ADDITIONS
[p. 134] ADDITIONS
Acts 2:41 - 47; Acts 5:11 - 14; Acts 11:19 - 24
JT These scriptures record the conditions in the early days in which additions were made. The first additions were made to what was at Jerusalem; then additions to the Lord in chapters 5 and 11. Chapter 2 sets out the great general thought before us and chapters 5 and 11 give particular detail. In chapter 5 the discipline maintained in the verses read alludes to Ananias and Sapphira; in chapter 11 it is the liberty that marked the preaching, and then the effect of the service of Barnabas. The Jews who were scattered abroad passed through Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch preaching the word to the Jews alone; then it adds there were certain of them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who entered into Antioch and spoke to the Greeks of the glad tidings of the Lord Jesus. As no direction from the Lord is mentioned, it implies liberty of spiritual understanding — some confining their testimony to the Jews, others going further. Then we have also the influence of Barnabas.
I thought under those heads we might get instruction as to conditions in which we may expect additions. The first verse read calls attention to the general thought of additions without saying who added, or to what the addition was made; then the following verses cite the characteristics of the saints referred to. Then it says that certain people were added to the Lord, as if the conditions described were suitable for Him to add to. This narrative would assist us to continue the rendering of the testimony — for we require additions as well as conditions which are suitable to God.
Ques Does the word that they persevered in the teaching, involve there was a certain amount of [p. 135] testing and steadfastness with them before the Lord would add?
JT The apostles’ teaching was a new thing — not customary. The current religion of Moses was right enough, in a way, but this is a new thing — that so many persons should be found discerning in the teaching that which no religious status in Jerusalem had required — perseverance.
Rem They were not casual — they all came to the meetings.
JT They were together, we are told, and that would mean that as opportunity offered they would be present. Together in one place — together characteristically — they would not fail to attend the meetings, of which there must have been a great many; this would be implied by the fact that they broke bread in houses.
Ques Do you think their continuing in these conditions is why the numbers mount up from one hundred and twenty to three thousand, then five thousand?
JT Yes, conditions suitable for additions were there. If we have the conditions and testimony rendered we may look for additions. The scene in Jerusalem at this time must have been remarkable. It is well to picture what actually existed in Jerusalem. It was a new thing. As believers come into contact with what is current amongst us they find it new and it is essential that there should be the conditions confirming what is taught because people do not take to what is new merely because it is presented — there must be conditions.
Ques Would you say a word on what precedes this — the acceptance of their word, then baptism, and the adding of three thousand souls? How would the acceptance of the word and the baptism bear upon what follows?
JT I thought the conviction by Peter’s word indicates the work of God. “When they heard this”, it says in verse 37, “they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”, and Peter says, “Repent, and be baptized ...”. They were baptized — the Spirit stresses what marked them. The word affected their intelligence as well as their consciences. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do?”. What is of God is taken account of. They recognised not only the preacher but the other apostles; how they came to recognise them is not stated — this seems to me to bring out what the work of God is.
Ques Is confirmation that the assembly was first formed on the principle of separation conveyed when Peter says, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation”?
JT Yes, instead of going to an official person like the priests at Jerusalem to enquire, they enquire of Peter and the other apostles. I think that is always a test as to whether God is working if His subjects recognise what is of Him and do not turn to what is accredited in the world.
Rem Addressing them all as brethren indicates how approachable they were.
JT You mean, had they gone to the palace of the high priest they could not have spoken with the same familiarity. The state of things accompanying the whole testimony seems to be noticed — the environment is free and those who seem to have the light are accessible.
Ques Will you say a word as to what Peter says, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins”?
JT It conveys the position, and we must bear in mind that it is a new thing. Moses is not mentioned. The average person attending the preaching would be accustomed to Moses’ teaching, but this is [p. 137] a new thing presented. It is for them to do it — Peter does not say, ‘I am ready to do it for you’ — he is putting it upon them as to what is required — a moral necessity. It says, “They that gladly received his word were baptized” — signifying intelligence.
Ques In speaking of additions, have you a thought in your mind as to the christians connected with the systems around, and also activities in the gospel?
JT I was thinking that their recognition of Peter and the other apostles is one great mark of the work of God in them. If their feelings were mixed they would have gone to well-known priests. The work of God would lead you to enquire of the person through whom the light has come, not only from the person who speaks but from the others.
Rem In 1 John 4:6 it says, “He that knoweth God heareth us”.
JT That confirms what we say. The apostle John specially presents that side, “They went out from us” (1 John 2:19) — we want to understand that “us” — the apostles represented Christ, and it was no small matter for Jewish persons to take on with this in view of what they had been connected with — it shows it was a work of God.
