The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-05-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for May 23, 1907
The Conference mt Jerusalem-
Acts 15s1-O, 22-2O.

ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes.l
GOLDEN TExT.-Through the grace
OF the Lord Jesus Christ we shall bc saved.
even as they.-Acts 1911.
TIME.-About A. ID. 90. as almost uni-
versally agreed.
LESSON COMMENT.
1. A Serious Question Arises in the
Church.-Vs. /, 2. Gal. 81. The ques-
lion that divided the opinions Of the
church was whether the Gentiles must
become Jewish proselytes, and submit
20 the Jewish ceremonial law in ORDER
to be saved. |
Paul and the Gentle Christians denied
that there was any such obligation.I
Repentance. faith in Christ, and n new
heart implanted by the Holy Spirit were
the only conditions. The Jews might
keep their ceremonial law if they
wished, even as Paul and Barnabas did,
as a part of their national life, but 1T
must not be imposed upon the Gentilesl
as a necessity.
III. A Delegation is Sent to Jerusalema
for Advice.-Vs. 2, 3. Gal. 81, 2. q.
"No small dissension and disputat ion."l
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 a.
strict Pharisee, Hebrew of the He
brews; this was Paul's third visit toi
Jerusalem. And Barnabas:" The
noble-hearted Levite who had given so
much to the poor at Jerusalem, 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.
Ill. The Discussion.-Vs. 4-21. Gal.
1929. 4. They were received of the
church," The word translated here
"were received" implies 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 own exi
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,
in V. ~ is that God by miracles and wonI
ders had Endorsed their action in receive
ing the Gentiles.
James, the chief of the Jerusalem
church and very strict Jew, was con-
vinced 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. 1929. Cali
go, 10. %. "Then it pleased" etc. The.
whole church came to n unanimous de-
cision.
First, to send delegates. Judas, sur
named Barsabas:" son Of Sabas. Moth
ing is known of him. And Silas:"
Shortened form of Silvanus. He be-
came Paul'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')l
that the Gentiles must become Jews i'm
order TO be saved. IS. ut seemed good
to the Holy Spirit" By His action upon
the Gentiles as related in the conference!
Is plainly rs actions could speak, the
Divine will had been made known. And
to u.s." Convinced by the arguments.
by the inspired Scriptures, and by the
workings of the Holy Spirit. What
would convince them ought 20 convince
and satisfy the whole church every
where. On the other hand, it was
right that for 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 as Christian brethren. Three
of the required things were of this
kind. 20. Meats offered to idols:"
Meat thus offered would have BEEN
killed in a way forbidden by the Jews,
and they would be liable To pollution
"And from blood" Blood was forbid
ueiI 10 UHo jews ny uAhS l[CNlblCeii law
(Lcv. 3: II; 17:10-1D, but among the
Gentiles, it was, in various forms, a
delicacy; they were accustomed to
drink blood mingled with wine at their
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, enjoined for the same reason
These prohibitions were only tempo
rary, and to meet the necessities of
Christian intercourse at the time. Paul
discusses this question In Romans Is
and | Corinthians s.
But the fourth prohibition was diff
ferent "And from fornication:" This
was added because it 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 n part of the weary worship
of their gods. The Levitical law against
every form of unchastity was extreme
" strict. Oev. 10 and 20), and IL is
probable that 10 the observance Of these
ordinances that we may ascribe the per-
,;..o,,oo 90 bo Jox,-;cI tyr,a opJ tho mr.