239. THE JERUSALEM CONFERENCE
"Ye must be circumcised and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment".
After returning to Antioch, Paul and Barnabas stayed therefore a long time. However, their stay was marred by certain brethren coming up from Judaea. These brethren insisted that the Gentiles should be circumcised, and that all should keep the Law of Moses. This opposed the results of the apostles' preaching, how that God had worked through them to "open the door of faith unto the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27). The problem was a serious one and could only be solved by a gathering of the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. This became known as "The Jerusalem Conference".
Acts 15
OBEY THE LAW OR PERISH (verse 1).
Certain brethren of Judaea, who before the acceptance of the truth had been Pharisees (v.5), told the Antioch brethren, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses YE CANNOT BE SAVED" (verse 1). They also insisted that the keeping of the whole law of Moses was necessary (v.5). But what they failed to realise was that at no time could the mere keeping of the Law of Moses save anyone. The Law was given that men might realise that they were sinners before God (Rom. 3:19-20). Secondly, the Law was as a schoolmaster to educate and guide men to Christ (Gal. 3:24). Therefore all the sacrifices and ordinances of the Law pointed forward to Jesus in glorious types. When he was crucified and resurrected the Law had served its preparatory purpose. From that time until now there is a period of grace in which we are saved by faith in Christ. A life of holiness shows our respect and appreciation for that position of grace.
ON THE WAY TO JERUSALEM (verses 2-5).
The issue was so important and there was so much argument about it (v. 2), that the apostles decided to go down to Jerusalem and discuss it with the rest of the elders and apostles. On their way Paul and Barnabas passed through Phenice and Samaria, and told the brethren there of their successful journey through Cyprus and Galatia, "and they caused great joy among the brethren when they heard of the conversion of the Gentiles" (v.3). Arriving at Jerusalem they met with the apostles and elders and declared how marvellously God had worked through them. They emphasised God's part in their work among the Gentiles, and their own work merely as His servants. This work had so obviously been blessed by God, for instance, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit power showed God's approval and authorisation of the apostles' preaching activity with Gentile believers. But their joy could not abound for there was still much disagreement about the Law of Moses. A large number of priests had believed the Gospel (Acts 6:7) and many of the Pharisees were numbered among the believers (Acts 15:5). It was this group of converted Pharisees that could not shake off the exclusive privileges of Israel.
THE JERUSALEM CONFERENCE (verses 6-18).
A group of elders and apostles gathered to discuss this problem. After much argument the apostle Peter rose up to speak (v.7). He spoke of the conversion of Cornelius when Peter had been called upon to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. God, by giving Cornelius and his family the Holy Spirit, showed that there was really no difference between Jew and Gentile (vv. 8-9) and none should be called common or unclean. The vital element in God's dealings was FAITH. The Law was now an unnecessary burden that was too difficult to keep, for their fathers had failed in their attempt to obey it (v.10). The law was not the means of salvation, but rather salvation was through the grace of Jesus Christ (v.11).
After Peter had spoken, Paul and Barnabas rose up and spoke of their successful missionary journey. If indeed the Gentiles were not to come into the truth on the basis of their faith in Christ, why had God allowed them to use miracles to convince multitudes of Gentiles?
Would God bless conversions of which He did not approve? James finally spoke to the conference and sealed the matter. Referring to the work done among the Gentiles, James quoted the words of the prophets (Jer. 12:15; Amos 9:11-12; Isa. 45:21) to show that the call of the Gentiles was intended by God. They were to be called out, like Israel out of Egypt, by the five essential steps that all must take: visitation, invitation, separation, education and dedication.
James, the Lord's brother was one of the leaders of the ecclesia, for Paul describes him as a pillar of the ecclesia (Gal. 2:9). James was in close contact with the Jewish brethren and sisters and even wrote an epistle to them. James had grown up with Jesus and when he was finally converted, was a man of great wisdom. James' argument from the prophets clinched the whole matter. It was quite evident that God had a purpose with the Gentiles as well as with the Jews.
THE JUDGMENT MADE BY JAMES (verses 19-35).
Since it was in God's plan that the Gentiles should be saved, it was not good that they should be troubled with Israel's burdensome Law of Moses (v.19). But there were four things that James decided the Gentiles should abstain from for the time then present € pollution of idols, fornication, things strangled, and blood (v.20).
1. Meats offered to idols: though an idol is "nothing in the world" an offering of meats to idols could cause a weak brother's conscience to fail (see 1 Cor. 8:10-11).
2. and 3. Things strangled and blood: as the ecclesias were made up of Jews and Gentiles it was best for the sake of peace to thus abstain and avoid upsetting the deep feelings of Jewish conscience to these things (cp. Lev. 17:10-15).
4. Fornication: both then and now fornication is a vice condemned by God despite the "liberal" attitudes of this "permissive age" (1 Cor. 6:18; cp. Matt. 5:27-30).
The apostles and elders agreed with James' summing up, and a letter was sent by the hand of Paul, Barnabas, Silas and Judas with others to all the brethren, giving a summary of their conclusions. These brethren took the letter to Antioch and read it to all the brethren and sisters who were comforted that the problem had finally been resolved. Although Paul, Barnabas and Silas could have returned to Jerusalem with the other brethren, they decided to stay and help the ecclesia.
PAUL CHOOSES SILAS (verses 36-41).
After some time teaching and preaching in Antioch, Paul decided to go back to Galatia and visit the ecclesias, and so he invited Barnabas to accompany him. However, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. But because John Mark had departed from Paul and Barnabas at Perga on their first preaching campaign and not gone with them to the work, Paul did not want to risk such a let-down again. The disagreement was so strong between them that Barnabas left Paul and taking John Mark sailed to preaching activity in Cyprus. Paul took Silas and departed on his second preaching campaign with the blessing of the ecclesia on him. However, it is to Paul's credit that he later forgave and accepted John Mark who despite his earlier faults had rapidly matured to become a very valuable fellow-labourer in the Gospel (see 2 Tim. 4:11; Col. 4:10).
LESSONS FOR US:
The Apostle Paul acted quickly to correct the error that was endangering the new ecclesias. His care for all the ecclesias is therefore seen not just in his exhortations but in his warnings too. He saw the teachings of the Judaisers for what they really were, not as a plausible argument, but that which denied the effectiveness of Christ's sacrifice. It was a burden dragging the Gentiles into bondage to law in direct contrast to the freedom that came with grace. We must see the Truth clearly too. We need to believe in the position of grace that is held out to us € an offer which we, in the midst of a world given over to sin, cannot afford to neglect.
How thankful, then should we be that God has shown mercy on Gentiles so that we can believe in Him! God wants us to have faith in Him and be baptised into Jesus Christ. Each day, wherever we are, what we do should really show that we have learned about God and desire to please Him.
Let us also be understanding of other people's feelings. James forbad certain practices because they would upset others. Paul exhorts us,
"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Phil. 2:14). "Love", says Paul, "seeketh not her own". Again he writes, "Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself" (Rom. 15:2-3). If we really love one another we will attempt to help each other, and not to offend each other.
REFERENCES:
"Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 13, pp. 121-135
"Paul the Apostle" (W. H. Boulton) € pp. 63-72
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
- What was the problem that led to the Jerusalem Conference?
- Summarise the testimony of Peter, Paul, Barnabas and James at the Jerusalem Conference.
- What decisions were made at the Jerusalem Conference?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
- Who spoke at the Jerusalem Conference and what were their main messages?
What were the decisions made by James at the Jerusalem Conference, and explain their significance.