The apostles and all true men sent from God did not hold sway by means of worldly power, but came with divine authority, with the power of the Holy Spirit. Divine authority was only exercised in combination with the proclamation of the Word at the commission of God, authority which is reserved to God in His sovereignty. This authority was not given in order that one person should dominate over others, but that all should submit themselves under the mighty hand of God. This authority does not depend on an office, but is linked to the all-embracing power of the risen Christ.

After His resurrection, the Lord said to His disciples then present, “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” Following this is written, “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosoever’s sins ye remit (not thou remittest), they are remitted unto them: and whosoever’s sins ye retain, they are retained” (Jn. 20: 21-23). The connection here is also very clear. The Lord is directing the all-embracing commission only to such men as He had taken into His service for proclaiming the Gospel. Who today can bear witness to having been called and commissioned by the voice of the Lord? On whom has the Lord actually in reality breathed His Spirit as on that occasion? Who has the right to operate in His Name?

Were Peter or Paul chosen by a corporate body of people? Or were they appointed by God? There were no cardinals there to vote on the matter, as has been the case since the 11th century. No smoke rose heavenwards, neither did all the world shout with joy. In the early church the men of God had understood fully and completely what the Lord had commanded. They were being led by the Holy Spirit. All scriptures that belonged to a certain theme they correctly brought together over a common denominator.

On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell with the sound of a rushing mighty wind accompanied by cloven tongues of divine fire on all that were present in the place where they were. Thus purified by divine fire they were able, like the prophets in the Old Testament, to utter the Word with the authority of the Holy Spirit. What Peter preached in the first sermon will be said until the last sermon by everyone who is called by the Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit, “Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins!” (Acts 2:  38). With respect to those who were sent by the Lord Himself, He said, “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me …” (Lk. 10: 16).

The apostles and all true men sent from God did not hold sway by means of worldly power, but came with divine authority, with the power of the Holy Spirit. Divine authority was only exercised in combination with the proclamation of the Word at the commission of God, authority which is reserved to God in His sovereignty. This authority was not given in order that one person should dominate over others, but that all should submit themselves under the mighty hand of God. This authority does not depend on an office, but is linked to the all-embracing power of the risen Christ.

After His resurrection, the Lord said to His disciples then present, “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” Following this is written, “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosoever’s sins ye remit (not thou remittest), they are remitted unto them: and whosoever’s sins ye retain, they are retained” (Jn. 20: 21-23). The connection here is also very clear. The Lord is directing the all-embracing commission only to such men as He had taken into His service for proclaiming the Gospel. Who today can bear witness to having been called and commissioned by the voice of the Lord? On whom has the Lord actually in reality breathed His Spirit as on that occasion? Who has the right to operate in His Name?

Were Peter or Paul chosen by a corporate body of people? Or were they appointed by God? There were no cardinals there to vote on the matter, as has been the case since the 11th century. No smoke rose heavenwards, neither did all the world shout with joy. In the early church the men of God had understood fully and completely what the Lord had commanded. They were being led by the Holy Spirit. All scriptures that belonged to a certain theme they correctly brought together over a common denominator.

On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell with the sound of a rushing mighty wind accompanied by cloven tongues of divine fire on all that were present in the place where they were. Thus purified by divine fire they were able, like the prophets in the Old Testament, to utter the Word with the authority of the Holy Spirit. What Peter preached in the first sermon will be said until the last sermon by everyone who is called by the Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit, “Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins!” (Acts 2:  38). With respect to those who were sent by the Lord Himself, He said, “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me …” (Lk. 10: 16).