How Was the Early Church Organized?

[Berean]

How was the first-century church organized? Consider the following:

Election of Leaders by Congregation Voting. In the Early Church, brethren met in various cities—Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth, Thessalonica— often meeting in homes (Acts 11:22:13:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; Romans 16:5; Colossians 4:15). Each ecclesia (congregation) was autonomous electing its own leaders, its own “Elders"—those not necessarily advanced in age, but mature in character.

“And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” - Acts 14:23​

How did they “ordain” their leaders? The Greek for “ordained” is “cheirotoneo from a comparative of NT:5495 and teino (to stretch); to be a hand-reacher or voter (by raising the hand).” (Strong’s #5500). Early Christians had the responsibility of voting for their Elders by the stretching forth of their hands!

There was no Apostolic Succession. The twelve Apostles were chosen directly by Jesus, but they had no replacements except, of course, Paul, who replaced Judas. Just as Jesus selected the original twelve, he selected Paul as a replacement (Acts 9:15). The other Apostles were well meaning, but premature in selecting the replacement Apostle themselves (Acts 1:26). Inspired by God, they were the “twelve stars” crowning the head of the Early Church (Revelation 12:1); also identified the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem (Acts 21:14). It would be hard to imagine that Paul as the greatest of the Apostles, would not be numbered among this special group of twelve. There was no “apostolic succession” of any kind for a body of leadership authority through the Christian Age.

The only time one ecclesia recommended a ruling to the brethren at large was when a Jerusalem council decided that the Gentile brethren should not be forced to circumcise. And, of course, at that time, there were actual Apostles in the ecclesia of Jerusalem making that recommendation [decree] to “abstain from meat offered to idols…” (Acts 15:22-29).

The independence of the Early Church is attested to by the fact that there were factions among the Corinthian brethren, some following either Paul, Peter or Apollos. Paul said in 1 Cor 3:6-7, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” Paul humbly said that He and Apollos were not anything. Paul did not rule over the brethren. In 1 Thes 2:7 he said, ”But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.”

As prophetically predicted, the Christian Church evolved into dividing between “clergy” and “laity.” (Acts 20:29; Matt 13:25; Rev 2:20; 1 Jn 2:18; 2 Thes 2:3) On the one hand, some grasping for power took advantage of those ready to let go of their responsibility of electing their own leadership. Gradually a tower of authority built up with priests, bishops and finally a “pope.” Again, the responsibility for decisions and authority to choose a leader in the Ecclesia rested with the congregation.

Qualifications for Leadership as Basis for Voting. While the Apostle Paul said the Ecclesia is to submit to and obey those which have “rule over you” (Hebrews 13:7, 17)—Paul also laid guidelines for selecting and voting for those who, in the first place, would be an acceptable leader as an overseer!

When Paul gave Titus the responsibility for instructing new Ecclesias in Crete for organizing their leadership—he certainly was consistent with what he arranged earlier (Acts 14:23). “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1:5).

Each congregation was responsible for electing Elders who qualified. He then laid out the qualifications for evaluation by the Ecclesia members quite clearly:

• Above reproach (Titus 1:6);
• Husband of one wife with children not unruly;
• Not self-willed, quick-tempered or addicted to wine;
• No striker; not given to filthy lucre (Titus 1:7);
• Hospitable, sensible, just, self-controlled (Titus 1:8);
• Holding fast the faithful word; able to exhort in sound doctrine (1:9)

In his letter to Timothy, Apostle Paul similarly lines up the qualifications for voting for overseers:

• Blameless, the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:1,2):
• Vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality:
• Apt to teach (1 Timothy 3:2);
• Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;
• Patient, not a brawler, not covetous (1 Timothy 3:3);
• Having his children in subjection with all gravity (1 Timothy 3:4);
• Not a novice (1 Timothy 3:6);
• Of good report of them which are without (1 Timothy 3:7)

Individual Responsibility for Raising the Hand in Voting. Thus, the Ecclesia is given criteria for voting wisely and determining the will of the Lord for the selection of their teachers and instructors. Congregations do NOT need to have an outside authoritative body of leaders to tell them what to do and what to think and what to change for “new light.”

Each member is responsible for attempting to determine the LORD’s will and expressing it in voting by raising his/her hand. So we should base our leadership selection—as well as activity selections—by the voting of the Ecclesia.

