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George Booker
What Are The First Principles?

6. The Apostles’ “First Principles” Lectures

A second approach to defining first principles is found in a careful analysis of the speeches in the Book of Acts.

We established earlier that essential doctrines are those doctrines that should be believed before baptism. Therefore, if we can determine what doctrines the inspired apostles taught as preliminaries to baptism, we shall have determined at the same time (by Scriptural evidence, not subjective reasoning) the doctrines essential to salvation.

The Book of Acts contains nine such “first principles” lectures: that is,

apostolic teaching designed to lead the hearers to faith, repentance, and baptism.

In this endeavor, the Book of Acts is of considerably more value than the Letters: The Letters are addressed to those already baptized, anywhere from one to a dozen years afterward. But the great speeches of Acts are addressed to the unbaptized. (And remember ...we are not trying to answer the question “What is all truth?”, but rather “What is essential truth?”)

It is probable that the speeches recorded in Acts are considerably abbreviated — the writer Luke providing only brief summaries of the actual words of Peter and Paul. (A.D. Norris, in Acts and Epistles, pp. 87,88, points out that the speeches of Acts can each be read in a very few minutes, whereas there are various indications in the text that the actual speeches themselves occupied much longer periods. For example, Acts 2:40 adds, “And with many other words did he [Peter] testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." But by accumulating in one analysis all that Luke records of the various talks, we shall have the best chance of filling in the gaps, and — with the overlap — arriving at a comprehensive summary of essential doctrines. )

This same matter might be stated negatively, but constructively: We may reasonably assume that Luke — being inspired to record as much as he did, and given nine separate opportunities — would not have failed to record at least once any essential element of saving Truth. So, having reviewed all the “first principles” lectures of Acts, we shall know at least that there is no firsthand evidence there for the inclusion, in the list of “essential doctrines”, of any other teaching.

A series of tables may be developed that outlines the essential doctrines in the main speeches of Acts, which are as follows:

Peter in Jerusalem	Acts 2:22-42 (Psa. 16:8-11; 110:1-7)
Peter in Jerusalem again	3:12-26 (Gen. 12:1-3; 22:16-18; Deut. 18:15,19)
Stephen in Jerusalem	7: 2-56 (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; Deut. 18:15,19)
Philip to the Ethiopian	8:30-39 (Isa. 53:1-12)
Peter to Cornelius	10:34-48
Paul in Antioch	13:15-39 (Psa. 2:1-12; Isa. 55:1-13)
Paul in Athens	17:22-31 (Isa. 45:5-25)
Paul to Felix	24:14-21
Paul to Festus and Agrippa	26: 2-27

In several cases the Acts speech is supplemented by direct quotations from Old Testament passages. When this occurs, these quoted passages (in their immediate contexts) are assumed to have been part of the original Acts speech, and may also be cited in producing the following outline analysis.

No attempt is made to catalog what plainly are mere supplementary details in the speeches, but only what are the general and main points made by the preachers. If there are no references following an item, there were no direct allusions to that teaching in that particular speech. (Once again, the analysis follows the general order of the BASF.)

Outline of Essential Doctrines

(1) Acts 2:22-42 (Psa. 16:8-11; 110:1-7)

The Bible: the word of God, inspired —
One God: the Father and Creator; the Holy Spirit, His power — Acts 2:22,23.
Jesus, the Son of God —
Jesus, a mortal man — Acts 2:22
Jesus: his perfect life, sacrifice — Acts 2:23
Jesus: his resurrection, glorification, and ascension — Acts 2:24-33,36 (Psa. 110:1; 16:10,11)
Christ as the mediator — Acts 2:42 (Psa. 110:4)
The second coming — (Psa. 110:1,2)
Resurrection and judgment — (Psa. 110:3)
Promises to Abraham: land inheritance —
Promises to David: kingdom restored — Acts 2:30,35 (Psa. 110:2,5,6)
Forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism — Acts 2:38
One body: fellowship and breaking of bread — Acts 2:42.

Outline of Essential Doctrines

(2) Acts 3:12-16 (Gen. 12:1-3; 22:16-18; Deut. 18:15,19)

The Bible: the word of God, inspired — Acts 3:18-21
One God: the Father and Creator; the Holy Spirit, His power —
Jesus, the Son of God — Acts 3:26
Jesus, a mortal man — Acts 3:22 (Deut. 18:15)
Jesus: his perfect life, sacrifice — Acts 3:13,18
Jesus: his resurrection, glorification, and ascension — Acts 3:15,21,26 (Gen. 22:17)
Christ as the mediator —
The second coming — Acts 3:19-21
Resurrection and judgment — Acts 3:23 (Deut. 18:19)
Promises to Abraham: land inheritance — Acts 3:25 (Gen. 12:1-3; 22:16-18)
Promises to David: kingdom restored — Acts 3:19-21
Forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism — Acts 3:19,26
One body: fellowship and breaking of bread — (Gen. 12:3; 22:18)

