COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM

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COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM

• ACTS 15

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Background

• Acts 18 you will be my witnesses to the ends
  of the earth.
• Pentecost each one heard them speaking in
  their own language 26
• 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

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Acts 18 you will be my witnesses to the ends
of the earth.
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The Immediate Reason

• 151 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

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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

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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
• Gentiles cannot be saved without circumcision
• testing God- remember Ananias Acts 5!
• Harassing Gentile converts (James says stop
  making it difficult Acts 1519)

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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.
  151

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The Meeting- Private hearing?

• Apostles and Elders meet. 156
• 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 1511

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The Meeting- The Whole Assembly

• 1512 Assembly listen to
• 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

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The Meeting- James Judgement

• The will of the church
• God is fulfilling scripture 1516-18 Gentiles
  are also called
• No circumcision required but abstain from
• Food sacrificed to Idols
• sexual immorality
• meat from strangled animals
• blood

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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

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Apostles/ Elders/ Whole Church

• ACTION Send a letter The Apostolic Decree
  1523-29
• It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us
  1528 The church is in harmony with God
• Circumcision is not necessary but abide by the
  prohibitions

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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

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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 to Gods works they are not pleading a
  case.
• Gods actions dictate how we understand scripture
  so a new understanding of the old law is
  possible.
• The decision is legitimate Holy Spirit and us