MORE ON ELECTION OF ELDERS BY VOTE

According to the Bible, the election of elders was practiced in the Early Church. The eventual elimination of this practice gradually led to Elders becoming the Lord’s of the Church, rather than its servants, and opened the way for the development of the Antichrist system.

Paul and Barnabas went around to all the churches and conducted the election of Elders.

Acts 14: 23 – And in every Church, after prayer and fasting, they selected Elders by show of hands, and commended them to the Lord on whom their faith rested. – Weymouth​

Rotherham and Young’s Literal translation say, “appointed to them by vote elders in every assembly.”

RVIC Revised Version Improved and Corrected says, “elected elders.”

In 2 Corinthians Paul speaks of a brother who was elected by the churches to travel with him:

"… he is the one who was chosen by the vote of the Churches to travel with us…" – 2 Cor 8:19 – Weymouth

In another example, we recall that the Apostles asked the Jerusalem Church to select seven deacons.

"Therefore, brethren, pick out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to undertake this duty." - Acts 6:3, Weymouth​

Who would have challenged the Apostles had they exerted their influence to appoint deacons themselves? Yet instead, they humbly asked the Ecclesia to make this selection.

OUR LIBERTY IN CHRIST

Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge the house servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand. – NWT

2 Tim 2:7 – 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. – NKJV

Gal 5:1 – Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. NKJV

Gal 5:13 – For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. NKJV

2Co 3:17 – …where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. NWT

John 8:31, 32 – And so Jesus went on to say to the Jews that had believed him: “If YOU remain in my word, YOU are really my disciples, and YOU will know the truth, and the truth will set YOU free. NWT

 

[talons]

The other Apostles were well meaning, but premature in selecting the replacement Apostle themselves (Acts 1:26).

I see no indication of this in scripture . Do you have scripture to offer to support your idea ?

It would be hard to imagine that Paul as the greatest of the Apostles, would not be numbered among this special group of twelve.

I am not anti-Paul by any stretch of the imagination but I would say Paul was the apostle to the gentiles first and foremost by what we are told in scripture . The 12 with Matthias now enjoined are apostles to the Jews as it was from the start .

15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

 

[Pavel Mosko]

I completely disagree with almost everything said in the OP based on not just studying the Bible but Christian history. I also did a blog series on one of the lesser points made in the opening which I will copy and paste down here.


Setting the Record straight on saint Matthias

In this opening topic, I am going to be discussing the notion that the apostles consecrating Matthias to replace Judas was “a mistake” As some have suggested and preached from the pulpit, "If only they would have waited... the Holy Spirit would have picked Saul of Tarsus".

(I have heard this view preached from many Charismatics such as Bill Hamon and his followers and affiliates. and Evangelist Perry Stone, but strangely enough also from Cessationist apologist and Charismatic critic Justin Peters in one of his videos. (This writing was originally a Blogging series I did on Facebook (using my Facebook Wall as a Blog))

Consecrating Matthias was not a mistake.
#1 Most people who try to second guess the Apostles in the book of Acts do so because they say "Matthias disappears from history" after that point, because only after that he is mentioned once more in passing in the Bible and then never again.
The problem with this view is it assumes that the only Christian history worth reading is recorded in the Bible and assumes the Bible goes to get detail to record everything noteworthy in the world. I strongly disagree with this spurious reasoning and have two objections to it.
Objection 1) This is a myth that even the Bible refutes.


John 21:25
"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” Just as the Bible does not claim to exhaustive in its record of Jesus ministry, we should likewise expect the same for the early history of the Church especially since that history takes place over a much greater expanse of time.
Objection 2) The Bible only records events in the immediate Roman world (lots of lands lay outside that area),
History on this subject is admittedly not unanimous, but of the Matthian legends probably the best (most reliable) speaks of his traveling to Cappadocia (Turkey) and establishing a church in the region then continuing on to the region of the Caspian Sea. He is revered by the people of Georgia and other Christians in the Caucus as being their patron saint of the area and has a grave site at a roman fort of Gonio pictured below.



False Claim #2 “Choosing Matthias was a mistake if only the disciples would have waited the Holy Spirit would have EVENTUALLY chosen Saul.” People who say this actually assume that the disciples were operating from human wisdom and not according to the Holy Spirit. This point of view is ignorant on several accounts. In this post, I will remind people what the Bible ACTUALLY says.


