Errors of Acts 28 Dispensationalism

Flaws of Acts 28 Dispensationalism

SCRIPTURE PROVING THE MYSTERY WAS REVEALED BEFORE ACTS 28

1.) The church the Body of Christ began during the Acts period. Paul’s Acts epistles refer to the believers as being part of the spiritual Body of Christ. It is not a mere analogy using a human body to describe the local church. 

• The body of Christ is mentioned several times during the epistles of Paul written in Acts (Rom. 7:4, 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:12). 
• The believers were made part of the Body of Christ by a spiritual baptism performed by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:15-17, 12:13, 12:18; Rom. 6:3-4, Gal. 3:26-28). 

2.) The dispensation of grace was revealed during Acts. The dispensation of grace is defined as how God revealed the mystery to Paul. The mystery being defined as “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:” (see Eph. 3:1-9). 

• Paul refers to this grace given to him in Romans 15:15-16, “Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” Compare this with Ephesians 3:1-9 “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” 
• During Acts Paul refers not only to the dispensing of grace given to him to the Gentiles, but also to the mystery specifically. (Rom. 11:25, 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:7, 4:1). 

3.) Paul taught that the age they were living in during the book of Acts was a mystery. Not only was the beginning of the age a mystery, he taught that the ending of it was a mystery as well, it had not been revealed before. It was given to him by the word of the Lord. 

• The beginning of the age was a mystery, the temporary setting aside of Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in (Rom. 11:25-27). This mystery does not appear in the prophets and has no connection with the kingdom of God coming to the earth. 
• The age would end with a mystery rapture revealed to Paul by the word of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:51-58, 1 Thes. 4:13-18). This rapture is distinct from the Second Coming when Christ gathers believers of the gospel of the kingdom. This rapture is before Daniel’s 70th week (1 Thes, 1:10, 5:9; 2 Thes. 2:1-2). This rapture was taught by Paul as being imminent (Rom. 13:11-12, 16:20; 1 Cor. 7:29). The only requirement to take part in this rapture was to be a believer (1 Thes. 4:13), you did not have to endure to the end or do the works of the gospel of the kingdom. Paul taught that even if you are found “sleeping” at this rapture, you will still be saved (1 Thes. 5:10). Contrast that with the Second Coming where you must “watch” and not be found “sleeping” (Matt. 24:42-51;  Mark 13:35-37). 

4.) Paul taught during the book of Acts that they were not under the Law but under grace (Rom. 6:14, Gal. chapters 2-3). This is contrary to the gospel of the kingdom and the new covenant made with Israel, which requires law observance. The Law (with some changes) will continue to be observed in the Tribulation and Millennium under God's New Covenant with Israel, but it is not to be observed under Grace (Matt. 5:17-20, 19:17, 23:1-3, 24:20, Luke 24:53, Acts 2:46, 3:1, 6:42, 10:10-17, 15:5, 21:18-20, 22:12, James 1:25, 2:8-12, 4:11, Heb. 7:12). This is according to Old Testament prophecy about Israel in the Tribulation and Millennium under God's New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34, 32:37-42, Ezek. 36:24-28, Micah 4:2, Isa. 2:3, 66:23, Zech. 14:16-19). Therefore Paul’s Acts ministry cannot be one of prophecy with the Kingdom age in view. 

• Acts 28 Dispensationalists respond to this by saying that Paul water baptized (Acts 16, 18), he circumcised Timothy (Acts 16), and took a Jewish vow (Acts 18:18). Rodney Beaulieu mentioned Acts 15:28-29 “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” He used this to say that it was necessary for the Gentiles to keep the law, at least in part, to be right with God during Acts. I do not think it is a misrepresentation to say that this is typical of pretty much all Acts 28 Dispensationalists and that it is in fact one of their points. But it is a very argument. The word of God does not leave it up to the imagination to explain why Paul participated in some Jewish practices. Was it for salvation? Was it for sanctification before God? Was it doing God a service? Paul says why. “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” (1 Cor. 9:19-23). In the previous chapter, Paul says in regards to the things offered to idols, “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” (1 Cor. 8:8-9). And also Romans chapter 14 explains that the believers were not under dietary laws before God not any holy days (see the entire chapter). Observance of those things is said to be in order not to offend the weak brethren, in that case the Jews. God wanted Jews to get saved, He used Paul’s Acts ministry “to provoke them to jealousy” and Paul said he was trying to “provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them”  (Rom. 11:11, 14). Acts 28 Dispensationalists seem to ignore for the most part these reasons Paul have for participating in some Jewish practices.

