The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-05-21
The SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for May 23, 1897
The Conference at gcrusnIens-
Acts 15il-1. 23-2O.

The Conference Mt scrusnlens.
Acts 15ii-1. @:-2O.
ARRANGED from Pel.abet's Notes.l
GOLDEN TEXT.-Through the grace
Of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved.
even as they.-Acts l5:ll-
TIME.-About A. ID. 30. as almost uni
vcrsally agreed.
LESSON COMMENT.
/. A Serious Question Arises in h
c~hurch.-ys. l. 2. Gal. 2:l. The ques-
ton that divided the opinions of the
chuich was whether the Gentiles must
become Jewish proselytes, and submit
to the Jewish ceremonial law in order
TO be saved.
Paul and the Gentle Christians denied
that there was any such obligation.
Repentance, faith in Christ, and a new
heart implanted by the Holy Spirit were
the only conditions. The Jews might
kecp their ceremonial law IL they
wished, even as Paul and Barnabas did,
as a part of their national life, but it
must not be imposed upon the Gentiles
as n necessity.
II. A Delegation is Sent TO Jerusalem
for Advice.-Vs. 2, 3. Gal. 2:1, 2. 2.
mo small dissension and disputation.'
Both sides were sure they were right,
and found no way Of agreement.
"They determined" Under the guild
ance of the Holy Spirit, as Paul says in
Galatians 2:2. 'That PAUL" The lead
er on the Gentle side, brought up q
strict Pharisee, a Hebrew of the He
brews; this was Paul's third visit to
49, 1pantaH The
~noble-hearted Levite who had given so
much to the poor atJerusalem, and was
gifted with the power Of exhortation.
''And certain others of them" Lead
ers who could testify TO the work
among the Gentiles. and give weight to
the delegation. Among them was Titus
(Gal. 2:1), a Gentle Christian SHOULD
go up to Jerusalem" about 800 miles
away, for advice.
III. The Discussion.-Vs. 4-21. Gal.
2:2-9. 4. They were received of the
church," The word translated here
"were received" implies n cordial recep-
ton on the part of the Jerusalem COM
munity. who welcomed with affection
Barnabas and Paul as the great mis-
sionaries of the faith.
Peter in VS.. I'll, relates his W ex-
perience of the Divine vision, the con
version of Cornelius, and the gift of the
Holy Spirit coming equally upon the
Gentiles and the Jews. thus giving the
Divine Endorsement to their equality
IN the new dispensation.
The Testimony of Paul and Barnabas
- " 10 l. fln- Gr1 lts r,trnnlac and xxnn.
ders had Endorsed their action in receiv-
ing the Gentiles.
James, the chief of the Jerusalem
church and n very strict Jew, was con
yinced by the facts, by the working OF
God. by His Spirit. and by finding the
same truth in the prophet Amos.
4. The Decision.-vs. 1920. Gal.
$50, 10. %. "Then it pleased etc. The
whole church came to n unanimous de-
cision.
First, to send delegates. Judas, SUI
named Barsabas:" son of Sabas. Moth
ing is known of him. And Silas:'
Shortened form of S%ilvanus. lie be
came Paml's missionary companion.
Second, they sent a written decision,
that those who had gone from Jerusa-
lem and troubled the Gentiles had ex-
ceeded their authority. The church
had given no commandment (the word
means express orders or injunction')
that the Gentiles must become Jews in
order to be saved. 2S. lit seemed gor
to the Holy Spirit" By His action upon
the Gcntilcs as related in the conference.
20 plainly IS actions could speak, the
Divincwill had been made known. And
to us.' Convinced by the arguments,
by the inspired Scriptures. and by the
workings of the Holy Spirit. What
would convince them ought to convince
and satisfy the whole church every
where. On the other hand, it was
right hat for a time, and under the cir
cumstances, the Gentiles should yield
something to the position and legal
customs Of the Jews. otherwise it was
impossible for them to unite together
socially rs Christian brethren. Three
of the required things were Of this
kind. 90. "Meafs offered to idols:"
Neat thus offered would have been
killed in a way forbidden by the Jews,
and they would be liable o pollution.
"And from blood" Blood WINS forbid
den to the Jews by the Leviticnl law
(Lev. 3: IL; 17:10-14), but among the
Centlles. IL was. in various forms, a
delicacy; they were accustomed to
drink blood mingled with wine at then
sacrifices"
"And from things stranglcd Things
strangled were not used as food by the
Jews, because the blood was still in
them. Abstinence from them was,
therefore. cnjoined for the same reason.
These prohibitions were only tempo
rary, and TO meet the necessities of
Christian intercourse ut the time. Paul
discusses this question in Romans IL
and 1 Corinthians s.
But the fourth prohibition was diff
ferent~ "And from fornication:" This
WIS added because IL was the peculiar
besetting sin Of the Gentle converts,
who had grown up in an atmosphere
where it was not regarded as wrong,
but was often a part Of the very worship
80 xl.;~ ooIa The Tov;t;caI 1oxy a,o s,St