The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-07
SUNDAY-SCHOOL
LESSON FOR JUNE 8
THE COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM.
Acts, xv:22-33.
BY REV. J. r. GILBERT, D. D.
Secretary Of American Society Of Religious
Education.

and Gentle Christians. united In love for
n common Master, had lived side by side
in peace at Antioch of Syria psalms.
cxxxii, u. This delightful fraternity was
disturbed from without. There came to
them from Jerusalem certain brethren
who asserted that the Gentle believers
must be crcumcised, that Is. they must
become jews before they could become
Christians. This new dogma provoked
much discussion. Paul and Barnabas re-
sisted it, and probably most OF the
church sustained them, although. as gen.
orally occurs. it may have been that n
few Jealous for the traditions of Israel
(Col H. 81. may have cast themselves OH
the other side. The conflict thus preci-
pitated involved, not only the peace Of the
church at Antioch, but the future of
Christianity. The decision would affect
the work of God in all lands and cent,l-
ries.
RETERENCE.-Iow shall this per-
picking question be settled. In our time
Protestants would appeal to the Scripture
as "the only infallible rule of faith
Learned men would collect proof texts.
but interpretations of these might differ
leading to war of words, in the end be-
levers might be divided as they are now
into opposing sects. 1 Corinthians XII. 2o)
But the New Testament had not been
written, and this course could not be fol-
lowed. 1t was finally determined to refer
the whole matter to the apostles and
elders at Jerusalem. Verse - There
were good reasons for this action. The
apostles had been with Jesus and had
heard his teachings. Moreover, the Holy
Spirit had been promised to guide them
into the truth. (John xvi. 13) Besides.
the church at Jerusalem was older, the
mother of all. and might be supposed to
hold iuster views of doctrine than other
churches.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT from the narra-
tive. it is probable that Paul and Barna-
bas. on their arrival in Jerusalem. did not
at once report the decision which led to
their visit. They pursued a much wiser
course. Proceeding to give an account OF
their missionary tour. they allowed the
audience to raise questions. In this Way
the topic was brought up by Pharisaic be-
levers as an original and independent
matter, and the apostles and elders were
called together to consider 1t. (Versc 81
The assembly was not general. like those
councils afterward called to settle contro-
verted points. No one was invited from
abroad. 1t was limited to Jerusalem. The
subject of Gentle rights had been up sew
eral years before the conversion of Cor
nelius Acts. ri. 17-1S) but the question of
sis of Missions is reached. Tho door to
the heather has been thrown open. Tht
assembly therefore marked new and
important era.
COMMISSION.-1hisd discussion on that
occasion, reported in verse I to y. Is not
assigned by the committee in tO-day's les-
son. The speaking seemed to be all on
one side. They who precipitated the mat
foV ro1 tn hn
may have been absent. Peter spoke first.
Paul and Barnabas followed. Then James
the president of the council. summed up
the case and gave decision Whlcn was
favorable to the Pauline views. His ad-
dress was large-hearted and manly. He
quoted Scripture TO show verse I'D that
God intended to save the Gentiles. Ge;e-
miah. xvi, 19): that the Jewish ritual was
only provisional arrangement (verse 1G)
looking forward to fuller dispensation.
The speech pleased the assembly and 1t
was agreed that two prominent breth-
rem Barsabas and Sias tverSe 2oo should
return to Antioch with Paul and Barna-
bas and report that action had been taxi
en-. that there might be no doubt on the
subject.
EPISTLES.-The four commissioners
We're not allowed to return with merely
an oral message, valuable as that might
be. They bore letters which put the
Judgment of the assembly III permanent
form The letters We're addressed to 1.-The
brethren which are of the Gentiles in An
tioch and Syria and Cilicia." Verse 23D
The very form OF that salutation virtually
settled all disputes. The letters declared
that the men who had preached circum-
cson went out without authority (verse
oD, showing that ministerial license and
ordination We're necessary In those days
to secure sound doctrine. Paul and Barn
abas We're highly commended in the epis-
ties oversees % and 26) for their sacrificing
labors for Christ. Barsabas and Silas
were named as spOkesmen for the Jeru-
salem church. (Verse 10 These letters
We're the first written documents so far
as we know. delivered by apostolic au-
thority, the charters of Gentle liberty, to
be laid up with the churches.
RESTRAINT-One feature Of the let
ter deserves special attention Oversees IS
and 29,) while released from circumcision
the Gentle converts We're urged to abstain
from meats offered to idols and from
blood and from things strangled and from
fornication. Three Of these prohibited
practices Ieviticus xvii, 1S) were forbid
den in the laws of Moses. deuteronomy
xii. 23). This injunction was a pruden-
tial measure for the present destined to
pass away, but made now to secure unity
in the church. 1t was felt that unless so
much was retained there could not be
peace between the Jew and GENTLE con-
verts. q Corinthians viii. 49, The item on
social purity was fundamental and abid-
ing. Chastity was at that time unknown
among the heather. Miscellaneous CO.
habitation was practiced without censure
by Roman officials in high station. Here
Christianity utters its protest against i'm
N., tI,pt
this restraint was not purely apostolic. 1t
was declared to be by the direction of the
Holy Spirit.
CONSOLATION.-Th was great re-
joicing I'm the church at Antioch when the
letter was read which the apostles sent
from Jerusalem. II showed that the for
mer practice was not out OF harmony
with the teaching of those who had been
with Jesus, who had been endued with
the Spirit and who had been the guard
ians and promoters of the cause of Christ
from the beginning. The doctrina unity
was OF the utmost importance. The
church might pursue its methods as pre-
viously. Otherwise there must have been
great and radical changes and any alter
alton made in one part would require an
alteration in another part. 1t is no small
matter to tear down and rebuild a house.
Besides, this agreement drew the church
at Antioch into closer spiritual rela-
ton with the church at Jerusalem,
Strengthening those invisible cords by
which separated brethren are bound to-
gether. This last point made Judas and
Silas, the special commissioners very
dear, and prepared all to receive the
words of consolation spoken by them.
Hence, the occasion became one of fellow
IT