Mid Acts exposed
                     mixing the dispensational differences in Paul's writings by failing to rightly divide



It has been our desire over the years to expose what we consider to be a movement wrongly dividing the Word of Truth, namely the mid-Acts denomination. They espouse the principle of right division, but their teachings are more evidently eisogetical, piece meal and inventive and thus, for the most part, totally contrary to it.

For readers unfamiliar with dispensational truth, it might seem surprising that there are those within the Christian community who do not simply bundle the Old Testament with Israel and all the New Testament with us believers today. By failing to observe the dispensation things of Israel which continue deep into New Testament records, traditional Christianity has confused itself by mixing truths belonging to Israel and transferring them to the "church". It seems contrary to tradition that there are those who do not read the records of Acts as any beginning of our present dispensation and calling, and among dispensationalists, there are divisions as to when Paul was given it. Mid-Acts dispensationalists are those who at least recognize the dispensational differences in the New Testament acknowledging Paul as our apostle but they then mix the dispensational differences in Paul and so adulterate the beauty they have found.

Acts 28 believes that Paul during Acts, was preaching the Old Testament dispensation and the redemptive grace so widely anticipated in it including justification by faith through grace. But the Old testament was the basis of the hope Paul held during that time as per Romans 15:4-13. Paul during Acts was proclaiming That Israel remained God's people until they were set aside for a time at Acts 28 and thus Paul's letters fall into two separate and distinct dispensational groups. These letters are not separated by date assessment but by their dispensational content. Both groups will have continuing or redemptive truths but they are most assuredly different in their dispensational truths.

Mid-Acts claims to rightly divide but in fact show they ignore it and are worse at confusing the brethren than the theological system widespread which claims to teach according to sound hermeneutics but mixes everything dispensationally different in the Word of Truth. The mid-Acts direction as of now, is fueling the Messianic fire; the more mid-Acts transfers the mystery of Ephesians back into the Acts period which period is full of prophesy and promise, the more Christians are confused regarding two completely different dispensations. Thus mid-Acts is contributing to the disastrous circumstances where everything Jewish is twisted by replacement theology and that which our God wants the saints to know is obscured from them.

Mid-Acts, will speak of the Acts as being a transition or a progressive revelation period where Paul was slowly given more present truth (as some say he shed himself from his Jewish heritage). This is easily proven false which we do in the material on this page.

The Acts period is a continuation of the history and God's dealings with the church Israel which nation was not cut off at the writing of Roms.10:21-11:2.

Mid-Acts, like our traditional brethren, stumble at the inclusion of the Gentiles during Acts. Many see this as a mark of the church which is His Body but the Scriptures explain they are included according to prophesy, as a result of Israel's stumbling and for provocation. Acts 13 and Is.49 along with Acts 15 and Amos 9 foretell of Gentile inclusion in the earthly Kingdom purposes of God. The salvation of the Gentiles was never hidden in God but the dispensation of the grace of God in Eph.3 certainly was.

Mid-Acts camps are wrongly divided into those who consider Paul was preaching the dispensation of the grace of God from Acts 9, or 13 but they are unanimous that Acts 28 is a cult and indoctrinate their followers to avoid anything resembling it; shades of cultism? Perhaps they know if their followers research Acts 28 their own position will be exposed for the confusion it is.

We will show that Paul knew nothing dispensationally of the post Acts dispensation of the grace of God during the Acts period. This is easily proven from the records of Luke in Acts and in those epistles written during that time. Late in Acts Paul said the following; "Then having obtained help from God, I stand until this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said was going to happen," Acts 26:22. This plain statement gives no place to include in any of Paul's preaching or writings during Acts those things which, until the writing of Ephesians, were "hid in God". Such mid-Acts teachers as Cornelius Stam dismiss Acts 26:22 as being relevant to specific truth like resurrection which they need to do to maintain their progressive revelation position. It is not surprising that some mid-Acts teachers proclaim doctrine cannot be taught from the book of Acts, excluding such Scriptures which are contrary to their view and thus with one stroke dismiss 2Tim.3:16. Oftentimes they find the Word of Truth terribly inconvenient to their position such as those O.T. references in Acts 13 and 15 mentioned above.

Some in mid-Acts will widely proclaim that Paul taught Peter "grace" and make much of Paul's gospel given directly by the Lord in Galatians 1 but then argue away Gal.1:23 and the dispensational settings of Galatians 3 & 4. Oftentimes a mid-Acts teacher will quote (as do traditionalists) Gals.3:28 but ignore verse 29, 4:26 and 28 et al. If Paul needed to teach Peter grace this also annuls the Scriptures which say, "And He said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms about Me. And He opened their mind to understand the Scriptures. And He said to them, So it is written, and so it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day," Luk.24:44-46 (cp1Cor.15:3-4). Perhaps the Lord forgot to teach Peter or indeed open his mind  to such Scriptures as Gen.12, 15:6, Is.45, 53 and Deut.30:1-11 to name a few? Christ taught Peter as He taught Paul and not one ounce of Scripture agrees with m-A that Paul taught Peter something. Peter refers to Paul in the matter of the longsuffering of the Lord towards Israel, with which subject matter there are things difficult to be understood which does not say Peter did not understand them. Peter writes also that with that same subject some wrestle, but none of this can be used to imply Paul taught Peter grace, see 2Pet.3.

