Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-05-20
The SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lesson for May %. 1897
The Conference at JerusaIem-
Acts I5;I-G. 22-20.

Acts 15:1-G. 22-20.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notesl
GOLDEN TEXT.-Through the grace
Of the Lord Jesus Christ We shall be saved,
even as they.-Acts 15l1.
TIME.-About A. .. 81. as almost uni
versaIiy agreed.
LESSON COMMENT.
|. A Serious Question Arises in the
Church.-Vs. l, 2. Gal. 81. The ques-
ton that divided the opinions of the
church was whether the Gentiles must
become Jewish proselytes, and su NIT
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 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 part of their national life, but it
must not be imposed upon the Gentiles
as a necessity.
II. a Delegation is Sent to Jerusalem
for Advice.-Vs. ?, 3. Gal. 81. 3 ?.
No 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
strict Pharisee, a Hebrew of the He
brews; this was Paul's third visit to
Jerusalem. And Barnabas:" The
oh IL /, I
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:D, Gentle Christian. should
so up to Jerusalem" about 500 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 a cordial recep-
ton on the part Of the Jerusalem COM
munity, who welcomed with affection
Barnabas ana Paul as the great mis-
sionaries of the faith.
Peter vs.. I'll. relates his own ex-
perieuce the Divine vision. the con
version O. rnel Is, 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 y. u is that God by miracles and Won
ders had Endorsed their action in reeeiy-
ing the Gentiles.
james, the chief of the Jerusalem
church and a 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. 1920. Gal.
20. 10. %. Then it pleased" etc. The
whole church came to 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. lie be
came Paal's missionary companion.
Second, they sent 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'0
that the Gentiles must become Jews in
order to be saved. %. 1T seemed good
to the Holy SPIRIT" BY His action upos.
theGentiles as related in the conference
IS plainly as actions could speak, the
Divinewill had been made known. And
TO u.s." Convinced by the arguments,
BY the inspired Scriptures, and by the
worl. ;ngs of the Holy Spirit. What
would convince them ought 70 convince
and satisfy the whole church every
where. On the other hand, it was
right that for a time, and under the cir
cumstances, the GentIes 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. %. Meats offered to idols:"
Neat 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
den 10 the jews by the Levitical law
Gev. 3: Il: 11:1o-1D, but among the
Gentlles. it was, in various forms,
delicacy; they were accustomed to
drink blood mingled with wine at their
sacrifices"
And from things stranglal: Things
straagied were not used as food by the
Jews. because the blood was still in
them. Abstinence from them was,