ANWERS TO COMMON ARGUMENTS FOR ACTS 28 DISPENSATIONALISM 

1.) Quotations of the Old Testament in the Acts epistles of Paul. Acts 28 Dispensationalists point out that Paul quotes the Old Testament dozens of times in his Acts epistles, especially Romans. They say that this means Paul was preaching OT prophecy about the Millennial Kingdom and New Covenant with Israel. However, they ignore the fact that a lot of these quotations have no bearing on the Kingdom age vs the dispensation of grace. A lot of these quotes are things that apply no matter what dispensation you are in. For instance, a handful of these OT quotes are from Romans 3:10-18, which are quotes from the OT showing that all of us are sinners. This is true in every dispensation and in no way proves that the mystery had not been revealed. Other quotes are also just multi dispensational truths, such as 1 Corinthians 14:34 “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” This truth was said in the law, it was still true in Acts, and it is even mentioned in post Acts epistles of Paul. 1 Timothy 2:11 says “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.” That was written by Paul after Acts 28. Another example of multi dispensational truth is having faith, believing the word of God. A large portion of the “dozens” and “scores” of OT quotes in Paul’s Acts epistles are in Romans 4 and Galatians 3-4 on believing God, using Abraham as an example. In fact, sometimes Paul quotes scripture out of context and puts a new application on it all together, adapting a truth to fit the present dispensation. He did this by inspiration of God, it was not a private interpretation (2 Pet. 1:20-21). For example, in Romans 10 Paul is teaching that Christ is the end of the law to everyone that believeth and that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, but he quotes from Deuteronomy 30 (which is about the Jews doing the works of the Law) and inserts believing on Christ instead of doing the works of the Law (Ron. 10:1-14). I have not seen any OT quote in Paul’s Acts epistles that would negate the fact that he had been given the revelation of the mystery. As I already pointed out, even the post Acts epistles quote and elude to the OT. Ephesians 6:1-3 states “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” By Acts 28 Dispensationalist logic, I could conclude that the mystery had not been revealed because Paul #1 quotes the OT, #2 instructs them to keep a commandment of the Law, and #3 mentions an earthly blessing. Or, I could use common sense and see that Paul is giving a truth that is true in every dispensation. 

2.) Galatians 4 and Acts 28. The Acts 28 Dispensationalists claim that since Paul said that Jerusalem is “the mother of us all” and the “children of promise” in Galatians 4:21-31 then the Galatians could not have been part of the body of Christ where there is neither Jew nor Gentile. However, Paul just said in the previous chapter that they had been baptized into Christ where there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Gal. 3:27-28). Acts 28 Dispensationalists ignore the part where Paul says that he is making an “ALLEGORY” in Galatians 4:24. The passage uses simile, “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But asthen he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” (vs 28-29). 

3.) Paul taught no other things than that which Moses and the prophets did say would come. Acts 26:22 “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:“ The Acts 28 Dispensationalists rarely finish the sentence.  Beware any time you see someone trying to make a point using one verse that is not even a complete sentence. Verse 23 goes on to say, “That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” Acts 28 Dispensationalists quote verse 22 as if it is an all inclusive statement that everything Paul ever preached in the book of Acts was in the Law and the prophets (and therefore no dispensation of the grace of the God in Acts). But that is obviously not true as we have already seen that Paul preached things during the book of Acts that are not in the Old Testament but were mysteries. The rest of the sentence qualifies what Paul was preaching that was in the Old Testament, “That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” Those things ARE found in the Law and the Prophets. But not all the contents of Paul’s Acts ministry were. 

4.) Paul said in Acts 28:20 he was bound for “the hope of Israel”. Acts 28 Dispensationalists say that the hope of Israel is the Millennial Kingdom age. Therefore, he had not been preaching the hope of the Body of Christ which is not the Millennial Kingdom on the Earth (Eph. 1:4, 2:6; Phil. 3:20-21). Paul said “For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” (Acts 28:20) But the hope of Israel is the Jesus Christ and His word, not the Millennial Kingdom (Ps. 130:5-8, 131:3, 146:5). The Lord is specifically called “the hope of Israel” ( Jer. 14:8, 17:13, 50:7; Joel 3:16). Paul was saying in Acts 28 that he is bound in chains for serving the same God as Israel. If you read Acts 22 when Paul became “bound”, it was not for preaching the Millennial Kingdom. 

