What does "...as many as were ordained to eternal life believed" mean in Acts 13:48?

Bible Highlighter · Dec 5, 2019

What does "as many as were ordained to eternal life believed" mean in Acts 13:48?

Well, Acts of the Apostles 13:48 says,
"And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts of the Apostles 13:48).

Some believe the last part of the verse in Acts of the Apostles 13:48 is a Calvinistic statement. Meaning, some believe that God ordained (regenerated or saved) to eternal life those who will then later believe. Is that what this text is saying? I don't believe so.

I believe that knowing the meaning behind the words "eternal life" in Acts 13:48 and reading 2 Timothy 1:10, John 3:16, and the context of Acts 13 holds the key to understanding here.

2 Timothy 1:10 says,
"But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:10).

According to 2 Timothy 1:10 above: Life and Immortality is through the GOSPEL.

"Life" and "Immortality" is just another way of saying "eternal life."

We also see "eternal life" mentioned in John 3:16 with the words "everlasting life."
For John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Here we learn that believing in him (Jesus) is to have everlasting life.

So when Luke writes in Acts 13:48, "...as many as were ordained to eternal life believed," Luke is using the words "eternal life" as being in reference to the "gospel message" or by "believing in Jesus Christ for everlasting life."

So let's replace the words "eternal life" with the words "hear the gospel and or believe in Christ for everlasting life" within Acts 13:48 and see what that looks like.

Acts 13:48, "...as many as were ordained to hear the gospel and or believe in Christ for everlasting life believed,"

In other words, Luke is saying that as many who were ordained to hear the gospel, or hear that Christ is our salvation by believing in him led to those who heard to believe. It's not talking about some kind of unconditional regeneration or salvation before one believes in the gospel.

Does this interpretation fit the context?

Absolutely!

The context is the gospel message being preached in Acts 13.

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins" (Acts of the Apostles 13:38).

"And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath" (Acts of the Apostles 13:42).

What were they preaching?

Acts 13:38 says that they preached the forgiveness of sins.

What did they preach?

Luke writes of the death of Christ:

"And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain." (Acts of the Apostles 13:28).

Luke writes of the burial of Christ:

"And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre." (Acts of the Apostles 13:29).

Luke writes of the resurrection of Christ:

"But God raised him from the dead" (Acts of the Apostles 13:30).

The gospel is defined as a belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for salvation.

1 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

This is the "eternal life" that was ordained to the Gentiles who believed. The gospel message of our salvation. Acts of the Apostles 13:48 is not talking about some kind of Calvinistic regeneration or salvation before believing in the gospel.

Acts of the Apostles 3:19 says, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted,"
Acts of the Apostles 16:31 says, "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

So it is.... Repent and then you are converted.
It is.... Believe and then you are saved.
It is not the other way around.

Bible Highlighter · Dec 5, 2019

Please vote in the poll, and discuss.

redleghunter · Dec 5, 2019

Bible Highlighter said:
Acts of the Apostles 13:48 says,
"And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord:
and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts of the Apostles 13:48).

Some believe the last part of the verse in Acts of the Apostles 13:48 is a Calvinistic statement. Meaning, some believe that God ordained (regenerated or saved) to eternal life those who believe. Is that what this text is saying? I don't believe so.

Explained here:

Ephesians 1: NASB

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

redleghunter · Dec 5, 2019

Bible Highlighter said:
Please vote in the poll, and discuss.

Acts 13:48 supports predestination. Predestination is Biblical. Your question has little to do with Calvinism because Calvinism did not 'make up' the term predestination.

redleghunter · Dec 5, 2019

Bible Highlighter said:
I believe that knowing the meaning behind the words "eternal life" in Acts 13:48 and reading 2 Timothy 1:10, John 3:16, and the context of Acts 13 holds the key to understanding here.

2 Timothy 1:10 says,
"But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:10).

As I mentioned on the other thread...You are conflating differing terms. Election is not the Gospel message. It is the Gospel message by the Power of the Holy Spirit which calls the elect to saving faith.

