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

Does Acts 13:48 support Calvinism?

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I'm not going to comment on each verse....as much of if not all of what you snipped from the bible is out of context.
Pick your best two from the list and present it.

"Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:15).

If we hate our brother, no eternal life abides in us. We can also end up not loving our neighbor (or brother) by violating the Moral Law, as well (See: Romans 13:8-10).

5 “...God;
6 ...will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law” (Romans 2:5-12).

This applies to all. God will reward every man according to his works. If a person obeys unrighteousness, they will face wrath. For as many that have sinned without the Law have perished. Meaning, the 613 laws of Moses. We are not under the 613 laws of Moses, but we are under the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). So we can also still perish without being under the 613 Laws of Moses. For Law has changed (Hebrews 7:12).

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8:13).

This is saying that if you live after the flesh (sin), you will die (die spiritually), but if you put to death the misdeeds of the body (sin) by the Spirit, you will live (live eternally).
 
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God gives us the fallen condition all over the Bible. These people are no different.

Uh, there is a difference. Those who worship the beast never had salvation ever by the evil that they will do. So no. Their sin is not like other sins.
 
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redleghunter

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Uh, there is a difference. Those who worship the beast never had salvation ever by the evil that they will do. So no. Their sin is not like other sins.
The only distinction in those verses in Revelation is that those who are already written in the Book will not worship the beast; and those who do are not written in the Book. There is no 'special class' of sinners in end times. They are sinners like anyone else.
 
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The only distinction in those verses in Revelation is that those who are already written in the Book will not worship the beast; and those who do are not written in the Book. There is no 'special class' of sinners in end times. They are sinners like anyone else.

So you don't believe that Revelation 13:8 and Revelation 17:8 says that there are those who worship the beast never had their names in the book of life since the foundation of the world? It doesn't sound like they can have forgiveness like other sinners can. If their names are not written in the book of life since the foundation of the world, this means there is no forgiveness for them.
 
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redleghunter

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So you don't believe that Revelation 13:8 and Revelation 17:8 says that there are those who worship the beast never had their names in the book of life since the foundation of the world? It doesn't sound like they can have forgiveness like other sinners can. If their names are not written in the book of life since the foundation of the world, this means there is no forgiveness for them.
It is clear their names were never written in the Book. That is because not everyone is written in the Book.
 
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You keep saying that but the text does not support what you are saying. Show me where it says those who were written in the book from the foundations of the earth are blotted out. Show me please.

The words "book of life" appears 7 times in Revelation. Two of those times it refers to the Lamb's book of life. The other times it refers to the topic of salvation in some way.

Also, Revelation 3:5 says, "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

This is similar to Revelation 2:7 says a similar thing in regards to overcometh. It says, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

"He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."
(Revelation 2:11).

Revelation 3:5 says, "I will confess his name before my Father,"
This similar to Matthew 10 that says,

32 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33).

So yes. Revelation 3:5 is referring to how a name will not be blotted out of the Lamb's book of life because the topic is clearly dealing with salvation.
 
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It is clear their names were never written in the Book. That is because not everyone is written in the Book.

The mention that their names were never written in the book of life suggests that they are different than other people in the fact that they worshiped the beast. If others also never had their names written in the book of life, then surely Revelation 13:8, and Revelation 17:8 would be the place to say it. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). This means everyone's name is in the book of life when they were a baby. The only exception to this are those who worship the beast. Jesus literally takes away the sins of the world for everyone else in the fact that they are saved as babies by His sacrifice. If Christ did not go to the cross, we would all be doomed. The whole human race would perish.
 
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Show me where in the NT the seal of the Holy Spirit is broken.

What is the condition of having the seal of God?

Scripture says, God the Father has set his seal upon those who labor for the meat that endures unto everlasting life.

"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." (John 6:27).

The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Him (Acts of the Apostles 5:32).

In fact, what is a guarantee?

Guarantee receipts normally have conditions which you can normally read in the ”fine print”. If you get a guarantee receipt for a certain product and you would like to make a claim, the store might request that you bring both the product and the receipt with you before they are willing to look at your claim. They might also request that you do this within a certain time frame and that you state what’s wrong with the product. Another example could be if someone buys you a bus ticket which guarantees you to get to a certain city PROVIDED that 1) you don’t throw away your ticket, 2) that you embark the right bus on the right time, and 3) that you STAY ON the bus until it arrives at the city. The BUS will arrive at the city as promised, but the question is if YOU will choose to be among the bus passengers.

