoming a curse on our behalf (for it is written: Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree), 14 so the blessing of Abraham might be for the nations in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Comments by Roy Davison) *3:6 "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness" Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 to show that God attributed righteousness to Abraham on the basis of his faith. Paul also uses this passage in Romans 4:3,5,9,11,22 to show that salvation is by grace through faith and not through works of law. James quotes the same passage to clarify that saving faith is a working, living faith and that faith alone is dead (James 2:23). *3:6 "It was credited to him" In this construction, this word is a bookkeeping term. It refers to the booking of a credit to someone's account. Genesis reveals that Abraham was far from perfect. It also reveals, however, that he had a great, living and obedient faith. Abraham believed God when He promised Him a son, something that was humanly impossible (Gen 15:1-6). And Abraham obeyed God when told to sacrifice that son on Mount Moriah (Gen 22:1-14). It is explained in Hebrews 11:17-19 that Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham's faith was certainly a living, obedient faith, substantiated by works, but his righteousness was based on his faith, not on the perfect observance of law. *3:7 "Likewise you know that people of faith are sons of Abraham" Many Jews, who did not have the faith of Abraham, thought they would be saved simply because they were physical sons of Abraham. Paul points out, however, that anyone who has the faith of Abraham is a son of Abraham in the only sense that really matters. In Romans 4:16 Paul says Abraham is the father of all who have his faith. *3:8 "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith" Notice the interesting personification of Scripture. In the Old Testament it was foretold that the Messiah would bring salvation for all nations: "Yea, he saith, It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6 ASV; see also Isaiah 42:6). *3:8 "Pre-announced the gospel to Abraham: In you all nations will be blessed" This prediction is also found in Genesis 18:18, 22:18 and 26:4. See also Psalm 72:1-19. *3:9 "So then the people of faith are blessed with Abraham the faithful" The truth of Paul's statement here is so obvious and irrefutable that it must have been very disturbing for Jews who liked to place too much confidence in their physical relationship with Abraham and too little emphasis on following the example of his faith! John the Baptizer had given a similar warning (Matt 3:7-10; Luke 3:7-9). *3:10 "For all who depend on works of law are under a curse. For it is written that everyone is cursed who does not remain within all things that are written in the book of the law by doing them." Paul quotes from the law to show that no one can be saved by law: "Cursed be he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them" (Deut 27:26 RSV). *3:11 "Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by law, because the righteous shall live by faith." Paul quotes a passage from the Old Testament in which the godless person is contrasted with the godly: "Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith" (Hab 2:4 ASV). Although Paul does not mention the first part of this verse, there is an application. Someone who thinks he can be saved by law-keeping is not being honest and is arrogant to suppose that he can be righteous before God on his own merits! *3:12 "The law, however, does not depend on faith, but: he who does them will live by them." Now Paul quotes this passage: "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and mine ordinances; which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am Jehovah" (Lev 18:5 ASV). Paul understood that faith was also required under the Old Covenant and that people could be saved under the law by faith in the promises of God based on the future coming of Christ. In this case, however, he is dealing with false teachers who understood neither the Old Covenant nor the gospel. They were introducing law-keeping as a means of salvation. Paul shows that the whole idea of law-keeping as a means of salvation is defective, because on that basis salvation is only possible by perfect obedience. Just because James emphasizes the need for works to demonstrate the validity of faith, do not suppose that he did not understand the need for salvation by grace: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one [point], he is become guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty. For judgment [is] without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment" (James 2:10-13 ASV). *3:13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, becoming a curse on our behalf (for it is written: Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree)." "His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt surely bury him the same day; for he that is hanged is accursed of God" (Deut 21:23 ASV). Paul has just shown that according to the law, all are cursed who do not keep the whole law. Now he uses this same word to show that the curse which we have earned by our failure to keep God's law, fell upon Christ because of the manner of His death. *3:14 "So the blessing of Abraham might be for the nations in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." By faith in God's mercy, people of all nations can be saved through the sacrifice of Christ, and can receive the promise of the Spirit (compare this with Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; 2:33,39). The promise of blessing to all nations also involved a promise that God would pour out some of His Spirit on all flesh (see verses 2, 3 and 5, and compare with Acts 2:16,17 and Joel 2:28-32). Roy Davison