COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM

ACTS 15 N. Hammersley

Background

      Acts 1:8 “ you will be my witnesses …to the ends of the earth .” Pentecost – “ each one heard them speaking in their own language” 2:6 Samaria + Philip and the Ethiopian Acts 8 Cornelius Acts 10 Church in Antioch Acts 11 1st Missionary Journey and the success amongst the Gentiles and rejection by the Jews N. Hammersley

Acts 1:8 “ you will be my witnesses …to the ends of the earth .”

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The Immediate Reason

  15:1 Men from Judea to Antioch “ Unless you are circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses you cannot be saved .” These “men” are Judaisers / “circumcision party”/ Pharisees N. Hammersley

Judaisers

 Regarded Gentiles as have low moral/ ethical standards – Jews having higher standards  The Law was a good thing  Circumcision showed that you were serious about the Law and in keeping it N. Hammersley

Judaisers

 Jesus was a Jew and the Messiah (Christ) so salvation through the Messiah must come by following the Law  Culturally – Jews saw Gentiles as ritually unclean, so sharing a meal was impossible  So, problems with Eucharistic sharing and “agape” meal- Fellowship.

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Judaisers

 Luke highlights The Pharisee party as; 1.

2.

3.

Gentiles “cannot be saved” without circumcision “testing God”- remember Ananias Acts 5!

Harassing Gentile converts (James says “stop making it difficult” Acts 15:19) N. Hammersley

The Meeting

 Paul and Barnabas “appointed” to seek an answer from the Mother Church to the problem “ Unless you are circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses you cannot be saved .” 15:1 N. Hammersley

The Meeting- Private hearing?

 Apostles and Elders meet. 15:6   Peter gives witness to what God had done with Cornelius The holy Spirit was given to them “ just as he did to us ” “ It is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved ” 15:11 N. Hammersley

The Meeting- The Whole Assembly

 15:12 Assembly listen to; a.

b.

Barnabas and Paul – the signs and wonders done among the Gentiles. They are witnesses to Gods work.

James- as leader (Bishop) of the Jerusalem Church. Jesus’ cousin then summarises the assembly's judgement N. Hammersley

The Meeting- James’ Judgement

   The will of the church God is fulfilling scripture 15:16-18 – Gentiles are also called No circumcision required but abstain from; Food sacrificed to Idols sexual immorality meat from strangled animals blood N. Hammersley

The Meeting- James’ Judgement

    Food sacrificed to Idols – against the Commandments. Idol worship abhorrent to Jews.

Sexual immorality - prostitution, and association with idol worship Meat from strangled animals – sacrifice to idols / kosher Blood – possibly murder, also Jewish ritual purity N. Hammersley

Apostles/ Elders/ Whole Church

  ACTION – Send a letter; The Apostolic Decree 15:23-29 “ It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us ” 15:28 The church is in harmony with God  Circumcision is not necessary; but abide by the prohibitions N. Hammersley

The Apostolic Decree

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The Conclusion

 Barnabas and Paul chosen to take the letter north to Antioch  Judas (Barsabbas) and Silas (prophets in the church) accompany them N. Hammersley

Luke shows the reader how the Church ( ekklesia) responds to a crisis    The Church reaches a decision by discernment through faith. Peter, Barnabas and Paul are witnesses a case.

to Gods works – they are not pleading God’s actions dictate how we understand scripture – so a new understanding of the old law is possible.

The decision is legitimate – Holy Spirit and “us” N. Hammersley