1 Samuel 16:14
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

Psalms 5:11
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me

Again, circumcision was a ”seal” for those under the old covenant.

Romans 4:11
And he received the sign of circumcision, a SEAL of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.

This seal WAS broken and guaranteed nothing when those who were circumcised broke the covenant and were cut off from the people of God.

Romans 2:25-27
25 For circumcision verily profiteth, IF thou keep the law: but IF thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

As you can see, this seal was conditioned on continued faith and obedience. The Holy Spirit marks us as God’s children of the new covenant but if we abandon the faith, and/or live in disobedience then the Spirit of God no longer remains in us and we are no longer sealed. Circumcised (sealed) jews were broken off through unbelief.

Acts 5:32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

John 14:15-16
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever

Romans 8:9-10
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And IF Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

God speaks of the Israelites who ”grieved” His Holy Spirit in their rebellion. These Jews were cut off from the promise of entering God’s rest and they became God’s enemies.

Isaiah 63:10
But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: THEREFORE he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. —

Isaiah 63:14
As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

In the NT the ”rest” is the eternal rest that all believers will attain. The book of Hebrews continually speak of the promise of eternal rest, in combination with WARNINGS to believers not to miss out on this promised rest through hardening their hearts in unbelief, just as the Israelites did who rebelled against God during the Exodus (Read Hebrews 3 and Hebrews 10).

Source:
Sealed UNTO the day of redemption, but a seal can be broken Eph. 4:30
 
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redleghunter

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The mention that their names were never written in the book of life suggests that they are different than other people in the fact that they worshiped the beast. If others also never had their names written in the book of life, then surely Revelation 13:8, and Revelation 17:8 would be the place to say it. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The only exception to this are those who worship the beast. Jesus literally takes away the sins of the world for everyone else in the fact that they are saved as babies by His sacrifice. If Christ did not go to the cross, we would all be doomed. The whole human race would perish.
I’m not following your point here. We hear little of the Book of the Lamb other than in Revelation. There are other places in the NT where Paul says certain people in ministry are written in the book.

You are making a huge leap here to avoid a soft spot in your theology. Nowhere do we see everyone is written into the Lamb’s book and Jesus strikes out names who reject Him.

What we see is the Lamb’s book is from the foundation of the earth meaning before creation and people are written in the book. We see in Revelation not everyone is written in the book. You made up that people who worship the beast somehow are different from other condemned sinners. That they never had a chance. So you are a hyper Calvinist for unbelievers in Revelation but not before Revelation’s events. How does that work Jason?

The entire discussion of babies is quite irrelevant. Those who die because they can’t even comprehend sin and wrath are saved just as we are. By God’s Grace.

Somehow you are using some preconceived proposition that drives you to not handle the Revelation passages clearly.
 
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redleghunter

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What is the condition of having the seal of God?

Scripture says, God the Father has set his seal upon those who labor for the meat that endures unto everlasting life.

"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." (John 6:27).

The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Him (Acts of the Apostles 5:32).

In fact, what is a guarantee?

Guarantee receipts normally have conditions which you can normally read in the ”fine print”. If you get a guarantee receipt for a certain product and you would like to make a claim, the store might request that you bring both the product and the receipt with you before they are willing to look at your claim. They might also request that you do this within a certain time frame and that you state what’s wrong with the product. Another example could be if someone buys you a bus ticket which guarantees you to get to a certain city PROVIDED that 1) you don’t throw away your ticket, 2) that you embark the right bus on the right time, and 3) that you STAY ON the bus until it arrives at the city. The BUS will arrive at the city as promised, but the question is if YOU will choose to be among the bus passengers.

1 Samuel 16:14
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

Psalms 5:11
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me

Again, circumcision was a ”seal” for those under the old covenant.

Romans 4:11
And he received the sign of circumcision, a SEAL of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.

This seal WAS broken and guaranteed nothing when those who were circumcised broke the covenant and were cut off from the people of God.

Romans 2:25-27
25 For circumcision verily profiteth, IF thou keep the law: but IF thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

As you can see, this seal was conditioned on continued faith and obedience. The Holy Spirit marks us as God’s children of the new covenant but if we abandon the faith, and/or live in disobedience then the Spirit of God no longer remains in us and we are no longer sealed. Circumcised (sealed) jews were broken off through unbelief.