Luke 24:45
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

John 20:22 ►
And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, AFTER GIVING INSTRUCTIONS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5
Acts 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters,[d] the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:" 'May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’[e]and," 'May another take his place of leadership.’[f]



The Meaning of the Twelve Apostles (Matthias consecration was not a mistake).
Many people make false claims like the ones regarding Matthias because they don’t appreciate New Testament Types and symbols. The number of the Apostles had to be twelve because the Gospel was first sent to Israel. And twelve is the number that signifies that since there were twelve tribes that came from of the 12 ancient sons of Israel (Jacob). It was therefore important for that necessary for that number to be completed before Pentecost otherwise an important piece of Biblical symbolism would have been broken. Not doing this would be like Moses striking the Rock a second time. He was kept out of the promised land not just for accidentally contradicting God, but that action spoiled a Prophetic Shadow. Jesus “The Rock” was struck only once and not twice (John 19:34).

Saint Paul’s Typology
Acts 9:15 ►New International Version
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
One aspect of Biblical numerological symbolism is when you exceed a number. The number seven is the number of perfection. It is the “fullness of time” for an event etc. If you add one to that, you actually symbolize entering into a new age, time or dispensation. And that really is the case for saint Paul being “the apostle of the Gentiles”.



Myth # 3, “The Apostles cast lots to select Matthias. This was an Old Testament practice that was obsolete.” “They should have sought a prophetic word.”

This objection is nothing more than pure modern western cultural bias at work. Because we like things personalized in our society, we assume that is the most advanced and most spiritual way of doing things. Casting lots was a well-accepted practice for seeking God’s Will in ancient times and for making decisions that are free from personal bias. Lots were cast in many situations where interpersonal conflict could happen, (like dividing land) and during various times for the tabernacle and temple ritual ceremonies.


Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

Proverbs 18:18
The cast lot puts an end to strife and decides between the mighty ones.
People who make this claim often fail to appreciate how many times “prophetic words” given by various ministers today are inaccurate, or colored by personal bias of the one giving them. It only took me a few years in the Charismatic movement years go to see how people often prophecy out of their own wishes, passions and opinions. If you consider that this event took place just before Pentecost and was needed to properly symbolize and set up that event, most likely presumably something that would have been covered by Jesus in his stay with the Apostles in between his Resurrection and Ascension, then it is not surprising why it was used at that time.

 

[Berean]

I see no indication of this in scripture . Do you have scripture to offer to support your idea?

It's obvious that the 11 Apostles' choice was not their choice to make, since Jesus chose the 12, he would choose the replacement.
Besides, Matthias disappears after Acts 1, never to be heard from again. For all we know he could be one of those mentioned in Revelation 2:2

I am not anti-Paul by any stretch of the imagination but I would say Paul was the apostle to the gentiles first and foremost by what we are told in scripture . The 12 with Matthias now enjoined are apostles to the Jews as it was from the start .

15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Of course, Paul started out preaching to the Jews, being frustrated with them, he decided to go to the Gentiles (Acts 18:6)

 

[Berean]

I completely disagree with almost everything said in the OP based on not just studying the Bible but Christian history. I also did a blog series on one of the lesser points made in the opening which I will copy and paste down here.

Well, I guess we can agree to disagree.

The problem with this view is it assumes that the only Christian history worth reading is recorded in the Bible and assumes the Bible goes to get detail to record everything noteworthy in the world. I strongly disagree with this spurious reasoning and have two objections to it.
Objection 1) This is a myth that even the Bible refutes.

Well, the Bible itself is inspired, not any of these other writings.

John 21:25
"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” Just as the Bible does not claim to exhaustive in its record of Jesus ministry, we should likewise expect the same for the early history of the Church especially since that history takes place over a much greater expanse of time.

2 Points on this verse. There is debate among scholars as to whether this verse is spurious. Second, Jesus ministry lasted 3.5 years, you actually think that in those 3.5 years he said so much that the whole world couldn't contain his words? I can see why some argue that this is a gross exaggeration.

Objection 2) The Bible only records events in the immediate Roman world (lots of lands lay outside that area),
History on this subject is admittedly not unanimous, but of the Matthian legends probably the best (most reliable) speaks of his traveling to Cappadocia (Turkey) and establishing a church in the region then continuing on to the region of the Caspian Sea. He is revered by the people of Georgia and other Christians in the Caucus as being their patron saint of the area and has a grave site at a roman fort of Gonio pictured below.

