Confronting Calvinism's Acts 13:48

Acts 13:48 at first glance seems to be Calvinism's best passage as it pertains to proving their position. Romans 9 is not a good argument given the true context of the chapter is about Israel. John 17 is clearly about Jesus and his preparation of those who would carry the gospel to the nations. Verses in John 6 are refuted by the context that surrounds them. Then we have Acts 13:48 and one's first impressions is that this one verse seems to state that some people were saved because they had been appointed to life which for Calvinists would be a proof of unconditional election.

However Acts 13:48 deserves a much deeper analysis since it is just one verse and it appears to be the only passage in all of scripture that proves Calvinism.  As with all honest exegesis, context is the key to understanding what this verse really says. By itself Acts 13:48 seems to convey something here but what about when it is read in full context.                                                                    

Real estate is said to be "location, location, location" and good exegesis of any scripture starts with "context, context, context". Unfortunately context is not valued by most Calvinists. Context is often ignored by Calvinists who seem to be very good at simply lifting a verse here and a verse there n hope that these verses pulled willy-nilly out of the Bible are knit together for some doctrinal proof that is simply not there when read in context.

Please open your Bible and read Acts 13 in its entirety.  Then let the deeper analysis begin...

Context
Acts 13 is a chapter that in context is about the preaching of the word of God by Paul and Barnabas. Acts 13:48 falls into that context and is quite specific about the preaching of the gospel that is rejected by the Jews but received by the Gentiles.  Therefore the context of Acts 13:48 is precisely about this matter.  The whole of Acts 13 is about Paul and Barnabas preaching the gospel.  There is not one verse in Acts 13 outside of verse 48 which even hints at the Calvinist doctrine of unconditional election. This is point one that we learn from our contextual review.

In Acts 13:13 Paul and Barnabas arrive at the synagogue on the Sabbath in the city of Antioch. Paul preaches a wonderful sermon that is directed at the Jews and it stirs up both interest and controversy. The key to the sermon is a verse that actually confronts unconditional election at its core:

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

What we see here is Paul clearly crushing Calvinism before Acts 13:48. Paul preaches a gospel "of everyone who believes" which proves that believing is the key to salvation. Further Paul warns his hearers that because of their "scoffing" they will perish since they do not believe. If unconditional election is the point of this passage Paul would have stated that point directly. Instead we see that Paul finishes his sermon by confronting those who will not believe.  It is the scoffers who don't believe and who perish. Where does Paul espouse unconditional election here?

The next verses record that Paul and Barnabas are asked by many to attend the synagogue on the next Sabbath and that is exactly what they do. What is remarkable is that almost the whole city of Antioch shows up to hear Paul and Barnabas and the Jews became very jealous:

44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.          

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

The above passage IS the key context that Acts 13:48 is found in. Acts 13:48 must not be shared outside of this context. To do so is to show appalling disregard to the text. Unfortunately, this is exactly what Calvinism does. Because they do not honor the context they interpret Acts 13:48 as a stand-alone verse because it only works when standing alone.

Acts 13:48 must be shared in context so I present it as such starting with verse 46:

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48 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.

Verse 46 is the key verse for understanding Acts 13:48 because it is direct context.  Paul and Barnabas announce to the Jews who are rejecting the gospel that they will now preach that gospel to the Gentiles.

Therefore it is very clear that God has chosen to now offer salvation to the Gentiles so that they might believe and that is what Acts 13:48 is really about. It is the statement in verse 46 that provoked the Gentiles to get excited which resulted in being glad and glorifying the Lord. The context here is ALL about the GENTILES believing after the Jews rejected the gospel. The word that Calvinists seize for this verse is the word "ordained" which some versions translate as "appointed.  If you remove this word, the Calvinist notion that God has predestined these people in verse 48 goes away completely making it worthless to Calvinism. But since the word does occur Calvinism attempts to make the verse work to support the doctrine of unconditional election.

