17 magg 48 anni - Apostolic Council of Jerusalem

Descrizione:

Acts 15:1-35 and Galatians 2.

No doubt, Paul and Barnabas' missionary journey, led to some tensions in the early Christian church. Recall that John Mark had left Paul and Barnabas in Perga - presumably for contentious reasons - and made his way back to Jerusalem where he stayed (see Acts 13:13; 14:37-40). Recall as well that upon finishing their journey, Paul and Barnabas met a group from Judea who argued that Gentile converts must conform to Jewish standards of circumcision and dietary restrictions (see Acts 15:1).

The first apostolic council of Jerusalem was held to debate two big issues: whether Paul and Barnabas should evangelize to the Gentiles, and whether Gentile converts needed to adhere to the Mosaic Law. Paul and Barnabas, along with Titus (see Acts 15:2 [one of the "other believers"] & Galatians 2:1-3), went to Jerusalem to discuss these things with the church leaders there.

At the council Peter spoke up, proclaiming that salvation was by faith, not works; thus to expect such works as a means to faith was inappropriate.

James, the brother of Jesus and the leader of the Jerusalem church, added that, for the sake of peace within the church, the Gentiles should abstain from some things.

The council decided that Paul and Barnabas should indeed preach to the Gentiles, and that Gentiles were not obligated to keep most of the Mosaic Law (though they maintained that believers could not eat blood or eat any meat containing blood, nor could they eat meat from a strangled animal; they also forbid fornication and idolatry).

After the decision was reached, a letter was composed to the Gentile believers in Syrian Antioch. Paul and Barnabas were to take the letter there and read it out to them. To verify the letter, they also sent Silas (a.k.a 'Silvanus') and Judas (a.k.a 'Barsabbas') to accompany them. After some time, Judas returned to Jerusalem while Silas stayed in Antioch (see Acts 15:34).

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