Outline of Essential Doctrines

(3) Acts 7:2-56 (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; Deut. 18:15,19)

The Bible: the word of God, inspired — Acts 7:38
One God: the Father and Creator; the Holy Spirit, His power —
Jesus, the Son of God —
Jesus, a mortal man — Acts 7:37 (Deut. 18:15)
Jesus: his perfect life, sacrifice — Acts 7:52
Jesus: his resurrection, glorification, and ascension — Acts 7:55,56
Christ as the mediator —
The second coming —
Resurrection and judgment — Acts 7:37 (Deut. 18:19)
Promises to Abraham: land inheritance — Acts 7:2-5 (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17)
Promises to David: kingdom restored —
12.. Forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism —
One body: fellowship and breaking of bread — (Gen. 12:3)

Outline of Essential Doctrines

(4) Acts 8:30-39 (Isa. 53:1-12)

The Bible: the word of God, inspired — Acts 8:35
One God: the Father and Creator; the Holy Spirit, His power —
Jesus, the Son of God — Acts 8:37
Jesus, a mortal man — Acts 8:34 (Isa. 53:3)
Jesus: his perfect life, sacrifice — (Isa. 53:3-7,10,11)
Jesus: his resurrection, glorification, and ascension — (Isa. 53:10-12)
Christ as the mediator — (Isa. 53:12)
The second coming — (Isa. 53:10,11)
Resurrection and judgment — (Isa. 53:10,11)
Promises to Abraham: land inheritance — (Isa. 53:12)
Promises to David: kingdom restored — (Isa. 53:12)
12.. Forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism — Acts 8:36-38 (Isa. 53:10)
One body: fellowship and breaking of bread —

Outline of Essential Doctrines

(5) Acts 10:34-48

The Bible: the word of God, inspired — Acts 10:43
One God: the Father and Creator; the Holy Spirit, His power — Acts 10:38
Jesus, the Son of God —
Jesus, a mortal man —
Jesus: his perfect life, sacrifice — Acts 10:38,39
Jesus: his resurrection, glorification, and ascension — Acts 10:36,40,41
Christ as the mediator —
The second coming —
Resurrection and judgment — Acts 10:42
Promises to Abraham: land inheritance —
Promises to David: kingdom restored —
12.. Forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism — Acts 10:36,37,43,47,48
One body: fellowship and breaking of bread — Acts 10:34-36,43

Outline of Essential Doctrines

(6) Acts 13:15-39 (Psa. 2:1-12; Isa. 55:1-13)

The Bible: the word of God, inspired — Acts 13:26,27 (Isa. 55:8-11)
One God: the Father and Creator; the Holy Spirit, His power — (Isa. 55:8,9)
Jesus, the Son of God — Acts 13:23 (Psa. 2:7)
Jesus, a mortal man — Acts 13:23
Jesus: his perfect life, sacrifice — Acts 13:27-29
Jesus: his resurrection, glorification, and ascension — Acts 13:30,31,34 (Isa. 55:3)
Christ as the mediator —
The second coming —
Resurrection and judgment —
Promises to Abraham: land inheritance — Acts 13:32,33
Promises to David: kingdom restored — Acts 13:23,34 (Psa. 2:6-10; Isa. 55:3,4)
12.. Forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism — Acts 13:24,38,39 (Psa. 2:12; Isa. 55:6,7)
One body: fellowship and breaking of bread —

Outline of Essential Doctrines

(7) Acts 17:22-31 (Isa. 45:5-25)

The Bible: the word of God, inspired —
One God: the Father and Creator; the Holy Spirit, His power — Acts 17:24-29 (Isa. 45:5-8,12,21,22)
Jesus, the Son of God —
Jesus, a mortal man — Acts 17:31
Jesus: his perfect life, sacrifice —
Jesus: his resurrection, glorification, and ascension — Acts 17:31
Christ as the mediator —
The second coming — Acts 17:31
Resurrection and judgment — Acts 17:31
Promises to Abraham: land inheritance — (Isa. 45:18)
Promises to David: kingdom restored — (Isa. 45:14)
12.. Forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism — Acts 17:30
One body: fellowship and breaking of bread —

