Session 6

The Jerusalem CouncilPaul and Barnabas have returned from their first mission trip to Cyprus and Galatia.

The church in (Syrian) Antioch is a mixture of Jews and converted Gentiles just as every other Christian church of that day.

The theological argument of the day revolved around the Gentile Christians.

Did they have to first become Jews before they could become full-blown Christians?

After all Jesus was a Jew!

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyIn order to make sense of Paul’s letters, we need to take a moment and try to reconstruct the first portion of Paul’s life and locate the Jerusalem Council within his ministry.

Sadly, we have very few concrete dates upon which to fix our discussion.

We know that Paul’s (aka Saul) conversion took place on the way to Damascus shortly after Stephen was stoned.

We believe that several years passed between the crucifixion of Jesus and the martyrdom of Stephen.

The best evidence available suggests that Jesus was crucified on Friday, April 7, 30AD – (Finegan, Handbook of Biblical Chronology, 301).

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyThe best evidence we have locates the stoning of Stephen in about 32AD.

Saul made his fateful trip to Damascus some time after the death of Stephen.

This means his conversion experience most likely took place also in 32AD.

Paul spent three years in Arabia before heading up to Jerusalem (32-35AD).

Galatians 1:18 - Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days.

This is the same trip related in Acts 9:22-30.

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyAfter spending a short time in Jerusalem, Paul returns to his hometown of Tarsus and begins to evangelize there (35-43AD).

About eight years after returning to Tarsus, Barnabas comes looking for Paul to help work in the church in (Syrian) Antioch.

Together they preach the Word for about two years (43-45AD).

During this time a famine breaks out in the Roman Empire and it is particularly difficult in Palestine. Saul and Barnabas take relief

supplies to Jerusalem (46AD).

This trip is mentioned in Acts 11:30 and 12:25. It corresponds to the trip mentioned in Galatians 2:1-10.

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyHow can I possibly say this?

There are five trips to Jerusalem expressly mentioned in Acts:

(1) Acts 9:22-30 – Paul travels from Damascus to speak with Peter.

(2) Acts 11:30; 12:25 – Paul and Barnabus travel from Syrian Antioch to bring famine relief.

(3) Acts 15 – Paul, Barnabus et al travel from Syrian Antioch to discuss Gentile conversion.

(4) Acts 18:22 – Paul travels to Jerusalem to “greet the church.”

(5) Acts 21:17ff – Paul travels to Jerusalem after his 3rd missionary journey.

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyNow let’s look at each trip a little closer.

There is very little controversy about the first trip

Paul returned to Damascus after spending the better part of three years in “Arabia” (probably the Nabatean Kingdom centered in Petra).

From here he traveled to Jerusalem to meet with Peter (Gal. 1:18).

This was a solitary trip with the express purpose of speaking with Peter.

Paul speaks only with Peter and James.

I believe this took place around 35AD.

1

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyNow let’s look at each trip a little closer.

The second trip is only mentioned in passing.Acts 11:29-30 – The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide

help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 12:25 – When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

This would have taken place around 46 AD. The famine predicted by Agabus is thought to have hit Palestine some time during the last portion of the 40’s AD.

2

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyNow take a look at Galatians 2:1-10

Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. As for those who seemed to be important-- whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance-- those men added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

2

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyNow take a look at Acts 15:1-6

Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

2

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyNow take a look at Galatians 2:1-10

Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem…

Fourteen years after which event?Paul’s conversion (32AD)Paul’s trip to Jerusalem to see Peter (35AD)

I believe it was fourteen years after Paul’s conversion.

Why?

2

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyNow take a look at Galatians 2:1-10

Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem…

In Galatians 2 the trip was initiated by Paul.

In Acts 15, he is SENT by the church in Antioch.

Acts 15:2b – So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem …

2

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyNow take a look at Galatians 2:1-10

I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.

In Galatians 2 Paul takes both Barnabus and Titus.

In Acts 15, Titus is not mentioned as a traveling companion. However, Titus is no insignificant figure in Paul’s ministry.

2

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyNow take a look at Galatians 2:1-10

I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.

Paul’s purpose in Galatians 2 is to tell the church leaders the content of his message.

In Acts 15, Paul’s purpose is to debate the question of Gentile inclusion.

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." The apostles and elders met to consider this question

2

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyNow take a look at Galatians 2:1-10

But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.

In Galatians 2 Paul met privately with the church leaders.

In Acts 15, the meeting is quite public.

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

2

The Jerusalem Council - Chronology

Even though both passages mention circumcision, the thrust of Galatians 2 is whether or not Paul is preaching a message acceptable to the church leaders in Jerusalem.