5.) The Gentiles were being “graft in” (Romans 11). Acts 28 Dispensationalists put a private interpretation on Romans 11 and say that the Gentiles were being graffed into Israel’s kingdom program, but that is not what the passage says. In fact, if you read the whole chapter there is no way you could get that interpretation. According to prophecy, the Gentiles would join Israel’s kingdom program through the RISE of Israel (Isa. 60:3). But in Romans 11, the grafting in of the Gentiles is a result of Israel’s FALL and DIMINISHING. So this grafting in cannot be into the kingdom program. The passage says what the Gentile nations were being grafted into, “the root and fatness of the olive tree”. Apparently, the root and fatness is the “goodness” of God. “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” (vs. 22). It says nothing about the kingdom program being what the Gentiles were graffed into, it says that the Gentile nations had the “goodness” of God “toward” them. Since Israel fell, the gospel of the grace of God went to all the world, all nations, and every creature (Colossians 1:6, 1:23, Rom. 16:26). That is certainly the goodness of God. To say that the goodness of God is the kingdom program is foreign to the context and would make no sense, since later in the chapter Paul says that the kingdom program was being postponed due to the mystery of the temporary blindness and fall of Israel (Rom. 11:25-27). When Israel fell, they lost some of the goodness of God toward them, because instead of God speaking to them, God turned to the Gentiles (Acts 13:45, 18:6, 28:28). 

6.) The Gentiles were partakers of the Jews “spiritual things” (Rom. 15:27). Acts 28 Dispensationalists use Romans 15:27 to say that Paul’s Gentile converts in Acts were not in the Body of Christ but were rather in the Kingdom program for Israel. However, the argument defeats itself upon close examination. The Gentiles were not partakers of the earthly promises that Israel was given, but rather partakers of their SPIRITUAL things. Romans 15:27 “It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.” What were Israel’s “spiritual” things? Well the spiritual thing Israel had is Christ Himself, 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” Paul also mentions the “spiritual gifts” several times in Acts, which were signs for Israel (1 Cor. 1:22-23). The Gentiles will get a “spiritual” body at the rapture (1 Cor. 15:44, Phil. 3:20-21) similar to the spiritual body of the resurrected kingdom saints (Ps. 17:15, Ezek. 37:13-14). Another spiritual thing of the Jews that the Gentiles are partaking in is the word of God itself, which was committed to the Jews (Rom. 3:2; Ps. 147:19-20). The word of God is a spiritual thing (Heb. 4:12, John 6:63). 

7.) Ministers of the New Testament. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” The Acts 28 Dispensationalists say that if Paul was a minister of the New Testament, then he cannot have been preaching the revelation of the mystery. There is nothing incompatible about Paul being a minister of the New Testament and also preaching the revelation of the mystery. Just as Gentiles could be saved in the Old Testament by becoming proselytes and their burnt offerings would be accepted (Isa. 56:6-7) Gentiles after the cross could be saved under the blood of the New Testament. There is not a third option for the dispensation of grace, we are stilled saved by the same blood of the New Testament. Also, there is a difference between a covenant and a testament. One of the main ones being that a testament requires the death of the testator (Heb. 9:16-17). We can be saved by the blood of the New Testament without God making a covenant with the Gentiles. See this teaching from Pastor David O’Steen on that https://youtu.be/B46UaXVduys. But more importantly, Paul is referring to “Old Testament” and “New Testament” in the since of scriptures, something you can read. 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 “reading of the Old Testament….when Moses is read”. The Bible clearly says that the new covenant will be made with the house of Israel, not with the Gentile believers in Acts that were neither Jew nor Gentile but one in Christ (Gal. 3:26-28). 

Miscellaneous problems with Acts 28 Dispensationalists in general, that do not necessarily have anything to do with when the mystery was revealed…

1.) A great number of them are against the King James Bible. Clyde Pilkington says it is corrupt and wrote a booklet called “1611-2011 400 Years of Bondage” against the KJB. E. W. Bullinger said in his Companion Bible that Romans 16:25-27 (about the mystery) was a doxology postscript that Paul added after he wrote Ephesians. He said that this “suggestion” “removes all difficulties” with the verse mentioning the mystery. However, the suggestion makes no sense and is entirely unprovable (1 Thes. 5:21). The verses present no “difficulty” when you just believe the Bible as it is written. This is a clear example of man trying to tamper with the word of God in order for it to conform to his theology. I admit that there is a small number of Acts 28 Dispensationalists that believe the KJB, but the exception proves the rule. They are rare.  

2.) Many of them reject the Trinity (Pilkington, Knoch, etc.) 

3.) Many of them promote odd doctrines to further practices like polygamy (Pilkington, Kelson). I understand that this practice changes with different cultures, but there is no doubt that God’s plan is one man and one woman (Gen. 1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 3:12; Titus 1:6). 

4.) Many of them believe in universal salvation of all people, devils, fallen angels, and satan. They spend much time promoting this, especially Rodney Beaulieu. Such teaching is contrary to the plain reading of scripture where it mentions hell and the lake of fire as “everlasting”, “for ever and ever”, and “where their worm dieth not”. Universal salvation is a philosophy of man that stems from not believing the KJB. Almost all universal salvation proponents do not believe the KJB is the word of God, they have to alter it to teach their false doctrine. 

