Acts 15

The Jerusalem Council

There were some huge differences between the Jews and the Gentiles back in the day. The Jews had the laws of Moses and a Book they followed to the letter. The Gentiles had not and did not. So bringing such diverse folk under one roof to worship and proclaim Jesus, though right, had it's challenges. The Jews wanted the Gentiles to be circumcised - plus a bunch of other rules - to show salvation. However, Paul was teaching that no works brought on salvation, only submission and belief in Christ.

The Jerusalem Council was a conference held in about 49 a.d. with the church (delegates) of Antioch (including Paul and Barnabus) and the church (delegates) of Jerusalem. They came to meet on some of these rules and how they should be handled. The Jews really only knew one way to Salvation and what Paul was saying seemed new...note: it was not new. Salvation was always about belief and faith and submission and never about works. But still, some of these laws needed to be addressed.

"The conclusion of the Jerusalem Council, which determined that Gentiles did not have to be circumcised, was a sweeping victory for Paul's understanding of Christianity. Speaking for the council, the apostle Peter declared, 'We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we (Jews) shall be saved in the same manner as they (the gentiles)'. v. 11" {Quote from Nelson's Bible Dictionary.} This decision set a sort of precedent for salvation to be grounded in faith alone...but they would have to learn to be careful and sensitive to the Jewish background - the beliefs they had grown up with. What if the council had ruled differently? hmm...just a question.

One other notion came to mind in this chapter. There is another Judas that is brought up in v.22. Of course, not the same Judas, a new one that did work with Paul. My thought...if I were to a write a fictional book of characters I would never repeat the same name, especially the same name as the "villain". It brings confusion, lessens the drama of the villain, etc. The Bible is filled with the same names being used over and over for different people. For me, proof...the Bible is not fiction! Am I not right! Kidding, of course...