Some mid-Acts will use the parable of Luke 13 to stretch Daniel's "prophesy for Israel" by another year and with a curious calculation arrive at Acts 7. This they assume is the point where Israel was set aside. Such teachers as Curt Crist, Scott Mitchell and others will try this in spite of Paul's clear statements in Roms.10:21-11:2. This is tantamount to finding some dispensational  timing in the Law, re-writing Daniel and ignoring the context of Luke 13 which we shall see when we have time and space to deal with this invention.

Some mid-Acts will condemn traditional Christianity for dragging present truth back into the Gospels, then promptly commit the same error by dragging present truth back into the Acts and Paul's ministry during that time. What is naughty for the goose is apparently ok for the gander. Worse still, mid-Acts teaching unwittingly drags the dispensation of the grace of God back into Genesis. The day they recognize that justification by faith through grace was plainly written in Genesis 15, the very chapter where God gave the Land to Abraham's seed, is the day they will recognize what it means to rightly divide. Dragging dispensational truth from a later dispensation back into a previous one is not right division. 

Many Mid-Acts teachers are masters of isolated eisogetics. They will select one verse and build their views into it showing scant regard to the context (see "Paul's use of the Old Testament" link below). Take for example their emphasis on "Paul's Gospel" in 1Cor.15:3-4. They believe this was given to Paul by revelation and he certainly received it from Christ but it is not the mystery of Ephesians hid in God since 1Cor.15:3-4 includes "according to the Scriptures". Thus the part of 1Cor.15:3-4 which speaks of the Lord's death burial and resurrection is emphasized but "according to the Scriptures" is passed over since they want to believe Paul's gospel during Acts was hid in God, or the beginning of it. They also ignore the rest of the chapter which speaks of Israel's Feasts and a resurrection to the earth. I believe in these last days, one or two have recognized the plain statement of 1Cor.15:11 which they recognize as Peter also preaching the gospel. Perhaps the cracks of this confusing position called mid-Acts are starting to appear and widen. BTW, some declare that unless Christians are saved by Paul's gospel they are indeed not saved; nice judgmental position from a faulty one methinks.

It was our opportunity one time to share with a mid-Acts friend the hope of Paul so clearly written in Roms.15:4-13. He said he hadn't "seen" that passage before because mid-Acts emphasizes Paul's gospel and justification by faith through grace as found in the earlier chapters. This is sadly the case for many mid-Acts followers, they are taught by so zealously about Christ's death, burial and resurrection and justification that they cannot see the significant O.T. dispensational settings in the same writings of Paul.

The hope of Romans is entirely Old Testament, promise and prophesy, adding inseparable weight to Paul's own claims in Acts 26:6-7, 22 and 28:20 that he embraced the hope of Israel to the end of Acts. The hope of Ephesians and Colossians was unknown to Paul when he wrote Romans, Galatians, 1&2 Thessalonians and 1&2 Corinthians. The mid-Acts claim of Romans through Philemon is the catch cry of dispensational confusion as we also bring out in the expositions found on this page.

Some mid-Acts teachers are now claiming they can find the mystery of Ephesians in the Old Testament and annulling other Scriptures, namely Eph.3:8-9 and Cols.1:25-26. When we finally stand against Scripture it is time to reconsider the foundations on which we stand and have built.

Specific lessons will be added here over time, especially an examination of Mr. Richard Jordan's article "Did Paul Break His Word?" wherein he claims Gals.2:9 deals Acts 28 "a devastating blow". We hope to have uploaded presently some comments about this apparent refutation including aspects of Gal. which Mr. Jordan seems hesitant to consider or conveniently ignores.

In the meantime, here is our response to an article about Paul's use of the Old Testament as seen through the optics of a mid-Acts author.

Other exposures of the mid-Acts errors are found in the following audio lessons
These audio lessons given over the internet are of varying listening quality. Some are impromptu with interruptions and comments to folks. The listener is reminded to search and see if these things are so.