Bible Highlighter · Dec 5, 2019

redleghunter said:
Explained here:

Ephesians 1: NASB

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Except those who will worship the beast in the future (Revelation 13:8, and Revelation 17:8), all names are written in the Lamb's book of life since the foundation of the world. Names are only blotted out because of sin, and or rejection of the real Jesus as shown in Scripture. This is why babies who die are saved. They are saved by Christ's sacrifice because they did not commit sins against God. Neither do babies reject Christ, either. By pure logic, the blotting out of names in the book of life is a contradiction to the Calvinistic belief. Blotting out a name means that the name was once there before, and that some kind of conditional change in that person's life made their name to be blotted out. So Revelation 3:5 is talking about a possibility that should not exist in the Calvinistic universe. Folks are either chosen to be saved, or chosen to not be saved. There should be no name that is later blotted out. Now, if you want to make Revelation 3:5 about physical death, this does not work. Overcometh is the topic of conversation in Revelation 3:5. Overcometh is clearly related to salvation in the previous chapter. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." (Revelation 2:11). The second death is the Lake of Fire according to Revelation 21:8. So he that overcomes will not be hurt by the Lake of Fire. Overcoming is the topic of conversation also in Revelation 3:5. So a name will not be blotted out of the Lamb's book of life if they overcome.

Anyways, when a baby turns into an adult and falls into sin, their sin and lack of faith in Christ separates them from God and their name will be blotted out. So they need to be born again by accepting Jesus as their Savior and the gospel message. By doing so, their name will reappear in the book of life. If a believer sins again, they need to confess and forsake that sin. If not, their name can be blotted out again.

Bible Highlighter · Dec 5, 2019

"And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:27).

Does one lie? Does one work some kind of abomination in the sight of God? The Scriptures say that in no wise will anything (anyone) enter into the city of New Jerusalem that defiles (i.e. sins or justifies sin).

Bible Highlighter · Dec 5, 2019

For...

14 "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."
(Revelation 22:14-15).

anna ~ grace · Dec 5, 2019

I have found that moving out of and away from the questions and arguments tackled by Reformed vs. Arminian theology has been good for me. Just drive away. I have friends on here who are both. But either way, we can lobb Bible verses back and forth for hours. It never goes anywhere.

Bible Highlighter · Dec 5, 2019

I believe the truth of Scripture should be defended.
If it offends some, I will not apologize for what God's Word teaches.
Granted, I love all, and seek to be at peace with all, but truth should not be hidden. We should let the light of the Word shine (Despite it ruffling the feathers of some). For our first love should be Christ and what His Word says.

reformed05 · Dec 5, 2019

Bible Highlighter said:
What does "as many as were ordained to eternal life believed" mean in Acts 13:48?

Well, Acts of the Apostles 13:48 says,
"And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts of the Apostles 13:48).

Some believe the last part of the verse in Acts of the Apostles 13:48 is a Calvinistic statement. Meaning, some believe that God ordained (regenerated or saved) to eternal life those who will then later believe. Is that what this text is saying? I don't believe so.

I believe that knowing the meaning behind the words "eternal life" in Acts 13:48 and reading 2 Timothy 1:10, John 3:16, and the context of Acts 13 holds the key to understanding here.

2 Timothy 1:10 says,
"But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:10).

According to 2 Timothy 1:10 above: Life and Immortality is through the GOSPEL.

"Life" and "Immortality" is just another way of saying "eternal life."

We also see "eternal life" mentioned in John 3:16 with the words "everlasting life."
For John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Here we learn that believing in him (Jesus) is to have everlasting life.

So when Luke writes in Acts 13:48, "...as many as were ordained to eternal life believed," Luke is using the words "eternal life" as being in reference to the "gospel message" or by "believing in Jesus Christ for everlasting life."

