Chapter 15

Conflict inevitable within a group - national (Jesus vs. Israel) - familial (Jesus vs. Nazareth) John 7 43 So there was a division among the people because of Him. 5 For neither did His brethren believe in Him.

Conflict inevitable within a group inevitable within a group - national (Jesus vs. Israel) - familial (Jesus vs. Nazareth) - communal (Jesus vs. Apostles) Luke And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be ac- counted the greatest.

Conflict inevitable within a group inevitable within a group historical within the church - work (missions, institutions) - worship (music, communion) - women (elders, ministers) - national (Jesus vs. Israel) - familial (Jesus vs. Nazareth) - communal (Jesus vs. Apostles)

Conflict about circumcision(15:1-31) - disputation(15:1-5) about John Mark(15:32-41)

Acts 15 1 And certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren, “Ex- cept ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them … Disputation between Paul and church at Jerusalem over circumcision. Some are sincere, and others are spies.

Acts 15 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, “That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem to discuss this issue and encounter those who seem to be sincere.

Acts … Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21 and they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circum- cise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

Galatians 2 3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be cir- cumcised: 4 and that because of false brethren un- awares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: Circumcision identified spies.

Conflict about circumcision(15:1-31) about circumcision(15:1-31) - disputation(15:1-5) - consideration(15:6-18) + Peter presents Cornelius

Acts 15 6 And the apostles and elders came to- gether for to consider of this matter. Consideration by both the Apostles of Christ and the elders of the church of Jerusalem. 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said … “God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.”

Acts 15 Note he did not say that the Gentiles shall be saved as the Jews, but the Jews as the Gentiles. Neither the Jews nor the Gentiles are saved through the law of Moses, but through the Gospel of Christ. Does the Gospel require circumcision? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Conflict about circumcision(15:1-31) about circumcision(15:1-31) - disputation(15:1-5) - consideration(15:6-18) + Peter presents Cornelius + Paul presents Titus

Acts Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and won- ders God had wrought among the Gen- tiles by them. If Christ requires circumcision, why is God working through Paul who is preaching against it?

Exodus 4 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, “Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.” 26 So he let him go: then she said, “A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.”

Galatians 2 1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles … 3 But neither Titus … was compelled to be circumcised. So Gospel doesn’t require circumcision. Do the prophets mention this?

Conflict about circumcision(15:1-31) about circumcision(15:1-31) - disputation(15:1-5) - consideration(15:6-18) + Peter presents Cornelius + Paul presents Titus + James presents Amos

Acts And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 ”After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down … and I will set it up: Amos 9:11-12 prophesies of God re- building the kingdom of David.

17 that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My name is called …” Both the Jew and Gentile will wear the name Christian. 18 Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world. God planned the church before the beginning: it’s the purpose of creation. Acts 15

Conflict about circumcision(15:1-31) about circumcision(15:1-31) - disputation(15:1-5) - consideration(15:6-18) - adjudication(15:19-31)

Acts Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 but that we write unto them … Judgment to write scripture. Scripture provides a standard. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; Scripture is inspired by Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit directed the consider- ation of the matter. Acts 15

Acts that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication … 1. Blood 2. Bloody Meat 3. Unholy Meat 4. Unholy Sex

Genesis 9 3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. The prohibition against eating blood and bloody meat has been in place since Noah and was included in the law of Moses.

I Timothy 4 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. Always pray before eating. Abstain from food not offered to God.

I Corinthians Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question … 27 … whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question … 28 But if any man say unto you, “This is offered in sacrifice unto idols,” eat not for his sake that shewed it … Always pray before eating. Abstain from food not offered to God.

Genesis 2 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. One flesh only within marriage. One flesh means sexual union. I Corinthians 6 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For “Two,” saith He, “shall be one flesh.”

Conflict about circumcision(15:1-31) about circumcision(15:1-31) - disputation(15:1-5) - consideration(15:6-18) - adjudication(15:19-31) about John Mark(15:32-41) - association(15:32-35)

Acts And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. Judas and Silas are associated. Paul and Barnabas are associated. 35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord …

Conflict about circumcision(15:1-31) about circumcision(15:1-31) - disputation(15:1-5) - consideration(15:6-18) - adjudication(15:19-31) about John Mark(15:32-41) about John Mark(15:32-41) - association(15:32-35) - deviation(15:36-41)

Acts And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. A deviation in thinking toward Mark.

39 And the contention was so sharp be- tween them, that they departed asun- der one from the other: and so Barna- bas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 and Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. A deviation in thinking toward Mark. A deviation in working with Mark. Acts 15

Conflict about circumcision(15:1-31) about circumcision(15:1-31) - disputation(15:1-5) - consideration(15:6-18) - adjudication(15:19-31) about John Mark(15:32-41) about John Mark(15:32-41) - association(15:32-35) - deviation(15:36-41) - conciliation(Col. 4:10)

Colossians 4 10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner sa- luteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) Barnabas was an encourager, but also Mark’s uncle. Mark was reconciled to Paul in prison and recommended to the Colossians.

Chapters 15