 When Jesus was crucified, the disciples were afraid and were hiding  After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples are still hiding but they are not as afraid anymore  Jesus appears to the disciples and tells them that He will return (Ascend) to the Father but that He is going to be sending the Holy Spirit.

10 days after the Ascension, the disciples gathered for Shavuot (Jewish Pentecost) o To commemorate Moses’ reception of the Ten Commandments  They are celebrating Shavuot when, suddenly: o A violent wind blew through the room o Tongues of fire appeared above their heads o All were filled with the Holy Spirit o All began to speak other languages (in tongues) o The disciples experienced first hand the power of God – Holy Spirit

Result of this experience: the disciples … o Knew that God was calling them to a special mission o Were no longer afraid of persecution or death. o Renewed their identity as followers of Jesus – The Way o Event known as the Birthday of the Church (Christianity)

 Even though the followers of Christ were baptized in his name, they still saw themselves as “Jews”.  Worshipped in temple, synagogue, and homes  Many Gentiles are converting to The Way  Problem: › Worship idols › Eat meat › Pagan customs  Jews(Christians) want Gentiles to become Jews › Circumcision  Sign of the covenant  Chosen people

 On the way from Lydda to Joppa (north & west of Jerusalem)  Has a vision of food › Lowered on a sheet are all kinds of foods: all sorts of “four footed animals and birds of the air”  Unclean animals (see Lev.) › A voice tells him to kill and eat them › God makes them pure

 Peter learns from his dream that God has no favorites  Peter explains his vision to the disciples  Peter has also witnessed the Holy Spirit coming down upon all Gentiles  Most of the disciples accept Peter’s testimony

› Certain followers of the Way, who were Pharisees, said, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1) › Disciples now had to address the problem head on:  Should Gentiles become Jewish in order to be Christian? › The council of Jerusalem allowed the church leaders to voice their opinions.

What was said:  Peter argued:  God gave the gentiles the Holy Spirit  Their hearts were clean  They only need to have faith in Jesus, no other rules Paul and Barnabas testified to the miracles and healing they had done among gentiles James decided  Gentiles OK w/out circumcision & Mosaic Law but They must abstain from  Eating food sacrificed to idols (Geek or Roman gods)  Fornication  Eating meat not killed in a kosher way: “strangled”  Eating the blood of an animal

All settled? Well….. Certain followers of the Way in Jerusalem still insisted that all Gentiles be circumcised and be circumcised and keep the 613 Laws of Moses keep the 613 Laws of Moses

Jerusalem Antioch  Jerusalem Church very Conservative. › Strong Jewish-Christian identity. › Gentile converts expected to attend synagogue, study Torah, and be Jewish – like the rest of the Christians  For them, being “Christian” means being Jewish.  Different from Jerusalem: › Very accepting of Gentiles from the beginning  “God Fearers” in the Synagogues  “God Fearers” refers to Gentiles who have converted to Christianity but have not become Jews- no circumcision Gentile Converts accepted “As Is” › 1 st community to use the name “Christian”