Outline of Essential Doctrines

(8) Acts 24:14-21

The Bible: the word of God, inspired — Acts 24:14
One God: the Father and Creator; the Holy Spirit, His power —
Jesus, the Son of God —
Jesus, a mortal man —
Jesus: his perfect life, sacrifice —
Jesus: his resurrection, glorification, and ascension —
Christ as the mediator —
The second coming —
Resurrection and judgment — Acts 24:15,21
Promises to Abraham: land inheritance —
Promises to David: kingdom restored —
12.. Forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism —
One body: fellowship and breaking of bread —

Outline of Essential Doctrines

(9) Acts 26:2-27

The Bible: the word of God, inspired — Acts 26:22
One God: the Father and Creator; the Holy Spirit, His power —
Jesus, the Son of God —
Jesus, a mortal man —
Jesus: his perfect life, sacrifice — Acts 26:23
Jesus: his resurrection, glorification, and ascension — Acts 26:23
Christ as the mediator —
The second coming —
Resurrection and judgment — Acts 26:8
Promises to Abraham: land inheritance — Acts 26:6,7,18
Promises to David: kingdom restored —
12.. Forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism — Acts 26:18,20
One body: fellowship and breaking of bread — Acts 26:17,18,20,23

Observations

One of the 13 “essential doctrines” is referred to only twice in the nine “talks”, but each of the other twelve is referred to at least three times, and most are referred to as many as six or seven times.
Allusions to the inspired Scriptures (#1) and the one God (#2) are not more numerous because several of the nine speeches were made to Jews — to whom such beliefs were “second nature” already; it may be assumed these fundamental teachings, in the circumstances, did not need one more reiteration.
“The things concerning the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14; Matt. 4:17,23; 6:33; 9:35; 13:19; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:11; 13:29; Acts 19:8; 28:31) (especially #s 8-11) and “the things concerning the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 4:12; 8:12; 10:43) (especially #s 3-7,12) are obviously, from this analysis, the core of essential doctrines. Thus, this approach demonstrates that “essential doctrines” are equivalent to “the gospel”.
The false “doctrines to be rejected” are for the most part not handled directly in the speeches of Acts. But, as with our previous analysis, the main ones are generally derivable as obverses, or contradictions, to the plain positive teachings:
The “trinity” is contrary to #s 2 and 4;
Heaven-going is contrary to #s 9 through 11; and
Infant-sprinkling is contrary to # 12.

This absence of direct rejection of false doctrines by the apostles is understandable, since many of what we today classify as “false doctrines” were unheard of in the first century. The positive truths we believe are the same as those believed and taught in apostolic times. But the particular errors of each generation may be different. Nevertheless, a sufficiently comprehensive statement of positive “essential doctrines” provides a reasonable basis for repudiating all truly harmful “false doctrines”.

In fact, it is fair to say that — if a so-called “doctrine to be rejected” cannot be shown to be in direct and plain contradiction to a true “first principle” — then it should not be included in a formal list of “doctrines to be rejected”. (In other words, it may well be wrong, but its belief does not invalidate the positive effect of believing true first principles; it is a secondary matter.)

The “statement of faith” in Acts

It is possible now to write a “statement of faith” using almost exclusively the words of Scripture (either the inspired speeches of Acts, or the inspired prophets directly cited in those speeches: see outlines above). That the statement produced by this method contains only “essential doctrines” is evidenced by the fact that the original preachers were preparing (or hoping to prepare) their hearers for baptism, and therefore they would not have been concerned with non-essential matters except when absolutely necessary to hold their narratives together. (For ease of understanding the RSV is used here.)

