N. Hammersley COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM ACTS 15. N. Hammersley Background Acts 1:8 “you will be my witnesses …to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 “you will

N. HammersleyN. Hammersley

COUNCIL OF COUNCIL OF JERUSALEMJERUSALEM

ACTS 15ACTS 15


BackgroundBackground

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

Pentecost – “Pentecost – “each one heard them speaking each one heard them speaking in their own language” in their own language” 2:62:6

Samaria + Philip and the Ethiopian Acts 8Samaria + Philip and the Ethiopian Acts 8 Cornelius Acts 10Cornelius Acts 10 Church in Antioch Acts 11Church in Antioch Acts 11 1st Missionary Journey and the success 1st Missionary Journey and the success

amongst the Gentiles and rejection by the amongst the Gentiles and rejection by the JewsJews


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

earthearth.”.”


The Immediate ReasonThe Immediate Reason

15:1 Men from Judea to 15:1 Men from Judea to Antioch “Antioch “Unless you are Unless you are circumcised according circumcised according to the custom taught by to the custom taught by Moses you cannot be Moses you cannot be savedsaved.” .”

These “men” are These “men” are Judaisers / “circumcision Judaisers / “circumcision party”/ Phariseesparty”/ Pharisees


JudaisersJudaisers

Regarded Gentiles as have low Regarded Gentiles as have low moral/ ethical standards – Jews moral/ ethical standards – Jews having higher standardshaving higher standards

The Law was a good thingThe Law was a good thing Circumcision showed that you were Circumcision showed that you were

serious about the Law and in keeping serious about the Law and in keeping itit


JudaiserJudaiserss

Jesus was a Jew and the Messiah Jesus was a Jew and the Messiah (Christ) so salvation through the (Christ) so salvation through the Messiah must come by following the Messiah must come by following the LawLaw

Culturally – Jews saw Gentiles as Culturally – Jews saw Gentiles as ritually unclean, so sharing a meal ritually unclean, so sharing a meal was impossiblewas impossible

So, problems with Eucharistic sharing So, problems with Eucharistic sharing and “agape” meal- Fellowship.and “agape” meal- Fellowship.


JudaisersJudaisers

Luke highlights The Pharisee party as;Luke highlights The Pharisee party as;

1.1. Gentiles “cannot be saved” without Gentiles “cannot be saved” without circumcisioncircumcision

2.2. ““testing God”- remember Ananias Acts testing God”- remember Ananias Acts 5!5!

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


The MeetingThe Meeting

Paul and Barnabas “appointed” to Paul and Barnabas “appointed” to seek an answer from the Mother seek an answer from the Mother Church to the problemChurch to the problem

“ “Unless you are circumcised Unless you are circumcised according to the custom taught by according to the custom taught by Moses you cannot be savedMoses you cannot be saved.” 15:1.” 15:1


The Meeting- Private The Meeting- Private hearing?hearing?

Apostles and Elders meet. Apostles and Elders meet. 15:615:6

Peter gives witness to what Peter gives witness to what God had done with Cornelius- God had done with Cornelius- The holy Spirit was given to The holy Spirit was given to them “them “just as he did to just as he did to usus””

““It is through the grace of our It is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are savedLord Jesus that we are saved” ” 15:1115:11


The Meeting- The Whole The Meeting- The Whole AssemblyAssembly

15:12 Assembly listen to; 15:12 Assembly listen to;

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

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


The Meeting- James’ The Meeting- James’ JudgementJudgement

The will of the churchThe will of the church God is fulfilling scripture 15:16-18 – God is fulfilling scripture 15:16-18 –

Gentiles are also called Gentiles are also called No circumcision required but abstain No circumcision required but abstain

from; from; Food sacrificed to IdolsFood sacrificed to Idolssexual immoralitysexual immoralitymeat from strangled animalsmeat from strangled animalsblood blood


The Meeting- James’ The Meeting- James’ JudgementJudgement

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

Sexual immoralitySexual immorality - prostitution, - prostitution, and association with idol worshipand association with idol worship

Meat from strangled animalsMeat from strangled animals – – sacrifice to idols / koshersacrifice to idols / kosher

BloodBlood – possibly murder, also Jewish – possibly murder, also Jewish ritual purityritual purity


Apostles/ Elders/ Whole ChurchApostles/ Elders/ Whole Church

ACTION – Send a letter; ACTION – Send a letter; The The Apostolic DecreeApostolic Decree 15:23-29 15:23-29

““It seemed good to the Holy Spirit It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to usand to us” 15:28 The church is in ” 15:28 The church is in harmony with Godharmony with God

Circumcision is not necessary; but Circumcision is not necessary; but abide by the prohibitionsabide by the prohibitions


The Apostolic DecreeThe Apostolic Decree


The ConclusionThe Conclusion

Barnabas and Paul chosen to take Barnabas and Paul chosen to take the letter north to Antiochthe letter north to Antioch

Judas (Barsabbas) and Silas Judas (Barsabbas) and Silas (prophets in the church) accompany (prophets in the church) accompany themthem


Luke shows the reader how the Luke shows the reader how the Church (Church (ekklesia) responds to a crisisekklesia) responds to a crisis

The Church reaches a decision by The Church reaches a decision by discernment through faith. Peter, discernment through faith. Peter, Barnabas and Paul are Barnabas and Paul are witnesseswitnesses to Gods to Gods works – they are not pleading a case.works – they are not pleading a case.

God’s actions dictate how we understand God’s actions dictate how we understand scripture – so a new understanding of the scripture – so a new understanding of the old law is possible.old law is possible.

The decision is legitimate – Holy Spirit and The decision is legitimate – Holy Spirit and “us”“us”

Documents

N. Hammersley COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM ACTS 15. N. Hammersley Background Acts 1:8 “you will be my witnesses …to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 “you will