The problem for Calvinism is that the word "ordained" is specifically pointing back to verses 46 and 47 and is referring to the Gentiles. "Ordained" then makes the associative point that God has now ordained the Gentiles to receive salvation and eternal life.  The word "ordained" therefore is speaking not of predetermination that some specific Gentiles were being saved but that the Gentiles were now ordained or approved or set in place to receive salvation through Jesus. Therefore the "ordained" is not a reference to these specific individuals but is referring to Gentiles in the greater sense.

The Greek word for "ordained" means to be "set in place". That is the way this Greek word is always used in scripture. It is never used to mean "chosen" but simply means to "set in place", It is a word commonly used in a military sense.  Therefore Acts 13:48 is only saying that Gentiles were now ordained or set in place to receive salvation. For thousands of years the Gentiles had not been allowed to participate in the salvation that had been offered only to the Jews and now there time has come.

Acts 13:48 therefore is no proof at all for Calvinism or unconditional election. The verse is taken out of context and the whole concept of just "these" Gentiles being placed to receive the gospel is not a rational understanding. But Calvinists twist this passage and try to make the case that this verse is about specific hearers being preselected for salvation. It is simply not the case.

Interestingly this interpretation doesn't even meet the true Calvinist standard for unconditional election because if God chose just Gentiles to be saved here he is actually using conditional election with the condition being that these men were Gentiles. Acts 13:48 therefore is a violation of their own doctrine if understood the way Calvinists want it to be.

The verse then in paraphrased language could be stated:

And when the Gentiles (not previously positioned) heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord (believing God's word) and as many as were ordained (the Gentiles) to eternal life believed because now the gospel had been given to the Gentiles.

Much like Romans 9 is really about God rejecting Israel who rebelled against him and offering salvation to the Gentiles so Acts 13 is about God using Paul and Barnabas to announce that God was now offering salvation to the Gentiles since his offering of salvation was being rejected by the Jews.

But what IF...

What if Acts 13:48 was really all about what Calvinists say it is about?  The best it could do is prove that God chose some Gentiles on this one day to be saved but what would it prove beyond that? Does it prove that all people are saved because they were preordained?  No, because it is only speaking of this one place in time and applying it to everyone that will ever get saved is desperate if anything.

I agree with my earlier conclusion that Acts 13:48 is really about the Gentiles given their place to be saved as God ordained for that moment in time and is not about God's predestination of some to be saved BUT even if I agreed with Calvinism's conclusion it would only prove that a few people at this one location were chosen to be saved by God's purpose and proves nothing about unconditional election for all who eventually get saved..

Therefore the Calvinist's misguided assertion that Acts 13:48 proves unconditional election is pathetic. What about all the other passages in scripture where this word "ordained" is not used? So even if you give Calvinism its way on this verse which I don't; you still do not get any proof that the doctrine of unconditional election is valid.

Scripture, good exegesis and context all condemn Acts 13:48 which is cooked up by Calvinist methodology.

Another one bites the dust...

Darrell Brantingham

(Check out my pithy tweets on Twitter @confrontcalvin)

There Are NO Clear Scriptures Supporting Calvinism

Where are they? Where are all the Biblical passages that clearly support Calvinism? The truth is that there are none. Calvinism is unfortunately built on inferences and "hope so's" and not on Holy Scripture. There are no passages in the Bible that clearly state that the doctrines of Calvinism and their TULIP are genuine doctrines.

Even A.W. Pink, the revered and noted Calvinist confirms my conclusion when discussing unconditional election in his book called "Election":                                                                            

“It is a difficult doctrine, and this in three respects.  First, in the understanding of it.  Unless we are privileged to sit under the ministry of some Spirit-taught servant of God, who presents the truth to us systematically, great pains and diligence are called for in the searching of the Scriptures, so that we may collect and tabulate their scattered statements on this subject. It has not pleased the Holy Spirit to give us one complete and orderly setting forth of the doctrine of election, but instead "here a little, there a little"—in typical history, in psalm and prophecy, in the great prayer of Christ (John 17), in the epistles of the apostles. Second, in the acceptation of it.”