5.) Some Acts 28 Dispensationalists do not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. This makes them guilty of what they accuse Mid-Acts Dispensationalists of, which is combining prophecy and mystery, Israel and the Body of Christ. But that is exactly what happens with them when they abandon the pre-tribulation rapture. 

http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/flaws-of-acts-28-dispensationalism.html?m=1

Acts 28 Dispensationalism is the belief system that the revelation of the Mystery of Christ, the Dispensation of Grace as defined in Ephesians 3:1-9, did not begin until Acts 28:28. The people who hold to this belief assert that all Scripture written before Acts 28 was part of Israel's prophetic Kingdom Gospel and Law Dispensation.

Dr. Ethelbert Bullinger is given credit for this teaching, though he was only an Acts 28 Dispensationalist for the last few years of his life. Bullinger wrote his book Ten Sermons On The Second Advent in 1887 and is clearly only a Acts 2 Dispensationalist similar to the Scofield/Larkin system. Bullinger went on to write other books, such as The Church Epistles, How To Enjoy The Bible, The Witness of the Stars, Great Cloud Of Witnesses, The Revelation, and a number of others. However, only a few of them are written from the Acts 28 perspective. Judging from his writings, it appears that Dr. Bullinger went from the Acts 2 Dispensational position, to a Mid-Acts position, and then a man named Charles Welch influenced him into taking an Acts 28 position. The evidence suggests that Charles Welch developed the Acts 28 heresy, but since Bullinger was more well known he got the credit for it. Pastor Bryan Ross of Grace Life Bible Church has done some excellent research on Dr. Bullinger:  http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/Pastors_Pen.htm

The modern Acts 28 Movement, differing greatly from Dr. Bullinger's position, is without a doubt a cult.

The modern Acts 28 Movement
denies the Trinity
denies hell
denies the Pre "Tribulation" Rapture (better: Pre-Daniel's 70th Week)
teaches universal salvation
promotes polygamy
promotes the drinking of fermented alcohol
denies the inspiration and preservation of the King James Bible.

Some of the Acts 28 Movement embraces Calvinist theology, others even teach that works are required for salvation under Grace.

Examples of cult heresies in the modern Acts 28 Movement are found at the following:

Brian Kelson of Acts 28.net runs another website called biblepolygamy.com. He advocates polygamy and told me in an email that Paul instructs bishops/deacons "to have at least one wife".

Look up Clyde Pilkington and go to his website http://pilkingtonandsons.com/
Here are some of the books that Clyde Pilkington is selling. Filled with attacks on the King James Bible, antinomianism, and promotion of cult beliefs.

• "A Look at Alcohol in the Scriptures  (#1150) by Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr. Don’t be fooled by the teetotalism. Contrary to what many attempt to teach, the Scriptures are replete with the divine gift and godly blessings of alcohol."
• " No Equals! Reasons Why Our Heavenly Father has No Equals or Co- Equals & Why “the Holy Spirit” Is Not a “Person” Separate from the Only True God, the Father (#3470) A compilation of two easy to understand titles exposing the error of the Trinity teaching. "
• "Due Benevolence: A Study of Biblical Sexuality (#3775) by Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr. Think you have read all that there is on the subject of sexuality from the Bible? Think again! Religious moralist have taken the wonderful gift of human beauty and sexuality and made them something dirty and sinful. Much is at stake regarding truth, as well as the nature and character of God Himself. A groundbreaking work providing…
  • A refreshingly honest and uninhibited look at sexuality.
  • A breath of fresh air from the religious and Victorian mentality.
  • A daring and valuable glimpse at the wonderful light just outside sexuality’s prison-cell door. "
• "Great Omission, The: Christendom’s Abandonment of the Biblical Family (#2010) by Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr. This book presents twenty years of study, taking a candid look at the issue of multiple wives in Scripture and society. The book chapters are: The Problem; The Divine Provision; The Marital Gift; The Old Testament Scriptural Precedent; The New Testament Scriptural Precedent; The Religious System’s Destruction of the Biblical Family; The History of Its Practice; The Cultural Issue."
• "King James Version, The: 400 Years of Bondage – 1611-2011 (#4682) by Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr. 1611 was not a high spiritual mark in the history of the church, the Body of Christ. Instead of being a grand year of the pinnacle of preservation or perfection of God’s Word, it was rather the sad depths of the subtle corrupting of God’s Word by the historic union of governmental and ecclesiastical politics." 
• "Nothing Will Be Lost! The Truth About God’s Good News by Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr. This is an abridgement of the larger work The Salvation of All."
• "Plowboy’s Bible, The : God’s Word for Common Man (#4425) by Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr. Shocking conclusions from the man that brought you The King James Bible Song. This book represents years of study and a significant change in understanding. Raised on and trained in a “King James Only” position, most of the author’s teaching ministry was centered on the defense of the KJV. He had early associations with major proponents of this position and their followers. He actively taught classes and seminars on the subject of Bible versions. For many years he distributed thousands of books from a collection of over 100 different titles in support of the KJV position. Here he shares what he has come to see that has caused him to completely abandon his former position." 
• "Salvation Of ALL, The: Creation’s Final Destination (A Biblical Look at Universal Reconciliation) Expanded Edition (#7001) by Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr. The Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is truly better “Good News” than we could ever have imagined.  It is far more glorious than religion would ever have us believe. The Salvation of All is a book about a “Good News” that will reach its final goal in the salvation of all mankind." 