Acts 5:32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

John 14:15-16
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever

Romans 8:9-10
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And IF Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

God speaks of the Israelites who ”grieved” His Holy Spirit in their rebellion. These Jews were cut off from the promise of entering God’s rest and they became God’s enemies.

Isaiah 63:10
But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: THEREFORE he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. —

Isaiah 63:14
As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

In the NT the ”rest” is the eternal rest that all believers will attain. The book of Hebrews continually speak of the promise of eternal rest, in combination with WARNINGS to believers not to miss out on this promised rest through hardening their hearts in unbelief, just as the Israelites did who rebelled against God during the Exodus (Read Hebrews 3 and Hebrews 10).

Source:
Sealed UNTO the day of redemption, but a seal can be broken Eph. 4:30
I will wait for an answer to my inquiry. Nothing you posted showed a break in the seal of the Holy Spirit.

And the receipt is with God not us. He makes the promise in Ephesians 1 and He will redeem that receipt.
 
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I’m not following your point here. We hear little of the Book of the Lamb other than in Revelation. There are other places in the NT where Paul says certain people in ministry are written in the book.

You are making a huge leap here to avoid a soft spot in your theology. Nowhere do we see everyone is written into the Lamb’s book and Jesus strikes out names who reject Him.

What we see is the Lamb’s book is from the foundation of the earth meaning before creation and people are written in the book. We see in Revelation not everyone is written in the book. You made up that people who worship the beast somehow are different from other condemned sinners. That they never had a chance. So you are a hyper Calvinist for unbelievers in Revelation but not before Revelation’s events. How does that work Jason?

The entire discussion of babies is quite irrelevant. Those who die because they can’t even comprehend sin and wrath are saved just as we are. By God’s Grace.

Somehow you are using some preconceived proposition that drives you to not handle the Revelation passages clearly.

Right, and what separates a person from God when they grow up and they are no longer a baby?

As for Revelation 13:8, and Revelation 17:8:
It is the only place in the Bible where it says that a certain group of people never had their names in the book of since the foundation of the world. The fact that there is no mention of any other wicked sinners whose names are not written in the book of life (Who did not worship the beast) suggests that these individuals who worshiped the beast are an exclusive and unique group of unbelievers.
 
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"Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:15).

If we hate our brother, no eternal life abides in us. We can also end up not loving our neighbor (or brother) by violating the Moral Law, as well (See: Romans 13:8-10).
Please quote the entire verse so we can ee the context. Snippets isn't theology.

5 “...God;
6 ...will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law” (Romans 2:5-12).

This applies to all. God will reward every man according to his works. If a person obeys unrighteousness, they will face wrath. For as many that have sinned without the Law have perished. Meaning, the 613 laws of Moses. We are not under the 613 laws of Moses, but we are under the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). So we can also still perish without being under the 613 Laws of Moses. For Law has changed (Hebrews 7:12).

What you are speaking of is the Bema Seat Judgement. Do you know what that is?
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8:13).

This is saying that if you live after the flesh (sin), you will die (die spiritually), but if you put to death the misdeeds of the body (sin) by the Spirit, you will live (live eternally).

You poor guy, you often live after the flesh. How many times a day do you lose your salvation?
 
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Please quote the entire verse so we can ee the context. Snippets isn't theology.

If I did not quote the entire verse, then surely you are able to quote it for me and explain it for me. This is what I have done many times with others. Seeing you are not explaining anything about 1 John 3:15 and or Romans 13:8-10, I am just going to assume you don't know what they say and you are just hitting the disagree button.

You said:
What you are speaking of is the Bema Seat Judgement.
You said:
Do you know what that is?

I was not born again yesterday. I accepted Christ as my Savior in 1992; So of course I know of the Eternal Security Proponent's teaching on the Bema Seat Judgment. But of course, it is not biblical. There is going to be only one judgment which is called the Judgment Seat of Christ. For it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this, the judgment. Therefore it is the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.