And your point is? You know how many so-called Patron Saints there are that the church created? Doesn't make it true.

False Claim #2 “Choosing Matthias was a mistake if only the disciples would have waited the Holy Spirit would have EVENTUALLY chosen Saul.” People who say this actually assume that the disciples were operating from human wisdom and not according to the Holy Spirit. This point of view is ignorant on several accounts. In this post, I will remind people what the Bible ACTUALLY says.

Well, I don't know about waiting, all I know is that Jesus approached Saul and converted him. Could he have used any of the 11 to accomplish his will for the Gentiles?

Myth # 3, “The Apostles cast lots to select Matthias. This was an Old Testament practice that was obsolete.” “They should have sought a prophetic word.”

This objection is nothing more than pure modern western cultural bias at work. Because we like things personalized in our society, we assume that is the most advanced and most spiritual way of doing things. Casting lots was a well-accepted practice for seeking God’s Will in ancient times and for making decisions that are free from personal bias. Lots were cast in many situations where interpersonal conflict could happen, (like dividing land) and during various times for the tabernacle and temple ritual ceremonies.

No one is arguing whether the casting of lots was obsolete or not. They could've rolled dice for all I care. What I am saying is, it wasn't their place to choose a replacement for Judas, it was the Lord's choice, since he chose the original 12.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

How was the first-century church organized? Consider the following:

Election of Leaders by Congregation Voting. In the Early Church, brethren met in various cities—Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth, Thessalonica— often meeting in homes (Acts 11:22:13:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; Romans 16:5; Colossians 4:15). Each ecclesia (congregation) was autonomous electing its own leaders, its own “Elders"—those not necessarily advanced in age, but mature in character.

“And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” - Acts 14:23​

How did they “ordain” their leaders? The Greek for “ordained” is “cheirotoneo from a comparative of NT:5495 and teino (to stretch); to be a hand-reacher or voter (by raising the hand).” (Strong’s #5500). Early Christians had the responsibility of voting for their Elders by the stretching forth of their hands!

There was no Apostolic Succession. The twelve Apostles were chosen directly by Jesus, but they had no replacements except, of course, Paul, who replaced Judas. Just as Jesus selected the original twelve, he selected Paul as a replacement (Acts 9:15). The other Apostles were well meaning, but premature in selecting the replacement Apostle themselves (Acts 1:26). Inspired by God, they were the “twelve stars” crowning the head of the Early Church (Revelation 12:1); also identified the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem (Acts 21:14). It would be hard to imagine that Paul as the greatest of the Apostles, would not be numbered among this special group of twelve. There was no “apostolic succession” of any kind for a body of leadership authority through the Christian Age.

The only time one ecclesia recommended a ruling to the brethren at large was when a Jerusalem council decided that the Gentile brethren should not be forced to circumcise. And, of course, at that time, there were actual Apostles in the ecclesia of Jerusalem making that recommendation [decree] to “abstain from meat offered to idols…” (Acts 15:22-29).

The independence of the Early Church is attested to by the fact that there were factions among the Corinthian brethren, some following either Paul, Peter or Apollos. Paul said in 1 Cor 3:6-7, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” Paul humbly said that He and Apollos were not anything. Paul did not rule over the brethren. In 1 Thes 2:7 he said, ”But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.”

As prophetically predicted, the Christian Church evolved into dividing between “clergy” and “laity.” (Acts 20:29; Matt 13:25; Rev 2:20; 1 Jn 2:18; 2 Thes 2:3) On the one hand, some grasping for power took advantage of those ready to let go of their responsibility of electing their own leadership. Gradually a tower of authority built up with priests, bishops and finally a “pope.” Again, the responsibility for decisions and authority to choose a leader in the Ecclesia rested with the congregation.

Qualifications for Leadership as Basis for Voting. While the Apostle Paul said the Ecclesia is to submit to and obey those which have “rule over you” (Hebrews 13:7, 17)—Paul also laid guidelines for selecting and voting for those who, in the first place, would be an acceptable leader as an overseer!

When Paul gave Titus the responsibility for instructing new Ecclesias in Crete for organizing their leadership—he certainly was consistent with what he arranged earlier (Acts 14:23). “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1:5).