Another Acts 28 Cult member is Martin Zender, one who promotes antinomianism and openly mocks hell. Here are his book descriptions from http://pilkingtonandsons.com/martinzender.htm

• "How to Be Free From Sin While Smoking a Cigarette: The book for people with weaknesses (#3810) by Martin Zender. This book is written for those who know what they’re supposed to do but sometimes don’t do it. It’s written for those who think that their own particular weakness keeps God from completely liking them. It’s written for those who just can’t shake a bad habit. This book is written for the wretched souls who totter between their passion life and their desire for God, not realizing that in order to have a desire for God they must also be dogged by at least one detestable/wonderful passion that keeps them humble and needing Him."
• "How to Quit Church Without Quitting God: Why Going to Church Today is Unbiblical, Un-Christlike, and Spiritually Risky (#4835) Martin Zender. With childlilke boldness and profound logic, Martin Zender exposes the spiritual bankruptcy of the religious institution. Zender's mastery of satire separates him from the pious; his Scriptural expertise launches him as the primary spokesman for those who desire God, but don't trust the establishments that boast His name. "
• "Martin Zender Goes To Hell (#6494) by Martin Zender. The author embarks on a point-by-point refutation of the doctrine of eternal torment. In simple words he tackles all the critical topics: Jesus’ threats to the Israelites, the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the lake of fire, the Greek words translated "hell," the Greek word commonly translated "eternal.""

Acts 28 Dispensationalists (Acts 28ers) are absolutely crazy, there is just no polite way to say it. As my dad always says, "When you go Acts 28, your mind doesn't go with you." 

As said before, Acts 28 Dispensationalism is the belief system that the revelation of the Mystery of Christ, the Dispensation of Grace as defined in Ephesians 3:1-9, did not begin until Acts 28:28. The people who hold to this belief assert that all Scripture written before Acts 28 was part of Israel's prophetic Kingdom Gospel and Law Dispensation.

The Acts 28 Dispensationalists divide the Pauline epistles into two groups: those written in Acts and those written after Acts. They teach that only the post-Acts "Prison Epistles" are written to and about the Church which is the Body of Christ. 

According to the Acts 28ers, the following Pauline Epistles are not written to or about the Body of Christ....

Romans 
Galatians
1/2 Corinthians
1/2 Thessalonians

They only accept the following Epistles as written about them...

Ephesians 

Philippians
Colossians
1/2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon 

Brian Kelson of Acts 28.net has made the following statements on the website "Formerly Mid-Acts, Now Acts 28". http://www.midactsdisp.blogspot.com/

"Paul’s hope during Acts was exactly the same hope proclaimed by Peter in Acts 3; the return of Messiah to rule the world in righteousness, just as the prophets and Moses said he would do."

"The ministry of the Lord and John the Baptist was to the nation and it was an appeal for them to repent and turn back to God, this continued through the Acts period of course and the Lord's ministry was completely OT based. I can't remember the number of times the Lord quoted the OT, including the Law but as we know, it was the Law of Moses and the Prophets up until Acts 28."

Clearly are the Acts 28ers not only crazy in their morals, they are also absolutely confused on Bible doctrine. Notice Brian Kelson's first statement, "Paul’s hope during Acts was exactly the same hope proclaimed by Peter in Acts 3". That is the complete opposite of what the Bible says!

Acts 3:
[19] Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
[20] And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
[21] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
[22] For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
[23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
[24] Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
[25] Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 

Peter's message in Acts 3 was for Israel to repent of killing Christ. If they repented, their sins would be blotted out at the Second Advent. Then Christ would come and restore all things just as all the prophets said would happen. Peter says that Israel is still "the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers". 

It is at the Second Coming of Christ that Kingdom Gospel believers will have their sins taken away (Heb. 3:14, 8:8-12, Acts 3:19-21, Rom. 11:25-27, and 1 Pet. 1:5-9). This is according to Old Testament prophecy such as Zech. 3:9, 8:8, Isa. 1:27, 4:4, 25:9, 27:9, 54:13-14, 59:20, 60:21, Jer. 30:17, 31:31-34, 32:37-42, 33:8, Ezek. 36:24-33, Hos. 2::19-23, Deut. 30:6, Ps. 62:1, 79:9, 85:2, 130:8, and Joel 3:20-21. The Second Coming is when Christ told the 12 apostles that they would inherit everlasting life (Matt. 19:28-19) and that is what Peter taught (Acts 3:19-21, 1 Pet. 1:5-9).

