Part 3 – Peter and The Eleven’s Ministry Post-Acts 15

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called The 12 Apostle’s Ministry from Acts 7 to 15 and Afterward.

Section II. Peter and The Eleven’s Ministry Post-Acts 15

Exactly where Israel’s “Little Flock” (believing remnant, Luke 12:32) went after Acts chapter 15, the Bible does not provide much detail. However, we can go to Paul’s epistle to Galatia (see last entry in above table in Part 2), as well as the Hebrew epistles, Hebrews through Revelation, for some insight.

After the Jerusalem Council (Acts chapter 15; Galatians 2:1-10), Galatians 2:11-16 says that Peter visited Paul’s Gentile converts in Antioch, Syria (see last item in above table). We see Paul briefly meeting James and other elders of the Jerusalem Church in Jerusalem in Acts 21:18, many years after Acts chapter 15. Where Peter and John and the rest of the apostles of Israel are at this time, we do not know. From thereon, all of the Little Flock’s members drop off the scene, never mentioned again in the Bible historically speaking.

The nine Hebrew epistles, Hebrews through Revelation, were written sometime during the latter part of the book of Acts. James wrote to “the twelve tribes scattered abroad” (James 1:1)—a plain reference to Acts 8:4 and Acts 11:19. Peter wrote his first epistle to “the strangers scattered throughout…” (1 Peter 1:1)—another reference to Acts 8:4 and Acts 11:19. That first epistle from Peter was from “the church that is at Babylon” (1 Peter 5:13). Evidently, a good number of Little Flock members had scattered to Babylon after the stoning of Stephen, and Peter was ministering to them in accordance with his promise in Galatians 2:9. Peter evidently visited Babylon sometime after Acts chapter 15.

We know that the Hebrew books of Hebrews (2:9), 1 John (2:2), and 2 Peter (3:9,15-16) were all written post-Acts 15 because they reflect Pauline influence and indicate Paul’s ministry to “all men” (cf. Galatians 2:9)—the doctrine Israel’s Little Flock learned from Paul at the Jerusalem Council in Acts chapter 15. Since 1 John was written post-Acts 15, it would follow that 2 John and 3 John were written after Acts chapter 15 as well. First Peter, James, Jude, and Revelation were written sometime during late Acts, too. John wrote to believing Jews scattered throughout modern-day Turkey in the opening three chapters of the Revelation. These would be the Jews scattered in connection with Stephen’s death (cf. James 1:1 and 1 Peter 1:1).

The leaders of ‘Israel’s Little Flock,’ as indicated by the books of Hebrews through Revelation, continued with the ‘kingdom doctrine’ first revealed in the Old Testament, Four Gospels, and early Acts (1-7). They remained under the Law, as James teaches. They remained vigilant for the Antichrist, his deception, and the intense persecution that would be aimed at them (1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude and Revelation). They waited for Jesus Christ’s Second Coming in wrath to judge their enemies (1 and 2 Peter). They were encouraged not to repeat the unbelief of their ancestors, that they enter Jesus’ earthly kingdom and enjoy the eternal salvation found in the New Covenant (book of Hebrews).

With this settled, we can return to the “scene-switching” of Peter’s ministry and Paul’s ministry between Acts chapters 9-15.

Section III. When The Twelve’s Ministry Overlapped With Paul’s Ministry In Acts

It is no secret that there is a lot of confusion about the book of Acts. For many centuries, it has been a battleground of bitter arguments. Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion amongst dispensationalists. We have so-called “grace people” mixing the minds of so many. There should not be confusion, especially since we Pauline dispensationalists claim to have divine insight into Scripture! In light of your question, we can summarize the book of Acts using three simple points:

  1. Israel’s Little Flock (believing Israel led by the 12 apostles) had to be notified of the dispensational change ushered in by Paul’s ministry.
  2. Paul’s ministry had to not only be created, but also strengthened and brought to the forefront.
  3. Unbelieving Israel also had to be notified of the dispensational change as well as to be told of their (new) chance to be saved into the Church Body of Christ (rather than saved into the Little Flock and Israel’s prophetic program).

We will now look at these three points in greater detail.

  1. Israel’s Little Flock (Believing Remnant Led By The 12 Apostles) Had To Be Notified Of The Dispensational Change Ushered In By Paul’s Ministry.

