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Acts-Lesson 5 The Acts of the Apostles (Lesson 5: Acts 13 - 15) Part 1: Paul’s 1st Missionary Trip I. Introductory remarks: A. This marks the beginning of the second half of Acts with the ministry of St. Paul who continues Jesus command to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth (1:8). B. Luke proves Paul’s vocation and authority with various parallels to Peter (ISB, p. 204). 1. Both deliver inaugural sermons to Israel focusing on the Davidic Covenant. 2. Both appeal to Psalm 16:10 to explain the Resurrection of Jesus. 3. Both heal cripples. 4. Both are filled with the Spirit. 5. Both are renowned for extraordinary miracles. 6. Both confer the Spirit with the laying on of hands. 7. Both confront and rebuke magicians. 8. Both raise the dead to new life. 9. Both refuse divine worship. 10. Both are miraculously delivered from prison. C. His first of three missionary journeys to the regions in modern Southern Turkey: 1. Antioch is the home base for the missionary works to the gentiles. 2. The trip is the work of the Spirit while the disciples were praying and fasting. 3. His method is to go to the Jews first, then the Gentiles because that is God’s plan of redemption (13:46; see Romans 1:16). 4. His companions are Barnabas and Mark. II. Cyprus (Barnabas’ native island): A. He moves from the East side of the island from Salamis to Paphos to the west side. B. Saul is now known as Paul, his Roman name, perhaps to identify with the Gentiles and move more freely among the upper classes of Gentile society. C. He is filled with the Holy Spirit, like the apostles, deacons, and disciples before him. D. His authority is shown by blinding Elymas “for a time,” to convert him by symbolizing his spiritual blindness and the necessity for someone to guide him. E. The first gentile ruler converts! III. Perga and Antioch of Pisidia: A. Mark leaves Paul for reasons we don’t know. But they were reconciled later (Col 4:10). B. St. Paul’s first, and longest, speech at Antioch of Pisidia to both Jews and “God fearers” is parallel to St. Peter’s at Pentecost and Stephen’s before the Sanhedrin: Lesson 5: Page 1 of 3 1. Christ has fulfilled the Davidic Covenant (vv. 23, 33-37). a) (Ps 2:7; 89:20) Jesus is the son of David and the resurrected son of God. b) (Isaiah 55:3) While the Jews are in exile, Isaiah prophecies that the Covenant and Kingdom of David will be fulfilled by the Messiah and a new covenant. c) (Psalm 16:10) The Messiah will rise from the dead, as Jesus did. 2. Jesus Christ supersedes the Mosaic Covenant (vv. 38-39). a) The law of Moses cannot save, only an obedient faith in Christ (Rom 1:5; 16:26). 3. Warning against those that reject the gospel (v. 41). a) Habakuk warned of the first destruction by the Babylonians. Now, Paul is quoting him to warn of the upcoming destruction of Israel by the Romans. C. The city rejects the gospel: 1. The Jews saw the results of Paul’s preaching and were jealous of the Gentiles. 2. (Isaiah 49:6) Paul’s strategy is to go to the Jews at the synagogues first (if there is one), then to Gentiles, into whom the rest of the tribes have been absorbed since the first exile. This is what Jesus commanded them to do in Acts 1:8. IV. Iconium and Lystra: A. They perform “signs and wonders” (v. 3) like the other Apostles and deacons to show that their work is a continuation of the new exodus and restoration of the kingdom. B. Paul heals a cripple (like Peter), but they are mistaken for Zeus and Hermes. Only with great difficulty do they persuade the locals not to worship them. (See ISB on 14:11-18) C. The Jews reversed the admiration the locals originally had and they stoned Paul. Wow. V. They return to Antioch by the same road: A. Assuredly because of his stoning, he reminds the disciples that tribulations are necessary. B. (v. 23) As bishops, they “appoint (ordain) elders” in the cities where they visited. They are called presbyteroi, from which we get presbyters. Part 2: The Council of Jerusalem I. The Council of Jerusalem (c. 49-50 a.d.) A. “Chapter 15 could be said to be the centre of the book of Acts, not only because it is positioned in the middle of the text, but also because it covers the key event connected with the universality of the Gospel and resulting in its unrestricted spread among the Gentiles. It is directly linked to the conversion of the pagan Cornelius, all the consequences of which will now be drawn out: the baptizing of Cornelius was not a one- time exception to the rule; it signaled what God wants to happen as a matter of course.” (Navarre Bible, 15:1-35). B. It was convened to discuss the requirements of circumcision for gentile converts. 1. Many Jews of the “circumcision party” did understand that the gentiles would be brought into the kingdom of God (11:18), but they thought that the gentiles needed to uphold the entire law of Moses, especially circumcision, to be be saved. Lesson 5: Page 2 of 3 2. Gentiles were converting by the boat load by now. The issue of circumcision has become amplified in Antioch so they appealed to Jerusalem to settle the issue. 3. Peter settles this doctrine authoritatively as the head of the Church and declares that circumcision is not required for conversion. James speaks about it pastorally. 4. “This decisive break with the national religion of Israel makes the Jerusalem Council the theological center of Acts: it shows that the Church is 1) a covenant community distinct from Judaism and 2) a catholic community that embraces all nations.” (ISB, 15:1-19). C. St. Peter’s main arguments: 1. By “his mouth” the gentiles heard the gospel. 2. God gave them the Holy Spirit without the law, making the law unnecessary. 3. No one can observe the law. It is a “yoke” (c.f. Matt 11:28-30) that Moses said would pass away (Deut 30:1-6; Ezek 36:25-27). 4. Salvation is through the grace of God alone, not observance of the Mosaic law. 5. Peter’s statement is decisive. They are silenced. D. Confirmation by Paul and Barnabas: 1. Paul and Barnabas support Peter’s statements with their own experiences of gentile conversions and the “signs and wonders” (think “new exodus”). E. St. James’ arguments: 1. All of his Old Testament quotations are strung together to support Peter’s definitive pronouncement that the Gentiles are part of the restored Davidic kingdom. 2. His pastoral advice is to prevent the Gentiles from causing scandal and friction with those Jewish Christians with whom they would now be worshipping “in their midst.” a) His first piece of advice regards sexual morality and chastity (Lev 18). b) His other advice regards pagan idolatry practices (Lev 17). (1) The Church has clarified that this practical advice was temporary and would no longer be necessary when associations with pagan sacrifice is gone. II. They send a letter to the local church at Antioch: A. (15:28) Notice how the Holy Spirit is claimed to be the author and guide of this decision! B. This is the case with papal infallibility: The Holy Spirit guides the solemn declarations of the Church in matter of faith and morals to be without error (Mt 16:18-20; Jn 16:12-13). III. Final observations about the Council of Jerusalem: A. This first council is a archetype of all future ecumenical councils of the Church. 1. There is an unresolved issue regarding faith and/or morals in the Church. 2. It issue is brought before an assembly of bishops and the successor of Peter. 3. There is great deliberation and dispute about it. 4. Nothing is settled until the successor of Peter makes his definitive declaration under the protection and guidance of the Holy Spirit. 5. Council documents are written to safeguard the teaching, usually with pastoral considerations. 6. That decision is binding on the universal Church. Do you trust God or yourself? Lesson 5: Page 3 of 3.
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