So let's replace the words "eternal life" with the words "hear the gospel and or believe in Christ for everlasting life" within Acts 13:48 and see what that looks like.

Acts 13:48, "...as many as were ordained to hear the gospel and or believe in Christ for everlasting life believed,"

In other words, Luke is saying that as many who were ordained to hear the gospel, or hear that Christ is our salvation by believing in him led to those who heard to believe. It's not talking about some kind of unconditional regeneration or salvation before one believes in the gospel.

Does this interpretation fit the context?

Absolutely!

The context is the gospel message being preached in Acts 13.

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins" (Acts of the Apostles 13:38).

"And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath" (Acts of the Apostles 13:42).

What were they preaching?

Acts 13:38 says that they preached the forgiveness of sins.

What did they preach?

Luke writes of the death of Christ:

"And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain." (Acts of the Apostles 13:28).

Luke writes of the burial of Christ:

"And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre." (Acts of the Apostles 13:29).

Luke writes of the resurrection of Christ:

"But God raised him from the dead" (Acts of the Apostles 13:30).

The gospel is defined as a belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for salvation.

1 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

This is the "eternal life" that was ordained to the Gentiles who believed. The gospel message of our salvation. Acts of the Apostles 13:48 is not talking about some kind of Calvinistic regeneration or salvation before believing in the gospel.

Acts of the Apostles 3:19 says, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted,"
Acts of the Apostles 16:31 says, "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

So it is.... Repent and then you are converted.
It is.... Believe and then you are saved.
it is not the other way around.

Wow! Attempting to jump through hoops any?
It STILL says they were ORDAINED whether it was to hear the gospel and believe or ordained to eternal life therefore heard the gospel and believed.

Bible Highlighter · Dec 5, 2019

reformed05 said:
Wow! Attempting to jump through hoops any?
It STILL says they were ORDAINED whether it was to hear the gospel and believe or ordained to eternal life therefore heard the gospel and believed.

Again, ordaining one to hear the gospel and them later believing is not a proof text for Unconditional Election. It merely means that they were chosen to hear the gospel. The fact that they just so happened to all believe in this instance does not mean that they were regenerated to salvation prior to their belief in the gospel. All people who hear the gospel do not always believe. Folks who hear the gospel were ordained to hear it by God, whether they accept that gospel message or not.

reformed05 · Dec 5, 2019

Bible Highlighter said:
I believe the truth of Scripture should be defended.
If it offends some, I will not apologize for what God's Word teaches.
Granted, I love all, and seek to be at peace with all, but truth should not be hidden. We should let the light of the Word shine (Despite it ruffling the feathers of some). For our first love should be Christ and what His Word says.

I get a kick out of it when people argue and argue and argue (also known as right fighting) and try and disguise it as defending the truth as though whatever they believe AABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY IS the truth. They could not possibly be wrong. It isn't actually defending truth. It is defending self. It is also a person shut tight to bring taught. Unteachable. There are passages in Proverbs about that.

Bible Highlighter · Dec 5, 2019

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

This verse should not exist in the Calvinistic universe. The words "might be saved" is a contradiction to Calvinism. There is no such thing as MIGHT be saved in Calvinism. You are either elected to salvation or damnation in Calvinism. The words "they received not the love of the truth" should not exist in Calvinism. It focuses on what THEY should be doing (i.e. to receive the love of the truth). They RECEIVED NOT the love of the truth. This is not.... God has elected them to receive not the love of the truth.

Bible Highlighter · Dec 5, 2019

reformed05 said:
I get a kick out of it when people argue and argue and argue (also known as right fighting) and try and disguise it as defending the truth as though whatever they believe AABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY IS the truth. They could not possibly be wrong. It isn't actually defending truth. It is defending self. It is also a person shut tight to bring taught. Unteachable. There are passages in Proverbs about that.

I can say the same for you, but that would be just name calling which really does not prove your argument for your belief.

redleghunter · Dec 5, 2019

Bible Highlighter said:
Except those who will worship the beast in the future (Revelation 13:8, and Revelation 17:8), all names are written in the Lamb's book of life since the foundation of the world.