Rem Very different from the man who was blind in John 9: he was taken to the Pharisees, and, as you say, they only got darkened.
JT There is significance in the fact that the first scripture is connected with the adherence to the apostles’ teaching, the second, with Peter’s discrimination and his shadow, and believers being added, and the third, with the disciples being called christians.
It is important for us to see the instinct which accompanies the work of God in His subjects. It is no small matter to take on something which is entirely new to me.
[p. 138] Rem In speaking of the practical working out of these things, one is reminded that some little while ago many came amongst us, and every one of them got his impressions at the Lord’s supper.
JT That is very important at the present time. Here there are men of Galilean dialect with nothing in the way of religious adherence to commend them, but it is the Spirit of God which puts them forward. Peter’s address must have been wonderful — yet great as the word was and also Peter, they see others besides him. No one-man affair — that was never intended — not like the Pope or archbishop.
Ques In verse 32 of chapter 5, Peter says, “We are his witnesses”. Would he be calling attention to the company there?
JT Just so. He stood up with the eleven, a group together, but there is something more than that, the converts saw that all those men could be enquired of. This is an indication at the outset that christianity was never intended to be a one-man affair. This is confirmed in Acts 16 where the jailor says, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”.
The Lord’s supper is certainly not a one-man affair — no official ministering the Supper — “The bread which we break” — “the cup ... which we bless”.
Ques Would personality enter into it? It is not only what is done, but what marks those who do it — the substance they have.
JT Yes, these twelve must have been remarkable men, the handiwork of Christ. There was something different about them and that should mark all of us. Where people are genuine they do observe that things are different. There would be Matthew, Peter, James and so on — there must have been a work of God to lead the subjects to discern and ask them. What works out in these subjects would be in accord with what they saw in the apostles. They were impressed with these men.
[p. 139] Rem There was something unusual about them according to current religion at the time.
JT Yes, they were different — they could all tell you how soul difficulties could be met.
Ques Would one of their features be that they were in touch with the Man who had gone into heaven?
JT Quite so. How interesting it is when a person in soul difficulties is put in the presence of one who can tell him how they are to be met. If we recall our early days of conversion how thankful we were to meet a person who could tell us this.
Ques Does it suggest the thought of how accessible they were?
JT Yes, they felt these men were accessible — not too high for a poor sinner to go to.
Ques Does Peter bring that in when he addresses them as “Men and brethren” in chapter 2:29?
JT Quite so. Your preaching should indicate that you are a man who can get down to people, as it says of the Lord when He appointed the twelve that He descended with them to a level place.
Ques Do we do well to be sympathetic with those involved in difficulties?
JT Yes, the difficulties are very real. Some of us were not brought up in churches and do not perhaps realise how difficult it is for those in that system to get out of it.
Ques Perhaps we do not get questions because we have not the ability or the readiness to answer them?
JT That may be — these converts realised there were men who could answer their questions.
Rem We are not all on the look-out for those who would ask questions.
JT That may be. There is the environment in the testimony which God provides in view of these contingencies. Are we ready to meet these contingencies?
[p. 140] It was a great day when three thousand passed through their hands. In this chapter (2) we have a general idea of the inauguration of christianity. There are gifted persons — these are in the twelve and they are singled out by the converts, who enquire of them.
Ques Would such speaking as you have mentioned help souls to come early to a recognition of what is authoritative as the testimony of God?
JT I think that is an important side of addition. Where God is working there will be a recognition of His authority.
Ques Would you say that in the apostles here there were moral features that would attract souls? These were men of prayer and feeling.
JT Yes, the twelve were certainly the distinctive handiwork of Christ. Of two of them the Lord says, “I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
Ques Would you say a little more in regard to the thought of authority? Is there any true material for the assembly apart from starting with the recognition of authority?
JT I think not. It is impossible to carry on building without material which recognises authority.
Ques Is the authority as real today as on the day of Pentecost?
JT Yes, in principle. Authority remains, and is a test to any who profess to be the subjects of the work of God.
Ques Are you giving that a local setting?
JT Yes, it should work out there. If young people are interested and see the procedure in the assembly, the next thing is, is there any authority here? Today that requires persons of moral weight, not merely official status.
Ques Do you connect that with the fear that they had? You get fear in this chapter and also in chapter 5.
JT [p. 141] Yes, that is good. That is where the authority is discerned. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God.
Rem It was apparently a lack of it that brought in the breach in chapter 5. They laid certain things at the apostles’ feet but in the spirit of deception.