Acts Statement of Faith

The Bible: God spoke to Moses through the angel at Mount Sinai, giving him living oracles. God also spoke through the mouths of all His holy prophets, who bear witness to Jesus Christ. This message of salvation was intended first of all for the descendants of Abraham, but they did not recognize Christ or understand the prophets; thus they fulfilled the prophecies by condemning Christ. And so the word that went forth from the mouth of God accomplishes (and continues to accomplish) His purpose. It is man’s duty to believe everything laid down by the Law or written in the prophets. (Acts 7:38; 3:18,21; 8:35; 10:43; 26:22; 13:26,27; Isa. 55:11; Act 24:14)
One God: There is one God, and no other, who made the earth and created man upon it, whose hands stretched out the heavens. He gives to all men life and breath and everything. His hope is that man might seek Him and find Him, for in reality He is not far from any of us, and we are His offspring. In Him we live and move and have our being. He is not like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man. Instead, He is like us, for we are like Him, made originally in His image and likeness. Yet His ways and His thoughts are higher than ours, as the heavens are higher than the earth. The one God has a definite plan and foreknowledge, which He brings to pass with His mighty power, or spirit. This He has done especially with Jesus of Nazareth, whom He anointed with His Holy Spirit. (Isa. 45:5-8,12; Acts 17:24-29; Isa. 55:8,9; Acts 2:22,23; 10:38)
Jesus the Son of God: Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, begotten of God Himself, to be His special servant, and the promised Savior. (Acts 8:37; Psa. 2:7; Acts 3:26)
Jesus the man: Though he is the Son of God, Jesus was and is also a man, brought forth by God out of David’s posterity, a prophet raised up out of Israel, appointed and attested to by God through mighty works and signs, but at the same time a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. (Acts 13:23; 3:22; 7:37; Deut. 18:15; Acts 17:31; 2:22; Isa. 53:3)
The sacrifice of Christ: God glorified His special servant Jesus, anointing him with the Holy Spirit and with power; and Jesus went about doing good and healing, for God was with him. The Righteous One was finally betrayed by his own people, and delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. He was despised and rejected, he suffered and was killed at the hands of lawless men, at the instigation of the Jews. Yet this Righteous One, God’s servant, was being delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. In his sufferings he bore the grief and sorrows of others: he was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; with his stripes we are healed. It was the will of God to bruise Jesus: to make him a lamb led to the slaughter, an offering for sin. (Acts 3:13; 10:38; 7:52; 3:13,18; Isa. 53:3; Acts 26:23; 2:23; 10:39; Isa. 53:11; Acts 2:23; Isa. 53:4,5,7,10)
The resurrection of Christ: But God raised up Jesus, because it was not possible for him to be held by death. The prophet David foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that he would not be abandoned to the grave, nor would his flesh see corruption. This Jesus was raised up by God, possessing the gate of his great enemy Death; of this all the apostles were witnesses. Jesus Christ was also exalted to sit at the right hand of God in heaven, as Lord over all, where he will remain until the time for restoring the kingdom to Israel, as God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets. His resurrection and glorification is God’s assurance that He will one day judge the world in righteousness by this man. (Acts 2:24; 26:23; 2:31; Psa. 16:10,11; Acts 2:32,33; 3:15; 10:40,41; Gen. 22:17; Acts 13:30,31; 2:36; 10:36; Psa. 110:1; Acts 7:55,56; 3:21; 17:31)
The mediatorship of Christ: Being exalted to God’s right hand, Jesus has become a priest forever, in order to make intercession there for all transgressors, who have faith in him and pray to God through him. (Psa. 110:1,4; Isa. 53:12; Acts 2:42)
The second coming of Christ: Christ will remain in heaven, until the time for restoring all things, including the kingdom to Israel. Then God will send him back to the earth, to make his enemies his footstool, and to send forth a mighty scepter from Zion. (Acts 3:21; 1:6; Psa. 110:1,2)
The resurrection and judgment: Christ will return to the earth to raise the dead. Both living and dead will be assembled to his judgment. Those who are unfaithful or unjust, who have not given heed to the word of God which he has spoken, will be destroyed. Those who are faithful will be reborn; they will be accounted righteous and will share an eternal inheritance with Christ. (Acts 24:21; 26:8; 10:42; 24:15; 3:23; Deut. 18:19; Psa. 110:3; Isa. 53:11,12)
The promises to Abraham: God made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which is being and will be fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is Abraham’s descendant: These promises include the blessing of all nations, and an everlasting inheritance in the land of Canaan for those who have faith in Christ. Indeed, the whole earth has been formed by God to be the eternal habitation of His people. (Acts 26:6,7; 3:25; 7:2-5; 13:32,33; Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; Isa. 45:18)
The promises to David: God also made a covenant with David king of Israel, which is being and will be fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is David’s descendant: This is a steadfast and everlasting covenant involving blessing for David and his descendant Jesus, whom God will set on David’s throne in Zion, to rule in the midst of the nations, and make the ends of the earth his possession. (Acts 13:23; Isa. 55:3,4; Acts 13:34; 2:30; Psa. 2:6-9; Isa. 45:14)
Faith and baptism: In order to partake of God’s promised blessings, men must believe the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ, and show repentance by forsaking their wicked ways and thoughts, and by turning to God and performing deeds worthy of repentance. By being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, they may find forgiveness of their sins, and refuge with God. (Acts 3:2; 10:36,37; Isa. 55:6,7; Acts 3:26; 13:24; 26:20; 2:38; 8:36-38; 10:43,47,48; 3:19; Isa. 53:10; Acts 13:38,39; Psa. 2:12)
One body: All families and nations of the earth will be blessed on the same basis: faith in the Abrahamic covenant and faith in Jesus Christ, Abraham’s descendant. God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him. Gentiles along with Jews may receive forgiveness of sins and be sanctified by faith in Christ. All who are baptized into Christ should devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Gen. 12:3; 22:18; Acts 10:34-36; 26:17,18,20,23; 2:42)