	Title	Synopsis	Author	Average Time
1	Paul's Gospel in Acts 9 & 13 1   2 Paul's Gospel in Galatians -by revelation Part 01    Part 02 Justification by Faith through grace, Not the Beginning of a Progressive Revelation culminating in the Mystery of Ephesians 3 Acts is Not a Transition 1   2   3   4   5   6   7  8	Paul's gospel given by revelation in Galatians 1 related to Acts 9 and 13. Paul's message from Galatians through Romans to Acts 28 is the same, no change, nothing new, all OT testimony.	Kelson	*50
2	2 Peter 3:16, 17 1   2	Did Paul teach Peter Grace?  What were the "some things hard to be understood", and when were Peter's Epistles written?	Kelson	*36
2a	Acts 28  (March 2011)     Part a     Part b    Part c    Part d Charts here and here (see #19)	Genesis to Acts 28, redemption by the blood, justification, but the purposes of God are earthly	Kelson	*50
3	Deuteronomy, Acts & Romans Part a   Part b   Part c   Part d Part e         Part f Written lessons here, starting number 68	Moses and Paul inseparable in the Acts period. Exciting links between two books written late in probationary periods for Israel with Trumpets following. Does wrath to the uttermost on Israel mean  Israel was put aside and a new calling had begun?	Kelson	50-60
4	Justification (righteousness) by faith, the testimony of Moses and the call of Abraham. Part e    (of the series above)	Is justification by faith the launch pad, the beginning of the revelation of The Mystery of Ephesians & Colossians? If it is, then we should start "the church" at the call of Abraham.	Kelson	60
5	The salvation of the Gentiles during the Acts period. The dispensational framework of Acts Gentile Salvation of Prophecy The Fullness of the Gentiles A The Fullness of the Gentiles B	Does Paul's ministry to the Gentiles during Acts mean the church which is His Body began? Were the Gentiles saved to lead the Jews into this church?	Kelson	45
6	1 Cor. 12 and Romans 12; The Body Series One Part a Part b Part c  Series Two Part a   Part b   Part c   Part d Part e   Part f   Part g          Summary of 1 Cor. 12 (body) Another Summary? 1Cor.12, Christ the Rock	Is Paul's use of the 'Body' in    Romans  and Corinthians    the same as in Ephesians    and Colossians?	Kelson	*43
7	Acts 13 - Paul's Ministry Miracle & Gospel	An examination of the comparison of the blinding of Bar-Jesus, Rom. 11, and Paul's Gospel in Acts 13.	Kelson	43
8	Paul, did he blaspheme the Holy Spirit? Part a     Part b    Part c	Was Paul's conversion a "kingdom" conversion, or a dispensation of grace conversion?	Kelson	43
9	When does WE include ME in the Scriptures, especially in Paul.	Pronouns must be considered very carefully, they must be rightly divided.	Kelson	43
10	The Appearing 1    2   3 See this link for written studies. Chart NEW	The Second Coming of the Lord and the Appearing - when is the hope of the Church which is His Body realized?	Kelson	54
11	Acts 2 and 13 comparison  1,   2,   3,   4 ,  5,   6	The Church Which is His Body was not created in Acts chapters 2 or 13. The hope of  Romans and other epistles written during Acts was Israel's Kingdom on earth.	Kelson	*45
12	Paul's Gospel 1,   2	Did Paul preach only one   gospel?	Kelson	*31
13	1Cor.2:7 a Mystery, the wisdom of God which was hidden Part a   Part b   Part c  Written lesson here No.67	Is the mystery of 1Cor.2:7 the same dispensational mystery of Ephesians 3?	Kelson	50
14	1Cor.13:8-13 but when that which is perfect is come Part a   Part b   Part c	What is the context, the dispensational setting?	Kelson	50
15	Judgment on Believers During Acts 1   2	Explains why believers    during Acts suffered    judgments for their sins and    why God does not judge us    for our sins today.	Kelson	*30
16	Romans 9-11, Hope of Israel Part a   Part b	Repeat of Zion 10 parts a & b below. These examine the dispensational setting of these chapters. If the church which is His body is in Romans then it is also in Hosea, Isaiah Deut. Psalms and Joel.	Kelson	45
17	Acts 28 Bible Survey Acts 28 again (with chart)	Overview of Acts 28	Kelson	44-55
18	The Four Time Frames of Ephesians	A survey of the purposes of God according to grace	Kelson	20
19	Test things differing Part a   Part b                               Part c  What church during Acts? Part d Themes from Ephs.1-3 Chart a  Chart b	Some common & different things in Isaiah & the Acts period & the post Acts letters of Paul. What is a church?	Kelson	40
20	The Resurrection of Christ    1   2	The resurrection of Christ considered dispensationally with emphasis on the ministry of Paul during the Acts period	Kelson	*30