JT Ananias and Sapphira represented features of the devil’s opposition to what we have in chapter 2. I have profited by seeking to picture the position. Jerusalem was never a big city and we have to picture three thousand or five thousand persons so described. They must have met in, maybe, a hundred places on the first day of the week. What a state of things existed there! — as described here in the verses read in chapter 2. As you walked along the streets of Jerusalem you would be bound to hear praise to God — there were so many places where the saints were. It was a wonderful development of the work of God. Chapter 5 shows that the enemy would spoil that.
Rem It is interesting that it says the same of the three thousand as of the one hundred and twenty — they were all together in one place.
JT It does not say they were all together in one place, but together in heart. They broke bread “from house to house”, which means in houses, and they were jubilant — so that the enemy in chapter 5 would spoil that. Continuance of conditions for additions requires disciplines. Evil must not be allowed.
Ques It would seem to indicate that there was spiritual sensitiveness with the apostle to deal with the evil.
JT Yes.
Rem The authority that was seen in the apostles is supported by the Spirit.
JT I think that is to be noticed in both these incidents. With regard to the three thousand it says, “Many wonders and signs were done by the apostles”,
[p. 142] and in chapter 5:11,12, it says, “Great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people”. As if God kept up the authority among His people. If the authority is owned Satan will be defeated.
Ques Is that supported then conditionally upon the maintenance of discipline, on the refusal of all evil?
JT Yes, the continuance of the apostles’ authority is in evidence. The apostles were maintained in their authority; God supported them, as it were, honouring their faithfulness. If we carry on in this way and are faithful in the exclusion of sin God will continue to support the authority which exists.
Ques Would chapter 5:11 suggest that the sensibilities of the saints were sharpened through discipline?
JT Yes, and the added statement that the apostles were supported through their signs and wonders shows that their authority is maintained in this, for it was an attack of the devil, but there is power to repel the attack of the devil not only in the power given to the apostles in signs and wonders, but also in that they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. Solomon’s porch would mean that judgment is to continue. The saints are so impressed with this exercise of discipline that they are not evading it — as much as to say, ‘We are supporting this’. If sin occurs we need not be afraid to face it — God honours nothing more than the maintenance of discipline amongst His people.
Rem It is affecting that Peter in speaking to Ananias refers to the great fact of God dwelling in the assembly.
JT The Holy Spirit would mean God dwelling there. The authority of the Lord is jealously guarded. I think there is often fear to deal with sinful conditions when they arise in case we cause a breach. This [p. 143] should teach us not to fear that. We may lose persons but we gain in divine favour. We are told that multitudes both of men and women were added — multitudes of real believers added to the Lord. So that there was a recognition of the authority of the Lord in the assembly. Adding to the Lord today would mean that one recognises all the principles connected with that title.
Rem Is not that a feature to be looked for in those who seek to walk with the saints in this path today?
JT You would love to see the saints in Solomon’s porch. A meeting for discipline in London ought to mean that the saints in London are in it.
Ques Does Peter represent a lead given in that direction? He moves on his own to meet the attack. Does he represent the spiritual mind in the matter?
JT Very good. We are obliged to investigate, but in the investigation we need spiritual discernment. Every case of discipline or breach taxes that element of discernment.
Rem This discernment is not found with all, only those who take the lead generally.
JT So it is here, but it is very fine to see that all are in Solomon’s porch — the brethren are there; the meeting is not left to leaders.
Rem You have the Spirit’s answer to Jesus walking in the temple in the porch of Solomon. Was He alone then (John 10:23)?
JT I suppose He was. “I have other sheep ...”, He says. These are all to be brought in — on this principle there would be addition. Jesus is alone, not with the Jews.
Ques The winter — would that allude to all that lay before Him?
JT No doubt, but He stood the test. We tend to be afraid of discipline and the consequences.
Ques Is there a link with what comes out in [p. 144] chapter 3 — the man who was walking, leaping and praising God — he is holding Peter and John in this place (Solomon’s porch).
JT Quite so. That they were all there is remarkable. I think that with regard to these discipline meetings the Lord would stress that 1 Corinthians 5 means that the saints were together for discipline, not for the breaking of bread, and it requires power. Paul says, “And my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 4).
Ques Does this suggest that the power is felt beyond the church, because even outside they would not join themselves?
JT Yes, it became a bulwark to the church instead of weakness. The spirit of judgment among us is safety.
Ques Would you mind saying a word in regard to Joshua dealing with Achan? Would that incident bear on your thought of discipline?
JT Yes, very definitely. It is stoning — a matter for all the saints.
