Acts 15: The Question of Circumcision

  • Possibly Gal.2.1-10 tells of the same events as Acts 15
    • The principles are the same
  • V. 1-35 controversy over matters of doctrine
  • V. 36-41 controversy over matters of opinion
    • Question is: How do we handle controversy in the church?
  • The question of taking the Gospel to the Gentiles had arisen some 10 years earlier when Peter converted the household of Cornelius; and had apparently been settled at that time (See Acts 11.20-22).
    • After Paul / Barnabas’ recent trip it appeared that the Gentiles were going to be more receptive to the Gospel than the Jews.
      • The church was going to be “overrun” with Gentiles and their heathen cultures, the Jewish Christians must have thought.
    • Solution: The Jews thought that the Gentiles needed to become Jews in addition to obeying the Gospel of Christ.
    • Let’s start this process in Antioch, Syria, where all this seems to be stemming from.
  • Each congregation was autonomous…that is, self-governing. The apostles had a unique relationship to all congregations in that they served as the primary source of God’s revelation for the church…a privilege not passed on to others. (See Gal.4.26—the Jerusalem above is our spiritual home).
  • “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
    • God’s covenant w/ Abraham, 2,000 years earlier. (Gen/17.10-14 and 23-27).
    • The Jews tied the covenant w/ Moses whose law was given 500 years later!
  • The false doctrine that the Jews (Pharisees) were promoting had far reaching consequences and Paul and Barnabas could not let that happen.
    • Christianity is not a “new and improved” version of Judaism.
    • They had great dissension and debate w/ them. (Gal.2).
      • Described as “false” brethren by Paul in Gal.2.
  • Note: The books of Galatians, Romans, and Hebrews were written primarily to show that the old law was inferior to the new law and one could not turn back to that law for the Jews.
  • This meeting in Jerusalem in no way resembled the General Councils/synods/conventions, etc. to decide the church’s constitution, or what we are to believe. It was the Antioch church sending a group of Christians to Jerusalem to meet with the church there about this troubling false doctrine. (Approx. a 300 mile trip to Jerusalem).
    • They recounted what God had done with them as they taught the Gospel to the Gentiles in Asia Minor.
    • They met w/ the church, the apostles, and the elders.
    • The Pharisees objected; much debate ensued.
    • Gal.2.9: Says that James, Peter, and John gave to Paul and Barnabas the “right hand of fellowship” on their way to restoring peace to the church.
    • Peter stood up and recounted the conversion of Cornelius; the issues were clear, the lines were drawn; no turning back!
      • V.9: God “made no distinction between us and them.”
      • See Romans 3.22
      • V.10: They were putting God to the test (testing His judgment)!
      • They were putting a yoke on their neck that no one could bear.
      • No man could keep the Law perfectly that is why we have a grace arrangement through Christ now, not a law arrangement.
    • The Speeches of Paul, Barnabas, and James (15.12-21).
      • James was the half- brother of Jesus (See Mt.13.55; Acts 12.17, 21.18; 1 Cor.15.7; Gal.1.19; James 1.1).
      • James quoted O.T. prophesy from Amos 9.11,12.
      • He could have quoted from Isa.2.2-4; 49.6; Micah 4.1-4;
      • V.19: Conclusion—therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles.”
      • “Abstain from things contaminated by idols, things strangled, and blood.”