Is this what Paul taught in the Acts Epistles as the Acts 28 Dispensationalists assert? Absolutely and obviously not. Paul stated in Romans that he was living in a "mystery" period of time in which Israel was blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in and that when this period of time ended, God would resume dealing with Israel and Israel would be saved at the Second Advent...Israel's remission of sins at the Second Advent is exactly what Peter preached in Acts 3 and 1 Peter 1.

Romans 11:
[25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
[26] And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
[27] For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

You cannot help but notice that Paul and the Gentiles are DISTINGUISHED FROM Israel and the Jewish salvation at the Second Advent. The Lord inspired the apostle Paul to dismiss Peter's message of Acts 3. Peter's message was postponed, interupted, and a new program was started according to Romans 11:25-27. Yet the Acts 28 Dispensationalists like Brian Kelson and Wayne Stewart, without studying the matter, ignorantly go around chanting "Paul’s hope during Acts was exactly the same hope proclaimed by Peter in Acts 3". 

The Acts Epistles of Paul are clearly written to and about the Gentiles under Grace after the fall of Israel when the Mystery of Christ is being made known. Paul's Acts Epistles do not match the doctrine of the Gospel of the Kingdom as found in Matthew/Mark/Luke and Hebrews through Revelation.  See Romans 6:14, 11:1-13, 11:25, 15:15-16, and 16:25 about that. 

To answer the "Mid-Acts" or "Acts 28" question, we need to first ask what the issue is about. The issue is found in Ephesians 3:1-9...

[1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
[2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:
[3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
[4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
[5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
[6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
[7] Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
[8] Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
[9] And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

The issue is NOT did Paul learn more about the Mystery progressively through Acts. Obviously he did, he says he did (Acts 26:16, 2 Cor. 12:1, 12:7). The issue is did the Lord give to Paul the Mystery of Christ within the first few months or years of his ministry or did He not reveal it to him until Acts 28:28? 

As we can see above in Ephesians 3, the Mystery of Christ is defined as "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel". So let's ask ourselves three honest questions. 

Were the Gentiles fellowheirs before Acts 28?

Were the Gentiles of the same body before Acts 28?

Were the Gentiles partakers of the Holy Spirit's promise in Christ by the gospel before Acts 28?  

The Acts 28 Dispensationalists would give a loud "NO" to the three questions above, an Acts 2 or a Mid-Acts Dispensationalist would rightfully answer "YES" to the questions. Here are the Scripture that support the Acts 2 and Mid-Acts position that the Mystery of Christ was revealed before Acts 28:28.

GENTILES ARE FELLOWHEIRS BEFORE ACTS 28:28

• Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
• Galatians 3:26-29 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
• Galatians 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 

GENTILES OF THE SAME BODY, CHRIST IS THE HEAD, BEFORE ACTS 28:28

The Acts Epistles are filled with the doctrines of the Church being all saved people who are assembled in Christ, being called the Body of Christ. In the below list of verses you will see that the Acts Epistles teach very plainly the doctrine of the Body of Christ and that believers get into this body by faith in Christ and being baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ (baptism into Christ, not baptism with water). 

• Romans 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
• 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 10:32 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread...Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
• 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.  
• 1 Corinthians 12:12-18, 12:27 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him...Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
• Galatians 3:26-28 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

THE GENTILES ARE PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT'S PROMISE IN CHRIST BY THE GOSPEL BEFORE ACTS 28.

Ephesians 3:5-6 says about the Mystery "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" I take "his promise" of verse 6 to be the Holy Ghost of verse 5. This is consistent with the other parts of Ephesians where we see "ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (1:13). It is also the logical conclusion since the "promise" is said to be something we partake of by the gospel, the Holy Spirit is what we partake of by the gospel (Eph. 1:13, Gal. 3:1-3, 3:14, 3:22). 2 Corinthians defines the promises that the Gentile Church at Corinth had received were being stablished in Christ (done by the Spirit), being anointed (done by the Spirit), and being sealed with the Holy Spirit.

• 2 Corinthians 1:19-22  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
• Galatians 3:1-22 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

So we see that the Acts 28 Movement is in great error for teaching that the Mystery of Christ was not revealed until Acts 28:28. I have seen no evidence from the modern Acts 28 camp that they know how to teach (or even read) the Scriptures in context. Their arguments are very circular and illogical. Most of their teachings are plain foolishness, such as Brian Kelson's statement above on Paul supposedly preaching the same message as Peter's Acts 3 offer of the Kingdom to Israel. Brian Kelson's other statement is even crazier. 

