Acts 15

1. Acts 15 Free From th Law

2. Free from the Law • Controversy in the Church • The Pharisees had a legitimate point • Genesis 17:10 • Exodus 4:20-26 • Exodus 12:48 • Jeremiah 4:4 • Circumcision was a symbol of the people of God • It marked Jews As different– set apart • They had every right naturally to expect this rite to be continued.

3. Free from the Law • Keeping the Law was logical– it defined the Will of God • So the question was a fair one. • But the response is also logical– we couldn’t carry out the Law, so how can we put the burden on Gentiles.? • Acts 15:10 • It is important to note that Peter was the one to make this declaration

4. Free from the Law • This had been a festering question since the early days of the Church– remember the Hellenist Christians and the Jerusalem Christians. • Thus, the status of these Gentile Christians was very much in doubt– See Galatians 2:11-14. • There is good evidence that Paul wrote the letter to Galatians during this time.

5. Free from the Law • The Pharisees here are Christians, make no mistake. The text is very clear on this point. Acts 15:5 • This discussion happened at the Church in Antioch:

6. Free from the Law

7. Free from the Law • The Church needed advice, so they sent a delegation to Jerusalem vs 4-6 • Those in attendance: • Peter • James, brother of Jesus • Other Apostles • The “Elders”– probably people who had been with the Apostles since the beginning. • Note Verse 7– King James says “A Good While Ago” Peter’s trip to Joppa and Caesarea had been several years ago at this point

8. Free from the Law • Peter’s Argument • I went • God Sent the Spirit • They were not Circumcised • Verse 11 has to burn • Paul and Barnabas • Paul and Barnabas tell their story • Verse 12 is critical. • The Jews would never have accepted Gentiles as equal without the Signs and Wonders– including tongues. • But we will see tongues pass on in the book

9. Free from the Law • James Spells out the decision • Quotes from Amos 9:11-12 • He mixes in several other passages • Notice that he is taking them slightly out of context– the Temple reference is more allegorical. • The Commands • Abstain from food offered to idols, but don’t ask specifically (I Corinthians 10:27– a book to be written later) • Avoid Blood and food strangled • Avoid πορνεία– Porneia. We translate it fornication but you can see what english word has its root here. Covers a Lot of ground

10. Free from the Law • Why these three prohibitions? • Food offered to Idols was later sold in the Market. Christians often faced a moral challenge eating it (I Cor 10:25-27) • Blood was a symbol of Life, and not to be eaten– it was used in various preparations and idol worship in Rome • Fornication was a common practice in Rome– temple prostitutes, what we would call Key parties, and the like (I Corinthians 6:12) • All of these are protections of great symbolic power

11. Free from the Law • The Letter is sent (23-29) • This is new– Roman religion did not have dogma • Now, pattern established– Letters. • Verse 32 • Now is probably the time Paul wrote Galatians (I mean literally– sometime in Verse 32-34) • The new plan– check up on the churches. • Paul and Barnabas will part ways. Jim Evans will tell us about that.

12. Free from the Law • October 14 • What is circumcision? • Why did some people believethat Christians had to be circumcised? • Why did converted Pharisees want to have Gentile Christians follow the • does this issue keep re-occurring? • What pattern for resolving church conflict do we find here?