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Who is Israel in the eyes of the apostles? Did they believe it to be God’s people regardless of boundary or lineage, or a nation state? In Acts, while leading up to Steven’s stoning, we see the development of the gospel in early Christianity.
Early in Acts, the apostles ask the resurrected Christ when he will restore Israel (either restore to power/prominence, and/or unite and restore the 12 tribes). Again ask yourself, are they asking Christ to restore God’s people, Israel, or develop a nation-state Israel (or possibly both)? He answered them by saying that they will receive the spirit to do His will, preach locally, then to successive regions throughout the world. Right of the bat, that answer doesn’t seem like Christ intended to develop a national Israel with boundaries and borders, but rather to preach a message to God’s people, Israel. Let’s read in early Acts:
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
Acts 1:6-9 ESV
Just as Jesus foretold, we know that the gospel (good news) begins with the apostles work in Jerusalem after Christ’s resurrection, and just as prophesied, once all of the southern house had heard, Christianity spread throughout the earth.
This answer by itself does not preclude the possibility that God desired a message to be preached to a people, Israel, and then later establish a national Israel. But let’s keep going through Acts as we try to decipher who Israel is, at least in the eyes of the apostles. Some say that references to the ‘House of Israel’ make it clear that Israel had reunited the 10 northern tribes into Israel by the time of Christ, and that all references to Israel were to a unified 12 tribes. But if we examine these ‘House of Israel’ references, we see they are either translated poorly or simply mean something else in the eyes of the apostles. The 12 tribes were not united, the 10 tribes remained at large at the time, but their grafting into Israel was seen as a future event, yet to occur. As we’ll see, the 10 tribes are Christians.
Moving to Chapter 2, we see the first reference tot he ‘House of Israel’. After Christ’s ascension, in Acts 2:36, Peter is beginning to preach the gospel and mentions the House of Israel while seemingly speaking to a mixed multitude of Jews at Pentecost, some of whom had returned for the feasts from their various countries where they settled after Babylon’s conquest dispersed them some 500 years earlier. So is he referencing the 10 northern tribes as the OT House of Israel, or something else?
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified
Acts 2:36 ESV
Well, in the NIV, NLT, BEE translations, House of Israel from Acts 2:36 above is rendered simply, Israel, and given the context of the whole passage, that translation seems most appropriate (the northern House of Israel, completely exiled some 700 years earlier had not returned. The southern house largely remained intact, even those Jews that spread to distant lands. The south still maintained their identity after 586BC, since the exile was only 70 years. But the scattering of the northern tribes was utterly complete in 722BC. So the House of Israel here in Acts 2:36 does not seem to be the scattered northern tribes, but rather another way of addressing Israel. Peter also addresses these same men multiple ways within the same passage as Men of Judea, Men of Israel, and Brothers. It is only AFTER these other descriptions that the House of Israel is mentioned. Chapter 2 is written as though Peter is covering all possible bases for the multitude that is present. It’s as though they could be from any aspect of the tribes. But importantly, regardless of what nation they came from, still Israel. The mixed multitude was Israel.
Also, in this same address in Acts 2, Peter states that Christ is the fulfillment of David’s future rule. This was prophesied in Hos 3:5, Amos 9:10, Is 9:7, Ez 37:24. Peter also states that very same promise of David’s rule in Christ is to his mixed audience (Men of Judea, Men of Israel, Brothers, and the House of Israel), their children, and all who are yet far off (those yet to be grafted/regrafted in to Israel). With that understanding in mind and some of the nuance invoked here, let’s now read Acts 2:5-36 for the lead up within the chapter to the House of Israel mentioned in Acts 2:36. I have highlighted the various people that are addressed.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. “25 For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Acts 2:5-39 ESV
This certainly seems to speak more toward God’s people, Israel, than to the establishment of a nation-state.
Interestingly, Stephen also addresses the House of Israel prior to his stoning, but here, we see that he is quoting scripture to angry members of the Judean Southern House from the prophet Amos. In his address to them, he seems to deliberately misquote Amos and redirect the passage toward Judah’s exile beyond Babylon, as opposed to the scripture in Amos 5:27, which is aimed at the Northern House of Israel’s scattering beyond Damascus. Just as Ezekiel euphemistically refers to the House of Judah as Sodom in Ezekiel 16, so too does Stephen refer to the House of Judah euphemistically as the House of Israel in Acts 5, for he substitutes Babylon for Damascus. First we read the verse in Amos, followed by Stephen’s oration in Acts 7:43.