Ques In regard of being added to the Lord — does this involve a deeper transaction in the soul — a sense of the maintenance of the holiness of the Lord?
JT Yes.
Rem So that it would be good to see souls coming forward having exercise on this line.
JT I think so. At assembly meetings for discipline the sisters should be present.
Ques Is there any significance in the fact that if a man and a woman have to come under this severe discipline God triumphs in adding both men and women as a result?
JT Yes.
Ques In a meeting of discipline, how far should those go who give testimony? Should they give a lead to the saints in what they say: this seems to be done by [p. 145] Peter?
JT There ought to be a clear statement of the guilt — no more is necessary. A discipline meeting should not be a deliberative one. The enemy tries to do this. Judgment should be executed without question. The facts should be stated soberly.
Ques Does the power involve our being formed in what came in by Jesus Christ?
JT Quite so. The power would be there in those who are formed.
Rem You have two things mentioned in Psalm 19:9,11 — “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether ... and in keeping of them there is great reward”.
JT Yes.
Rem The statement of facts at a discipline meeting should be of such a character as to show to every soul what should be done.
JT Yes, the facts corroborated by two witnesses are all that is needed.
Rem In connection with the incident in Numbers 15 — the man found gathering sticks on the sabbath day — it says they that found him brought him to Moses, but all stoned him.
JT Yes, every person can cast a stone. If believe this chapter (Acts 5) is very important in respect of the maintenance of judgment. The saints are with the apostles in the porch.
Rem From the middle of verse 12 there is a parenthesis: the signs and wonders are connected with healing.
JT The parenthesis is to fill out the position.
Rem There would not be a single person who dissents from the judgment.
JT Quite so.
Rem The exercise may commence with a few but all the saints are eventually brought into it.
JT Yes, that is how it works. The finding [p. 146] of Saul by Barnabas confirmed the work that had been begun. He is one who, finding work to do, does it with all his might. The Lord’s hand was with those who went out, and a man like Barnabas confirms the work. The saints have ears for what God is doing. If God is working we do not want to be deaf, dumb or blind; we want to be alert as to what God is doing. The saints are enquiring not only locally, but universally.
Ques It will be noticed that some of them spoke only to the Jews but others spoke to the Greeks also. What do you see in that?
JT I see increasing liberty. We are all apt to be trammelled by legal thoughts. It is commendable that they were speaking to the Jews, but they were somewhat trammelled by legal thoughts. The church is alert — another side of the position. That is an important thing for addition.
Ques Have you any thought why this follows the persecution of Stephen?
JT It shows that God turns what seems to be defeat into victory. I understand in relation to Stephen’s seeing the Son of man standing at the right hand of God that “standing” there means He is ready to serve. Some of us are often hampered by legal thoughts, with the best intentions, but then there are others who are not. It says in chapter 11:20, “And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord”. It was as if the Lord would stress that there are those who go forward.
Ques Would this encourage initiative of the right kind when serving the Lord?
JT Yes, without further word you go forward and the Lord’s hand is with you.
[p. 147] Rem They were in agreement with what God had done in relation to Cornelius.
JT Yes, that is the setting. When the spirit of liberty is at work spiritual instincts tend to illumine the position.
Rem It is not now the apostle Peter testifying but, so to speak, the rank and file.
JT Yes, the ears of the assembly — so that it says the report concerning them reached the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem, and they, not the apostles, but the assembly, sent out Barnabas. You have Paul’s ears in chapter 9 and Peter’s in chapter 10 and Ananias and Cornelius, good listeners, and now you have all that merging in a collective way. We note from the early part of the chapter that there was opposition in Jerusalem but it is allayed. In chapter 15 it is more pronounced. I think it is an encouragement to us to take the initiative when the opportunity offers and not to be hampered by legal thoughts. God honours that.
Ques You have emphasised legal thoughts — what have you in mind?
JT I could not tell you; there are so many. We are so prone to be governed by legal thoughts.
Rem It is for us to apply what you have been saying.
JT Over against the legal thoughts we have Barnabas who, having seen the grace of God, rejoices and goes off to seek Saul, after exhorting them all to cleave unto the Lord. In relation to Barnabas you have a large crowd of people added to the Lord. Possibly the refusal of legal thoughts might bring in Timothy.
Ques What particularly would characterise one whom the Spirit of God signifies as a good man?
JT We can only refer to it in the abstract: Barnabas is an ideal, a good man, full of the Holy [p. 148] Spirit, a man ready to take account of anything of God and not prejudiced by the person.
Rem Yet he went off the line.
JT Yes, but I think when God calls a man good there is something in him, something in the way of a model.