"The ministry of the Lord and John the Baptist was to the nation and it was an appeal for them to repent and turn back to God, this continued through the Acts period of course and the Lord's ministry was completely OT based. I can't remember the number of times the Lord quoted the OT, including the Law but as we know, it was the Law of Moses and the Prophets up until Acts 28."

Law and prophets until Acts 28? Really? My goodness, Mr. Kelson has never read Romans or Galatians. Seriously, do the Acts 28 Dispensationalists read the Bible at all? Could anyone outside of a mental institution read Romans and Galatians and say that it was under the Law of Moses? Paul clearly said in the Acts period that he was not under the Law but under Grace and he rebuked those that wanted to observe the Law. Using the allegory of Sara (freewoman=promise) and Hagar (bondwoman=Law), Paul says very clearly that we are not under the bondage of the Law.

Romans 6:
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
[15] What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Romans 7:
[4] Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
[5] For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
[6] But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Galatians 2:
[16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
[17] But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
[18] For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
[19] For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
[20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
[21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 4:
[4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
[5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
[6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
[7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
[8] Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
[9] But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
[10] Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
[11] I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Galatians 4:21-5:3
[21] Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
[22] For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
[23] But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
[24] Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
[25] For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
[26] But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
[27] For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
[28] Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
[29] But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
[30] Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
[31] So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
[1] Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
[2] Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
[3] For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Another good one that the Acts 28ers try and teach is that Paul's ministry in Acts was a PROPHETIC ministry and not one of the Mystery (off Israel's prophetic clock). That is simply not true. Paul's Acts ministry was a mystery not foretold in the Law and Prophets. Paul said this very clearly. Paul preached the period of time in which Israel was blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in (not in the OT), Paul preached Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (not in the OT), and Paul preached the pre-Daniel's 70th Week rapture of believers to Heaven (not in the OT).

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

1 Corinthians 2:
[6] Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
[7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
[8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

Acts 28 Dispensationalists say that these mysteries are not real mysteries but only things "hidden in the scriptures, not hidden in God" (a Brian Kelsomn cliche). They say that these mysteries are "hid in the Scriptures" and that after Acts 28:28 Paul got better mysteries that were "hid in God" (Eph. 3:9). The lie just gets bigger and better. Paul said during Acts that he preached Christ "according to the revelation of the mystery, which was KEPT SECRET since the world began". God did not tell is to the prophets to right down in the OT, He kept it SECRET. The problem is the Acts 28ers do not believe the Bible, some of them even say that Romans 16:25 was not in the original but was later added months after the book of Romans was written. Of course the Acts 28ers do not believe in the Bible, they only believe in something they call "the original autographs" which they have never seen and never will. Paul also said that the mystery he preached in Acts was ordained "BEFORE the world" (1 Cor. 2:5-8), not "in the OT Scriptures".

Acts 28ers have no real arguments, all they have is problems. They do not have verses that say or imply that the Mystery of Christ was only made known after Acts 28:28, all they do is try and come up with contradictions/problems between the Acts Epistles of Paul and the Post-Acts Epistles of Paul and then say that they must be talking about two different programs. That is all they have, "problems".

They have problems with Paul quoting the OT so much during Acts, but Paul quoted the Old Testament in Ephesians and 1 Timothy which are post-Acts Epistles. Paul never said that he was fulfilling the Old Testament, he simply made the applications when available....Just like he did AFTER Acts (Eph. 6:1-3, 1 Tim. 5:18).

They have problems with Paul speaking of the time being short in 1 Corinthians 7:29, they think this means the Second Advent was at hand, ignoring the context of the "present distress" vs 26.

The Acts 28ers make half of a sentence their proof text, which is Acts 26:22 "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:". This is their grand proof text which they quote more than any other, which shows how dishonest the Acts 28 movement is. Acts 26:22 is half of a sentence, yet they use it to teach that Paul did not have the revelation of the mystery during Acts. The whole sentence actually says "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." Paul limited his statement "none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say" to "That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles". Obviously the content of Romans/Galatians/Corinthians/Thessalonians is NOT found in the Old Testament since Paul says throughout those Epistles that he is speaking "MYSTERIES" kept secret since the world began (Rom. 11:25, 16:25, 1 Cor. 2:5-8, 4:1, 15:51, 1 Thes. 4:15). Try finding people being baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ where there is neither Jew nor Greek in the Old Testament...it is not there, but it is in Paul's Acts Epistles (1 Cor. 12:12-13, Gal. 3:26-29, Rom. 1:16, 10:12).

