Jerusalem Conference: Similarities between Acts 15 and Gal. 2

1. Jerusalem Conference: Similarities between Acts 15 and Gal. 2 1. Some individuals had questioned Christian freedom from the law (Acts 15:1; Gal. 2:4). 2. Paul, Barnabas, and others (Gal. specifies Titus) go up to Jerusalem from Antioch (Acts 15:2; Gal. 2:1, 11). 3. Paul, Barnabas, Peter, and James (Gal. adds John) were principals in the meeting (Acts 15:7, 12, 13; Gal. 2:9). 4. The issue discussed was the question of Gentile circumcision (Acts 15:1, 5; Gal. 2:3). 5. The Jerusalem apostles agreed not to demand it (Acts 15:19, 28-29; Gal. 2:3, 6).

2. Acts 15 Paul and Barnabas are “appointed” by Antioch church (v. 2). Meeting involves “the church, the apostles, and the elders” (v.4, 6). No report No report Includes the “Apostolic Decree” (v. 20-21, 29). Gal. 2 Paul goes up (with Barnabas and Titus) “by revelation” (v. 2). Meeting is private, before “those of repute” (v.2). Includes an agreement on division of labor (v. 9). Mentions a request and agreement to “remember the poor” (v. 10). Those of repute “added nothing to me” (v.6). Jerusalem Conference: Differences between Acts 15 and Gal. 2

3. Correlation of Visits to Jerusalem in Acts and Letters Questions • Should we match 2=B, because each is Paul's second visit after conversion? (But that would create two "Apostolic Councils.“)

4. Correlation of Visits to Jerusalem in Acts and Letters Questions • Should we match 2=B, because each is Paul's second visit after conversion?(But that would create two "Apostolic Councils.“) • Or, should we match 3=B, because each seems to describe the "Apostolic Council"? (But then Acts would have a visit (# 2) which Paul's account does not seem to allow for.)

5. Correlation of Visits to Jerusalem in Acts and Letters Theories • Bruce: 2=B; 3 is a later meeting. (Circumcision was discussed twice. Gal. was written before Apostolic Council. Explains why Paul does not mention the Decree. Allows Peter’s behavior in Antioch to be temporary aberration.)

6. Correlation of Visits to Jerusalem in Acts and Letters Theories • Bruce: 2=B; 3 is a later meeting. • Weizsäcker: 3=B; 2 is an unhistorical “doublet” of 3.(Luke had two traditions of same visit and incorrectly made two visits out of them.)

7. Correlation of Visits to Jerusalem in Acts and Letters Theories • Bruce: 2=B; 3 is a later meeting. • Weizsäcker: 3=B; 2 is an unhistorical “doublet” of 3. • Bornkamm: 3=B; 3 is a doublet of 2. (Puts Apostolic Council before 1st Journey, at time of famine relief visit.)

8. Correlation of Visits to Jerusalem in Acts and Letters Theories • Bruce: 2=B; 3 is a later meeting. • Weizsäcker: 3=B; 2 is an unhistorical “doublet” of 3. • Bornkamm: 3=B; 3 is a doublet of 2. • Knox: 4=B; 3 is a doublet of 4; 2 is a doublet of 5.(Puts Council after 2nd Journey. Visits 2 and C have to do with relief. Solves lack of purpose for visit 4.)

9. Correlation of Visits to Jerusalem in Acts and Letters Theories • Bruce: 2=B; 3 is a later meeting. • Weizsäcker: 3=B; 2 is an unhistorical “doublet” of 3. • Bornkamm: 3=B; 3 is a doublet of 2. • Knox: 4=B; 3 is a doublet of 4; 2 is a doublet of 5.No “solution” solves all the problems.

10. Apostolic Council: Gal. 2:1-10 1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up by revelation; and I laid before them (but privately before those who were of repute) the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, lest somehow I should be running or had run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 But because of false brethren secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage -- 5 to them we did not yield submission even for a moment, that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

11. Apostolic Council: Gal. 2:1-10 6 And from those who were reputed to be something (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) -- those, I say, who were of repute added nothing to me; 7 but 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 the mission to the circumcised worked through me also for the Gentiles), 9 and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised; 10 only they would have us remember the poor, which very thing I was eager to do.

12. Apostolic Council: Acts 15:1-29 1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, reporting the conversion of the Gentiles, and they gave great joy to all the brethren. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up, and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses." 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

13. Apostolic Council: Acts 15:1-29 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made 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, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us; 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." 12 And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

14. Apostolic Council: Acts 15:1-29 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brethren, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written, 16 `After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up, 17 that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, 18 says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.' 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 pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood....”

15. “Apostolic Decree”(Acts 15:19-20, 28-29; 21:25) “Apostolic Decree” refers specifically to these “compromise” requirements found only in Acts: 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 pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood.

16. “Apostolic Decree”(Acts 15:19-20, 28-29; 21:25) “Apostolic Decree” refers specifically to these “compromise” requirements found only in Acts: 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 pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood.

17. Incident in Antioch(Gal. 2:11-12) But when Cephas came to Antioch I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And with him the rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their insincerity. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?“