Because most teaching mixes the Jewish program with the age of grace, obscuring the separation.
Les Feldick says the confusion comes from blending the Old Testament program with the age of grace (Clip 7). When Peter's Jewish program of repentance and baptism is combined with the Gentile pattern of hearing and believing, apparent contradictions appear. When Israel and the church are kept separate, the Bible becomes sensible (Clip 2).
Acts 10:44 — The Holy Spirit fell on Gentiles before baptism, revealing a different order from the Jewish Pentecostal command.
Acts 2:38 — Peter's command to Jews at Pentecost shows repentance and baptism preceding the gift of the Holy Ghost.
In the book of Acts, Scripture records two different settings for the giving of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, Peter told the Jewish people, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). Later, when Peter went to the Gentile household of Cornelius, the Holy Ghost fell on them while Peter was still speaking (Acts 10:44). They had not been baptized at that point (Acts 10:47), and Peter then commanded them to be baptized (Acts 10:48). Scripture also records that Peter's reluctance to eat with Gentile believers at Antioch was corrected by Paul. "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision" (Galatians 2:11-12). These passages show two distinct programs in Scripture.
Les Feldick teaches that the reason this separation has not been taught is because Christendom has mixed the Old Testament program with the age of grace (Clip 7). He says that when you separate the Jew, the nation of Israel, from the church, which is His body, all the contradictions disappear and the Bible becomes sensible (Clip 2). According to Les, the early chapters of Acts are Peter ministering to the Jew, while Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles; they are two different groups of people and two different doctrines under the same God (Clip 5). In the Jewish setting, Peter preached repentance and baptism, but in the Gentile setting, the Holy Spirit fell on believers before baptism (Clip 0). Les also notes that the four Gospels belong to the Old Testament and are built on temple worship and animal blood, while the blood of Christ becomes the way to God in Paul's revelation (Clip 4). Les emphasizes that Israel had been set apart for almost two thousand years, so it was difficult for Peter and other Jews to let go of that separation (Clips 1, 3). He also insisted that God is not through with the Jew even though salvation has come to the Gentiles (Clip 6).
Les says that in the early chapters of Acts it is "Peter, Peter, Peter ministering to the Jew, Jew, Jew" (Clip 5). In the Jewish program at Pentecost, Peter commanded repentance and baptism before the Holy Spirit was given (Acts 2:38). In the Gentile case, the Holy Spirit fell while Peter was still speaking, before baptism (Acts 10:44); baptism then came after the fact (Acts 10:47-48).
Les explains that for almost two thousand years God had told Israel they were a separated people and were not to co-mingle with the Gentiles (Clip 1). Even in Acts 10, when the Lord showed Peter the vision, Peter replied, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean" (Clip 1; Acts 10:14). This mindset carried into the New Testament, leading to the confrontation at Antioch where Peter withdrew from Gentile believers until Paul withstood him (Clip 3; Galatians 2:11-12).
Les says that when you separate the Jew and the nation of Israel from the church which is His body, all the contradictions disappear and the major questions disappear (Clip 2). He has had people tell him that this teaching is the first that makes sense, and he attributes it to the work of the Holy Spirit (Clip 2). He also points out that mixing the Old Testament program with the age of grace is what causes people "not really to know what to believe and why and how" (Clip 7).
Spirit Before Baptism in the Gentile Program
Les shows that in Acts 10 the Holy Spirit fell on Gentiles when they heard and believed, before baptism, which was the opposite of Peter's earlier Jewish-order at Pentecost.
Israel's Long Separation From Gentiles
Les reminds us that Israel was told not to mingle with or evangelize the Gentiles, and even at Acts 10 Peter still protested that he had never eaten anything common or unclean.
Separate Israel From the Church
Les teaches that separating Israel from the church removes contradictions and makes the Bible sensible, and he credits the Holy Spirit when people respond.
Peter's Struggle to Leave the Old Separation
Les explains that after 2,000 years of separation, Peter found it hard to accept Gentile believers, which led to his confrontation with Paul in Galatians 2.
Four Gospels Belong to the Old Testament
Les teaches that the Gospels operate on temple worship and Old Testament covenant promises, while the way of the blood of Christ belongs to Paul's revelation.
Peter and Paul: Two Different Apostleships
Les states that Peter is the apostle to the Jews and Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, with two different groups and two different doctrines under the same God.
God Not Finished With Israel
Les insists that although Israel was set aside and salvation came to the Gentiles, God is not through with the Jewish people.
Mixing Programs Causes Confusion
Les says the reason there is so much confusion is that Christendom mixes the Old Testament program with the age of grace, so people do not know what to believe.
Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
This is Peter's command to Jews at Pentecost, where baptism preceded the Spirit.
Acts 10:14: But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
Peter's protest shows he still held to the old separation even as God was about to open the door to Gentiles.
Acts 10:44: While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
The Holy Ghost came upon Gentile listeners before they were water-baptized.
Acts 10:47: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Peter's question confirms the Spirit had already been given before baptism.
Acts 10:48: And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Peter then ordered baptism after the fact, the reverse of the Pentecost order.
Galatians 2:11: But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Paul's confrontation with Peter shows the old Jewish separation lingering in Peter's behavior.
Galatians 2:12: For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Peter withdrew from Gentile believers due to fear of the circumcision group.
No. He says the contradictions are only apparent because people mix the Old Testament Jewish program with the age of grace. When you separate Israel from the church, all the contradictions disappear (Clip 2; Clip 7).
Yes. In Acts 10, while Peter spoke, the Holy Ghost fell on the Gentile believers before they were baptized. Peter then asked, "Can any man forbid water...?" and commanded them to be baptized (Acts 10:44-48).
Peter withdrew from eating with Gentile believers when certain Jews came from James. Paul withstood him because this mixed the old separatism with the new Gentile program (Galatians 2:11-12). Les points to this as evidence that Peter had a hard time giving up the old Jewish separation (Clip 3).
Watch the Teaching: What Must I Do to Be Saved? Acts 2 vs. Acts 16 Explained