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The C uncil Dissent in the Internals f the Church Acts 15:1-35

PaulSilas BarnabasMark Division in the Externals of the Church Acts 15:36-41

10.04.20 The Jerusalem C uncil Dissent in the Internals f the Church Acts 15:1-35

John

About 10 years after Peter’s encountered with Cornelius (the Gentile) and his household. Approximately 20 years prior to the Roman pillaging of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple. Founded by leftist Jewish-Christian Acts 15:3–4 (ESV) Hellenists: first proponents of 3 So, being sent on their way circumcision-free Traveled with well known mission to Gentiles by the [] church, representatives they passed through from Antioch: both and , describing in detail a Roman citizen well known by the Hellenists (Greeks) the conversion of the Gentiles, Judas Sidon and brought great joy brother of Joseph :23 Damascus to all the brothers. well known to the Hebrew sector Tyree 4 When they came to Jerusalem, Nazareth MEDITERRANEAN SEA Caesarea they were welcomed by the church Samaria and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God Heavily influenced by extreme right- had done with them. wing fundamentalist Jewish- The DISSENT Stated Twice

15:1 But some men came down Judaizers from [to Antioch] and were teaching the brothers, 1 “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

15:5 But some believers Party of the who belonged o the party 2 of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” Antioch Group

Gal 2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with ,

Silas taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them … the gospel that Titus Judas I proclaim among the Gentiles, How Paul described this event in Galatians

Gal 2:4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in —who slipped into spy out our freedom that we have in Christ , so that they might Barnabas Paul bring us into slavery— 5 Law to them we did not yield in submission Keepers even for a moment, Mohel- Torah covenant

Gal 2:8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), John Judaizers Jerusalem Group

Apostolic Council Gal 2:9 Jerusalem Church and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised Main Speakers

Executive Action

James Simon Peter Brother of Jesus Lead Apostle Head of Jerusalem Church Converted Cornelius 10 years prior

Acts 15:5-6 (ESV) 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” Party of the Pharisees John 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. The experienced Peter waited for the right moment

7 And after there had been much debate . . . 7 . . . Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” JUSTIFICATION WE WE THEY WE WE all are saved by GRACE through FAITH Paul Barnabas James Silas

12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. Acts 15:13–17 (ESV) 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.

many few 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 “ ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’ :11-12; Jeremiah 12:15 19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

• No food previously the reason 21 For offered up to idols from ancient generations • No meat with blood Moses has had in every city • No strangled meat those who proclaim him, • No sex at the for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” church service The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, unanimous to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter:

“The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and and , greetings. Judaizers 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you conformity with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, unity 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 15:27–29 (ESV) 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.

28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us eye-witness testimony to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, requirements and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

• aka Barsabbas • brother of Joseph (Acts 1:23) Judas Silas • Roman citizen • well known to the traditionalist Hebrews • well known to the Hellenists • prophet (Acts 15:32) • prophet (Acts 15:32) Credible men with good reputations 30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.

33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. :1–6 (ESV) Paul’s returns for affirmation of the callings

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.

2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in —who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) —those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. Galatians 2:7–10 (ESV) Paul’s division of missionary assignments

7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. Division in the Externals of the Church Acts 15:36-41

Paul BarnabasMark Silas 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are.”

37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in and had not gone with them to the work. Acts 15:39–41 (ESV) 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to , 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

John Mark Barnabas Paul Silas What is your takeaway on the dissension in the early church?

. . . and on the division among ministry leadership? EMPOWERED LIVING – BOOK OF ACTS OCTOBER 4, 2020 The Jerusalem C uncil Dissent in the Internals f the Church Acts 15:1-35

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PaulSilas BarnabasJohn Mark Division in the Externals of the Church Acts 15:36-41 It Begins 1st generation Christian 2nd generation Christian

Peter’s Sermon to the 3K Peter converts Cornelius Jerusalem Council

Paul’s Prep & Ministry Paul’s Early Gentile Ministry Paul’s Missionary Ministry to the Gentiles Saul’s Peter’s Ministry to the Gentiles Peter’s Ministry to the Jews Persecution Sources and Resources

Achtemeir, P.J. The Quest for Unity in the : A Study in Paul and Acts. Philadelphia (1987)

Caird, G.B. The Apostolic Age London (1955)

Campbell, Douglas A. Paul: an Apostle’s Journey Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans (2018)

Freedman, David Noel Editor in Chief; and Gary A. Hertor, David F. Gref, John David Pleins, Altrid B. Beck Gen Ed. The Anchor Yale Dictionary. New York, NY: Doubleday (1992)

Knox, John Chapters in the Life of Paul New York, NY (1950)

Liefeld, Walter L. Interpreting the Book of Acts. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic (1995)

Lightfoot, J.B. The . London (1914)

Hengel, M. Acts and the History of Earliest Christianity. Philadelphia (1986)

Weiss, J. A History of the Period AD 30-150. Vol 1 Earliest Christianity (Reprint) New York, NY (1959)

Wright, N.T. Paul: a Biography San Francisco, CA: Harper One (2018)