Each congregation was responsible for electing Elders who qualified. He then laid out the qualifications for evaluation by the Ecclesia members quite clearly:

• Above reproach (Titus 1:6);
• Husband of one wife with children not unruly;
• Not self-willed, quick-tempered or addicted to wine;
• No striker; not given to filthy lucre (Titus 1:7);
• Hospitable, sensible, just, self-controlled (Titus 1:8);
• Holding fast the faithful word; able to exhort in sound doctrine (1:9)

In his letter to Timothy, Apostle Paul similarly lines up the qualifications for voting for overseers:

• Blameless, the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:1,2):
• Vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality:
• Apt to teach (1 Timothy 3:2);
• Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;
• Patient, not a brawler, not covetous (1 Timothy 3:3);
• Having his children in subjection with all gravity (1 Timothy 3:4);
• Not a novice (1 Timothy 3:6);
• Of good report of them which are without (1 Timothy 3:7)

Individual Responsibility for Raising the Hand in Voting. Thus, the Ecclesia is given criteria for voting wisely and determining the will of the Lord for the selection of their teachers and instructors. Congregations do NOT need to have an outside authoritative body of leaders to tell them what to do and what to think and what to change for “new light.”

Each member is responsible for attempting to determine the LORD’s will and expressing it in voting by raising his/her hand. So we should base our leadership selection—as well as activity selections—by the voting of the Ecclesia.

MORE ON ELECTION OF ELDERS BY VOTE

According to the Bible, the election of elders was practiced in the Early Church. The eventual elimination of this practice gradually led to Elders becoming the Lord’s of the Church, rather than its servants, and opened the way for the development of the Antichrist system.

Paul and Barnabas went around to all the churches and conducted the election of Elders.

Acts 14: 23 – And in every Church, after prayer and fasting, they selected Elders by show of hands, and commended them to the Lord on whom their faith rested. – Weymouth​

Rotherham and Young’s Literal translation say, “appointed to them by vote elders in every assembly.”

RVIC Revised Version Improved and Corrected says, “elected elders.”

In 2 Corinthians Paul speaks of a brother who was elected by the churches to travel with him:

"… he is the one who was chosen by the vote of the Churches to travel with us…" – 2 Cor 8:19 – Weymouth

In another example, we recall that the Apostles asked the Jerusalem Church to select seven deacons.

"Therefore, brethren, pick out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to undertake this duty." - Acts 6:3, Weymouth​

Who would have challenged the Apostles had they exerted their influence to appoint deacons themselves? Yet instead, they humbly asked the Ecclesia to make this selection.

OUR LIBERTY IN CHRIST

Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge the house servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand. – NWT

2 Tim 2:7 – 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. – NKJV

Gal 5:1 – Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. NKJV

Gal 5:13 – For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. NKJV

2Co 3:17 – …where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. NWT

John 8:31, 32 – And so Jesus went on to say to the Jews that had believed him: “If YOU remain in my word, YOU are really my disciples, and YOU will know the truth, and the truth will set YOU free. NWT

I don't think most Protestants, especially ones that came from the Radical Reformation can really appreciate stuff coming from the early church. I have a little more optimism with those coming from Traditional Protestantism like Lutheranism, Reformed/Calvinism, and Church of England, the more interest in Church Fathers, Nicene Christianity the better.


That being said Apostolic Succession and the rest of everything comes out of Judaism. Judaism is all about history, and legacy, passing on inheritance to the next generation and discipleship. You do not need specific commands to do things that are already built in assumptions for the spiritual culture of that time.

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Early Jewish Religious Hierarchy and Early Church Government

Orthodox Christians take for granted that the Church is headed regionally by bishops, locally by priests (usually one or two per parish), and assisted by deacons. Below them are all us laymen. This…

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[talons]

It's obvious that the 11 Apostles' choice was not their choice to make, since Jesus chose the 12, he would choose the replacement.
Besides, Matthias disappears after Acts 1, never to be heard from again. For all we know he could be one of those mentioned in Revelation 2:2

How do you know that Jesus did not make the choice ? Think about it .

Of course, Paul started out preaching to the Jews, being frustrated with them, he decided to go to the Gentiles (Acts 18:6)

Paul was preaching to the Jews and the gentiles in Acts Chapter 13 .

 

[Berean]

How do you know that Jesus did not make the choice ? Think about it.

Because he chose Saul/Paul

Paul was preaching to the Jews and the gentiles in Acts Chapter 13 .

Yep, I'm aware of that, isn't that what I said?