25 “Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 26 You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves, 27 and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.
Amos 5:25-27 ESV
Now we read Stephens rendering to his Jewish (southern) audience (where he references Amos 5:27 above, but changes the audience). Stephen changes, “into exile beyond Damascus,” to “into exile beyond Babylon.”.
[Also note, the star of Rephan is likely a Saturn star, something still used in occult practice today, and could be represented by the hexagram on Israel’s flag today – more on that in later sections]:
42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: “‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43 You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’
Acts 7:42-43 ESV
This is a deliberate misquote by Stephen to a knowledgeable audience. This audience deciphers his nuance, and decides to stone Stephen for it (among his other statements). By misquoting the scripture, Stephen basically called them apostate idolaters who could be scattered like the 10 northern tribes. Steven is not saying that the 10 northern tribes had returned by this point, he was making a point that the southern house could be scattered just as they had.
Moving on to Acts 15, we see the House of Israel being invoked at the Jerusalem council, where Peter defines the gentiles as the same group mentioned in Amos 9:9-12, which are the scattered northern House of Israel. In the lead up to Acts 15:13-18, the council is discussing whether or not the gentiles coming to Christ must by circumcised. So James identifies the gentiles as the 10 lost tribes to the pharisees using Amos 9:9-12.
So before reading Acts 15, lets first read Amos 9, where Amos is speaking of the northern tribes who are to be scattered among gentile Edom. God states that while scattered, they are NOT forgotten, for no pebble is dropped. They are restored by the booth of David, who is Christ, through the lineage of Judah:
9 For behold, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the earth. 10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, ‘Disaster shall not overtake or meet us.’ 11 “In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, 12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” declares the Lord who does this.”
Amos 9:9-12 ESV
The raising of the booth of David is the restoration of the House of Judah after their exile in Babylon, and the remnant of (from) Edom are the 10 northern tribes of the House of Israel, shaken among the nations. With that background, we read in Acts 15, that the gentiles taken as a people for His name, are defined by James as the northern House of Israel. This is the only real conclusion since his statement would otherwise not agree with Amos 9:9-12. So in agreement with Amos 9, James states that the true tent of David through the lineage of Judah, from which Christ arose, is rebuilt from the ruins of Babylonian exile. And that this rebuilt tent is now represented by southern house believers, and through them, the remnant of mankind, which is defined in Amos 9:9 as the old northern house of Israel shaken among the nations who are called by His name and remembered as pebbles retained in the sieve, will seek the Lord, who makes things known from old, and restores Israel.
13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’
Acts 15:13-18 ESV
The fact that James, as the head of the Jerusalem Council, quotes Amos 9:9-12 as fulfilled by the gentiles coming to Christ in his day (ultimately identifying them as the northern house of Israel), cannot be understated.
Finally, in Hebrews 8 we see another reference to the House of Israel. In this case, the term is specifically used in combination with the House of Judah, leaving no doubt as to the intended audience. In Hebrews, the old and new covenants are distinguished, and the scripture suggests that law keeping Jews who do not affirm Christ as King will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven (recall that salvation is a gift to whom Christ chooses). It affirms that all who are saved within Israel must fist recognize Christ, and if they do not, their rejection of Him is the fruit by which their false teaching is known. We know Christ was foretold in Deut 18:15-18 as the one who brings a covenant like Moses, and so to reject that covenant already makes one who esteems the scripture a transgressor. Salvation is impossible without acknowledging Christ, and to esteem the law as a means of salvation in itself is false prophecy. We see in this passage in Hebrews 8 that the new marriage covenant through Christ is with two groups, the House of Israel (northern tribe) and the House of Judah (southern tribe), as the combined bride of Christ, consisting of one body, over which Christ is the appointed head. There are no other groups here. There is not 3rd group called the ‘gentile church’. One is either grafted in, re-grafted in (after being cutoff), or a native branch believer of Israel through the House of Israel or the House of Judah. Again, there is not a 3rd group. Salvation was preached to the gentiles in order to bring them into Israel, there is no such thing as a saved gentile. Once saved, they are no longer gentiles or foreigners, but children of God and grafted as a part of Israel.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. 8 For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” 13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Hebrews 8:7-13 ESV
In the eyes of the apostles, the 12 tribes and 2 houses comprised Israel. The 10 tribes of the northern house had vanished almost 800 years earlier, and it seems apparent that the apostles believed they were returning to Israel as Christians returning to God’s ways from the nations. In their eyes, Christ was reclaiming His bride.
Next Section: 12 Tribes