I don't agree with Pink on much but his take here on unconditional election is accurate. He notes that scriptures of supposed support for Calvinism are "collected" and "tabulated' from "scattered statements" and grasped by an approach that is "here a little, there a little" approach. In other words Pink confesses a theology that is established by the connect-the-dots methodology and this kind of exegesis always leads to error. This is the same way that cults create their doctrines. It is the way that the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses support their theology. These groups have their scriptures of support but these support passages are not clear, are out of context and full of inferences.

Let's consider six of Calvinism's major doctrines that support TULIP and Calvinism:        

#1 - The Sovereignty of God
Calvinists teach that the Sovereignty of God means that God must predetermine all things because if he did not, he would not be sovereign. There are two problems with this. First "sovereignty" as defined by the dictionary does not mean that one is fully controlling every aspect.  The word actually means that the one who is sovereign is over all things.  Secondly, there is not a scripture to be found that clearly states that God predetermines all things including man's sin, rebellion and ability to be saved.  Yet Calvinists grasp at proof scriptures that do not clearly state what Calvinists believe. A clear scripture would look something like this:                                                                                      

God is sovereign over all matters concerning mankind. He decides all things about every man's life. Man has no choices because God initiates every thing that a man does. God alone predetermines all things. 1 Calvin 1:16

The problem is that this scripture does not exist nor anything even close to it.

#2 - Unconditional Election
Calvinists teach that God chose some to be saved. Some teach that God simply passed over those whom he did not choose to save while other Calvinists teach that God reprobated those he did not save, damning them to hell by his own purpose. The problem is that there is not one clear "proof" passage that states either is true. Romans 9 is certainly not a clear passage since the part Calvinists use is taken out of context and the whole inference is simply not clear in the passage. Ephesians 1 does not clearly state that God predetermined who will and will not be saved but instead states what God has in mind for those who have come to faith in Christ.. John 17 is very weak too as it simply records how God selected certain men to be his apostles to share the good news. None of these passages cited by Reformed folks clearly state something like the following:

 God chose some men for salvation while passing over others. Therefore man has no say in the matter of his coming to God and receiving salvation. God has predetermined salvation for all man, some for salvation and some for damnation and eternal punishment. 1 Calvin 2:16

Is there any scripture in the Bible that comes even close to the above? Certainly not!              

#3 - Total Depravity                                                                                                              

Calvinists teach that man's fall in the garden by eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil made man totally depraved.  They state that this total depravity has corrupted man's ability to reason in the spiritual realm. Reformed folks also state that because man died at the fall he has no ability to respond unless God regenerates him first.  Most theologians on both sides of this doctrine agree that Calvinism's view is really one of man's total inability.

Total Depravity is one of Calvinism's weakest doctrines and is foundational to the Calvinist TULIP and it simply does not have any kind of scriptural support. The words "total depravity" or any statement like it is not found in a single phrase of scripture. The verses used to prove Total Depravity are pulled willy-nilly out of context and don't come close to proving this doctrine. To believe in Total Depravity, there would need to be at least one passage stating what Calvinists teach.  There would need to be a passage that says something like this:

When man sinned and fell in the garden he became completely evil and lost all ability to ever seek God or choose God.  Therefore man is so morally corrupt by the fall and so spiritually dead that he has no free will. 1 Calvin 3:16

Is there a statement in scripture like the above? Absolutely not!

#4 - Limited Atonement
Calvinists teach that Christ's atonement was only for the elect and not for all men despite many passages that state that he actually did atone for all men. Once again there is not one clear portion of scripture that even comes close to supporting such a doctrine which is why even many Calvinists reject this doctrine.

