1. Council Of Jerusalem ACTS 15
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2. 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
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3. Acts 1:8 “you will be my witnesses …to the ends of the earth.”
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4. 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
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5. 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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6. 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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7. 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 15:19)
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8. 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
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9. 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
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10. The Meeting- The Whole Assembly
15:12 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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11. 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
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12. 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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13. 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
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14. The Apostolic Decree
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15. 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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16. 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.
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”
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