Let me suggest that you study hermeneutics and the proper techniques to apply historical and by linguistic context. You missed both by quote mining verses wretched out of context.
Initially the Christian movement was indeed called the way. These verses pertain to a charge of public menace against Paul brought to Felix, governor, by the priest Ananias.
In verse 5 Ananias is bringing the charges against Paul who, by his evangelizing of the Jews, is creating dissent. This verse is a perfect example of why the Christians are NOT Israel since both are contrasted.
Acts 21:
27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
While it is true Paul was turning people away from the "Jews religion", he did so because they were not promoting God's Laws, rather, if a man believes in the Jesus "of the Bible", they were promoting their own Laws, their own religious traditions and were "children of the devil".
Mark 7:
9 And he said unto them, Full well "ye reject the commandment of God", that ye may keep "your own tradition".
As a Pharisee, Paul explained he was more zealous for these traditions.
Gal. 1:
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of "the traditions of my fathers".
Stephen also points this out for those interested in seeking God's Truth.
Acts. 7:
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, "so do ye".
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
And Jesus confirms this in Matt. 23:
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say (they promote the Law of Moses), and do not.
4 For they (Pharisees, not God as the deceiver would have us believe) bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. (Peter speaks to this "Yoke" in Acts 15.)
So the implication of your sermon, that the Pharisees were promoting "the Law of Moses" while those who, as Paul teaches, "Yielded themselves to God", rejected the Law of Moses, is a teaching that is wrought
in the heart of man, not the Inspired Word of God.
Ananias uses the term “sect” to describe the sect of the Nazarenes. The Greek word for sect here is hairesis which is where we get the word heresy. The historical context of Nazareth is a place that elicited both contempt and reproach among both Romans and Jews.
Verse 14 is spoken by Paul in his defense stating that “in accordance to the way”, the Christian movement, that “they” call a sect, a heresy, with “they” meaning the Jews. Again here there is a clear distinction between the way and the Jews.
The Pharisees and their rebellious fathers that the Jesus "of the Bible" called "children of the devil", had been persecuting the "Church of God" or as Paul teaches, "The Way of the Lord", since Cain and Abel. The Prophets promoted the same Gospel as Jesus and Paul did, and the uncircumscribed of the heart Jews called them heretics as well, and killed many of them. They were shown the Gospel, but didn't believe it either.
Abraham didn't do this when confronted by the "Way of the Lord".
Gen. 18:
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep "the way of the LORD", to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Caleb was almost stoned to death because he "Yielded Himself" to the Way of the Lord.
So the Faithful, those who placed their trust in the Lord, including Saul who turned away from the "Jews Religion" which had full well rejected the commandments of God, refused to submit to the Righteousness of God, and went about establishing and promoting their own Righteousness, are always persecuted by this world's religious system.
When Saul was living by and promoting the Pharisees religious traditions, commandments and philosophies, Saul was their buddy. But when he turned to God and the "Way of the Lord" that all the Faithful in the entire bible walked in, he became hated by the religious system of this world. They falsely accused him of teaching against God's Laws, just as you and "many" who call Jesus Lord, Lord, accuse Paul of teaching against God's Laws.
But he wasn't. And the Scriptures Hark showed you teaches this, if you could only believe.
Acts 24:
12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
13 Neither can they prove the things whereof "they now accuse me".
14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way "which they call heresy", the Way the Prophets promoted, and were killed for promoting. The way David Lived by, and was persecuted every day. The way Shadrack lived by, and obeyed even at the risk of being cast into a furnace of fire. The way Zacharias, Simeon, Anna and the Wise men lived.
The way and the Commandments Jesus Lived by has always been taught against by this world's religions. Paul, who had "
put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." understood this and told us.
"so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
These verse say exactly the opposite to what you are forcing them to say. It is a hermeneutical disaster.
No, Hark understands that the "Faithful believers" in the Bible, never Judged God or His "instruction in righteousness". They Glorified God "AS GOD", and therefore understood it was simply their reasonable serve to Trust that God knows what is better for them, than those "many" who call Jesus Lord, Lord, and "
profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate".
The mainstream preachers of Paul's time were shown all this as well, but their pride and selfishness was more important to them than submitting to God.
It was the "Jews religion" that led men astray, not God's Laws as "Many" who come in Christ's Name promote.
