Quote:
Originally Posted by Austin
AMEN. Luke 16:16, Jesus said; The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. |
John the Baptist preached "the kingdom of heaven (or kingdom of God) is at hand" (
Matthew 3:1-2)
After John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (
Mark 1:14) and saying, "The kingdom of God is at hand..."
In
Luke 17:21 Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is within/among you." I know there are differences of opinion as to what that word "within" means. Some think it means the Kingdom is something "inner" or inside of a person. In my opinion, Jesus was looking at that group of people, realizing that some of them were part of the kingdom and some were not and said, "The Kingdom is within this crowd" or "Some in this crowd are citizens of the Kingdom of God." in other words the Kingdom was within that crowd or among that crowd.
In Acts chapter 8 when persecution drove some from Jerusalem, Philip went to Samaria and "preached Christ unto them" (
Acts 8:5). In verse 12 it says he preached "the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ."
In
Acts 14:22 it says that Paul visited churches, confirmingstrengthening them and telling them that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." This was probably in the summer of AD 47.
In
Acts 19 (October AD 53) Paul went to Ephesus and in the synagogue spoke for 3 months "concerning the kingdom of God" (
Acts 19:8). In chapter 20 he met with the elders/shepherds/overseers of the "Church of God" in Ephesus and said that he had preached "the kingdom of f God" among them (verse 25). This was probably in the spring of AD 57.
The Book of Acts closes out with Paul in prison in Rome at the end of AD 61 and Luke the historian says that he (Paul) dwelt 2 years in a hired house (house arrest?) preaching the
kingdom of God (
Acts 28:30-31)
And John closes out the New Testament in exile on the island of Patmos and speaks about being a companion in tribulation and in the kingdom (
Rev 1:9)