The Acts 28ers have problems with Paul keeping certain Law ordinances during Acts such as water baptism (Acts 16:15, 16:33, 18:8), circumcision (Acts 16:3), feasts (Acts 18:21), vows (Acts 16:18), and temple offerings (Acts 21:18-26). The 28ers then conclude that Paul was under the Law and teaching the Law....even though we just saw where Paul rebukes people for observing the Law and that he was under Grace (Rom. 6:14). Even though the Law and water baptism had nothing to do with what Christ told Paul to do (1 Cor. 1:14-17, Gal. 5:1), Paul observed the Law OCCASIONALLY so that he could lead the Jews to Christ. That is the reason Paul gives for why he kept the Law (1 Cor. 9:16-23, 10:33). "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law." "Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."

The Acts 28ers also do not understand why Paul preached to the Jew first (Rom. 1:16). They say that because Paul preached to the Jew first that this means that Jew and Gentile were not "one" and that Ephesians 2:11-22 had not taken place yet. That is pretty funny actually. I do not see how anyone could possibly come to that conclusion just by reading "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." In the very same Epistle (Romans) Paul makes it very clear WHY he preached to the Jew first, it was because at that present time there was a a remnant according to the election of grace (See all of Romans 11, but mostly verses 1-14). Israel was blinded as a whole, but at the "present time" (Acts) there was an elect remnant of the Jews that God still wanted to reach even though they had rejected the offer of the Kingdom. God sent Paul to preach Grace to them where as they rejected the Gospel of the Kingdom, they would be offered the Gospel of the Grace of God where salvation is "no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace." See Romans 11:6. What is ironic is that while the Acts 28ers are looking at Romans 1:16 accusing Paul of teaching that Jew and Gentile were not one, they completely miss where Paul plainly says that Israel and the Gentiles are both equal and in the same situation: "For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all." (Rom. 11:32). Also, what about all the other times in the Acts Epistles where Paul said that there is neither Jew nor Gentile? See 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Galatians 3:28.

The Acts 28ers love to grab Romans 15:27 where it says "It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things." The Acts 28ers use this to teach that Jew and Gentile are not one new man because the Gentiles are a debtor to the Jews and have partaken of their spiritual things. Of course, they ignore in the very same book where a JEW IS A DEBTOR TO THE GENTILES, "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise." (Rom. 1:14). In Romans the Jews were debtors to the Gentiles and the Gentiles were debtors to the Jews. Jew and Gentile both partook of each others spiritual things in Acts and both were debtors, "For as ye (Gentiles) in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their (Israel's) unbelief: Even so have these (Jews) also now not believed, that through your (Gentiles) mercy they (Jews) also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. (Jew and Gentile are one)" (Rom. 11:32) The Acts 28ers do not believe that in the Dispensation of Grace Gentiles are partaking of Israel's spiritual things. They openly teach that, I am not misrepresenting them. In response to this I would like to ask the 28ers the following questions...

Do you use a Bible that was committed to the Jews? (Rom. 3:1-2, Ps. 148:19-20)

Is the King of the Jews now your King also? (Matt. 2:2, 1 Tim. 6:15).

Was it not the blood of the New Testament being shed that allowed for Jew and Gentile to be one? (1 Cor. 10:16-17, Eph. 2:11-22) Could there be a Jew-Gentile body under the Old Testament?

Paul says at the outset of Romans that Israel's main advantage over the Gentile was that the Jews had the word of God (Rom. 3:1-2) and CLEARLY we have partaken of that. We have 13 Epistles written by the apostle of the Gentiles to Gentiles who are not under the Law but under Grace.

Paul said in Ephesians that the Ephesians were partakers of the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ is their Chief Corner Stone as well. (Eph. 2:20). Ephesians refutes the bad Acts 28 teaching of Romans 15:27, it says very plainly that the Ephesians are in the same spiritual household as the apostles and prophets were (Eph. 2:19-20).

One more...the Acts 28ers big "gotcha" is found in Acts 28:20, "For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain." The 28ers say that Paul's hope was the Kingdom being restored to Israel and not the blessed hope of Titus 2:13. Which would be true if it wasn't for the fact that "the hope of Israel" is a PERSON and not an earthly Jewish Kingdom....

• Jeremiah 14:7-8 O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee. O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?    
• Jeremiah 17:7, 17:13 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is...O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.  
• Jeremiah 50:7 All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.
• Psalms 71:5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
• Joel 3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
• Psalms 38:15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
• Psalms 130:7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
• Psalms 131:3 Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.  
• Psalms 39:7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

"The hope of Israel" is Jesus Christ, the LORD GOD, not an earthly Kingdom. Israel will get an earthly Kingdom, but their hope is the Lord...and of course that is the same hope as found in the "Prison Epistles".  

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; 

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

The 28ers will always have something else to complain about, but that is enough scriptural proof for any honest person to be convinced that Acts 28 Dispensationalism is the result carnality, craziness, and Athenianism...

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Acts 17:21