REV 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

This verse actually refutes what you stated. According to this verse everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world will worship the beast.

REV 17:8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

Same thing here. Nowhere indicates all names are written in the Book of Life.

Bible Highlighter said:
Names are only blotted out because of sin, and or rejection of the real Jesus as shown in Scripture.

REV 3:5 ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Only place I see 'erase' or 'blotted out." Yet the principle here is that "he who overcomes" is a saint and Jesus will not erase his name from the book of life. This is actually a comforting, motivating statement providing assurance to those who overcome.

Bible Highlighter said:
This is why babies who die are saved. They are saved by Christ's sacrifice because they did not commit sins against God.

I would offer those who die as babies or in the womb or are mentally incompetent don't need our help trying to figure out their eternal destination. They are saved by Grace as we are.

reformed05 · Dec 5, 2019

Bible Highlighter said:
Again, ordaining one to hear the gospel and them later believing is not a proof text for Unconditional Election. It merely means that they were chosen to hear the gospel. The fact that they just so happened to all believe in this instance does not mean that they were regenerated to salvation prior to their belief in the gospel. All people who hear the gospel do not always believe. Folks who hear the gospel were ordained to hear it by God, whether they accept that gospel message or not.

never said it was a proof text. Just pointing out the fallacy of your "logic".

Bible Highlighter · Dec 5, 2019

redleghunter said:
REV 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

This verse actually refutes what you stated. According to this verse everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world will worship the beast.

REV 17:8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

Same thing here. Nowhere indicates all names are written in the Book of Life.

This is a clause of exception for a certain people group and not all people. Revelation 13:8, and Revelation 17:8 are referring specifically to those who will worship the beast in the future.

You said:
REV 3:5 ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Only place I see 'erase' or 'blotted out." Yet the principle here is that "he who overcomes" is a saint and Jesus will not erase his name from the book of life. This is actually a comforting, motivating statement providing assurance to those who overcome.

Right. To those who overcome. Overcoming is not something that is forced upon you. It's why were told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Why all the trembling if it is not talking about fear?

You said:
I would offer those who die as babies or in the womb or are mentally incompetent don't need our help trying to figure out their eternal destination. They are saved by Grace as we are.

Right, which proves my point. If babies are saved, then what makes them later unsaved? It is sin, and a lack of faith in Christ later on in their life when they grow up.

Bible Highlighter · Dec 5, 2019

reformed05 said:
never said it was a proof text. Just pointing out the fallacy of your "logic".

So you don't believe now that Acts 13:48 supports Calvinism?
If so, I am glad.

Bible Highlighter · Dec 5, 2019

redleghunter said:
REV 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

This verse actually refutes what you stated. According to this verse everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world will worship the beast.

REV 17:8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

Same thing here. Nowhere indicates all names are written in the Book of Life.

REV 3:5 ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Only place I see 'erase' or 'blotted out." Yet the principle here is that "he who overcomes" is a saint and Jesus will not erase his name from the book of life. This is actually a comforting, motivating statement providing assurance to those who overcome.

I would offer those who die as babies or in the womb or are mentally incompetent don't need our help trying to figure out their eternal destination. They are saved by Grace as we are.

Again, your not getting it, my friend.
If a name can be blotted out of the book of life, then Calvinistic Unconditional Election is not true. For it teaches that God elects some to salvation and others to damnation. In Calvinism: There is no later condition of being unsaved by a name being blotted out. Either one is forever saved, or one is forever damned.

What does "...as many as were ordained to eternal life believed" mean in Acts 13:48?

Does Acts 13:48 support Calvinism?

Yes.

No.

Not sure.

Other (Please explain).

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Thank You Jesus!

Thank You Jesus!

Thank You Jesus!

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Newbie

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Active Member

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Active Member

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Thank You Jesus!

Active Member

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

Similar threads