If Galatians 2 had taken place AFTER the Jerusalem Council, it is very odd indeed that Paul does not use this information in his conflict with Peter in Galatians 2:11-21.

It would have been important to Paul that the church leaders approve of his evangelistic message and his plans before he sets off on missionary journeys.

I doubt seriously if the Jerusalem church had disapproved that Paul would have changed much as he felt he was called directly by God.

2

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyIf Galatians 2 and Acts 11/12 speak of the same trip then when is the third trip?

This is the meeting described in Acts 15.

Paul, Barnabas and several others were commissioned by the church in Syrian Antioch to travel to Jerusalem and get a ruling on the question of whether or not a Gentile had to become a Jew before he or she could become a Christian.

3

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyIf Galatians 2 and Acts 11/12 speak of the same trip then when is the third trip?

This is the meeting described in Acts 15 and probably took place around 49/50AD.

Paul, Barnabas and several others were commissioned by the church in Syrian Antioch to travel to Jerusalem and get a ruling on the question of whether or not a Gentile had to become a Jew before he or she could become a Christian.

3

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyPaul’s fourth trip to Jerusalem took place after the second missionary journey.

Thus it would have been about 52AD.

The Bible says nothing about the purpose of the trip other than it was to “greet the church.”

Acts 18:22 – When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.

4

The Jerusalem Council - ChronologyOf course his fifth and final trip took place after the third missionary journey.

That would put it about 57AD.

It was from here that Paul was sent to Rome some two to three years later.

5

The Jerusalem Council – The ContentMeanwhile back at the ranch ….

It’s 49 or 50AD and a delegation from Syrian Antioch has arrived in Jerusalem to debate and establish whether or not a Gentile must first become a Jew before (s)he can become a Christian.

This may seem to be a moot question from where we sit in the 21st century. But let’s keep in mind that in 50AD there were two great centers of Christianity:

1 – Jerusalem which was largely Jewish and controlled by former Jews and Pharisees.

2 – Syrian Antioch which was largely Gentile and concerned about having a large portion of their membership having to go through the long and

drawn-out process of becoming Jewish before they could be admitted into the Christian church.

The Jerusalem Council – The ContentIt was a very valid question which threatened to split the church.

It was a public discussion involving the elders and apostles. Each side got to have its say.

Acts 15:6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, …

Acts 15 specifically mentions Peter, Paul, Barnabus, and James as having spoken.

The Jerusalem Council – The CompromiseThe end result was a compromise between the Jewish and Gentile factions.

There were four stipulations:

1 – No food that had been sacrificed to idols

2 – No blood (most probably meat with blood still in it).

3 – No meat from animals that had been strangled.

4 – Refrain from sexual immorality.

The Jerusalem Council – The CompromiseIf you’ll notice, three of the four points address dietary issues. I wonder why?

Table fellowship was an important part of early Christian life.

Acts 2:46 – Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts …

The three dietary proscriptions were enacted to protect the sensibilities of the Jewish Christians who would have balked at eating at a Gentile table.

1 Corinthians 10:31-32 – So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not

cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God.

The Jerusalem Council – The CompromiseIf you’ll notice, three of the four points address dietary issues. I wonder why?

Table fellowship was an important part of early Christian life.

Table fellowship was at the heart of Paul’s argument with Peter recorded in his letter to the churches in Galatia:

Galatians 2:12 – Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.

The Jerusalem Council – What it MeantWhile the Jerusalem Council speaks directly to only two issues – dietary stipulations and sexual practices – it’s decision was far reaching.

By ONLY including dietary restrictions, the Council is in effect saying that Gentile believers are not bound by the ritual requirements of the Mosaic law.

By including sexual morality, the Council is saying that Gentile Christians ARE bound by the moral component of the Mosaic Law.

When we examine the practices which Paul condemns in his letters, we find that almost all of the “sin lists” contain only moral considerations (see 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-5; and 1 Tim. 1:9-10) and not violations of ritual laws.

The Jerusalem Council – What it MeantThis separation of ritual and moral law has been a thorn in the side of Christianity for over 2,000 years.

Most of the ambiguity is contained in what we call the “Holiness Code” (Lev. Chaps 17-26).

It would have been nice if Moses had written this section of Leviticus in two parts:Part 1 – The ritual lawPart 2 – The moral code

That way we could simply refer back to Leviticus and quickly ascertain whether or not a specific act violated ritual or moral law and if it was still binding on Christians.

But, the two are mixed together and require that we read larger and larger passages before making the call. In short it’s a bit inconvenient and therefore the modern solution seems to be to toss the whole thing altogether.

The Jerusalem Council – What it MeantBut I digress …

Paul, Barnabus and the Antiochene delegation return home with Judas and Silas and word of the Jerusalem Council is spread throughout the land.