There is not one passage that clearly states that Christ's atonement was not for all like the following states for instance:                                                                                                              

Jesus did not atone for all men but instead was the atonement for the elect only.  Only those who were chosen by God to be saved will be saved. Jesus did not die on the cross for all men but just the few he chose from the beginning. 1 Calvin 4:16

#5 - Irresistible Grace
Calvinists teach that God's chosen elect are given an irresistible grace and that the elect cannot reject God's redemption and salvation no matter how hard they might try.  They teach this despite the fact that the phase "irresistible grace" or any synonymic like phrase in scripture. This far-fetched doctrine is bankrupt of any proof from scripture.

There is no scripture that states something like the following:

The elect whom God chose out of all men to be saved are given a grace that they cannot resist, no matter how hard they try. This grace guarantees that they will come to God. 1 Calvin 5:16

Is there anything like the above in all of the word of God? No, there is nothing even close to it. Grace is always stated to be for all men and twisting grace to make it irresistible is simply abominable.

#6 - Regeneration before Faith
Calvinists unlike every other "Christian" faith including Lutherans believe that man must be regenerated before he can have faith or believe in Christ. This fallacious doctrine does not have any "proof" scripture of any kind clearly stating this sentiment. This doctrine like every other doctrine mentioned in this article is simply a grasping at straws and is actually only developed by human philosophy. There is not a single clear statement in scripture that even intimates the idea.

Ironically, there are hundreds of statements in scripture about faith and not one scripture clearly supports the idea. If there are hundreds of scriptures on faith and believing, would it not make sense that just one would clearly depict faith as coming after regeneration or salvation?  Then consider too that there are many scriptures that show that faith comes before salvation like the following:

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16: 30-31 

Believe and you will be saved is very clearly stated.  There is no statement like the following:

Men cannot have faith until the Holy Spirit has regenerated them. Faith comes after man is born again and saved, therefore it is not in man until this time. 1 Calvin 6:16

In Conclusion
I know---I hear the dyed-in-the-wool Calvinist clamoring right now that there are passages that support all their doctrines above.  The problem is that the scriptures that they use are snippets here and there and that is all they have.  Most false doctrines and heresies are weaved together by multiple passages pulled out of context and this is exactly what the Calvinist is clamoring about.  I don't contest that Calvinists do have scriptures they have knit together but it only works if one weaves them together so that one verse supports the other.  My problem is that no Calvinist doctrine is clearly stated in a SINGLE passage.

When I have brought up this issue previously Calvinists have tried to convince me that doctrines like the Trinity are widely accepted but there is no clear passage.  By using this challenge with me they show that they agree with me that there are no clear passages supporting Calvinism.  But their example of the Trinity is way off base since Matthew 3:14-17 does clearly state the existence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  If Calvinists agree that their passages are not clear but that does not matter then how do they ever identify theological error with groups with which they don't agree? Proving theology by providing clear passages is clearly exegesis that can be trusted.

I remind my readers once again that all cults put forth "proof" scriptures and that includes the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses. What then is the only safe way to prove doctrines? Doctrines can only be proved by clear passages with little or no ambiguity. Such is the true gospel which uses passages like John 3:16 to clearly state what is true:

John 3:16 is truly what a clear passage looks like. That is why it is so often cited by Christians. It is clear and cannot be denied that Christ atoned for all yet Calvinists oppose this clear message because it flies in the face of their doctrines listed above yet without any clear proof.    

I suggest that when you talk to a Calvinist you refuse to engage in a doctrine versus doctrine discussion.  This kind of discussion produces nothing.  I recommend that when you talk to a Calvinist, you ask them to show you just one clear passage that supports their doctrine.  They will not be able to give you even one and will likely try to throw Romans 9 and John 17 at you and when they do, you must tell them that these passages are not clear statements. Then show them one of the clear passages that refute Calvinism like John 3:16-18 and Romans 10:8-17.  They likely won't accept your premise but at least you will have spoken the truth in love.
                                                                                                                      

Darrell Brantingham

(Check out my pithy tweets @confrontcalvin).