21	Dispensational Elements of Thessalonians 1   2   3   4   5   6   7	The trumpet in Thess. - Is it about Israel or the Church?	Kelson	*45
22	Paul's Conversion                                    1   2	Considering Paul's conversion in light of the Acts period.	Kelson	*36
23	Same Body, Eph.3:6	Does the term same body in Eph.3:6 look back to the Acts period as in 1Cor.12 and Roms.12?	Kelson	*55
24	One New Man Eph.2:11-17 Part One A  (NEW 22Feb09) Part One C Part One D Part One (unedited)	Is the One New Man in existence before Acts 28 or was it not in existence but made possible by the cross?	Kelson	48-60
25	Peter & Paul's gospel-Old Covenant basis Part One   Part Two   Part Three Part Four   Part Five	The First Covenant was old and ready to vanish away when Peter and Paul preached their gospels in Acts 2-3 & 13. Acts was the end of the ages, not the start of "the church."	Kelson	30-50
26	Various lessons & Devotionals 1.  Ps.116-2Cor.4 2.  Themes of Phils. & 2Tim 3.  Gen.4 Cain & Abel 4.  Humility Phils.2 5.  Spiritual Sacrifices 6.  Winning Christ, out        resurrection 7.  Faith & Sight 8.  Dwelling Place of God 9.  Titus, Word of God in its  10. Unique time 11. Headship of Christ 12. Three Churches 13. Time & Patience LOOKING 14. Trumpets, seven 15. Fullness 16. Summary of Two Seeds 17. Gabriel in Daniel & Luke 18. Tithing 19. James 1:5 (ask for wisdom) 20. walk of faith, its personal 21. Calling of Grace-Eph.1 22. God doesn't change, but       He  changes things 23. No looking back 24. Yom Kippur, family       rejection  and acceptance 25. The hope of glory of post       Acts      (Chart) 26. Thoughts from Philippians 27. 2Tim2 Theme 1 28. Eph.1:5 in love 29. Milk & Meat (milk = apostasy?) 30 Philemon   CHART		Kelson	30-50
27	Zion, as featured in Paul's Acts period ministry Zion 01   Zion 02   Zion 03   Zion 04 Zion 05   Zion 06   Zion 07 Zion 08   Zion 09 Zion 10   Part a   Part b	What & where is Zion and how often did Paul directly and indirectly refer to it in his Acts period ministry?	Kelson	40-50
28	The Lord's Supper / Communion Part 1    (chart)  Part 2                Part 3	The Lord's Supper is a Passover Meal. What is the dispensational setting of Communion and is it appropriate for the Church which is His Body?	Kelson	50
29	Colossians Essentials    Part a   Chart   Structure  Part b	An overview of Colossians looking at structural elements and how they relate to the central section.	Kelson	50
30	Tithing Part a	Is it God's command for believers today to give one tenth to the "church"?	Kelson	50
31	Book of Life Part a Part b Part c	What is the book of life? Does context help answer this question? What is the righteousness of Philippians 3:9?	Kelson	50
32	Acts, is it a transition period, a gradual dismissal of Israel and a progressive revelation to Paul? Part a     Part b     Part c     Part d     Part e     Part f	The Book of Acts spanned nearly 40 years. What is its theme? Did its dispensational setting change from chapter 1 to 28?	Kelson	50
33	The Weekly Sabbath Part a    Part b    Part c	Should the church which is His Body observe the Sabbaths?	Kelson	50
34	Ephesians, wonderfully different dispensationally (incomplete) Part a     Part b    Part c    Part d    Part e     Part f	Unique features of Ephesians	Kelson	50
35	Ephesians 4:1-17 Part a   Part b     (chart here)	The Worthy Walk in Ephesians	Kelson	50
36	Philippians and 2 Timothy compared Part a   Part b	Philippians 3. Winning Christ, the Prize, the out-resurrection.	Kelson	50
37	Wrath in Thessalonians Part a     Part b	Coming of The Lord, gathering and saved from wrath	Kelson	50
38	Paul's Acts period letters Part a     (chart here)	Hope of Israel, justification, no other things than those which Moses and the Prophets said was going to happen	Kelson	50
39	Acts 1:6-7, Ex.19, 24. 1Cor.15 & 1Thess.4 OT Pattern Chart 1 and audio Part i Part a      Part b     Part c      Part d (clouds) Part e (Num.13-14-Joshua 5-6)   Part f (The Lord revealed in a cloud) Part g (revision)  Part h (guilt found and cleared, Atonement)   Part j Part k   Part l (Revelation-linen garments)	The "rapture" in Israel's typical salvation. Acts 1:6, apostolic mistake or brilliant question. If the Feasts were for Israel in the Type why are they for the church in the antitype?	Kelson	50

         
         Very short audio lessons, 5-7 minutes on a variety of subjects.

         Brian's past email lessons      

          Is Romans a book of Prophecy or Mystery?       The Second Coming series
        

      

     Brian Kelson 

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