Hence, Israel’s Little Flock continued to minister post-Acts-chapter-7 with the Gospel message they had been given earlier. Paul was saved in Acts chapter 9; consequently, his ministry and Gospel message were unknown in Acts chapter 8. Until Paul’s ministry could be fully established and made known to all, Israel’s apostles continued to do what they had been instructed by Jesus Christ years earlier. When the dispensational change occurred in chapter 9, Israel’s Little Flock was unaware of it. The events of Acts chapter 8 happened immediately after chapter 7, so chapter 8 does not seem to cover too long of a time. I would estimate a few weeks at most. The Little Flock simply continued with their “great commission” of going to Jews and Samaritans throughout Jerusalem, Judaea (southern Israel), and Samaria (northern Israel)—see Luke 24:47 and Acts 1:8. They did not know it yet, but God the Holy Spirit was preparing them to see their program’s breakdown and their nation’s diminishing.

By the time of Acts chapter 15, Israel’s Little Flock, led by her 12 apostles, “perceived” (understood) what had happened with the salvation and commission of Saul/Paul back in chapter 9 years earlier. They thus loosed themselves from their “Great Commission” and they handed over all unbelievers (lost Jews and lost Gentiles) to Paul and Barnabas (see Galatians 2:1-10).

  1. Paul’s Ministry Had To Not Only Be Created, But Also Strengthened And Brought To The Forefront.

Hence, the Apostle Paul did a lot of “Jewish” things during his Acts ministry—water baptisms, miracle healings, tongues, exorcisms, animal sacrifice in the Temple, taking a vow, shaving his head, physical circumcision of Timothy, and so on. It was all to show that Paul’s ministry was the perfect replacement for Peter’s. God the Holy Ghost Himself was validating Paul’s apostolic ministry (2 Corinthians 12:12; cf. Mark 16:19-20). With unbelieving Israel seeing her signs given over to and working among the Gentiles, the unbelieving Jews knew the God of their fathers was now working through the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 14:21-22). They would be enticed to behave like Paul’s Gentile converts, and thus save themselves from their nation’s apostasy. Once they would believe Paul’s Gospel—Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for their sins (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)—Paul’s “provoking ministry” would accomplish its purpose.

Remember, for some 2,000 years prior to Paul, God had been dealing predominately with the nation Israel. They were His covenant people. They had the Levitical priesthood, the Word of God (the Law of Moses, and the ministry/writings of the prophets), the promises of God, and they even had Christ’s earthly ministry (Romans 9:4-5; Ephesians 2:11-12). But, during the book of Acts, Paul was going around preaching that Israel had killed Messiah, that she was fallen, that she was accursed of God, that she no different from the Gentile nations of the world, and the Jews having no advantage over Gentiles before God. Understandably, this infuriated unbelieving Israel, that God would consider them no different from dirty, Gentile “dogs.” These lost Jews followed and harassed Paul throughout his ministry during Acts. In Romans chapters 9 through 11, we can see their objections to Paul’s preaching and we can note the Holy Spirit’s answers through Paul. Paul had various detractors in the Jewish religion. God needed to establish that ministry in the midst of all that opposition. The “Jewish” things Paul did provided that much-needed validation. Had the Holy Spirit not acted wisely here, it is quite certain that Christianity (Paul’s message and revelation) would have never survived to our present-day.

  1. Unbelieving Israel Also Had To Be Notified Of The Dispensational Change As Well As Be Told Of Their (New) Chance To Be Saved Into The Church The Body Of Christ (Rather Than Saved Into The Little Flock And Israel’s Prophetic Program).

Hence, Paul visited the synagogues throughout the Roman Empire during the Acts period. What was he doing? Or, better yet, what was the Holy Spirit doing through Paul? He was announcing to unbelieving Israel that they needed to be saved by way of the new program that God had instituted through Paul’s apostleship and ministry. Three times, Paul said that he was “turning to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46; Acts 18:6; Acts 28:28). It was a threefold message to unbelieving Israel—in Antioch of Pisidia/Asia, in Corinth/Greece/Europe, and in Rome/world capital—that she was fallen and now diminishing (Romans 11:11-14). She had lost her status with God and now she was no different from the idol-worshipping Gentiles. In God’s mind, a lost Jew and a lost Gentile were both “heathen” (Galatians 1:16). Paul’s Acts ministry is summarized in Romans chapters 9 through 11.