The Doctrines of Grace in Scripture: Acts 13:48

In this series so far, we’ve covered Ephesians 1:3-6, John 10:26-30, I Peter 1:4-5, and John 6:44-45.  Here we continue with another passage.

The Text

Acts 13:48 – “When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice and praise the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life believed.” – Luke (NET Bible)

Relevance

The significance of this text in relation to the Doctrines of Grace is that this passage shows us God’s electing grace wherein believers were chosen, and how all of those who were first appointed to eternal life subsequently believe.   It shows that God does not elect on the basis of some forseen faith, but rather faith proceeds out of election. It relates very directly to the U and I in TULIP.

Historical Comments On It

• “For it is a ridiculous cavil to refer this unto the affection of those which believed, as if those received the gospel whose minds were well-disposed. For this ordaining must be understood of the eternal counsel of God alone. Neither doth Luke say that they were ordained unto faith, but unto life; because the Lord doth predestinate his unto the inheritance of eternal life. And this place teacheth that faith dependeth upon God’s election. And assuredly, seeing that the whole race of mankind is blind and stubborn, those diseases stick fast in our nature until they be redressed by the grace of the Spirit, and that redressing floweth from the fountain of election alone….For he doth not begin to choose us after that we believe; but he sealeth his adoption, which was hidden in our hearts, by the gift of faith, that it may be manifest and sure….Therefore, let us hold and mark that which Luke saith, that those were ordained before unto life, who, being in-grafted into the body of Christ by faith, do receive the earnest and pledge of their adoption in Christ. Whence we do also gather what force the preaching of the gospel hath of itself. For it doth not find faith in men, save only because God doth call those inwardly whom he hath chosen, and because he draweth those who were his own before unto Christ” – John Calvin (1509-1564)
• “faith is not the cause, or condition of the decree of eternal life, but a means fixed in it, and is a fruit and effect of it,” – John Gill (1697 -1771)
• “the demonstrative part of [the greek word for 'all who'] must be the subject of the first verb, and the relative part the subject of the second. Hence it is impossible to render ‘those who believed were appointed’ ” – Horatio B. Hackett (1808-1875)
• ” He says that those who have been appointed to eternal life believe. This divine appointment precedes and brings about the act of faith. God has appointed them to eternal life, and they believe. Obviously, this statement touches upon not only unconditional election, but upon irresistible grace as well…A survey of published English translations shows that there is really no question about how this passage should be translated. ” – James White (1962-Present)
• “Here is the explicit statement of the doctrine of election by Luke. The Greek word tetagmenoi, which is translated as ordained (KJV, ASV, RSV), appointed (NKJV, NASB, Berkeley) and destined (JB) is the passive form of the verb tasso which (as might be expected) means to ordain, or to appoint. The fact that the verb is passive indicates that these people did not ordain themselves but were chosen by an outside agent—God the Father. These people believed in Christ because God first appointed them to eternal life. Luke, by the Holy Spirit, is stating in unambiguous terms why some people believe and others disbelieve. The difference is not that some people are smarter, wiser, or more holy than others, but that God has chosen or ordained some to life and passed by the rest. ” – Brian Schwertley (?-?)