The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-07
THE sUNDAY-sCHoOL LESSON.
June s, 19O2-The Council at Jerusa-
Iem-Acts XIV, 22-33.

The first toilsome, dangerous missionary tour
was completed. II would seem that after the
perils and fatigues encountered in an absence
Of three years the returning missionaries ought
10 have been accorded a rest. But no such good
fortune awaited them. They were involved at
once in a wearisome controversy. They must
needs withstand errorists as formidable as Pisid-
ian bandits and heresy more destructive than
mountain torrents.
Certain Judaizing Christians had arrived at
Antioch They believed the church annex to
the temple, and the only way into the annex
was through the main structure. They taught
that Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the
law of Moses before they could become Chris
tians Paul withstood them with all the might
of his invincible logic. There was no little dis
sension and disputation. 1t is probable that the
errorsts sought to undermine Pauls influence
and offset the strength of his arguments by in
situations against the validity OF his apostolate.
He felt the need of additional authority. and so
appeals to Jerusalem he afterwards did
to Rome. A depu .ation. possibly including some
of the Judaizers. sets out TO lay the question
before the apostles in the mother church.
Though on an official errand, they cannot refrain
from preaching as they go. and consequence
they spread JOY in Phenice and Samaria.
On arriving at Jerusalem they are received by
the church, to which they make a candid state
ment of the case. There seems 10 have been an
adjournment for private conference. After
which they reconvened to make final disposition
of the matter. All did not alike for there
was much disputing. Finally the voice OF Peter
rang out in narration of the Comedian incident,
and application of 1t to the, case in hand. The
missionaries gave still further account of their
providential experiences in Asia Minor. At
length the tumult subsidies into the calm Of a
common conclusion. Then James the Just act
ing as president, simply announces what he be
lieves to he, and which actually proves to be- the
consensus of all. With certain temporary minor
restrictions, 10 be observed in charitable defer
ence to the compunctions of Jewish Christians
Gentle believers wholly absolved from the
Mosaic ritual
Judas and Silas. foremost among the brethren
are appointed to accompany Paul and Barnabas
back to Antioch. and carry With them the de-
cree in written form. SO ended the first council
of the Christian Church. Would that all sub
sequent councils had been as holy in composition
and impartial in conclusion.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN
The importance of the issue OF the Jerusalem
council was superlative. The question whether
Christianity should be a mere racial or world
wide religion then solving; for Christianity
handicapped by Mosaic ritual. especially the hu-
initiating. revolving rite of circumcision couIo
never nope 10 NluCn progress outside or
Jewry Happily for us Gentiles. the Holy
Ghost held sway in devout and sensible minds
The happy conclusion not the result Of
the mere elaboration Of a brief session. In the
twenty years since Pentecost. chain Of gIorf-
Gus facts had been forging under the hammer of
Providence. Some OF the links in the chain were
such as these: Selection of Hellenists as deacons;
revival in Samaria; founding OF the Antiochian
Church. conversions Of the Ethiopian. Cornelius
and saul. mission 10 Asia Minor Such a chain
would bind any unbiased mind to the very con-
cusion the council finally reached.
The self-deniel clause Of the Jerusalem decretal
is still in force Christians are bound yet 10 a
self denying surrender in things Indifferent.
where others be saved from offense by such
surrender The calls for such abstinence in our
Gay are numerous and urgent. II was the
apostle the Gentiles who said: If eating
meat of which We in doubt whether or not
1t has first been offered TO an idol-if that Of
tends my Jewish brother-Il abstain from all
meat forever"
What would have become OF Christianity as a
religion for the world If it had been tied for
ever TO the ceremonial law and made a mere
offshoot OF Judaism Vaughn
To pay at once suitable Difference to It's con-