By: Rabbi Dr Eliyahu b. Abraham
Reading; Acts 8:26-39, 9.1-9
First, we have Peresh (Philip) who is urged by the Ruach (Spirit) or a Malak (Angel)
But the messenger (angel) of the Lord said to Peresh (Philip), Rise and go southward on the road that goes down from Yerushalayim down to Gaza. (This is the desert path.
And secondly, we have an introduction to Hakham Shaul who is most likely a Paqid at this juncture. This is possibly a time when the Paqid is floundering looking for his mission per se.
And Paqid Shaul, still breathing out murderous threats of annihilation against the Master’s (Yeshua’s) talmidim,[1]
The details of just how and when Hakham Shaul attended the “School of Gamaliel” is fraught with many pitfalls. We have suggested that this reference to Gamaliel is a Remes for his training under the three Hakhamim Hakham Tsefet, Hakham Ya’aqob and Hakham Yochanan. Nevertheless, we see that the “call” of Hakham Shaul to follow Yeshua is imamate here. We will discuss this more in the coming weeks.
Peresh is sent to an Ethiopian proselyte.[2] Hakham Peresh is sent to Gaza to proclaim or herald the “Mesorah”[3] of the Master. Here the message is also Remes in that Hakham Peresh is “sent” to a proselyte with the message of Yeshua.
Matthew 28.19 Go then and make talmidim of all the nations, immersing them on the authority of the Father and of the Son and of the Ruach HaKodesh, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you to the end of these days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the very close and consummation of the age. Amen (let it be so).
This activity is an echo of Matthew where Yeshua tells his Talmidim to carry his Mesorah to all the nations. This passage is often referred to as the “great commission.” It has been a tool of persuasion for evangelization for nearly two millennia. Some have believed that when the last “sinner” is “saved” then the master will return and all the so-called prophecies concerning the “great escape” will take place. There is a great deal to discuss when speaking on these matters. However, we wish to point out that the proclamation of the Mesorah has little to do with saving “sinners.” The proclamation of Yeshua is to teach all the nations the Mesorah (of the Master). Therefore, the intended goal is a transformation of the Gentile into an observant Jewish Torah Scholar. The “immersion” is NOT Christian baptism. The immersion mentioned in Matthew is the immersion of conversion.
Ephesians 2:11-12 Therefore remember, at that time you, were Gentiles by birth, who are called uncircumcision by those who are called circumcision, which refers to what Royal men do to their bodies;[4] and that at one time you were without Messiah, being aliens[5] from the legal administration of Jewish life,[6] and strangers[7] from the covenants of the promise,[8] having no hope, and without God and in union with the worldly system.
This theme connects well with the present Torah Seder[9] and the Covenant of Circumcision. But the key point is that those of the nations must accept the administration of Jewish authority. To be clear we must realize that the Mesorah of the Master is not a simple dunk three times and you are saved. The Mesorah is the whole legal body of the teachings of the Jewish sages, from the Mishnah to the Zohar. The Mesorah of the Master is not simply loving your neighbour etc. The Mesorah is the master’s teachings on all the Oral Torah. The unfortunate truth is that in all this time we have failed this mission. Primarily because we have not had enough teaching, training and application.
Scholars have called B’resheet 1.28 the “Cultural Mandate.” And they all miss the mark when they try to describe this verse and its relationship to the rest of scripture. But the phrase is perfectly descriptive of Jewish life. It’s also establishes what is incumbent for all the Gentiles who turn to God. The cultural lifestyle of the Jewish people is the path to salvation. The Jewish people are a model of cultural holiness. Peresh in our Remes Nazarean Codicil knows this and knows how to use the tools of his toolbox to accomplish the mission to the Gentiles. Peresh has opened the door to the west.
אמן ואמן סלה
- A superficial reading will cause the reader to miss the whole point. The “threats of annihilation” of the Master’s talmidim from the Paqid Shaul seeking consent from the defunct Kohen Gadol speaks of Purim. ↑
- The Aramaic word “mhymna” can mean either “proselyte” or “eunuch”. Greek versions mistranslate this as “eunuch” instead of the more contextually correct “proselyte” (to Judaism). See Aramaic English New Testament, Andre Gabriel Roth, Netzari Press, p. 326. We propose that this Ethiopian officer was a Proselyte of the Gate, and not yet a proselyte of righteousness. ↑
- For a closer look at the term “Mesorah” and out use of this term see … Mesorah ↑
- The usual translation “made in the flesh by hands” seems to imply certain negativity. The translation “what Royal men do to their bodies” shows spiritual conduct. The allegorical meaning is that “circumcision” is a picture of control over the appetites of the “flesh.” This allegorical phrase also refers to the control of the sexual appetite bringing the sexual union into spiritual connection with G-d. “Circumcision” is also an allegorical phrase with the intended meaning of being “Torah Observant.” This allegorical thought shows that the Torah is the “modus operandi” for controlling the Yetser HaRa, the “evil inclination.” Therefore, we should not look at “circumcision” as a negative statement. Furthermore, we should now understand that circumcision is indicative of full conversion to Judaism, not some convoluted version of Christianity. Consequently, the notion of “uncircumcision” means those who do not have a covenantal relationship with G-d and secondly, those who have not turned to the Torah as a means of controlling the “flesh”/Yetser HaRa. ↑
- It is noteworthy to mention that the “alien” mind is in direct opposition against the Torah, as a way of life. And this is the mission of two-thirds of the shedim / fallen angels. Therefore, the darkened mind refers to those Gentiles who are either simply ignorant of the Torah as a way of life. And, those who are vehemently opposed to it because of their “unyielding obstinacy of mind.”To be “alien” is to be morally bereft of all sensible mores. The depth of this statement is only understood from a Hebraic mindset. To be כָּרַת “cut off” means completely estranged from G-d’s presence and protection. Those who were “cut off” while traveling through the wilderness were subjected to every evil influence, without G-d’s protection or chesed/grace. Therefore, this is a crime of excommunication by Divine Decree. cf. Eph. 4:18 below ↑
- cf. Strong’s G4174 #1 (TDNT 6:516) ↑
- ξένοι from ξένος means a stranger who is permitted within the country but has not rights except what he might have agreed to as a treaty, per se. Here we see that idea of the Ger HaSha’ar (Stranger of the Gate). It would appear that the School of Shammai allowed the Gentiles to become “strangers of the gate” but would not allow the Gentile full conversion. Yeshua, a representative from the House of Hillel rescinded these dogmas allowing the Gentile the ability to become a full proselyte. ↑
- Many Christian authors stumble over this phrase trying to understand the plurality of “covenants.” They fail to realize that the “covenants” are plural because the Covenant is ever changing. While they have been established on firm foundations we must realize that G-d has repeatedly updated the covenant on many occasions. However, the Gentile was never able to join in the benefits of the covenant/s because he was estranged from G-d “ἄθεοι” and subordinate to the worldly system. ↑
- B’resheet (Genesis) 17.1-27 ↑