What will happen at the Judgment is that the wheat and the tares will be gathered together in the Lord's barn and then they will be separated between each other. The sheeps and the goats will be separated from one another at the Judgment. This does not mean that the faithful will not be rewarded ahead of time, and or the wicked will be punished beforehand. The rich-man in torments did not sound like he went through the Judgment yet. Abraham had to point out things to him in regards to why he was there. Matthew 13:41-42 says that Christ will send forth his angels, and they will gather OUT of His kingdom all who offend (cause others to sin), and those who work iniquity (lawlessness), and they will be cast into the furnace of fire (i.e. the Lake of Fire). This needs to happen before Christ (God the Son) gives the Kingdom back to GOD the Father.

Anyways, you ignore the part in Romans 2 that talks about how those who have sinned without the Law (without being under the 613 laws of Moses) will perish. That would be US!!!! No believer is under the 613 laws of Moses. But those who sin today (not being under the Law of Moses) will perish. Perish. Perish. Perish.

It also says, "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath," (Romans 2:8).

It is saying that those who obey unrighteousness (sin), they will face indignation and wrath. So this is talking about the ONE and only judgment for both believers and unbelievers. For why else would the Lamb's book of life be present at the great white throne?

You said:
You poor guy, you often live after the flesh. How many times a day do you lose your salvation?

"Live after the flesh" is not in the way that you suggest.

"Live after the flesh" is in reference to "the works of the flesh."

19 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21).

We see the works of the flesh are various sins, and those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1).

What is Paul talking about in regards to cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit?

19 "Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed." (2 Corinthians 12:19-21).
 
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Radagast

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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.

That's right. You might as well say "does it support Thomism?"
 
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What will happen at the Judgment is that the wheat and the tares will be gathered together in the Lord's barn and then they will be separated between each other. The sheeps and the goats will be separated from one another at the Judgment. This does not mean that the faithful will not be rewarded ahead of time, and or the wicked will be punished beforehand. The rich-man in torments did not sound like he went through the Judgment yet. Abraham had to point out things to him in regards to why he was there. Matthew 13:41-42 says that Christ will send forth his angels, and they will gather OUT of His kingdom all who offend (cause others to sin), and those who work iniquity (lawlessness), and they will be cast into the furnace of fire (i.e. the Lake of Fire). This needs to happen before Christ (God the Son) gives the Kingdom back to GOD the Father.


Sounds like the rich man was already separated.

Secondlt, there is two different judgements. Bema and the White Throne. It has nothing to do with being an eternal security proponent.
 
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To all:

Also, let's just say Acts of the Apostles 13:48 is saying plainly, "as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts of the Apostles 13:48).

These bolded words in Acts of the Apostles 13:48 are still not teaching Unconditional Election. How so? The Bible says that Christ is not only the propitiation for our sins, but the sins of the entire world (1 John 2:2). For God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the entire world (John 1:29). So yes. Besides those who will worship the beast in the future (Revelation 13:8, Revelation 17:8), everyone is appointed or ordained to eternal life. But it is up to the individual to decide if they are to believe or not under the time or times within their life that GOD illuminates them in order to see the truth of the gospel. In Acts of the Apostles 13:48, the many that were ordained to eternal life is in reference to these group of believers from out of the world of believers who will not worship the beast in the future. The many who were ordained is in reference to these select believers from out of the "world" that God so loved that He sent His only begotten Son to die for. The only the thing is that in order for those out of the world to be saved, they have believe or have faith. In this particular instance, a select few from out of the world who were ordained to life had just so happened to believe in this instance. This is not surprising.

For example: Imagine a bunch of balls of light at God's feet before the Lord created everything. Now say these balls of light are the souls of everyone who has ever lived. God already knows who is going to accept Him and who is going to reject Him from looking at all these lights. So the Lord can then pick up one of these balls of light and place it it into whatever timeline or place as He so desires. For God had created a line of believers from Abraham to Joseph. What are the odds of that happening? What about the 144,000 jews in the end times who will accept Jesus mentioned in Revelation chapter 7?

Everyone of those balls of lights still has a free will choice to accept or reject God. The Lord is simply sovereign over all time to know what their decision was going to be and He has placed them into the timeline and place of His choosing. For as I said before, God had declared the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).

So in conclusion:

Acts of the Apostles 13:48 does not prove Unconditional Election but merely God's sovereignty over His creation of mankind who has free will. God is merely one step ahead of His creation because He knows the future, and all possibilities, and He is able to easily manipulate things for His greater plan for good.
 
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